Fan outrage: Arsenal can expect a fierce backlash
if they rise season ticket prices
Arsenal
risk losing a significant
number of their loyal fans by raising season ticket prices for next
season, a supporters group has warned.
The Gunners have increased the prices for the 7,000 'club' level
season ticket holders by 6.5 per cent for next season and there are
fears that they could apply the same rise across the board to all
supporters.
Club level members, who pay from £2,500 a year, will see their
yearly ticket price rise to £2,625.
The move has drawn strong condemnation from the Arsenal
Supporters' Trust (AST), who claim that the hike could see a number
of fans turn their back on the club.
An AST spokesman said: 'We are very concerned at the impact this
will have on the fans at a time when bills are increasing, wages
aren't and some people are losing their jobs.
'It's a big increase for fans to stomach in one go and for some
people it is just closing them out. Some members have come to us
already expressing their concern. They are worried that they won't
be able to afford to come to games.
Always the bridesmaid: The price hike will come as
a blow to fans already losing faith with the faltering
team
'This is stretching some fans' loyalty to the
limit.'
Arsenal say the increase is only four per cent, with the
additional money being added on due to the Government's increase in
VAT, and point out this is the first increase in season ticket
prices since the 2008-09 season.
An Arsenal spokesperson said: 'We obviously take any decisions
like this carefully. We have decided to make this increase at club
level to keep up with the rising costs.
'A decision on the cost of other season ticket prices has not
yet been made.'
Putting his hand in his pocket: Arsenal's boss
Arsene Wenger will be expected to spend big in the summer
The AST argues that the club should be working harder to
gain revenue from other sources rather than push fans to pay more
money during a recession.
'Arsenal must work harder at securing more revenue through
commercial projects so the fans do not have to pay extra,' the AST
spokesman added.
'The Government's VAT increase means that they get another
£2million from the club this year. What the AST would like is to
see the Government support football clubs more too.'