The FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend and we’re pleased to say that, after discussions with the FA, it was agreed that the lowest priced tickets would remain at £30. Each competing club will receive 4,900 tickets in this category.

There’s more work to be done on semi-final pricing but we’re pleased to have secured the retention of the lowest band – £30 is a significant number given that Premier League away tickets are capped at that amount. 

Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said: “We should give credit to the FA for listening and responding to the FSA’s case. Given the revenue goes into supporting the game at all levels, we recognise the balance that has to be struck, but affordability is a big consideration for fans who follow their clubs home and away on a cup run. Ensuring some tickets are priced to reflect that is an important point of principle.”

In 2016 we also secured an additional 7,000 final tickets for supporters of the competing clubs.

We love the FA Cup, and travelling fans are a critical part of that, but it is becoming harder than ever with kick-offs across a five-day “weekend” and occasional out of control pricing. Combine that with general calendar bloat and there’s a big danger of empty away ends in the earlier rounds of the competition.

Of course many FA Cup games in the earlier rounds are reasonably priced but there are also some examples of awful pricing (more below) and it’s worth remembering that the Premier League’s away price cap has brought many acknowledged benefits.

Away supporters are integral to the matchday atmosphere – larger away allocations are part of what makes cup ties special and there is no doubt that pricing out travelling fans harms the spectacle. 

FA Cup pricing under scrutiny

It’s especially topical given FA Cup ticket pricing has been under scrutiny in the earlier rounds of this year’s competition as Manchester United doubled the prices of some of their away tickets for FA Cup fixtures.

Their fourth round FA Cup tie at home against Leicester City saw the cheapest adult ticket for the away end costing £51, rising to £61 – the latter being more than twice the price of the equivalent Premier League ticket. 

Foxes atmosphere group Union FS called it “pure exploitation” and, such was the backlash, thousands of Leicester City regulars decided not to go with the club sending back almost 1,800 tickets for a game which sold out in the league.

The lesson wasn’t learned though and, in the next round, Manchester United stuck to that price structure leading to home and away fans joining together for a joint #StopExploitingLoyalty protest. 

Fulham Supporters’ Trust said the prices were “outrageous” and their counterparts at Manchester United Supporters’ Trust agreed.

Manchester United Supporters’ Trust: “Clubs are exploiting loyalty and fans are united in saying enough is enough.”

To add insult to injury the match was scheduled for a Sunday 4.30pm kick-off. 

This isn’t to pick on one club, as we’re sure there are other poor examples out there, but those back-to-back Old Trafford cup games ensured their pricing stood out like a sore thumb.

Of course, we hear the occasional dissenting voice arguing that clubs have no option but to squeeze supporters for every last penny (quite often those people don’t seem to go to games themselves by the way). 

However, it just isn’t true and supporter-owned Exeter City, who certainly have to count the pennies more than Manchester United, showed how it can be done. Massive credit to them.

They drew Nottingham Forest at home, a huge tie for the club. Let’s be honest they could easily have gouged home and away fans but, instead, they capped the prices at their standard league level.

Exeter City said: “Many other clubs have seen these highly anticipated cup matches as an opportunity to increase ticket prices; we will not do this as we demonstrate the values which make us the unique club that we are. The financial benefit of the cup run and TV selection means we are able to keep the prices at the current rate, and ensure it is accessible to our wider fan base.”

If they can do it, why won’t the biggest clubs? FA Cup ticket pricing should not exploit the loyalty of supporters.

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