ASTON VILLAINS
Anger as newly promoted clubs hike tickets most
PREMIER League fans have been hit by inflation-busting hikes in the cost of season tickets.
Seven clubs have ramped up their adult prices despite earning millions from lucrative TV rights.
Supporters’ organisations have blasted the rises as a disgrace.
The biggest culprits were two newly promoted clubs. Aston Villa fans took the worst hit, with their season ticket up 15% to £370 while Sheffield United supporters face an 11 per cent hike to £357.50.
Fans at Newcastle United – already organising a boycott of home games after billionaire Mike Ashley failed to keep star manager Rafa Benitez – face a five per cent rise to £600. Other rises were at Crystal Palace, Brighton, Watford and Wolves. Arsenal still tops the season ticket league table at £ 891 despite freezing prices for a fifth season. Champions Manchester City are among 10 other clubs to keep costs the same, while Southampton dropped their lowest season ticket price from £ 570 to £ 399 after introducing 2,000 cheaper season tickets. The cheapest in the league is £320 at West Ham.
Meanwhile TV deals are set to bring in £9.2billion for Premier League teams over the next three years on top of the £2.5billion clubs earned in TV and performance prize money last season. Kenny Saunders, founder of Save Grassroots Football which campaigns for Premier League clubs to invest in the amateur game, said: “Working class supporters are being exploited. If these clubs cared more about fans they’d bring prices down.
“We’ve got clubs increasing tickets by 15 per cent and players earning £200,000 a week in areas where fans are relying on food banks. It’s a disgrace. ”
REDUCE
The Football Supporters’ Association said: “The FSA believes all Premier League clubs have enough revenue to reduce matchday costs.”
Sheffield United said season tickets were set at a promotional rate and had sold out. It added “a number of issues” prevent it selling further season tickets.”
Brighton, Watford and Aston Villa refused to comment while Newcastle, Wolves and Crystal Palace did not respond to requests. Aston Villa £322 £370 Sheff Utd £323 £357.50 Palace £570 £600 Newcastle £571 £600 Brighton £515 £535 Watford £551 £562 Wolves £514 £509 Burnley £390 £390 Leicester £395 £395 Everton £485 £485 Man Utd £532 £532 Bournemouth £550 £550 Norwich £499.50 £499.50 Liverpool £685 £685 Chelsea £750 £750 Spurs £795 £795 Arsenal £891 £891 West Ham £320 £320 Man City £325 £325 Southampton £570 £399
If these clubs cared about fans they’d bring prices down KENNY SAUNDERS ON SEASON TICKET RISES