The Football Fan Experience Index

Fans are at the heart of every club. They’re the patrons of their team; its past, present, and future, regardless of its ups and downs. The fans themselves are always proud of their support, sometimes “for their sins”, even when their side is down and out – and especially when their side is on top of the division.

Some stadiums around the UK are notorious, known for their diehard support, and bucket list away days. The football pyramid is packed full of historic grounds, places where the pressure weighs heavier on opposition players, or where the chorus of a packed Kop inspires victory.

A lot of modern stadiums get a bad rap too. So-called soulless bowls that leave much to be desired and provide a less than enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

To find the best fan experience in the UK, BetVictor analysed the nine key metrics including ticket prices, infrastructure quality, food, atmosphere, and more. It was then ranked according to almost 4 million football fans visiting 100+ stadiums across England, Wales and Scotland.

Ranking factors:
5%
Total Mileage – Travel distance from home ground to each away fixture and back
5%
Season Ticket Cost – Average season ticket cost based on 2021/22 prices
10%
Median Ticket Cost – Determined by 2021/22 ticket prices
10%
Number of Votes - Number of ratings from attending fans
20%
Atmosphere Rating – Match atmosphere inc. songs, volume, home fans, voted by fans
5%
Location Rating – Access in relation to public and private transport
10%
Stadium View Rating – View of pitch voted by attending fans
15%
Food Rating – Food quality voted by fans
20%
Infrastructure Rating – Quality of stadium and facilities voted by fans

Top 10

According to the research, Nottingham Forest's historic City Ground offers the best fan experience in the country with almost 70,000 votes praising its atmosphere, infrastructure, view, and food – not to mention its ticket price is at a good value for an attending fan.

Surprisingly, Tranmere Rovers land at position two, well ahead of the other bigger Merseyside sides.

As it turns out, the best fan experiences don’t exist in the Premier League, with only Manchester United, Brighton and Aston Villa entering the top ten overall.

Footballing purists rate the older grounds as great places to visit - West Brom, Sheffield United, Bolton and Bradford all make it into the Top 10 despite their league positions, whilst Derby County round out the Top 10 despite their recent woes on and off the field.

EPL
Championship
League 1
League 2
1.
Nottingham Forest
76.88
2.
Tranmere Rovers
76.84
3.
West Bromwich Albion
75.53
4.
Sheffield United
75.12
5.
Manchester United
74.87
6.
Bolton Wanderers
73.37
7.
Bradford City
72.42
8.
Brighton & Hove Albion
72.35
9.
Aston Villa
72.08
10.
Derby County
72.08

Final Ranking EPL

Total Score (out of 100)
1
Manchester United
79.06
2
Aston Villa
77.96
3
Manchester City
76.94
4
Brighton & Hove Albion
76.33
5
Norwich City
74.75

Final Ranking Championship

Total Score (out of 100)
1
Nottingham Forest
89.59
2
West Bromwich Albion
87.84
3
Sheffield United
87.41
4
Derby County
83.84
5
Coventry City
83.65

Final Ranking League 1 & 2

Total Score (out of 100)
1
Tranmere Rovers
81.89
2
Bolton Wanderers
79.01
3
Sheffield Wednesday
77.77
4
Bradford City
77.47
5
Charlton Athletic
77.13

Final Ranking Scotland

Total Score (out of 100)
1
Hibernian
79.81
2
St Mirren
78.12
3
Rangers
77.12
4
Celtic
76.98
5
Hearts
76.78

