True_Blue69
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Statement from fan groups ahead of new season
- Thread starter Ric
- Start date
Saddleworth2
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Well done. Better than I got. I had to email Lee. Hope you get your issue sorted mate.Thanks I sent her an email with all correspondence attached and she kindly responded back saying she will raise it with the club.
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
The beauty of the season ticket up to now is that you could decide up to a day or so before so if you are travelling long distances you can take weather forecasts into account and still put your ticket on the exchange. You can’t do that with a flexi gold.Isn't this exactly who the flexi-gold season ticket is for? If you can't make every game, you have a guaranteed seat and a few weeks before you choose if you want to take it. Surely this is easier that having to re-sell on the ticket exchange every time you don't want to go.
I think it’s all negative conjecture at the moment because we don’t know why ALL clubs are taking these steps & how it will end up.Do you really think City or any other club is going to tell the fans why they make the decisions they do? Not a chance! City and other clubs only tell their fans what they are going to do when they decide to tell the fans.
When City tell the City Matters Reps their plans, it's NDA'd, so the City Matters Reps can't and won't tell the fans anything until the club tells the fans.
I’ll leave it there as some people are - for their own good reasons - very angry but I’m open minded about the situation. I’m badly affected by this issue but I’ve spoken to the club and will continue to do so.
I really don’t think we’re different from many clubs & a lot better than some. Our ticket prices have understandably risen with success as to continue that success costs.Owners have nothing to do with this. Our majority shareholder will have nothing to do with the running of this football club. He doesn’t even own shares in City, he owns shares in the CFG who own City. He owns those shares to earn money back off them either from dividends or by selling some of those shares over time as the share price increases. He’s a high ranking politician and member of a royal family who also has many investments around the world other than the CFG, he’s not going to be involved in decision making at City.
City are run by the CFG boardroom members and directors. Even the Chairman has been ignored when he’d suggested not to put ticket prices up one year and the boardroom just went ahead and did it anyway. But even then, he’s the ones who labelled us as ‘legacy fans’, I’d never heard that term before al Mubarak said it on one of his end of season interviews.
Plus it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that argument, it’s an argument with merit based on peoples’ experiences.
11 ST price rises in 14 years have seen many local fans fall away from the support and it took a series of protests to stop it being 12 in 14 years. Constant matchday price hikes stops local fans being able to even justify going to one-off games, again if it wasn’t for the protests these tx would probably be a few quid dearer than the ridiculous prices they were in the last few years. They've even doubled the price of kids’ tickets for the early round domestic Cup games in 5 years and they were the games many priced out locals did try and come to. With new contracts with an ever growing group of worldwide ticket tout partners, it shows that foreign tourists are very much the clientele City have tried to increase in attending City games.
Since Covid, probably half of all games we’ve played at the Etihad, I’ve had some foreign attendee, often who doesn’t even support City, sat next to me. Groups of tourists are all over the place on CL nights and the big PL games, often fans of the opposition. Even at away games there are rows of attendees who don’t support City from different countries: there have been Belgians, Germans, Croatians, Majorcans and Catalans all sat in a row together at big away games at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and then even at Ipswich. These are oniy the ones we have clocked, there could easily be further examples who’ve just gone unnoticed as they’ve tried to blend in more than the cunts in Barça shirts or Haujduk Split scarves. There was even one fucking idiot at Anfield last season wearing a United hat in the City away end.
They don’t even care whether these people are City fans or not, just get the tourist revenue flowing because that’s where the money comes from with regards to ticketing. If ‘legacy’ fans fall away from the support in the meantime, the boardroom do not give a shit.
On the trophy tours we’ve had in our recent run of success, do you know how many times those trophies have come to Wythenshawe, as one example? Or Altrincham, or Stockport, or Oldham, or Warrington…(It’s none, by the way)… yet there’s loads of social media coverage of them being in Boston or Brisbane or Bangalore or wherever it is they’ve been taking them to. There was one year where the trophies were in the City Arndale store for one afternoon and that’s all the Manchester public got for the entire trophy tour.
City are very much targeting worldwide tourists and they don’t care whether local fans fall away from the support or get to experience things like the rest of the world does. Like City’s Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer, Nuria Tarre, made a very timely and purposeful point of saying (right in the middle of a highly sensitive time with our fanbase about ‘legacy’ fans being priced out and ticket tout companies on the rise); ‘99% of our fans are outside of Manchester so we need to find ways to engage with them as well, delivering the best fan experience possible’.
