As Manchester City fans raise concerns over ticket and atmosphere issues at the Etihad Stadium - clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are dealing with exactly the same concerns.
Comments
Sport
The crowd during the Liverpool v Manchester City game on Sunday
The crowd during the Liverpool v Manchester City game on Sunday
(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
All week, the Manchester Evening News has looked into the various issues around tickets at Manchester City.
Fans fear another price hike when season ticket prices are announced in the near future, while they are also concerned over opposition supporters ability to buy seats in the home end at the Etihad Stadium. Others feel they will be priced out of coming to games, while the controversial Flexi-Gold ticket is another area of concern.
Article continues below
City are acting on accounts who break conditions and have banned hundreds this season - plenty as a direct result of the recent Real Madrid fiasco. City's use of third-party re-sellers has been mentioned by fans.
The issues generally come down to fairness. Fans aren't asking for discounts, they just want prices to reflect difficult economic times as well as longstanding loyalty. The 'Stop Exploiting Loyalty' campaign has seen City unite with plenty of opposition fanbases recently, including rivals Liverpool.
And Liverpool - with their famous atmosphere at Anfield being a critical part of their brand and identity - have exactly the same issues as City with atmosphere, ticket prices, season tickets and tourist fans. So do Manchester United, and Chelsea.
As City wait to confirm their pricing structures for 2025/26, they will have seen clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham listening to fans and freezing prices. But United have hiked them again, as have Arsenal.
There is just as much precedent for City to do the right thing as there is protection from similar clubs if they do decide to increase ticket costs.
But prices are just the start of the comparisons. Where City have had issues this season with visiting fans getting tickets in home areas, or touts making money, they don't need to look far for other clubs battling similar issues.
Chelsea emailed supporters earlier this month to assure them that they were taking touting seriously, saying 1,500 membership accounts were cancelled last season - including one who was 'said to be using 340 membership accounts linked to the same ticket.'
United had well-publicised issues when they hosted Rangers earlier this season, with hundreds of Scots purchasing tickets in home ends and celebrating with the sold-out away end. United also issued an apology in 2023 when 2,000 Galatasaray supporters were visible in the home ends.
United took measures to ensure that only fans who had purchased membership before the Rangers draw was made in August could attend but that clearly wasn't enough. A club spokesperson said after the game: "Whilst the unauthorised touting of tickets has become more difficult since our introduction of in-app digital ticketing, it cannot be completely eliminated."
So while City's problems in recent games vs Real Madrid and Liverpool are serious and pose obvious safety issues, it is not just a City problem.
You will hear City fans reference the atmosphere at the Etihad, particularly for European games where there may be fewer season ticket holders and a higher proportion of tourist fans. Part of the appeal for tourists, of course, will be an authentic atmosphere, so the balance must be right.
It's also worth saying tourists should be welcome given clubs rely on global support more and more. Fans coming from far and wide to watch the Premier League isn't new and isn't purely a factor at one particular club.
Liverpool are battling with that balance. Anfield is a 'bucket list' stadium for many, so tickets for any game are always in demand. Their fan group Spirit of Shankly, who have worked with City's supporter groups over various issues, have discussed the atmosphere concerns with Liverpool. They put that down to how difficult it has been to get a ticket, particularly in groups.
Maybe it calls for more cross-fanbase co-operation on the matter. If the same issues are affecting all the big clubs, campaigns have shown that voices can be heard in boardrooms.
As one supporter told the Manchester Evening News outside the Etihad last weekend: "It needs to happen more, put loyalties to one side, instead of jibing at each other, about crowds and empty seats. People need to come together and say we're all supporters, all here for the same reason, that needs to happen a lot more.
"Stop having a go at other people's support and realise we're all supporters of the game of football in this country. If we're not here, where do the club go? They'll lose sponsorship.
"They've made an assumption, a lot of football clubs, where they think just because you love the club, you'll turn up but it doesn't work that way. You can't keep expecting, expecting, expecting and keep putting prices up. It will lead to a tipping point. I think we're very close to it now and football will eat itself eventually. Not just City, for everyone, you will lose crowds, then you lose sponsorship and money stops coming in and they'll be begging for us to come back."
Article continues below
Clubs need to work with their supporters, and supporters need to work with each other, to make sure it never gets to that stage.
The MEN are taking a closer look at the ticketing issues around City with a series of special reports. You won't miss any of them by joining our free WhatsApp group here or subscribing to our free newsletter service here.