We followed up our ticketing announcement response (view here) with a snap reaction survey and a press release based on those initial results – both of which we include below. MUST board members have also recorded two podcasts this week which we’ve linked to as well.
The results dashboard of the United Voice – Ticket Price Announcement – snap survey can be viewed here:
https://bit.ly/4kKS975
PRESS RELEASE: SNAP POLL REVEALS UNITED FANS HUGE CONCERN ABOUT TICKETING CHANGES
- 3,300 FANS RESPOND IN 48 HOURS, WITH NEARLY HALF OF FANS SAYING THEY WILL ATTEND FEWER GAMES AS A RESULT
- 5% RISE, REDUCED SENIOR DISCOUNTS AND MINIMUM SEASON TICKET USAGE ARE TOP WORRIES
- MUST CALL FOR REVERSAL OR PHASED IMPLEMENTATION OF SENIOR DISCOUNT CHANGE TO EASE IMPACT ON MOST LOYAL SUPPORTERS
The Manchester United Supporters Trust has published the results of a snap poll of Manchester United fans carried out in the first 48 hours since the Club’s ticketing announcement on Tuesday evening.
The poll, which 3,300 fans responded to in only 48 hours, reveals that:
- 53% say the changes are worse than they expected, against 20% who consider them not as bad
- Only 7% consider the changes to be positive news, against 79% who think it is bad news
- 62% of fans say the changes make them more pessimistic about the future of the Club, with only 10% saying it makes them optimistic
- 45% say the changes will make them attend fewer games
- The top three causes of concern are the reduction of the senior discount, the general 5% increase and the increase in minimum season ticket usage
- A shocking 13% of season ticket holders say they are “not at all likely” to renew their season tickets, which would result more nearly 6,000 fans walking away from their season tickets if they follow through with it
Based on the findings, MUST calls on the Club to take the following steps:
- If they will not reverse this decision then at least phase in the reduction of the senior discount. Rather than going from 50% to 25% in one leap, which results in a near-60% in season ticket prices for 7,000 senior supporters, the change should be phased in over three seasons, going to 40% in year one, 30% in year two, and reaching 25% in year three.
- Under the Match Categorisation model for members tickets, the Club should commit to limiting the number of Category A matches to no more than three each season, and commit that the majority of matches will be priced in Category C, which would mean they remain at the ‘base price’. The Fans Forum should be consulted on categorisation decisions.
- Provide further data and evidence to explain why they feel a further increase in minimum season ticket usage is justified and provide a guarantee that the ticket resale facility will remain switched on and listing a ticket for resale will be counted towards usage, whether it sells or not.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for MUST said:
“The huge response from fans we have received in just 48 hours shows how strongly fans feel on these issues.
“A near-60% increase in season ticket prices for 7,000 of our most loyal older fans is just not on. It’s not fair and it’s too much to do in one go. We recognise that the present discount level is large so we have made a pragmatic proposal to the Club to phase the change in over three seasons if they will not consider reversing it.
“The match categorisation model is also very worrying. The highest category should be reserved for only a small number of the very biggest matches, and the majority of games should be priced on the same basis as they are now. In particular there should be due consideration for those members who attend multiple matches per season and are disproportionately impacted.
“We hope that the Club will look at these reasonable and practical set of proposals in the constructive spirit in which they are intended. The fact that, based on this data, as many as 6,000 season ticket holders could be walking away should be a wake up call for everyone. We look forward to discussing all of this with them in the coming days.
“What the reaction to these recent changes should tell the club is just how important it is to conduct proper fan consultation when it comes to proposed policy changes. And nowhere is proper consultation more necessary than for those fans being confronted by compulsory relocations. We urge the club to ensure groups are kept together and offered the best choice of seats and every effort is made to compensate for their upheaval.
“These are tough times at Manchester United, both on and off the field. We will only pull out of this slump if the whole Club comes together. That means listening to the voice of the fans.”
No Question About That podcast
MUST’s Andy Green and Duncan Drasdo appear on the NQAT pod – listen here: https://spoti.fi/4iOiqQg
In this episode, Ed is joined by Duncan Drasdo and Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) to discuss the recent ticket price increases announced by Manchester United. Duncan and Andy discuss the 5% average price increase for tickets, policy changes affecting pensioners and under 16s, and the new categorisation scheme for tickets. They explore the broader financial implications, including match day revenues and the operational costs tied to the club’s performance. The conversation also touches on the strained relations between fan groups and the club’s new management, the necessity of understanding fans’ perspectives, and the potential impact of dynamic pricing. The episode concludes with insights into stadium redevelopment plans, the challenges of financing the initiative, and the importance of maintaining a strong fan base.
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Overview of Price Increases
02:51 Impact on Different Fan Groups
03:55 Changes in Ticketing Policies
08:38 Consultation Process
12:41 Financial Challenges and Club’s Strategy
23:32 Future of the Stadium and Financing
32:49 Final Thoughts
Simply Red podcast
Brian sits down with Andy Green, Director of Finance at MUST, a respected football financial analyst over many years, to take an in-depth look at the current state of affairs financially at the club, in detail, how it got to this situation and what the future holds both on and off the pitch as a result. An incredibly interesting deep dive into the murky waters of Glazer ownership, INEOS buy-in and the knock-on effects of both.
Listen here: https://spoti.fi/4hwbSom
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