Sunderland fans say loyalty ignored as corporate prices soar and seat swaps blocked | OneFootball

Two long-serving Sunderland season-ticket holders say they have been priced out of corporate packages and blocked from returning to general admission. Sunderland Echo reports that Steven Poppleton and Gary Crosby went public with their cases after decades of support.

Poppleton, 48, says he was refused a new ticket after asking to move from 76 Yards back to standard seats. His family had upgraded to the Black Cats Bar, then 76 Yards, to help his father, absorbing a rise from £850 to about £2,300.

His father died in February and Poppleton expected to switch back next season. He says he was told to join a list open three weeks, and after a review he was refused because corporate and general admission are handled separately.

Crosby, a continuous season-ticket holder since 1988, moved into a shared corporate box in League One at £2,400. He says next season’s price is £5,300, roughly £2,900 more, so he asked to swap to a standard ticket but was directed to a waiting list.

Crosby says executives reviewed his case but told him to join the list, calling it an absolute disgrace. He adds he was excluded from the seat-swap phase, would be classed as a new applicant and pay about 20% more than renewals, with no instalment option. He also says upgrading never made clear he could not transfer back to standard seating. The club declined to comment.

Source: Sunderland Echo