Manchester United's decision to increase season ticket prices for the next season is provoking discontent among fans.
On the 18th (local time), Manchester United announced on the club's official website that it plans to raise season ticket prices by 5% for the 2025-2026 season, stating it is a decision based on increased operating expenses and financial soundness. Fans are showing strong opposition to the club's decision to raise ticket prices despite poor performance.
This season, Manchester United is recording poor performance, sitting 13th in the league (10 wins, 7 draws, 12 losses), and has also been eliminated in the Round of 16 of the FA Cup. In the context of underperforming results, the fact that ticket prices are being increased has further fueled fans' anger. Especially compared to competing clubs like Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United, which have frozen or only slightly increased their ticket prices, Manchester United's decision to raise prices by 5% has sparked controversy.
Manchester United expects to generate approximately £15 million (about 28.2 billion won) in additional revenue from this price increase. However, fans criticize the club for focusing solely on revenue generation rather than improving stadium facilities or performance. In response, Manchester United’s Chief Executive Officer Omar Berrada noted, "We deeply appreciate the loyalty and patience of our fans and have worked to set fair and reasonable prices as much as possible."
According to Chris Wheeler of the United Kingdom's "Daily Mail," Manchester United plans to convert seats behind the dugout into VIP hospitality areas, which will inevitably require some fans to relocate. The club stated, "We recognize the confusion this may cause and will provide suitable alternative seating," but some fans are pushing back, stating that the club is prioritizing revenue at the expense of traditional fan culture.
Additionally, Manchester United announced a policy to impose a £10 fee for transferring match tickets through official resale services within 14 days. In response, fans are strongly criticizing this as a decision that only increases their burdens.
The Manchester United Fan Advisory Board (FAB) expressed disappointment, stating, "Fans strongly demanded a freeze on season ticket prices, but the club did not accept this." The Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) also stated, "The club's financial deterioration is not the responsibility of the fans. Raising prices in the context of poor performance is an unjust decision," and strongly opposed it.
MUST criticized in a statement that "many clubs, including Liverpool, Tottenham, and West Ham, have frozen their prices, while Arsenal and Brighton have only made slight increases," and added that "Manchester United made a unilateral decision disregarding fans' opinions." They further argued that "improving performance should be the club's top priority, not high ticket prices."
Manchester United's new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe warned in December that the club's financial situation is serious, stating that "unpopular decisions are inevitable." In response, Manchester United has ended free lunches for employees and carried out large-scale layoffs. The first round of layoffs saved approximately £40 million (about 75.3 billion won) in expenses, but fans criticize the ticket price increase as an excessive measure.
Ratcliffe stated, "Manchester United will become the most profitable club in the world within the next three years," but fans are concerned that the club's management approach is overly focused on revenue generation.
Since the official announcement of the ticket price increase, dissatisfaction among Manchester United fans has grown, and there is a high possibility of protests or demonstrations in the future. Manchester United stated it will strive to minimize the burden on fans, but this seems insufficient to quell the backlash. The club's future actions and fans' responses are being closely watched.
[OSEN = Jeong Seung-woo]