UNITED FA will consult supporters after ticket price row
THE FA has agreed to consult supporters over ticket pricing in future after a backlash for next month’s FA Cup final.
United and Chelsea fans were furious to learn they will have to pay up to £145 for a ticket for the Wembley final on May 19, an increase of £65 per ticket to sit in the exact same seat as the semi-final.
Supporters were already annoyed about the cost of tickets for the semifinal as prices were increased to a record level, with Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) slamming the increases as ‘completely unacceptable.’
Following the uproar, representatives from all four clubs involved in the semifinals – United, Chelsea, Southampton and Tottenham – met with FA executives to discuss the pricing strategy ahead of last weekend’s games.
As a result of the meeting The FA confirmed it would make changes to its previous approach and would reduce concession tickets for the final.
Category one and two concession tickets will now be charged at £25 off the full adult price, rather than £10 off which had been proposed. The FA also confirmed ticket prices for future semifinals and finals would not increase, beyond the cost of inflation, until the end of the 2020-21 season.
Another positive outcome from the meeting is they agreed to meet with official supporters’ representatives before next year’s final to review the possible introduction of family areas and the potential re-categorisation of category two tickets behind each goal.
A statement issued on behalf of the fan groups of the four clubs who reached the semi-final, including the MUST, welcomed the news.
“The movement on concessions for this year’s final is to be welcomed, as is the commitment to address the wider issues we raised ahead of next year’s competition,” the statement read.
“We are obviously disappointed that the other decisions taken for this year’s competition will stand, meaning fans face significantly higher costs.
“Football ticket pricing is not an ordinary competitive market. It is a monopoly and the FA, as the game’s regulatory body, should be setting an example by rewarding fans’ loyalty.
“The FA now has the chance to set the standard for genuine consultation that enhances the reputation of the FA Cup, a competition fans continue to hold dear,” the statement added.
Ahead of the semi-final games, the FA’s director of professional game relations, Andy Ambler said: “This season we made the decision to increase the price of some tickets in the stadium. This is the first time that we have raised the price of tickets for Emirates FA Cup semi-final and final ties in three years.
“It’s always important to remember that The FA is a not-for-profit organisation where every pound and penny of profit is reinvested back into every level of football in England.”