United move to beef up atmosphere by offering cheaper tickets to young adults
Manchester United have taken the first steps towards trying to improve Old Trafford’s flagging atmosphere by introducing a heavily discounted season ticket for supporters aged 18 to 25 seated in the lower Stretford End.
Fans in that age category sitting in what is traditionally regarded as the loudest section of the ground will pay £285 for a season ticket, almost half the cost of the cheapest adult season ticket. United have also frozen season-ticket prices for the seventh straight year.
The move follows a meeting between senior club officials and the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust over ways to improve the match-day atmosphere, as well as criticism from manager Jose Mourinho, who has been unhappy with the noise levels inside Old Trafford since taking charge almost two years ago.
Mourinho has criticised the atmosphere on several occasions, most recently after the 2-0 Premier League win over Huddersfield Town last month when he complained about the stadium being “quiet” and claimed the atmosphere at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park was far better.
Ed Woodward, the United executive vice-chairman, met with Mourinho over the matter and the club’s hierarchy are thought to share his concerns and are committed to addressing the situation.
The supporters’ trust, which had proposed cheaper season tickets in the 18-25 bracket during talks with the club in a bid to boost the atmosphere and entice younger, louder supporters who have been priced out, have welcomed the measure.
In a statement, the trust said: “While this is only available in a small area for now, it starts to demonstrate an understanding that groups of young adults have felt priced out in the past, particularly at the transition point from youth to full adult pricing.”
The trust has made a series of other proposals, including the relocation of executive fans, part of the family stand and the disabled section, in order to free up thousands of seats in the Stretford End and Scoreboard End for more vocal supporters. “We await further information on these issues following our requests to the club,” it said.