Israeli Soccer Clubs Announce Steeply Priced Season Tickets

The start of the Israeli soccer season has been marked by a surge in demand for season tickets, with many clubs reporting sell-outs and record prices. Maccabi Haifa, owned by Yaakov Shahar, leads the league in ticket costs, with premium seats reaching up to NIS 4,500 (approximately $1,200 USD) and even higher for VIP packages. Despite a 2-5% price increase due to rising operational costs, the club sold out its 22,000 season tickets within days.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, owned by Mitch Goldhar, also saw a complete sell-out of its 23,000 season tickets, opting not to release any to new fans. Their most expensive tickets, in the "Gold" section, cost approximately NIS 6,105 ($1,650 USD). Beitar Jerusalem, under Barak Abramov, sold nearly 20,000 tickets, with its most expensive seats priced at NIS 3,750 ($1,000 USD).

Other clubs like Hapoel Be'er Sheva, owned by Alona Barkat, and Hapoel Tel Aviv, led by Edmond Safra, also reported sell-outs with prices ranging from NIS 850 to NIS 3,600 for premium seats. Maccabi Netanya, owned by Ross Katin, froze prices from last season, with their most expensive tickets at NIS 1,450.

Lower-tier clubs and those facing unique circumstances offer more affordable options. Hapoel Haifa, owned by Yoav Katz, provides a cheaper alternative to its city rival, with top seats at NIS 1,350. Hapoel Jerusalem's fan club model offers tickets starting at NIS 800 for active members. Hapoel Petah Tikva and Maccabi Petah Tikva have more accessible pricing, with adult tickets around NIS 800 and NIS 400 respectively.

Bnei Sakhnin and Ironi Tiberias offer season tickets for NIS 700. The most affordable option comes from Ironi Kiryat Shmona, owned by Izzy Sheratzky, which is selling season tickets for as low as NIS 200 for children and soldiers, and NIS 400 for adults, due to the team having to play home games away from its usual location because of security concerns.