The Full Index

Data view:
Actual Figures
Ranking Weight
Filter by league:
EPL
Championship
League 1
League 2
SPL
All Leagues
Rank Team League Total Mileage Season Ticket Cost Median Ticket Cost Number of Votes Atmosphere Rating Location Rating Stadium View Rating Food Rating Infrastructure Rating Total Mileage Season Ticket Cost Median Ticket Cost Number of Votes Atmosphere Rating Location Rating Stadium View Rating Food Rating Infrastructure Rating Total Score (out of 100)
1 Nottingham Forest Championship 15,798 £365 £22.60 69,374 60 80 80 70 70 4.85 2.05 6.64 7.21 15.00 4.44 8 13.13 15.56 76.88
2 Tranmere Rovers League 2 20,054 £342 £22.00 39,071 70 70 80 80 70 3.82 2.19 6.82 4.06 17.50 3.89 8 15.00 15.56 76.84
3 West Bromwich Albion Championship 15,735 £359 £21.50 57,949 60 70 80 70 70 4.87 2.09 6.98 6.02 15.00 3.89 8 13.13 15.56 75.53
4 Sheffield United Championship 16,748 £403 £27.89 63,041 70 80 80 60 70 4.58 1.86 5.38 6.55 17.50 4.44 8 11.25 15.56 75.12
5 Manchester United EPL 17,766 £532 £42.00 96,217 60 70 80 70 70 4.31 1.41 3.57 10.00 15.00 3.89 8 13.13 15.56 74.87
6 Bolton Wanderers League 1 19,013 £219 £22.10 52,264 60 70 80 60 70 4.03 3.42 6.79 5.43 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 73.37
7 Bradford City League 2 19,430 £198 £25.00 45,337 70 70 80 60 60 3.94 3.79 6.00 4.71 17.50 3.89 8 11.25 13.33 72.42
8 Brighton & Hove Albion EPL 26,441 £535 £47.50 12,840 80 50 80 80 80 2.90 1.40 3.16 1.33 20.00 2.78 8 15.00 17.78 72.35
9 Aston Villa EPL 15,607 £370 £26.50 77,108 60 70 80 60 60 4.91 2.03 5.66 8.01 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 13.33 72.08
10 Derby County Championship 15,444 £350 £28.00 57,013 60 70 80 60 70 4.96 2.14 5.36 5.93 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 72.08
11 Sheffield Wednesday League 1 16,920 £430 £34.50 67,433 70 60 70 70 60 4.53 1.74 4.35 7.01 17.50 3.33 7 13.13 13.33 71.92
12 Coventry City Championship - £375 £24.00 37,779 70 60 80 70 80 - 2.00 6.25 3.93 17.50 3.33 8 13.13 17.78 71.91
13 Manchester City EPL 17,675 £325 £44.00 50,136 70 70 80 50 80 4.34 2.31 3.41 5.21 17.50 3.89 8 9.38 17.78 71.81
14 St Mirren SPL - £270 £27.00 1,996 70 80 100 60 90 - 2.78 5.56 0.21 17.50 4.44 10 11.25 20.00 71.74
15 Charlton Athletic League 1 21,225 £260 £24.00 57,219 70 70 70 60 60 3.61 2.88 6.25 5.95 17.50 3.89 7 11.25 13.33 71.67
16 Stoke City Championship 16,180 £294 £20.00 51,398 60 50 70 70 60 4.74 2.55 7.50 5.34 15.00 2.78 7 13.13 13.33 71.37
17 Rotherham United League 1 17,121 £395 £27.00 11,874 60 80 80 80 70 4.48 1.90 5.56 1.23 15.00 4.44 8 15.00 15.56 71.17
