Posted on 13th March 2018
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) has criticised the club over its pricing of season tickets at the New White Hart Lane Stadium.
The club is due to take up residence at the new ground at the start of next season and season ticket renewals were announced yesterday – with prices ranging from £795 to £2,200, some of the most expensive in English football. A petition urging the club to rethink its pricing strategy had passed 3,500 signatures at the time of writing.
THST said: “Some fans are facing increases of 25, 40 or 50% in their usual seating areas which, even taking into account the improved facilities, will be beyond many.
“The vast majority of fans go to football for the football, not for the facilities.”
The Trust has examined the amount of season tickets available at each band and says only nine sections of the new 60,000-seater ground will have season tickets available below £950 – they have asked the club to confirm the exact number of seats available in the lower price bands but have yet to receive an answer.
“Many fans are now having to reconsider their seating options, scattering groups who’ve long sat together,” the Trust said.
“There are 15 different price points, an overly complex system that allows attractive headline claims to be made but which mask the price rises many will now face.
“Fans are genuinely worried about the availability of tickets at prices they can afford in the later priority windows.”
BBC presenter and former-Spurs striker Gary Lineker also spoke out about season ticket pricing at the new ground.
“We’re seeing more and more empty seats at grounds,” he tweeted earlier today. “Given the vast sums received from TV rights, ticket prices should be falling not rising.
“The game needs full stadiums otherwise its appeal will slowly decline, even to rights holders. Avarice will only damage the game and clubs.”
The atmosphere generated by the 17,000-seater south stand, which the club has marketed heavily, is also at risk because of the pricing, THST say.
“The club believes it will fill the stadium with this pricing policy,” THST said.
“That may well be the case in our first season with a successful, entertaining team but the novelty may wear off after the first season, particularly if performance on the pitch falls short.
“With fans already contacting us saying they are priced out, we cannot view this as anything other than a missed opportunity.”
Photograph via Tottenham Hotspur FC.
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