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Seat Tax To
Hit Football?
1st April 2006
It is believed that football could be hit by the
introduction of a new tax, which will be based upon the
number of seats inside a sporting stadium. Already, this
tax has been dubbed as the "seat tax"!
Today's announcement of a possible "seat tax"
closes follows that of a similar proposal that could hit
hotels across the country. On March 12th, it was revealed
that the Government's Lyons' Inquiry is considering
taxing hotels based upon the number of beds in their
establishment - please click here to read further information
about the Lyons' Inquiry and the "bed tax".
Although the Woods' Inquiry into possible taxation
schemes for sport is at a very early stage, it is already
sending shock waves through the sporting world. Football
would be especially badly hit should a "seat
tax" be introduced, closely followed by rugby.
Surprisingly, according to initial research, the worse
affected sport is likely to be cricket.
For once, the larger football clubs will be worst hit by
the tax and therefore it is expected that they could
mount a legal challenge should any government attempt to
implement such a tax.
Comments have quickly appeared on internet sporting
forums including one from an anonymous football official.
The anonymous official fumed: "Its a joke! Sheer
greed is fuelling this proposal.
"Ultimately, any tax would have to be passed on to
the supporter, which could mean that an adult ticket to
watch a Premiership club will cost over £100 per match
by 2009. That's roughly an increase of £10 per person
above our budgeted ticket prices."
No actual figures have been released yet. However, based
on the above official's guess of £10 per person - or
rather, based on per seat, as it is irrelevant whether it
is occupied or not - then one can quickly see why such a
tax will prove unpopular.
| |
Number
of Seats * Tax Rate |
Total
Due |
| Arsenal |
38,500 * £10 |
£385,000 |
| Chelsea |
42, 449 *
£10 |
£424,449 |
| Lincoln City |
9,000 (approx) * £10 |
£90,000 |
| Manchester
United |
68,190 * £10 |
£681,900 |
| Spurs |
36,214 * £10 |
£362,140 |
It is also easy to see why panic is today sweeping the
sporting industry. Many, many unanswered questions
remain. One such question is whether this tax would be a
classed as a one-off windfall tax or whether it would be
an annual tax.
Due to the panic, it is rumoured that further details
regarding this tax will be released later today.
Hopefully this will ease the fears that sport is today
literally sitting on a financial crisis!
Please click here to view cheap merchandise for Arsenal, Chelsea, Lincoln
City, Manchester
United or Tottenham
Hotspur
football club.
Click here for more Lincoln City news
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