18 Tottenham Hotspur EPL 20,151 £807 £62.50 3,824 80 60 90 60 90 3.80 0.93 2.40 0.40 20.00 3.33 9 11.25 20.00 71.11
19 Sunderland League 1 30,998 £360 £27.00 44,192 70 70 80 60 70 2.47 2.08 5.56 4.59 17.50 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 70.90
20 Plymouth Argyle League 1 37,570 £245 £21.10 31,774 70 80 80 50 70 2.04 3.06 7.11 3.30 17.50 4.44 8 9.38 15.56 70.39
21 Hibernian SPL - £405 £30.50 8,192 80 90 90 70 70 - 1.85 4.92 0.85 20.00 5.00 9 13.13 15.56 70.30
22 Hull City Championship 21,584 £359 £21.00 36,303 60 70 80 60 70 3.55 2.09 7.14 3.77 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 70.25
23 Norwich City EPL 25,574 £499 £31.50 48,197 70 80 70 60 70 3.00 1.50 4.76 5.01 17.50 4.44 7 11.25 15.56 70.02
24 Reading Championship 19,879 £299 £27.50 50,989 60 50 80 60 70 3.86 2.51 5.45 5.30 15.00 2.78 8 11.25 15.56 69.70
25 Leicester City EPL 15,523 £365 £38.00 47,615 60 70 80 60 70 4.94 2.05 3.95 4.95 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 69.58
26 Birmingham City Championship 15,639 £265 £27.50 60,909 60 60 70 60 60 4.90 2.83 5.45 6.33 15.00 3.33 7 11.25 13.33 69.43
27 Blackburn Rovers Championship 19,824 £399 £30.50 58,381 60 60 70 60 70 3.87 1.88 4.92 6.07 15.00 3.33 7 11.25 15.56 68.87
28 Millwall Championship 20,886 £385 £25.00 40,898 60 60 80 70 60 3.67 1.95 6.00 4.25 15.00 3.33 8 13.13 13.33 68.66
29 Barnsley Championship 17,726 £350 £28.60 52,065 60 70 80 60 60 4.32 2.14 5.25 5.41 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 13.33 68.60
30 Wigan Athletic League 1 19,230 £375 £30.00 48,705 50 60 80 70 70 3.99 2.00 5.00 5.06 12.50 3.33 8 13.13 15.56 68.56
31 Rochdale League 2 18,415 £175 £20.00 31,032 60 50 70 60 60 4.16 4.29 7.50 3.23 15.00 2.78 7 11.25 13.33 68.53
32 Middlesbrough Championship 27,376 £420 £30.50 41,344 70 70 80 50 70 2.80 1.79 4.92 4.30 17.50 3.89 8 9.38 15.56 68.12
33 Arsenal EPL 20,259 £891 £62.00 43,892 60 80 80 60 80 3.78 0.84 2.42 4.56 15.00 4.44 8 11.25 17.78 68.08
34 Wolverhampton Wanderers EPL 18,575 £549 £31.00 60,839 60 80 70 50 70 4.13 1.37 4.84 6.32 15.00 4.44 7 9.38 15.56 68.03
35 Doncaster Rovers League 1 17,963 £229 £21.60 27,734 50 60 80 60 70 4.27 3.28 6.95 2.88 12.50 3.33 8 11.25 15.56 68.01
36 Liverpool EPL 17,675 £685 £34.00 74,570 60 60 70 50 70 4.34 1.09 4.41 7.75 15.00 3.33 7 9.38 15.56 67.86
37 Dundee United SPL - £295 £23.10 5,628 70 70 80 70 70 - 2.54 6.49 0.58 17.50 3.89 8 13.13 15.56 67.69
38 Preston North End Championship 20,755 £400 £27.00 49,500 60 60 80 50 70 3.69 1.88 5.56 5.14 15.00 3.33 8 9.38 15.56 67.53
