Manchester United has faced backlash from fans after doubling ticket prices mid-season, with minimum prices now set at £66 per game with no concessions for children or senior citizens. The decision has prompted protests and criticism from supporters, including a fan who claimed to have been removed from a game for displaying a message criticizing the price increase. Fans raised a banner reading “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” at a recent match against Everton, expressing their displeasure with the club’s decision.
In response to the criticism, Manchester United defended their decision by citing the need for cost-saving measures to improve the club’s financial standing. The statement acknowledged the significant reduction in staff numbers and emphasized the importance of increasing revenue to continue investing in football and infrastructure. The club mentioned that over 97% of tickets have already been sold this season, with discounts offered for many of those tickets, but small numbers of additional tickets may be released for matches that have sold out.
Fans who have been affected by the ticket price increase received emails from the club, expressing dissatisfaction with the decision. Many took to social media to voice their discontent, with some highlighting the high cost of tickets for children to attend matches at Old Trafford. Manchester United has recently incurred significant expenses, including £10.4 million in compensation for sacking former manager Erik ten Hag and £11 million to secure Ruben Amorim as the new manager, contributing to a net loss of £113.2 million in the last financial year.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) expressed strong opposition to the ticket price rise, criticizing the lack of consultation with fans and accusing the club of shifting financial burden onto supporters. MUST highlighted the loyalty and financial sacrifices of fans, arguing that they have done their part to support the club and should not be subjected to further price increases. The statement indicated that fans may face additional pressure for significant price rises in the future, calling for urgent discussions with the club to address fans’ concerns and resist further ticket price hikes.
Since the involvement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos in Manchester United earlier this year, the club has implemented cost-cutting measures such as staff layoffs, cancellation of perks like company credit cards and private chauffeurs, and reductions in expenditures like staff lunches and post-match parties. Fans fear that the tightening financial measures are disproportionately affecting them, given the lack of consultation and transparency in decision-making. MUST vowed to continue advocating for fans’ interests and resisting any further attempts to drive up ticket prices, emphasizing the need for dialogue with the club to address the concerns of supporters.
