Sky high: Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal is part
of the QPR hierachy
Queens Park Rangers
have hit their fans in the pocket after promotion to the Barclays
Premier League.
The west London club have
raised season tickets prices by an eye-watering 40 PER CENT after
returning to the top-flight. The lowest adult season ticket is now
£549.
The cheapest tickets will be
£47 - yet with four fewer home games in the Premier League compared
to the Championship, the increase is even more in real
terms.
Current holders - many of whom
will have been hit by the tough economic climate - have been told
they have to make up their minds over whether to renew by the end
of June.
QPR released the new prices on
the website with the accompanying message: 'The 2010/11 npower
Championship will live long in the memory of QPR supporters, but
next season promises to be even more special, as the R's return to
the Promised Land of the Premier League following a 15-year
exile.
'Neil Warnock's men will lock
horns with some of the biggest and best football Clubs in the World
at Loftus Road when the season kicks off in mid- August - and you
won't want to miss a kick!
'Global superstars including
Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Cesc Fabregas and Steven Gerrard will
all strut their stuff in W12 next season, offering Rangers
supporters the opportunity to get up close and personal with some
of the greatest players ever to grace the beautiful
game.'
On the up: QPR marched to the Championship title
this season
Fans have reacted
angrily after learning they will be charged up to £72 to watch
their team in the Premier League, accusing owners Flavio Briatore,
Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal of cashing in on the club's
return.
The price rises were widely
predicted but have still been met with dismay by many Rangers
fans.
'It's an absolute disgrace
and, yet again, underlines the total contempt the owners of QPR
have for the fans,' said Paul Finney of the Independent R's
website.
'Flavio Briatore's dream is a
'boutique' club, which has an exclusive feel to it and is the place
for wealthy people to be seen.
Stars of the show: Manager Neil Warnock with
Alejandro Faurlin (left) and Adel Taarabt
'Not only is that a
slap in the face of QPR supporters, it is not in the long-term
interests of a club that has two other Premier League clubs
(Chelsea and Fulham) on its doorstep.'
QPR's season ticket price
changes will see the most expensive band - platinum - increasing
from £699 to £999.
The club do offer significant
discounts for juniors, which start at just £49 for under eights,
with senior citizens able to buy a season ticket for £319. Standard
bronze tickets at Loftus Road have been set at £549.