Yahoo News Leicester City loyalty punished by 'unfair and deliberate slight' as new charge announced
Charging £25 for a physical season ticket is an “unfair and deliberate slight” on loyal Leicester City match-goers, the Foxes Trust have said in a statement.
City announced on Sunday evening that season-ticket prices for the 2024-25 campaign would be rising by five per cent, seeing the cheapest seat go up £19 to £404. On top of that, any supporter wanting a physical season card, rather than a mobile ticket, will have to pay an extra £25.
The club are entering their third season with mobile ticketing and say it “aligns with our goals for a more sustainable and efficient stadium experience for supporters”. But fan group Foxes Trust say the digital option is not popular among season-ticket holders, and that the club are financially penalising those who do not want to switch.
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In addition, the Foxes Trust say that the Fan Consultative Committee were not spoken to over the rise in ticket prices, a “discouraging” development given previous communication from the club over such matters. They have also issued a survey to members on the matter.
Their statement reads: “In the past, the LCFC Fan Consultative Committee (FCC) has been consulted on ticketing prices. This year, the Foxes Trust is not aware of any fan consultation on price increases or charging for physical cards for 2024/25. It is discouraging that this has not happened.
“We appreciate costs have increased for the club, but the increase in the cost of living for supporters should be acknowledged and their loyalty, after relegation, recognised. Inflation is currently only 3.2 per cent.
“The charge of £25 to obtain a new physical season ticket appears to be unjustifiable on grounds of cost of production alone. Only around 1,600 season ticket holders chose to go digital last season; a clear indication the vast majority of season ticket holders do not want to go digital, and in addition there have been a number of glitches with the digital ticket system this season.
“The Trust has always believed that supporters should be incentivised to move to digital tickets by being persuaded of its benefits, instead the decision by the club is financially penalising people for their choice. This seems both unfair and a deliberate slight to loyal fans.
“The Trust has previously raised the issue around the unsuitability of digital tickets for people with no access to smartphones, the disabled, the elderly, etc. and stressed that digital exclusion leads to discrimination. The club has assured us exceptions can be made, and we will be seeking clarification on this as a matter of urgency. It is noted that the club states that the £25 physical card charge will also be waived for disabled supporters and over-65s, but that does not address the overall issue.
“The Trust is already in discussions with the other supporters’ groups. The Trust will also be consulting members this week on the price rises and the card charge and will be raising the findings with the club before the end of the season.”
