Fulham fans call for protest over ticket prices
From the official FSA.Org website:
Fulham fans are calling on supporters to demonstrate outside Craven Cottage before next month’s home game against Manchester United over the club’s “completely misguided” ticket pricing.
Fulham Supporters’ Trust (FST), Fulham Lillies and fan media outlets are calling for action over matchday ticket pricing – which is among the most expensive anywhere in the country.
Supporter groups say the club’s ticket pricing policy is alienating matchgoers and could price out a generation of local fans.
“The problem is a completely misguided ticket pricing policy that fundamentally misunderstands what it means to be a fan,” Fulham Supporters’ Trust and Fulham Lillies said in a joint statement released today.
“It’s a policy which, piece by piece, is alienating a large part of our core fan base to the extent that increasing numbers just can’t afford to come to a game or bring their friends and family to help create that next generation.”
The focus of their anger is the staggering matchday ticket pricing set for the visit of Manchester United in November.
The highest-priced non-corporate adult ticket for November’s Manchester United match is £160 for the new Riverside Stand – a 60% increase on the same fixture last season. The cheapest adult ticket is £67 in the Hammersmith End.
At Fulham, the issue of ticket prices has been of concern for successive seasons and supporter groups have been pushing back against the club’s attempts to increase prices.
Craven Cottage is also now home to the most expensive non-corporate season ticket in the country, at £3,000.
“We agree with financial sustainability,” FST said. “But the shortfalls can’t be made up by a ticket policy that prices out our traditional fan base in favour of short-term attendees who are prepared to pay big money for a one-off experience and never come back.
“We are not being heard by the senior management at Fulham. It is time to turn up the volume.”
Supporters are being called on to gather before the Manchester United game on Saturday 4th November from 11am at the Tea House in Bishops Park – and from there fans will march to the ground in protest.
Fulhamish, Fulham Focus, HammyEnd, Friends of Fulham, Cottage Talk, That’s So Craven, Jack & Loz, Fulham Fan News, FFCandME are also supporting the campaign.
‘Chelsea Supporters Group’ can also be found on Twitter and Facebook