Football's Fading Charm: Mascot Fees that Leave Children Crying
For many young football fans, stepping onto a pitch alongside their idols before kick-off is an experience they'll cherish for life. However, what was once a magical moment has been reduced to a costly privilege for some clubs.
While Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham offer free mascot roles, the majority of Premier League clubs charge exorbitant fees. At Crystal Palace, a "silver mascot" package costs £255 for lower-tier games, rising to £520 for top-level matches. These figures can add up quickly, with parents shelling out upwards of £5,000 for a single match.
The prices are symptomatic of the commercialisation of football, where clubs are pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable to maximise revenue. According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, this trend is driven by commercial directors under pressure to deliver results and owners more interested in profit than community engagement.
"We're monetising every aspect of fandom," Maguire says. "Clubs are cashing in on mascots like it's going out of style." With some clubs charging upwards of £375 per mascot for top-tier matches, the potential revenue can be substantial – with West Ham reportedly generating over £125,000 from mascot fees alone.
Critics argue that these prices are pricing young fans out of an experience they'll never forget. Caroline Dinenage, a Conservative MP and lifelong Portsmouth fan, says it's "pure greed" for clubs to charge high fees, given the millions generated from TV deals. Labour MP Clive Efford goes further, accusing clubs of exploiting working-class families.
The trend is not limited to Premier League clubs. At lower-level Leagues One and Two, prices are equally steep – with Barnsley's basic mascot package costing £199 and an additional £80 for a full kit.
While some parents may be willing to pay top dollar for their children to become mascots, others will find themselves priced out of the experience. As Maguire acknowledges, he'd struggle to justify such fees for his own granddaughter in the future – a sentiment echoed by many who are genuinely attached to football's nostalgic charm.
For many young football fans, stepping onto a pitch alongside their idols before kick-off is an experience they'll cherish for life. However, what was once a magical moment has been reduced to a costly privilege for some clubs.
While Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham offer free mascot roles, the majority of Premier League clubs charge exorbitant fees. At Crystal Palace, a "silver mascot" package costs £255 for lower-tier games, rising to £520 for top-level matches. These figures can add up quickly, with parents shelling out upwards of £5,000 for a single match.
The prices are symptomatic of the commercialisation of football, where clubs are pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable to maximise revenue. According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, this trend is driven by commercial directors under pressure to deliver results and owners more interested in profit than community engagement.
"We're monetising every aspect of fandom," Maguire says. "Clubs are cashing in on mascots like it's going out of style." With some clubs charging upwards of £375 per mascot for top-tier matches, the potential revenue can be substantial – with West Ham reportedly generating over £125,000 from mascot fees alone.
Critics argue that these prices are pricing young fans out of an experience they'll never forget. Caroline Dinenage, a Conservative MP and lifelong Portsmouth fan, says it's "pure greed" for clubs to charge high fees, given the millions generated from TV deals. Labour MP Clive Efford goes further, accusing clubs of exploiting working-class families.
The trend is not limited to Premier League clubs. At lower-level Leagues One and Two, prices are equally steep – with Barnsley's basic mascot package costing £199 and an additional £80 for a full kit.
While some parents may be willing to pay top dollar for their children to become mascots, others will find themselves priced out of the experience. As Maguire acknowledges, he'd struggle to justify such fees for his own granddaughter in the future – a sentiment echoed by many who are genuinely attached to football's nostalgic charm.
, meanwhile some kids cant even afford to watch their fave team play live because of these outrageous prices 
it feels like clubs have lost sight of what football is all about, its supposed to be fun for everyone not just the ones who can shell out a pretty penny 
and yeah the commercialisation of footy is just getting out of control 
. £5,000 is insane for one match! what's next, charging players rent to play on their own pitch? 
?
. I mean, what's next? Charging us to cheer at a game? It's like they're sucking the magic out of the sport for profit. I've been to matches with my mates since we were kids and we'd always be in awe of the players running around on the pitch. Now it feels like we're just another revenue stream for the club 
. And £5,000?! That's crazy talk!
I mean, £520 for a match is crazy! What's next, charging people to take a selfie with a player? 
And it's not like these kids are getting any educational value out of it... they're just there to have a blast. 
But no, clubs gotta squeeze every last penny outta it. It's like they're more interested in lining their pockets than in making football accessible to the community. 
.
, it's not fair that their kids are being priced out of an experience they'll remember forever 
! 
It's like clubs are trying to cash in on the innocence of children 
. I think it's time for some clubs to rethink their mascot fees 
I think these clubs need to get their priorities straight and remember why football's supposed to be fun in the first place – for everyone, not just the richest fans.