It was only the embarrassment they got from our protest last season that changed anything. Otherwise the ‘99%’ would still be their priority. Well, they still are, but at least we made the club make a gesture for them to save face with their reputation for a short while as they have given in to us and frozen ST prices, reduced the stupidly high match ticket prices and finally opened up a few more STs for people.
But even then, look at the rows and chunks of empty seats grouped together at all games this season. Clearly they are groups of tickets that have been dished out to the ticket tout partners which they couldn’t sell because the tourists don’t fancy us as much at the moment because we’re not the champions. It’s even been seen multiple times this season where the official City ticket site has even got down to 0, SOLD OUT, for a home game… then all of a sudden 350 more tickets, often grouped together, have appeared on the planner. Again, obviously returned from ticket tout partners because tourists haven’t taken them up.
We are a lot better than the old top (red) clubs and on a par with the best.
We can’t continue as little local City. We now are global but in my experience everyone who sits round me were also in the Kippax with me 30 years ago.
We all have different views. I’m trying to be a bit more balanced.
crystal_mais
Well-Known Member
There is a massive difference between "don't want to" and "can't" due to circumstancesIsn't this exactly who the flexi-gold season ticket is for? If you can't make every game, you have a guaranteed seat and a few weeks before you choose if you want to take it. Surely this is easier that having to re-sell on the ticket exchange every time you don't want to go.
True_Blue69
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The beauty of the season ticket up to now is that you could decide up to a day or so before so if you are travelling long distances you can take weather forecasts into account and still put your ticket on the exchange. You can’t do that with a flexi gold.
Are there more than 10 games a season where you couldn't go to due to last minute circumstances such as weather? I know the weather in Manchester can be bad but not that often.
We were heading in a shit direction. We were the most expensive for STs and matchday tickets for any club outside London (we still are for STs, Villa not far behind after their board are shafting them now n’all). Our legacy fans aren’t the same kind of fans as Liverpool and United have (our two biggest rivals, our biggest local rivals but the two biggest clubs in the country).I really don’t think we’re different from many clubs & a lot better than some. Our ticket prices have understandably risen with success as to continue that success costs.
We are a lot better than the old top (red) clubs and on a par with the best.
We can’t continue as little local City. We now are global but in my experience everyone who sits round me were also in the Kippax with me 30 years ago.
We all have different views. I’m trying to be a bit more balanced.
Even so, Liverpool have better initiatives for local and legacy fans than we do (priority for fans with an ‘L’ postcode, £9 PL tickets for juniors in all but the new AR tier). And United still had £13 PL tickets for juniors until Berrada’s got his way this season. Both clubs’ most expensive STs are cheaper than ours. My ST is more expensive at City than my equivalent in the same blocks of the stadium at Anfield and Old Trafford.
We couldn’t continue as little local City, of course. But when the two biggest clubs in the country are doing better things than we are for their locals and legacy fans, it starts to get very annoying. Especially when we hate them haha.
Hopefully, the protests have given our board a big wet-fish slap in the face. Freezing ST prices, reducing matchday ticket prices and opening up more seats as STs is good. But we’ll only know how good that has been long-term when we see this season among many seasons around it.
I would like to know (but suspect we’d never find out) whether this season’s ticket decisions have been in conjunction with suspicions I have of fewer matchday tickets being available and more being given over to the ticket tout partners (to dampen the impact on their forecasted ticket revenues which will have taken a knock with their backtracking after the protests), because there have been more empty seats this season at games when our official City ticket site often sells out of their available tickets, or we see more tx put on our site the day before a game.
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Franny 1234
Well-Known Member
LOVE CITYMy point was that the poster concerned blamed Soriano. Yes, criticism of the club MAY be valid but no ordinary City fan has sufficient information to blame one man & we should not forget what a great job the board have done apart from this ticket issue. It seems all clubs are taking similar steps so they need to come out and tell us why.
HATE anything to do with the ticket system.
My criticism is only of the stress involved with almost every aspect of Tickets.
