- Man United supporters’ group FC58 slammed the club’s raising of ticket prices
- Group called on Ratcliffe to oust Glazer family and remove club’s ‘debt mountain’
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Manchester United supporters’ group FC58 have warned the club that hiking up the price of tickets could sound ‘the death knell for fan culture’.
A survey of 25,000 supporters by the group has showed that 92 per cent of fans are unhappy over prices after the cost of tickets for members went up to £66 and raised concerns over widespread season-ticket increases next season.
FC58 believe the focus by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and minority owners Ineos should be on ousting the Glazers and lifting the burden of interest payments on the debt heaped on United by their American owners rather than hitting loyal fans in the pocket.
Spokesman Steve Compton said: ‘We received nearly 25,000 responses plus thousands of comments and the results speak for themselves, demonstrating clear fan sentiment. We have had enough!
‘In our opinion the club is trying to price out the current match-going fan to replace them with tourists and day trippers. Legacy fans (as the club like to calls us) do not spend enough money!
‘We feel the club is haemorrhaging money left right and centre. The minimum £66 for member tickets is a testing ground for the club and ticket pricing in the future. We believe dynamic pricing is being discussed and on the way.
‘Cutting adrift our club from the community, it’s working class roots and generational fans, represents the ringing of the death knell for fan culture.”
‘The simple answer to all this is to remove the Glazers and their debt mountain. Revenue will increase once this happens. But it looks like the new investors are ignoring the millions paid in interest on the Glazer’s bad debt per year.
‘They prefer to squeeze as much money out of the match-going fan base than confront the real financial issue with the club. The debt, the mismanagement of the club and the crippling interest payments.
‘The current atmosphere around the club and fan base is in the gutter. Nothing has changed. In fact it is worse than it has ever been.’
FC58 balloted United’s global fan base at Old Trafford and online with five questions, both outside Old Trafford and online. It showed that 92 per cent are also unimpressed with the stadium atmosphere, and almost 90 per cent said they would be willing to join campaigns at Old Trafford or other locations.
