Premier League club Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada says that the club had “little option” but to raise ticket prices “given the increase in operating costs,” according to Tyrone Marshall of the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. Berrada noted the club has decided that it “would not be right to keep prices unchanged while costs rise and the club continues to face financial issues.” Berrada said the increases were kept “to the lowest possible level,” while noting the youngest season-ticket holders were “protected” from any rises. He said the increases help ensure “the club remains financially strong enough to invest in improving the team.” He added, “Our overall strategy is to price tickets at levels that keep every seat filled for every game, maximising support for the team, and providing a variety of options for different fans, including concessions for our young and elderly supporters.” Marshall noted United worked with the club’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB) to come up with a pricing structure for next season, although supporter representatives “were not in agreement with some of the decisions made by the club and wanted a price freeze for all tickets” (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 3/17). THE ATHLETIC’s Adam Crafton wrote the “starting point” for discussions by co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his new team of executives set their targets “significantly higher” than 5% rises. The club “were initially aiming” for a 20% increase, but “substantial lobbying and extensive consultation” by the club’s FAB contributed to the club searching for “different solutions which better protected season-ticket holders” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/17).
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER DOLLAR: In London, James Ducker noted concern has been “expressed about both plans” to relocate fans behind the home and away dugouts in the south stand with a view to “selling those seats at premium prices and the decision to increase the minimum usage of a season ticket by one game to at least 16 of 19 Premier League home matches.” ManU are also “increasing parking charges” by 15% and will charge fans £10 (US$12.98) for selling a ticket back to the club less than two weeks before a game. ManU said that fans who “currently sit behind the dug-outs where tickets will be ‘converted to hospitality seats’ given the ‘high value of this unique location’” would be “contacted individually to ‘ensure a suitable alternative seat is found’” (London TELEGRAPGH, 3/17).
CAP THAT: In Manchester, George Smith reported Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) has criticized that decision, “demanding United put a ‘strict cap’ in place for the number of games that will be placed in a higher category.” MUST said: “We do note that the scale of the headline increase is less than many feared and we believe the enormous amounts of dialogue that fans groups have had with the club, alongside the public pressure exerted through the media and various protests, helped restrain the increase.” The group said the new match categorization model for non-season ticket holders is “a source of major concern with fans facing additional price increases for higher-demand games.” MUST: “We call for a strict cap on the number of games that will be placed in the higher price categories” (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 3/17). In London, Paul Hirst noted the cost and “categorisation of United matches for non-season-ticket holders will be made public in the summer, when it is known which teams have been promoted” (London TIMES, 3/17).
