MUCKester United Supporters Trust (MUST) – has criticized the increase in ticket price at Old Trafford, called this a “slap in the face” with the fans, after the Reds first applied the match classification system for each ticket price.
According to this group, for the majority of the Premier League matches, the cheapest ticket price for members to buy in the match has increased by 50%. Earlier in March, MU announced that it would increase the seasonal ticket price for most seasonal card owners, 5%on average, although the elderly still suffered a higher increase. And now, the price for fans to buy tickets in the match – about 20,000 people per game – has been announced.
There will be 6 matches ranked A, including: Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle. With these matches, the cheapest ticket price that members can buy will be 57 pounds (approximately 2 million VND). Last season, the average ticket price (including seasonal tickets) was 41.41 pounds, according to information from MU itself. Meanwhile, the most expensive ticket price for 17 types A and B ranges from 86 to 97 pounds.
Only two matches are classified as C (against Wolves and Sunderland), with fares ranging from 37 to 60 pounds. MU said these match classifications are based on the level of buying tickets in the past. Type D matches will be for the trophies, where the opponent can come from lower rankings, and the fare will range from 32 to 52 pounds.
Must was indignant at the price increase, and said that the club did not consult the fans about specific details. Omar Berrada CEO has recently admitted that MU made a mistake last season, when he increased the ticket price to 66 pounds without notice in the middle of the season.
“I admit how we deployed was not good,” Berrada shared with United We Stand magazine. “I am responsible for that decision. Because if we consider myself, the proportion of people affected is very low. But we have poor communication. And we do it too quickly, right in the middle of the season. It's a lesson. We will try not to repeat that mistake in the future.”
Berrada also emphasized that MU has ever increased the exchange with the fans' advisory council, where they had exciting discussions and many frank criticisms on the ideas proposed by the club's leadership. MU said that the average ticket price for the area of the high school stands next season (including seasonal tickets) will be £ 46.51, an increase from 41.41 pounds last season.
The club also confirmed that only less than 1% of the total number of tickets sold will be priced at the highest level of group A of 97 pounds (about 3.4 million VND).
