Liverpool supporters ‘extremely disappointed’ by increase in ticket prices | OneFootball

The Liverpool Supporters Board has said it is “extremely disappointed” by the club’s decision to increase ticket prices in line with inflation for the next three seasons.

Liverpool confirmed on Thursday that ticket prices will increase by three per cent next season, followed by further increases in line with the annual inflation rate over the next two campaigns.

It marks the first time that owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have increased the price of tickets on the Kop since taking charge of the club 15 years ago.

(Getty Images)

Liverpool said matchday operating costs at Anfield had “significantly increased” in recent years, and pointed to a period of eight ticket price freezes in the last 10 seasons.

The club consulted with the Supporters Board, which opposed an increase, but decided a further freeze was “not considered viable in the highly competitive environment it operates within”.

The Supporters Board called the move “wrong” and said fans will now have to pay more “during times of global uncertainty”.

“We’ve engaged with the club in direct discussions since early February,” a statement from the Supporters Board said. “This followed a meeting with the club’s board and ownership last October. We were clear about our requests throughout: we sought a price freeze for two seasons, in line with the Football Supporters’ Association’s ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ campaign, and sought commitment to work together to find alternatives that do not cost supporters more.

“We felt this was an opportunity for the club to do what we might expect from those who pride themselves on it meaning ‘more’: be different from others, support fan loyalty, and work collectively on a solution that does not come at the expense of supporters.”

Liverpool said adult general admission ticket prices, which this season cost between £39 and £61, would rise between £1.25 and £1.75 per ticket, while adult season tickets, which are set at between £713 and £904, will increase by between £21.50 and £27 from next year.

The club did announce that the cost of junior tickets and local general tickets, available to fans with a Liverpool postcode, would remain frozen. It also announced changes to the young adult ages, from 21 to 24, while senior concessions are unchanged.

A statement from Liverpool added: “The Supporters Board has been clear from the outset that its wish was for a ticket price freeze for two seasons, in line with the Football Supporters’ Association campaign against ticket price increases.

“However, after careful consideration across several meetings, the club decided this was not considered viable in the highly competitive environment it operates within, as it continues to invest on and off the pitch, and rising costs across the club that are outside of its control.

“The Supporters Board also made it clear it was opposed to any inflationary increase being applied for more than one year. However, following due consideration, the club concluded that in order to limit price increases to CPI such increases shall apply for a three-year period.”

“We know and understand that LFC has increasing costs. So too do loyal supporters,” the Supporters Board said. “LFC has increasing revenues built on the backs of supporters. Supporters do not, and they see no share in those rewards.

“We welcome the changes to the young adult ages and are glad the club listened to our pushback on proposals to increase the age threshold for senior concessions. This is important and central to our issues with ticket price increases: we need to reward and protect our current and future loyal support on which the club is built.

“We wanted to see LFC lead the way. Sadly, they have chosen a path that leads the way in the wrong direction.”