I’ve been hesitant to jump into this conversation for the past few day, as I am an international fan who’s had his season ticket for just over 10 years now. I make it to 6–10 games a season, and when I’m not able to attend, I pass my ticket on to friends, family, or fellow Blues. I spend thousands every year just to be part of it: flights, accommodation etc. Lately, I’ve started asking myself... am I a genuine City fan or just a well-off tourist?
Still, I think I should weigh in, not to divide, but to offer a different view.
On Season Tickets: City already issue a huge number of season ticket (37,000-40,000) which is one of the highest in the league in terms of percentage of stadium capacity (nearly 75%). I understand the desire to pass it down to kids, but with growing families, it’s mathematically impossible to meet everyone’s expectations. No club can offer generational passes for all. There will always be hard choices.
On Ticket Prices: I absolutely support the sentiment that football should be affordable, but let’s keep the comparisons honest. People bring up Liverpool’s matchday prices, and yes, they have some cheaper seats. But nearly all of the “big six” charge more for season tickets than City. Are we saying we want to follow that model? Charge more over the year, but reduce individual matchday tickets? We can’t cherry-pick only the bits that suit the argument.
More importantly, from a financial standpoint, matchday revenue makes up only 10–13% of City’s total turnover, and that figure has remained fairly consistent over the years. The vast majority of revenue comes from broadcasting and commercial partnerships. So, the idea that keeping ticket prices affordable would somehow destabilize the club just doesn’t hold up. There’s absolutely room to ease the burden on fans, especially locals who’ve carried the club for decades, without harming City’s financial health.
On Global Fans and City’s Growth: City is not just a local club anymore, we’re a global powerhouse, and that brings responsibility. There are international fans who dream of attending one match in their lives, let alone a few a season. Are we now saying that locals should have exclusive rights to every match at the expense of the limited opportunities of that wider community?
That wider community is not just sentimental, it’s strategic. City’s commercial revenue now represents the largest chunk of its income. And that revenue comes, in no small part, from being a global brand. If international fans feel excluded that commercial success may not be sustainable. Global visibility and engagement help drive sponsorships, merchandise sales, and brand appeal. There has to be a balance, not a wall.
On 3rd Party Ticket Sites: Yes, there are tickets floating around on resale platforms. But we’re talking a few hundred, maybe a thousand tops. That’s not what's breaking the matchday atmosphere. I am not endorsing prices on those platforms one bit, and part of the blame maybe should lay on those season ticket holders who resell them there, but maybe that limited availability helps someone fulfil their dream of watching City once in their life.
City’s fanbase is evolving, that’s the reality of success. We need open, honest conversations that include all perspectives, not just those from a particular postcode. Local fans are the heartbeat of the club, that’s never in doubt. But the global fans? We’re part of the body too. And we care, deeply.
