Enough is enough. Not sure if rip off ticket prices has been covered already but thought I'd post this anyway. It's a little something from NUFC.com While Newcastle United continue to offer cut-price season ticket options for home games, travelling toon fans have once again encountered hefty price rises this season. The price of following Newcastle to all 19 Premier League away games this season was £754 (excluding booking fees), which compares to £686 in the 2011/12 season. And while some clubs such as Wigan (£25) and Stoke City (£30) pegged their prices, others imposed scandalously large increases, notably Manchester City (up £11 to £49) and West Bromwich Albion (up £10 to £39). Perhaps the worst value though in the league remains the breathtaking £45 that Norwich City have charged since their promotion in 2011 for some of their worst seats. And away from the Premier League, let's not forget the criminally over-priced League Cup fixture at Old Trafford when fans were charged £45 on a night when other all Premier League ties slashed admission prices. The Europa League also wasn't immune to dodgy pricing tactics, with those who made the trip to Moscow paying more than six times what locals were charged (NB: UEFA are currently investigating a complaint about that). The Football Supporters Federation have taken up the cause of away supporters and are currently hosting a petition aimed at introducing a £20 ticket price cap. Would be really good to see this implemented. While that sounds unrealistic at first glance, the FSF position is that the enhanced overseas TV contracts agreed are a reflection of the importance of full stadia and atmosphere - and by pricing away fans out of the equation, the clubs risk damaging their "product". Equally pertinent is the admission by certain Premier League clubs that only a small percentage of their revenue streams are from the match ticket sales. Like us, the FSF are concerned that away fans are in danger of becoming extinct - not just due to ticket prices but also the rising cost of transport, restrictive club sales policies and the mangling of the fixture list for TV. Their campaign is an attempt to try and redress the balance.
All i'm going to say....£39 for a restricted view seat on Sunday at a team that has just been relegated. Scandalous.
You'l get no argument from me. The prices that clubs charge are scandalous, especially Norwich. But it isn't just away fans who feel the pinch, our board made poor decisions for home fans at cup games this season. You'd hope it couldn't carry on for much longer.
After a season where for me, the best and most loyal supporters in the land have been criminally fleeced with little return – season ticket renewals should be free. Frankly they would do well to fill the stadium next year even on that basis, fans would still be doing the club a favor. Time and time again good people who can ill afford the stupid prices are exploited, treated with scant regard and as it's Newcastle it don't matter. We'll see them again next week, the week after, and then again... If Arsenal finished fifth then teetered on the brink of relegation the year after there would probably be a publicly funded legal inquest. While the London mafia media would smugly remind us Arsenal we ain't, the reality is that by virtue of geographic location and the immediate area the club inhabits – we're just as big. Just as important. Here's a question, would our handsomely paid players pay NUFC prices and waste their weekends watching this team play? No answers necessary...
Is it just me, or is it nice to see both sets of fans having amicable discussions with each other, on each others boards?? Posted a reply and didn't get burned for it! I mean, what's that all about like? haha Back on topic, he made a cracking point : http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/210638-Sunderland-Fans-Fairweather-Supporters?p=4708130#post4708130 Keep the faith chaps....
