Manchester United introduced plans to boost season ticket costs by 5 p.c for the 2025/26 season on Monday, defying calls from supporters teams for the associated fee to be frozen. There will likely be no rise in the price of tickets for under-16s, however the membership are introducing a brand new sport categorisation for non season-ticket holders, to permit for various pricing constructions for higher-profile fixtures. United followers have routinely protested at Old Trafford in latest months after the choice in November to scrap concessions to youngsters and over-65s with all remaining tickets for this season priced at 66 kilos ($85).
A fan advisory board (FAB), which met with the membership, had pushed for a freeze on ticket costs.
Season tickets at Old Trafford have additionally elevated by 5 p.c in every of the previous two seasons after an 11-year worth freeze.
United chief government Omar Berrada stated in a press release: “We perceive the significance of their backing for the group and have labored exhausting to provide you with a pricing bundle that’s honest and affordable.”
The membership’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe claimed in a sequence of interviews final week that the English giants would have run out of cash on the finish of final 12 months however for a sequence of cost-cutting measures and the hike in ticket costs he has overseen.
United have made cumulative losses of 410 million kilos within the final seven years after a sequence of high-priced errors within the switch market and in managerial hires.
They presently sit thirteenth within the Premier League and are reliant on successful the Europa League to elevate a trophy this season.
“We listened rigorously to the robust arguments put ahead by the FAB in favour of a freeze. However, the membership has determined that it might not be proper to maintain costs unchanged whereas prices rise and the membership continues to face monetary points,” added Berrada.
“We have saved the rise to the bottom potential degree and guarded our youngest season-ticket holders from any rises, whereas guaranteeing the membership stays financially robust sufficient to spend money on enhancing the group.”
Among a sequence of modifications to ticketing, United additionally plan to show some basic admission tickets near the dugouts into hospitality seats that may be bought at a premium worth.
Premier League leaders Liverpool introduced final month that they might freeze ticket costs for subsequent season.
“For a number of months we’ve argued lengthy and exhausting that the membership want to take a look at the large image and freeze ticket costs for subsequent season,” stated the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust.
“Other golf equipment have completed that already and at United it might have despatched a robust message in regards to the want for everybody to drag collectively to get the membership out of the very troublesome place it finds itself in.
“We do be aware that the dimensions of the headline enhance is lower than many feared and we imagine the large quantities of dialogue that followers teams have had with the membership, alongside the general public stress exerted via the media and numerous protests, helped restrain the rise.”
United introduced plans final week to depart Old Trafford for a brand new 100,000-seater stadium at a reported value of two billion kilos.
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