Manchester United introduced plans to lift season ticket costs by 5 p.c for the 2025-26 season on Monday, defying calls from supporters teams for the fee to be frozen.
There shall 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United followers have routinely protested at Outdated Trafford in current months after the choice in November to scrap concessions to kids and over-65s with all remaining tickets for this season priced at £66 ($85).
A fan advisory board (FAB), which met with the membership, had pushed for a freeze on ticket costs.
Season tickets at Outdated Trafford have additionally elevated by 5 p.c in every of the previous two seasons after an 11-year value freeze.
United chief govt Omar Berrada mentioned in a press release: “We perceive the significance of their backing for the staff and have labored onerous to give you a pricing package deal that’s honest and affordable.”
The membership’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe claimed in a collection of interviews final week that the English giants would have run out of cash on the finish of final yr however for a collection of cost-cutting measures and the hike in ticket costs he has overseen.
United have made cumulative losses of £410 million within the final seven years after a collection of high-priced errors within the switch market and in managerial hires.
They at present sit thirteenth within the Premier League and are reliant on successful the Europa League to raise a trophy this season.
“We listened fastidiously to the robust arguments put ahead by the FAB in favour of a freeze. Nonetheless, the membership has determined that it could not be proper to maintain costs unchanged whereas prices rise and the membership continues to face monetary points,” added Berrada.
“We’ve saved the rise to the bottom attainable degree and guarded our youngest season-ticket holders from any rises, whereas making certain the membership stays financially robust sufficient to put money into bettering the staff.”
Amongst a collection of adjustments to ticketing, United additionally plan to show some basic admission tickets near the dugouts into hospitality seats that may be offered at a premium value.
Premier League leaders Liverpool introduced final month that they’d freeze ticket costs for subsequent season.
“For a number of months we have now argued lengthy and onerous that the membership want to have a look at the large image and freeze ticket costs for subsequent season,” mentioned the Manchester United Supporters’ Belief.
“Different golf equipment have carried out that already and at United it could have despatched a strong message in regards to the want for everybody to tug collectively to get the membership out of the very troublesome place it finds itself in.
“We do notice that the dimensions of the headline improve is lower than many feared and we consider the big quantities of dialogue that followers teams have had with the membership, alongside the general public strain exerted by means of the media and varied protests, helped restrain the rise.”
United introduced plans final week to go away Outdated Trafford for a brand new 100,000-seater stadium at a reported value of £2 billion.