Long post but not sure it’s totally fairWe were heading in a shit direction. We were the most expensive for STs and matchday tickets for any club outside London (we still are for STs, Villa not far behind after their board are shafting them now n’all). Our legacy fans aren’t the same kind of fans as Liverpool and United have (our two biggest rivals, our biggest local rivals but the two biggest clubs in the country).
Even so, Liverpool have better initiatives for local and legacy fans than we do (priority for fans with an ‘L’ postcode, £9 PL tickets for juniors in all but the new AR tier). And United still had £13 PL tickets for juniors until Berrada’s got his way this season. Both clubs’ most expensive STs are cheaper than ours. My ST is more expensive at City than my equivalent in the same blocks of the stadium at Anfield and Old Trafford.
We couldn’t continue as little local City, of course. But when the two biggest clubs in the country are doing better things than we are for their locals and legacy fans, it starts to get very annoying. Especially when we hate them haha.
Hopefully, the protests have given our board a big wet-fish slap in the face. Freezing ST prices, reducing matchday ticket prices and opening up more seats as STs is good. But we’ll only know how good that has been long-term when we see this season among many seasons around it.
I would like to know (but suspect we’d never find out) whether this season’s ticket decisions have been in conjunction with suspicions I have of fewer matchday tickets being available and more being given over to the ticket tout partners (to dampen the impact on their forecasted ticket revenues which will have taken a knock with their backtracking after the protests), because there have been more empty seats this season at games when our official City ticket site often sells out of their available tickets, or we see more tx put on our site the day before a game.
https://www.givemesport.com/premier-league-every-club-season-ticket-prices-2025-26/
Tim of the Oak
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I agree with a fair amount of what you say but we have £9 tickets for juniors, including the biggest game in the League. City vs Liverpool. Yes £9 on flexi. Most of Liverpool’s affordable tickets find their way to touts who will charge a small fortune for them.We were heading in a shit direction. We were the most expensive for STs and matchday tickets for any club outside London (we still are for STs, Villa not far behind after their board are shafting them now n’all). Our legacy fans aren’t the same kind of fans as Liverpool and United have (our two biggest rivals, our biggest local rivals but the two biggest clubs in the country).
Even so, Liverpool have better initiatives for local and legacy fans than we do (priority for fans with an ‘L’ postcode, £9 PL tickets for juniors in all but the new AR tier). And United still had £13 PL tickets for juniors until Berrada’s got his way this season. Both clubs’ most expensive STs are cheaper than ours. My ST is more expensive at City than my equivalent in the same blocks of the stadium at Anfield and Old Trafford.
We couldn’t continue as little local City, of course. But when the two biggest clubs in the country are doing better things than we are for their locals and legacy fans, it starts to get very annoying. Especially when we hate them haha.
Hopefully, the protests have given our board a big wet-fish slap in the face. Freezing ST prices, reducing matchday ticket prices and opening up more seats as STs is good. But we’ll only know how good that has been long-term when we see this season among many seasons around it.
I would like to know (but suspect we’d never find out) whether this season’s ticket decisions have been in conjunction with suspicions I have of fewer matchday tickets being available and more being given over to the ticket tout partners (to dampen the impact on their forecasted ticket revenues which will have taken a knock with their backtracking after the protests), because there have been more empty seats this season at games when our official City ticket site often sells out of their available tickets, or we see more tx put on our site the day before a game.
We also know that when rival clubs have had comparable capacities like Liverpool, their matchday revenue far outweighed ours, largely because they sell a lot more match day tickets (compared to season cards).
I think some of our crowds have been pretty good including Prem matches, Napoli and Dortmund. Yes we don’t have as big a supporter base as the tourist freakshow clubs but there are fans / families of City and Haaland who struggle to get tickets. I know this from running an OSC Branch with young families struggling to get tickets, whilst the family stand has some “39 year old kids.”
We need to do more to make ticket prices affordable and the expanded North Stand (regular seats) improves prospects from a supply vs demand perspective. Time will tell.
There is no doubting we are run by ruthless business people but it doesn’t make business sense to force us out.
That corroborates what I said. We have the most expensive STs outside London:Long post but not sure it’s totally fair
https://www.givemesport.com/premier-league-every-club-season-ticket-prices-2025-26/
Liverpool £904; United £1,121; City £1,600.
