Arsenal fans fume as season ticket prices rise to be Premier League’s most expensive

Arsenal fans have took to fume as their season ticket prices rise to be the Premier League‘s most expensive when comparing with other clubs.

Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has hit out at the club’s decision to raise season ticket prices – with it increasing for the first time in seven years following £100m loses.

The Gunners will charge their spectators around four per cent more per season ticket to generate around £4m extra per year.

This comes as the North London outfit prepare to announce staggering £100m losses for 2020-21 – a significant leap on the £53m deficit a season earlier.

Despite that, the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) has released a lengthy statement describing the decision to rise 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.”

There will be an increase of £44 to £1,139 if they reach the Europa League, and an increase of £40 to £1,050 if they once again fail to qualify for European competition.

The AST did however say they welcomed 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 added that 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 huge amount of matchday revenue due to Covid.

There were 28 home games played behind closed doors as a direct result of the pandemic last term, with each game costing the club in excess of £3million.

The 2020-21 figures will also reflect an annual wage bill at its highest ever before a recent departures including the likes of Mesut Ozil, Willian, David Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Every Premier League club’s most-affordable season ticket, ranked from most to least expensive 👇

Twitter users reacted while Arsenal fans fume as their season ticket prices rise to be Premier League’s most expensive again…

@DarrenArsenal1: The season ticket rise will generate £2.5m … utterly ridiculous and penalises those that frankly get treated so poorly with game changes etc. Given the huge rises in broadcasting there is no justification for it at all.

@HBK_32: Charging PL champion prices for 5th place football. This club never fails to show their true colours. It’s all about the money never about winning

@MarkaQuinn74: Disgraceful in the current climate. People’s energy bills are set to double at least.

@frank_fermor: Smh already the most expensive tickets in the prem and he’s doing this? If we don’t spend anything this summer we riot

@JR94__: Most expensive tickets in the league & have to pay at least £30pm to even get to buy tickets. Embarrassing 😡

@DailyGoonerSam: Season ticket increase is nothing more than a disgrace @Arsenal. You’ll point to losses but the increase won’t scratch the surface. At a time where cost of living is going up you’d think the club you support would embrace this and help fans out not pile on. #arsenal #afc

@iamFreshboi: As a season ticket holder, I don’t disagree with a rise but this is coming at the wrong time. The Kroenke’s have done well to repair the relationship btw them and fans in the last 18mnths but this is just uncalled for #afc @Arsenal

@ShadyLikeSlim: Entire 4% should go to Saka’s extension

@ashbokh: We are already the most expensive club in the country. Thats extortion

@graeme_ncl: When will English top-flight clubs realise that ripping off their fans with punitive price rises makes a negligible difference to their revenues in comparison to commercial revenue sources. Bayern Munich seem to do ok with their business model, eh.

@XxUnionJxX: Will they also raise their game?

@JohnBob75: We are paying for the fraud managers pay rise. Won’t be renewing if he bottles the CL. I’m done.

@reallordgreen: “fOoTbAlL iS FoR tHe FaNs”

@Ell_George2: This just shows how poorly Arsenal are run, shambles

@ClaretsFan94: Who the fuck is paying that to watch Arsenal every other week?

@sambingham2708: Horrific pricing that.