MANCHESTER UNITED have increased their season ticket prices for the first time in 11 years.
Supporters have slammed the club in a furious backlash to the five per cent rise for adult season tickets.
It follows the news that Arsenal have also raised their prices for the 2023-24 campaign by the same amount.
United blamed the increase on the “escalating cost of matchday delivery” and is “necessary to allow the club to operate on a sustainable basis” – despite share prices soaring by £334million in just one day last week.
The club added: “We understand that our fans are also facing pressure from increased living costs and that is why we have kept price increases well below the current rate of inflation.”
But supporters took to social media to vent their anger.
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One said: “Given increases in TV revenue, they should be reduced.”
Another labelled the club as “parasites” while a third wrote: “Repairs to the roof and concourses have also been frozen for 11 years.”
One supporter commented: “I don’t like this. New directors joining the club, changes to season ticket prices. This doesn’t scream like the glazers are selling.”
Another typed: “MUFC up for sale and are now increasing season ticket prices for the first time in 11 years. Nothing like milking it so they can push sale price up!”
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And a final user sarcastically added: “Rightly so. The fabulous new improvements we’re all enjoying at Old Trafford need to be paid for somehow.”
The shock move on ticket prices comes amid claims the Glazer family, who thousands of United fans regularly protest against, are demanding a whopping £6billion to sell the club.
And that casts major doubt on rival offers of up to £5bn from Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
American hedge fund giants Elliott are also offering to stump up a package for a figurehead who wants to front any bid.
But one insider said: “It’s still not clear if the Glazers actually want to sell and — if they do — it will only be for top dollar.”
Gary Neville also fears the American family will try to retain a significant stake in the Red Devils.
Neville said: “There is a focus this isn’t one big charade that the Glazers are running for their brothers and sisters to exit and the couple that want to stay in to stay.
“The whole emphasis from fans is this has to be the end of the Glazer ownership.
“They’ve run out of money and not invested in the stadium.
“The fans want a new stadium — whether that’s Old Trafford refurbished or a new one built.
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“The sporting project they’ve failed on in the last ten years.
“It’s doing quite well at the moment, third in the league, but it’s not where Man United want to be.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