My ST at City is £965. The equivalent seat at Anfield is £894 (I can’t find United’s for this season for some reason but it had been more expensive for about four years at City than Old Trafford).
Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
There will be a couple. We drive from Scotland so it’s not just the weather in Manchester mate. Then there are midweek games, illness, holidays …Are there more than 10 games a season where you couldn't go to due to last minute circumstances such as weather? I know the weather in Manchester can be bad but not that often.
We always put our seats on the exchange and they always sell hence I really don’t know what the club are trying to achieve.
True but we also have the cheapest. Need to look at all aspectsThat corroborates what I said. We have the most expensive STs outside London:
Liverpool £904; United £1,121; City £1,600.
My ST at City is £965. The equivalent seat at Anfield is £894 (I can’t find United’s for this season for some reason but it had been more expensive for about four years at City than Old Trafford).
Manchester City, fresh off a rare trophyless season - their first since Pep Guardiola’s 2016/17 maiden voyage - also froze prices at £425, making them the most fan-friendly among the traditional big six. Fulham raised their prices by 2.8%, bringing season tickets to between £473 and £486.
Pablo ZZZ Peroni
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At the highest price points City are more expensive than Liverpool. However, we literally have thousands upon thousands of equivalent season ticket prices cheaper than Anfield.That corroborates what I said. We have the most expensive STs outside London:
Liverpool £904; United £1,121; City £1,600.
My ST at City is £965. The equivalent seat at Anfield is £894 (I can’t find United’s for this season for some reason but it had been more expensive for about four years at City than Old Trafford).
STs in the Kop are the cheapest at Anfield and range from £713 to £765.
South Stand prices for standard gold are £425, £485, £540, £745 and £765.
Main Stand STs at Anfield fall in a narrow range from £868 - £904 (but with a very small number at £796)
Colin Bell at City has a very wide range of prices £540, £610, £675, £705, £760, £820, £860, £875, £900, £915, £970, £1025 and £1080
Anfield Rd is range of £765 to £868.
Meanwhile the Family Stand is £540 to £675.
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Good research!! Very interesting.At the highest price points City are most expensive. However, we literally have thousands of equivalent season ticket prices cheaper than Anfield.
STs in the Kop are the cheapest at Anfield and range from £713 to £765.
South Stand prices for standard gold are £425, £485, £540, £745 and £765.
Main Stand STs at Anfield mainly fall in a very narrow range from £868 - £904 (but with a very small number at £796)
Colin Bell at City has a very wide range of prices £540, £610, £675, £705, £760, £820, £860, £875, £900, £915, £970, £1025 and £1080
Centurions
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That £1,600 is in the 93:20 premium seats so I'm calling bullshit on that. The next dearest seats outside of there is £1,080.That corroborates what I said. We have the most expensive STs outside London:
Liverpool £904; United £1,121; City £1,600.
My ST at City is £965. The equivalent seat at Anfield is £894 (I can’t find United’s for this season for some reason but it had been more expensive for about four years at City than Old Trafford).
Tim of the Oak
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The £1,600 seats at City allow you to reserve half time drinks, limited access bar, get free programmes and have a padded seat. Probably not worth the price differential but worth at least part of it.That corroborates what I said. We have the most expensive STs outside London:
Liverpool £904; United £1,121; City £1,600.
My ST at City is £965. The equivalent seat at Anfield is £894 (I can’t find United’s for this season for some reason but it had been more expensive for about four years at City than Old Trafford).
Manchester33
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It's nothing to do with 'foreign'. Don't make it a race thing - it isn't.Fans are right to protest about ticket prices and season ticket availability but City's owners are not trying to cannibalise their own supporter base. i suspect the underlying argument is that City are trying to destroy so called 'legacy' supporters and bring in what they see as 'foreign tourists'. I don't like that argument.
It's about the club fully understanding that a seat owned by a season card holder generates ~£40 for a ticket (~£760 per season). Whereas they can sell the same seat at £60+ for 13+ games and make more money. So even if it's empty for 5/6 games, they don't care.
It's 100% financially driven (nearly everything the club does is). It's a ruthless business decision for the club to accept that squeezing legacy fans further will result in fewer legacy fans attending, but they are business people, not City fans. They will be here for a limited time and they don't care about a potential future City that lost it's core support.