Tuesday 23rd July 2019
Please find below the results of the AST survey taken at the end of the season 2018/19. The survey is sent to all members. The AST Board will use send these results to shape our work going forward and inform Arsenal of them. We note that the results to questions 1 to 5 strongly endorse our decision to back the #WeCareDoYou statement
Questions 1 to 5 – Ownership, Board and Governance issues
In 2018 Stan Kroenke through investment vehicle KSE, UK, Inc took Arsenal into private ownership. As a result the holding company of Arsenal is now based in the US and accountability is reduced as there is no Annual General Meeting and reduced financial reporting. All supporter shareholders had their shares compulsorily purchased meaning there is now no supporter involvement in the club’s ownership or governance.
In light of these developments please answer the following questions:
1. Do you think Arsenal being privately owned by KSE is a good thing for Arsenal?
Yes: 1% No: 95% Don’t Know: 4%
2. What would your view be towards KSE now paying itself dividends or management fees from Arsenal?
For: 2% Against: 94% Don’t Know: 4%
3. Do you support campaigning by the AST to political parties and the football authorities for supporters to be given greater representation on the Boards of football clubs and/or for a portion of a Club’s equity (shares) to be made available for fans to own?
Yes: 96% No: 2% Against: 2%
4. The Arsenal Board is currently comprised of the following members: Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke, Sir Chips Keswick, Lord Harris, Ken Friar. Only the Kroenkes hold any shares in the club. Do you think that the remaining members of the Arsenal Board do enough to hold the owners to account and steer the club in the right direction?
Yes: 1% No: 82% Don’t Know: 17%
5. Do you think that new appointments are needed to the Board to create more diversity and to strengthen its footballing expertise?
Yes: 96% No:1% Don’t Know 3%
Question 6 - Football Performance
Very happy and optimistic 2%
Generally satisfied 17%
Not very happy 47%
Unhappy and pessimistic 34%
Questions 7 to 10 - Campaigning on the Football experience
The AST has recently campaigned on several long-term issues, often in tandem with other Arsenal supporter groups, other Trusts and the Football Supporters’ Federation. Please give us your opinion of the importance and relevance of these campaigns to help determine our areas of focus:
7. Improving the Arsenal Ticket Exchange and the introduction of home credits to encourage greater and wider use of all tickets and reduce empty seats?
Very important 60%
Moderately important 32%
Not very important 7%
Not at all important 1%
8. Improving the atmosphere within the stadium?
Very important 69%
Moderately important 28%
Not very important 2%
Not at all important 1%
9. Control or reduction of ticket prices across the board (we have seen home ticket prices once again frozen and successfully campaigned for retention of the away ticket price cap but would like to see more done for all match-going fans)
Very important 61%
Moderately important 30%
Not very important 8%
Not at all important 1%
10. Calling for more enforcement action to be taken against ticket touting both at home games and in the away scheme
Very important 65%
Moderately important 26%
Not very important 8%
Not at all important 1%
11. Now about the AST. What do you like about being an AST member?
The promotion of values of custodianship in how Arsenal & Football is run 86%
Being part of a campaigning group 59%
The opportunity to attend AST and club events with special guests 51%
The opportunity to input into discussions with the club 64%
Access to like-minded supporters and insight of the AST board, ie on club finances 67%
