Economic slowdown eating in EPL ticket sales

The league average is almost 1,000-a-week down from last season8217;s 50-year record of 36,076 8212; though this season8217;s figure is slightly distorted after Manchester United8217;s home game with Fulham in August was postponed due to UEFA Super Cup commitments.

Nevertheless, even the English and European champions are feeling the pinch of the global economic crisis having failed to sell out Old Trafford8217;s 76,180 seats for any game this season.

The investigation revealed that as of Wednesday none of the weekend8217;s fixtures were sold out, even Sunday8217;s high-profile clashes when Chelsea play Arsenal and Manchester City take on Manchester United.

Attendances are also down in leagues One and Two third and fourth division, with the Championship second division bucking the trend with a slight increase, the Telegraph said on Friday.

Liverpool and Everton have announced slight cuts in ticket prices as a result of the government8217;s decision to cut VAT and the rest of the Premier League clubs have pledged to follow suit.