39 Southampton EPL 24,534 £399 £28.17 43,785 70 70 80 40 70 3.12 1.88 5.33 4.55 17.50 3.89 8 7.50 15.56 67.32
40 Northampton Town League 2 16,196 £370 £21.25 33,593 60 60 70 60 60 4.73 2.03 7.06 3.49 15.00 3.33 7 11.25 13.33 67.23
41 Oldham Athletic League 2 17,939 £200 £20.00 44,100 60 60 60 60 50 4.27 3.75 7.50 4.58 15.00 3.33 6 11.25 11.11 66.80
42 Hearts SPL - £240 £26.60 8,023 80 80 80 60 60 - 3.13 5.64 0.83 20.00 4.44 8 11.25 13.33 66.63
43 Watford EPL 19,017 £496 £39.00 58,495 60 60 80 60 60 4.03 1.51 3.85 6.08 15.00 3.33 8 11.25 13.33 66.39
44 AFC Wimbledon League 1 - £435 £27.89 1,654 70 70 90 70 70 - 1.72 5.38 0.17 17.50 3.89 9 13.13 15.56 66.34
45 Lincoln City League 1 18,063 £475 £19.25 28,515 70 70 60 60 50 4.24 1.58 7.79 2.96 17.50 3.89 6 11.25 11.11 66.33
46 Newcastle United EPL 31,650 £417 £38.50 59,175 60 90 70 50 70 2.42 1.80 3.90 6.15 15.00 5.00 7 9.38 15.56 66.20
47 Swansea City Championship 27,119 £249 £30.00 21,079 60 60 80 60 70 2.83 3.01 5.00 2.19 15.00 3.33 8 11.25 15.56 66.17
48 Fulham Championship 20,423 £340 £52.50 59,835 60 80 70 60 60 3.75 2.21 2.86 6.22 15.00 4.44 7 11.25 13.33 66.06
49 Portsmouth League 1 25,623 £313 £20.66 47,637 80 70 60 50 40 2.99 2.40 7.26 4.95 20.00 3.89 6 9.38 8.89 65.75
50 Wycombe Wanderers League 1 18,575 £400 £21.00 34,673 60 40 70 60 60 4.13 1.88 7.14 3.60 15.00 2.22 7 11.25 13.33 65.55
51 Cardiff City Championship 24,381 £249 £33.50 15,992 60 60 80 60 70 3.14 3.01 4.48 1.66 15.00 3.33 8 11.25 15.56 65.43
52 Brentford EPL 20,158 £419 £27.89 1,069 60 80 80 60 70 3.80 1.79 5.38 0.11 15.00 4.44 8 11.25 15.56 65.33
53 Chelsea EPL 20,460 £595 £58.50 64,733 60 80 70 60 60 3.75 1.26 2.56 6.73 15.00 4.44 7 11.25 13.33 65.33
54 Rangers SPL - £492 £27.89 13,432 80 70 80 50 70 - 1.52 5.38 1.40 20.00 3.89 8 9.38 15.56 65.12
55 Swindon Town League 2 19,379 £350 £20.75 43,089 60 70 60 60 50 3.96 2.14 7.23 4.48 15.00 3.89 6 11.25 11.11 65.06
56 Walsall League 2 15,714 £330 £22.60 43,687 50 70 60 70 50 4.88 2.27 6.64 4.54 12.50 3.89 6 13.13 11.11 64.95
57 Leeds United EPL 19,256 £349 £32.50 68,956 60 60 60 50 60 3.98 2.15 4.62 7.17 15.00 3.33 6 9.38 13.33 64.95
58 Ipswich Town League 1 24,884 £456 £30.00 45,137 60 70 70 60 60 3.08 1.64 5.00 4.69 15.00 3.89 7 11.25 13.33 64.89
59 Leyton Orient League 2 20,575 £300 £20.66 38,680 60 70 60 60 50 3.73 2.50 7.26 4.02 15.00 3.89 6 11.25 11.11 64.75
60 Burnley EPL 19,719 £319 £22.00 47,782 60 60 60 60 50 3.89 2.35 6.82 4.97 15.00 3.33 6 11.25 11.11 64.72
61 Celtic SPL - £510 £38.00 14,500 80 70 70 60 70 - 1.47 3.95 1.51 20.00 3.89 7 11.25 15.56 64.62
