Premier League clubs have started to release season ticket information for the 2024/25 season and fans of two top six clubs have been left furious after it was revealed that they will be suffering from a season ticket price hike.
Arsenal and Manchester United have already communicated to existing season ticket holders that prices are set to rise and they are already urging them to renew despite there still being three months of the current season left.
Arsenal have announced that there will be a 10% rise to season ticket prices while Man Utd have announced that there will be a 5% rise – the same amount their season ticket went up by last season, too. Given the current financial climate, the news hasn't gone down well with either set of supporters.
Season ticket price hike: Arsenal Supporters' Trust release a statement
In light of the news, Arsenal Supporters' Trust have been quick to issue a statement with the most expensive season tickets at the Emirates Stadium now set to cost Arsenal fans £2,050.50. The Trust said that they had urged the club to freeze season ticket prices for the 2024/25 season and they are “disappointed” that this suggestion has been rejected. They added:
“Arsenal are guaranteed to play at least one more game in Europe next season as the Champions League and Europa League group stages are expanded. It could well be two more games with the extra knockout game being introduced. We had hoped that the extra revenue these games will generate would mean Arsenal could lessen the annual uplift.
“These proposals mean a supporter buying an Arsenal season ticket for 2024/25 will pay approximately 10% more than this season.
“This size of increase is unnecessary at a time when club revenues from broadcast and commercial revenues will increase by up to £150m over two seasons to exceed a predicted half a billion pounds during this current season.”
The Supporters' Trust also said they had asked the club to introduce a 19-game Premier League-only season ticket to give fans the option of a cheaper deal given the current financial climate. These calls were also rejected by Arsenal.
Man Utd fans take to social media to vent their frustration
The Man Utd Supporters' Trust (MUST) were more forgiving of the clubs' decision to increase season ticket prices by 5%, conceding that it is in line with current inflation rates in the UK. They were also happy about the clubs' decision to remove corporate seats in the Stretford End, a procedure that will be completed over the summer.
However, some existing season ticket holders don't necessarily agree with MUST's point of view. One supporter took to X to lament the season ticket price hike at Old Trafford. They said:
“United increasing season ticket prices by 5% again this year and basically telling supporters they need to do this to invest in the team and stadium. Sort your players' wages out. Buy players less expensive. So many other options before taking it from (mostly) working-class supporters.”
Another Man Utd fan said: “Raising season ticket prices by 5% is certainly an interesting way to rebuild trust with fans.”