THE Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has joined fans in slamming the club’s decision to raise season ticket prices.
The Gunners have announced they are increasing the cost for the first time in seven years.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has slammed the club’s decision to raise season ticket prices by around four per cent
Arsenal will charge fans around four per cent more per season ticket in order to generate roughly a further £4million per annum.
The news comes as the North London giants prepare to announce staggering £100m losses for 2020-21 – a significant hit on the £53m figure a season earlier.
Despite that, the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) has released a lengthy statement describing the decision to hike the cost of a season ticket as ‘unjustified’ – especially given the rising cost of living.
It read: “The AST believes that the 4% ticket price increase is unjustified at a time Arsenal’s overall revenues are increasing and fans are experiencing other pressures on their disposable income.
“When presented with news of the increase at the recent Arsenal Advisory Board and Fans Forum, the AST representatives present argued against the case for any increase.
“Arsenal’s position is that in light of costs increasing much faster than revenues (and now consistently being in loss making territory) they need to develop all of their revenue streams to move the club back to financial sustainability.
“They also pointed out this is the first across the board ticket price increase in seven seasons.
“This price increase is forecast to generate an extra £3.8m in the 2022-23 season.
“We pointed out to the club that in recent years they have secured big increases to other commercial and broadcast revenue streams and that the Premier League have just announced further big increases to future broadcast revenues and Uefa forecasting further increases too.
“Arsenal can also expect a significant increase in their ticketing revenues as a result of likely qualification for European competitions next season.”
General admission season ticket prices will rise £49 to £1,268 if Arsenal reach the Champions League.
It will be an increase of £44 if they qualify for the Europa League and by £40 even without any European football.
The AST did welcome the change to cut the cost of tickets for 19-21 year olds by 25 per cent on the basis they are likely still in full-time education.
The trust claim Arsenal will likely now lose fewer young fans who would previously have been priced out.
However, they continued by stating Arsenal should have been more open about the impending price hike and consulted fans more.
Arsenal felt the need to raise the cost of a season ticket after losing a massive amount in matchday revenue due to Covid.
There were 28 home games played behind closed doors as a direct result of the pandemic last season, with each game costing the club in excess of £3m.
The 2020-21 figures will also reflect an annual wage bill at its highest ever before a recent cull of the biggest earners including the likes of Mesut Ozil, Willian, David Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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