Yahoo News Leicester City respond to season ticket backlash but 'unfair' issue remains
Leicester City fans will still have to pay £25 for a physical season ticket but the club will now donate the fee to charity.
City announced they were introducing a charge for the 2024-25 season card last month as they move to make mobile ticketing the default option in the upcoming campaign. It was a decision that was met by anger from season-ticket holders and led to meetings with fan groups.
Despite the backlash, City are sticking to their plan, and supporters who want a physical season ticket will still have to pay for it. However, to show it’s not a cash-grab, City said on Thursday that all proceeds from the physical ticket charge would go to the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, and that fans would be able to select specifically which local community or organisation is the beneficiary of their £25.
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Following feedback, further changes have been made. Previously, there were exemptions over the £25 for under-12s, over-65s, and fans with a registered disability. That has now been widened to include all fans aged 17 or under.
Plus, the number of opportunities to legitimately pass on a season card to a registered friend or family member has risen from four to five. The flexibility of having a physical card to give to a relative was mentioned by supporters group in the meetings with the club.
In response to the questions over mobile ticketing, City acknowledged they had not explained their motivation as thoroughly as possible. They have now set out a list of reasons for their decision, which includes combatting ticket touting.
City said: “Having taken on board the views expressed by supporters since the announcement, the club acknowledges that the motivation behind this decision requires further clarification. The charge for a physical season ticket card is designed to incentivise the mass adoption of free mobile tickets.
“(Mobile tickets) will enable the club to: admit supporters more efficiently into the stadium on matchdays; ensure tickets remain in the hands of supporters that seek to access them through legitimate club channels; combat ticket touting and the unauthorised transfer of tickets through other means; identify all supporters in the stadium and tackle anti-social behaviour; take further steps towards offsetting our environmental impact.”
City fans have until 5pm on Monday, May 13 to renew their season tickets. As well as the £25 charge, City also raised prices by five per cent, with the cheapest season ticket now standing at £404.
