Manchester United Old Trafford
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Manchester United supporters have already endured a turbulent few months following a disappointing campaign on the pitch.
As the club prepare for a crucial rebuild under INEOS, off-field decisions are again drawing criticism from the fanbase.
Particularly around rising costs for loyal match-going supporters.
With season ticket prices rising for a third straight year and hundreds of fans being relocated to make way for new hospitality areas, tensions between supporters and the boardroom are running high.
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Now, another development has sparked a backlash.
United’s decision to introduce a new ticketing model for members that includes eye-watering matchday prices.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), in a statement published on their official website, say fans have been dealt a “fresh kick in the teeth.”
This comes after the club confirmed a new “match categorisation model” that will see non-season ticket holders pay up to £97 for premium fixtures such as those against Manchester City and Liverpool.
MUST claim the pricing structure means the cheapest adult tickets for almost every league match will rise by more than 50%.
Thus, impacting around 20,000 supporters who buy on a match-by-match basis via the membership scheme.
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Despite chief executive Omar Berrada acknowledging in United We Stand that last season’s price rollout was poorly handled, the group insists there has once again been “no consultation” with fan representative bodies such as the Fan Advisory Board and Fans’ Forum.
“Once again, they have failed to consult any of the fans representative bodies on the details of the decision.
“This match categorisation model will do enormous harm and undermine the atmosphere in the ground in a season when the team will need it more than ever,” MUST said.
“This really is a fresh kick in the teeth for Manchester United fans.”
United maintain that the FAB was presented with figures and that feedback led to adjustments in pricing, as per The Telegraph’s report.
They also argue the structure aligns with other Premier League clubs and reflects ticket demand.
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Category A matches will now cost between £59 and £97, category B between £57 and £86, category C between £37 and £60, and category D (cup matches) between £32 and £52.
United say fewer than 1% of tickets will hit the £97 mark, with junior and senior concessions remaining in place.
But critics note that senior fans are already facing significant hikes, including a halving of their long-standing discount.
MUST added: “Once again, they’re making choices against the interests of fans and, we believe, the club as a whole.
These ticketing decisions only push those regular supporters away in favour of occasional visitors and risk pricing out the next generation.”
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