Bolton Wanderers confirm controversial pre-Preston news & it causes a stir online | OneFootball

Bolton have come under some fire from Preston fans following their ticket prices ahead of the opening-day clash

After a seven-year hiatus, which included a year in League Two, Bolton Wanderers are back in the Championship.

The Trotters finally earned promotion through the third-tier play-offs at the third attempt last season, beating Stockport County in the final, and those inside the Toughsheet are looking forward to facing new opponents in 2026/27.

Some away fans are also looking forward to returning to Bolton after more than a few years away, given that the Toughsheet Stadium is one of the bigger grounds in the Championship and has the potential to be a good away day out, result depending, of course.

However, the excitement surrounding an away day at Bolton once more for local rivals Preston North End has been quelled significantly after the Lilywhites revealed how much the Trotters were charging them for tickets.

Bolton Wanderers away ticket pricing has come under fire from Preston North End fans

Action Images

The excitement of the new season beginning is building, especially given that Preston and Bolton get to renew a Lancashire rivalry that hasn't been seen since February 2019.

Those who do end up going to the Toughsheet as a Preston fan, though, will be paying above the odds, with an adult ticket costing a whopping £36. A ticket for a 14-year-old is set to cost £20.

With Premier League away tickets capped at £30 for an adult, it's understandable that the pricing for a Championship game, and for a newly promoted second-tier club at that, has received some backlash online from Preston fans.

"£36 that’s outrageous for a local game," one North End fan wrote. "£36?! They do know they were in League One last year?" another questioned.

"Wow they are ripping us off there!" and "That pricing is disgraceful," were also among the replies to Preston announcing the ticket prices for the game.

Even some Bolton fans have expressed their frustration at their club's decision to charge Preston fans £36 for an adult ticket, as they worry that they've set a precedent that will be used against them at the reverse game at Deepdale in March.

"Well, we can’t grumble when we get slapped with the same prices or worse in the return game. Terrible pricing," one Trotters fan said. "Absolutely scandalous from the club. This will end up affecting our fans as clubs will mirror it in the reverse fixture," another added.

An unpopular decision all round, and one that definitely brings into question why the EFL haven't implemented a price cap for away tickets the same way that the Premier League has.

Bolton Wanderers ticket decision brings into question price cap rules

Action Images

The Premier League has had its £30 cap on away tickets for 10 seasons now, and it was agreed back in March that the rules would be extended for a further couple of campaigns.

That's led to away attendances increasing from 82% to 91%, and building better atmospheres at grounds.

While there's no doubting that there'll be some entertainment at the Toughsheet Stadium this season on the field, the fact that fans are paying more for what is a lesser league in terms of quality is rather concerning to see.

"Seriously need to start the '£20 is plenty' initiative across the whole league. Anything over £25 is quite frankly ridiculous. Something the EFL needs to look at, and Preston North End included," one Preston fan commented in response to the Bolton ticket prices, outlining that it isn't just a one-team problem in the Championship.

With clubs finding it harder and harder to remain sustainable, and with no limits on what they can charge away clubs, of course they'll feel obliged to test the boundaries on what fans will pay to follow their team, knowing there are no repercussions.

The longer clubs continue charging more for an away ticket than Premier League clubs do, though, the more pressure there'll be from fans for the EFL to implement a cap, which will be well-received by almost every match-going supporter.