62 Milton Keynes Dons League 1 17,025 £230 £22.75 26,300 30 50 80 60 80 4.50 3.26 6.59 2.73 7.50 2.78 8 11.25 17.78 64.40
63 Huddersfield Town Championship 18,296 £249 £30.00 45,798 50 70 80 50 60 4.19 3.01 5.00 4.76 12.50 3.89 8 9.38 13.33 64.06
64 Bristol City Championship 22,298 £355 £32.00 44,421 60 60 60 60 60 3.44 2.11 4.69 4.62 15.00 3.33 6 11.25 13.33 63.77
65 Burton Albion League 1 15,330 £350 £21.25 20,610 50 60 70 60 60 5.00 2.14 7.06 2.14 12.50 3.33 7 11.25 13.33 63.76
66 Colchester United League 2 23,722 £150 £22.60 12,804 50 40 80 60 60 3.23 5.00 6.64 1.33 12.50 2.22 8 11.25 13.33 63.51
67 Shrewsbury Town League 1 17,970 £270 £20.60 15,653 60 50 70 50 60 4.27 2.78 7.28 1.63 15.00 2.78 7 9.38 13.33 63.44
68 Queens Park Rangers Championship 20,169 £225 £31.00 63,411 50 70 60 60 50 3.80 3.33 4.84 6.59 12.50 3.89 6 11.25 11.11 63.31
69 Mansfield Town League 2 16,181 £357 £20.25 31,052 50 70 70 60 50 4.74 2.10 7.41 3.23 12.50 3.89 7 11.25 11.11 63.22
70 Port Vale League 2 16,311 £300 £20.75 40,383 50 50 50 70 50 4.70 2.50 7.23 4.20 12.50 2.78 5 13.13 11.11 63.14
72 St Johnstone SPL - £320 £23.10 4,423 60 70 80 60 70 - 2.34 6.49 0.46 15.00 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 62.99
73 Cambridge United League 1 19,345 £350 £20.00 29,826 60 50 60 60 50 3.96 2.14 7.50 3.10 15.00 2.78 6 11.25 11.11 62.84
74 Crewe Alexandra League 1 17,021 £315 £19.25 43,829 50 80 60 50 50 4.50 2.38 7.79 4.56 12.50 4.44 6 9.38 11.11 62.66
75 Salford City League 2 17,973 £167 £15.00 3,625 50 40 60 60 50 4.26 4.49 10.00 0.38 12.50 2.22 6 11.25 11.11 62.22
76 Crawley Town League 2 23,758 £360 £19.00 14,853 50 60 70 60 60 3.23 2.08 7.89 1.54 12.50 3.33 7 11.25 13.33 62.16
77 AFC Bournemouth Championship 26,715 £600 £35.00 35,369 60 60 70 60 60 2.87 1.25 4.29 3.68 15.00 3.33 7 11.25 13.33 62.00
78 West Ham United EPL 20,679 £320 £52.50 8,184 60 60 60 60 70 3.71 2.34 2.86 0.85 15.00 3.33 6 11.25 15.56 60.90
79 Carlisle United League 2 32,400 £362 £20.25 28,937 60 70 60 50 50 2.37 2.07 7.41 3.01 15.00 3.89 6 9.38 11.11 60.23
80 Livingston SPL - £300 £25.00 3,680 50 70 80 60 70 - 2.50 6.00 0.38 12.50 3.89 8 11.25 15.56 60.08
81 Oxford United League 1 17,963 £329 £23.60 24,246 50 50 70 60 50 4.27 2.28 6.36 2.52 12.50 2.78 7 11.25 11.11 60.06
82 Exeter City League 2 31,638 £354 £20.66 24,784 70 60 60 50 40 2.42 2.12 7.26 2.58 17.50 3.33 6 9.38 8.89 59.47
83 Morecambe League 1 23,738 £150 £22.25 7,996 50 50 60 60 50 3.23 5.00 6.74 0.83 12.50 2.78 6 11.25 11.11 59.44
