In brief
The most costly mascot packages, which include a number of benefits, are offered by Nottingham Forest and range from £1200 to £1,800.
The mascot experience is provided free of charge by the “big six” clubs, which include Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Bournemouth are among the teams that have dropped their prior mascot allegations.
Thanks to research by the Telegraph, a breakdown of the fees associated with being a mascot, broken down by club, reveals the high cost of what many clubs market as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” It’s not a good image for Nottingham Forest, who charge more than £1200, but to the Premier League’s credit, just seven of its 20 clubs charge for the opportunity to walk side by side with your boyhood hero.
For some elite clubs, it was practically a given that such a memorable moment would have a cost in an era when money influences almost every area of life. For some clubs, it could be a financial nightmare for parents, but for any kid football fan, going out with their heroes on match day is a dream come true.
“Pricing working-class families out of ever being a mascot like this is pure greed,” Clive Efford MP, the chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, told the Telegraph following the latest report. How can Premier League clubs justify charging for something that many people consider to be a boyhood dream, given the millions of dollars they receive annually from TV deals? They ought to feel embarrassed.
Although that is unlikely to change anytime soon, the truth is that money makes the world go round. The costs of each Premier League mascot are listed below.
Nottingham Forest Mascot Prices By Far The Highest
Walking out alongside the Tricky Trees costs a bomb
For the opportunity to watch their child come out with the team, parents of young Forest supporters must pay a lot more than those at any other club. No other club costs nearly as much, with packages ranging from £1200 to £1800, depending on the fixture category.
Three people are included in these packages. Nonetheless, this still amounts to £450 per person in a category A match. This follows Aston Villa’s covert removal of their mysterious fees. Initially, Forest’s Champions League qualifying competitors paid the highest, with rates ranging from £524 to £569. Along with seven other teams that follow that process—Bournemouth, Leicester City, Manchester City, Southampton, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Arsenal—they now provide members with the opportunity to serve as mascots at no cost.
Brighton and Forest, who charge up to £415 for packages, deny any criticism of their pricing policies, pointing out that they also give away a number of spots for free on every given matchday. According to a statement from Nottingham Forest, “at least two match mascots are invited on matchdays. One of these is a participant invited from our Community Trust programs and is provided free of charge, and the other is part of a hospitality package that we are unable to place a value on because it is sold as a wider package.”
In contrast, Brighton claims that they provide two complimentary mascot spots for each home game as well as every away game, adding that “this package is free where we only have one mascot.” The club stated that the remaining packages, which were sold for up to £415, were “primarily because we were frequently asked for this service to be provided, prior to us offering.”
Mascots Are Not Charged by Big Six Clubs
For once, there are financial advantages to backing a larger team.
Notwithstanding the fact that seven clubs charge supporters for mascot packages, none of them are part of the ‘big six.’ Young supporters can enjoy this experience for free at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham, however some of them require the previously mentioned membership agreement.
The opportunity to become a Premier League mascot is available to Cityzens Junior members (£20 membership) at Manchester City through a random poll. A complete 2024–25 junior home uniform, two free match tickets (one for the mascot and one for a companion adult), a program, a goody bag, and free refreshments are all included in the City package. Similar packages are also offered by other clubs, but with minor differences.
Even though they cater to younger supporters, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool have the highest season ticket costs in the Premier League. The cheapest adult season ticket for the Gunners is an eye-opening £1,073.
Prices of Premier League Mascot Packages
Club
Cost
Forest of Nottingham
£1200–£1800 (three guests including Mascot)
Wanderers of Wolverhampton
£290 to £395 (historical seasons; data for the current season is not available)
The Crystal Palace
Between £240 and £495
Albion, Brighton & Hove
Between £240 and £415
United West Ham
£175 to 375
Town of Ipswich
£250
Brentford
Junior season ticket holders can enter the ballot for free (£135).
Villa Aston
Members get free ballot access (Membership £20-£40).
The Arsenal
Members can enter the ballot for free (membership £15-30).
Tottenham
Members get free ballot entry (Membership £20-25).
Liverpool
Members can enter the ballot for free (Membership £20.99).
Southampton
Members can enter the ballot for free (membership £20).
City of Manchester
Members can enter the ballot for free (membership £20).
City of Leicester
Members can enter the ballot for free (membership £18).
The Bournemouth
Members get free ballot entry (Membership £9-15).
Fulham
Prize drawing (entry cost of £5)
Everton
Rumoured to be free, but not confirmed
United Manchester
Free
Newcastle United
Free
Chelsea
Free
Other Clubs Have Scrapped Previous Charges
Tottenham and Leicester City among clubs to see that football is for everyone
Like Villa, Bournemouth has also changed its mind about charging for mascots. Mascots used to cost up to £300 in 2023, but junior members can now enjoy the experience for free.
In 2023, Leicester City will no longer charge a mascot package fee, which was previously £600. Tottenham also eliminated their £405 fee last year, joining a group of clubs that recognised the benefits of the proverb “football is for everyone” by doing away with all mascot costs.
There is a waiting list for Chelsea.
Some young supporters may not be able to experience the clapping at Stamford Bridge.
Even though there is no fee to be a mascot at Stamford Bridge (regardless of membership), not everyone may be able to participate. The waiting list to become a Chelsea mascot is currently four years long.
Parents must apply before their child turns eight in order for them to be included to the waiting list, as children are only eligible from the ages of six to twelve. Some kids could find the experience too much to handle when they’re young, and kids between the ages of 9 and 12 might feel they’re too old by the time they get to the head of the queue. However, Fulham bases theirs on a £5 prize draw, Everton’s is said to be the same, and the club is one of just three (together with Manchester United and Newcastle) that don’t require any hidden costs at all.
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