Manchester United Backdown Over Season Tickets

Manchester United has struck a deal to cut the number of available season tickets after an investigation by the trading standards watchdog found that the club was failing to guarantee holders a seat for every league and cup game. Supporters complained of ‘rocketing’ prices and a compulsory scheme that forced season ticket holders to purchase tickets for all home cup games. A one-year season ticket introduced in 2007 required holders to sign up to the scheme but did not guarantee them tickets for cup games.

Manchester United has struck a deal to cut the number of available season tickets after an investigation by the trading standards watchdog found that the club was failing to guarantee holders a seat for every league and cup game. Supporters complained of ‘rocketing’ prices and a compulsory scheme that forced season ticket holders to purchase tickets for all home cup games. A one-year season ticket introduced in 2007 required holders to sign up to the scheme but did not guarantee them tickets for cup games. About 950 missed out on seats for the FA Cup tie against Arsenal last year as the club sought to comply with regulations requiring 15 per cent of tickets to be made available for away fans. After talks with the Office of Fair Trading, the club has agreed to scrap this form of season ticket and to guarantee all season ticket holders a seat for first team matches at Old Trafford. As a result the number of season tickets will be reduced by about 1,000.

Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST). said the changes represented a ‘significant victory’ and were a springboard to persuading the OFT to looking at ticket price rises. MUST said that season ticket prices had risen by up to 60 per cent since the Glazers bought the club in 2005. Several clubs have announced a freeze or even reductions in season ticket prices for next year against the background of the recession. United has yet to announce its 2009-10 prices, but has agreed to provide clear information about season ticket costs and seat relocation for cup games.