84 Accrington Stanley League 1 19,805 £219 £20.60 19,348 60 60 60 50 40 3.87 3.42 7.28 2.01 15.00 3.33 6 9.38 8.89 59.19
85 Harrogate Town League 2 21,159 - - 6,005 70 70 70 70 60 3.62 - - 0.62 17.50 3.89 7 13.13 13.33 59.09
86 Dundee SPL - £375 £20.75 4,863 60 80 70 50 60 - 2.00 7.23 0.51 15.00 4.44 7 9.38 13.33 58.89
87 Stevenage League 2 18,639 £320 £21.25 20,077 40 60 60 80 40 4.11 2.34 7.06 2.09 10.00 3.33 6 15.00 8.89 58.82
88 Aberdeen SPL - £370 £27.00 5,646 60 70 70 60 60 - 2.03 5.56 0.59 15.00 3.89 7 11.25 13.33 58.64
91 Ross County SPL - £300 £20.25 2,064 50 80 70 70 50 - 2.50 7.41 0.21 12.50 4.44 7 13.13 11.11 58.30
92 Blackpool Championship 22,385 £299 £23.00 49,145 50 70 60 50 40 3.42 2.51 6.52 5.11 12.50 3.89 6 9.38 8.89 58.21
93 Scunthorpe United League 2 19,454 £360 £23.50 32,984 50 60 60 50 50 3.94 2.08 6.38 3.43 12.50 3.33 6 9.38 11.11 58.15
94 Fleetwood Town League 1 23,106 £240 £30.00 9,914 50 60 70 50 60 3.32 3.13 5.00 1.03 12.50 3.33 7 9.38 13.33 58.01
95 Bristol Rovers League 2 21,850 £350 £24.00 28,043 60 50 50 60 40 3.51 2.14 6.25 2.91 15.00 2.78 5 11.25 8.89 57.73
96 Peterborough United Championship 17,704 £399 £23.60 43,362 50 70 60 50 40 4.33 1.88 6.36 4.51 12.50 3.89 6 9.38 8.89 57.73
98 Motherwell SPL - £350 £20.75 5,679 60 60 60 60 50 - 2.14 7.23 0.59 15.00 3.33 6 11.25 11.11 56.66
99 Everton EPL 19,982 £420 £43.50 58,478 50 60 50 50 50 3.84 1.79 3.45 6.08 12.50 3.33 5 9.38 11.11 56.47
100 Luton Town Championship 17,993 £400 £22.00 44,467 40 40 40 80 30 4.26 1.88 6.82 4.62 10.00 2.22 4 15.00 6.67 55.46
101 Newport County League 2 22,717 £315 £35.00 5,391 50 70 60 60 50 3.37 2.38 4.29 0.56 12.50 3.89 6 11.25 11.11 55.35
103 Forest Green Rovers League 2 19,486 £391 £20.75 9,310 50 30 60 50 50 3.93 1.92 7.23 0.97 12.50 1.67 6 9.38 11.11 54.70
104 Cheltenham Town League 1 17,962 £425 £41.50 26,608 50 50 60 50 50 4.27 1.76 3.61 2.77 12.50 2.78 6 9.38 11.11 54.18
105 Crystal Palace EPL 21,419 £435 £41.50 64,197 50 50 50 50 40 3.58 1.72 3.61 6.67 12.50 2.78 5 9.38 8.89 54.13
111 Barrow League 2 25,694 - - 6,416 60 70 60 50 50 2.98 - - 0.67 15.00 3.89 6 9.38 11.11 49.03
112 Gillingham League 1 24,414 £330 £20.00 34,614 40 40 60 40 30 3.14 2.27 7.50 3.60 10.00 2.22 6 7.50 6.67 48.90
114 Hartlepool United League 2 - - - 24,666 50 70 70 50 50 - - - 2.56 12.50 3.89 7 9.38 11.11 46.44
116 Sutton United League 2 - - - 7,711 50 70 60 60 50 - - - 0.80 12.50 3.89 6 11.25 11.11 45.55

Sources

Ticket Cost – Official sites of all English Premier League, Scottish Premier League and English Football League Sides
Fan votes - footballgroundmap.com
Mileage - 92club.co.uk