Yahoo News Season ticket price storm at Tottenham intensifies as club accused of 'pricing fans out of the game'
The storm over season ticket prices at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium has intensified after its supporters’ trust accused the club of failing to “properly address” fans concerns.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust warned it would consider “other methods of encouraging” Spurs to rethink the “rises” for their inaugural campaign in their new home unless they entered into “a full dialogue” over the issue.
The trust said it had received “unprecedented” feedback from within its 11,000-strong membership over the season ticket prices announced on Monday, which also drew criticism from former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
A petition launched on Tuesday to “Stop THFC from pricing fans out of the game with excessive season ticket price hikes” had, by Friday, attracted almost 4,000 signatures.
That is despite the THST claiming to have been told by Spurs that the club had “received little or no complaint about pricing, other than from people in the old East Stand at White Hart Lane who, it says, benefited from a discount for several years”.
We’re seeing more and more empty seats at grounds. Given the vast sums received from TV rights, ticket prices should be falling not rising. The game needs full stadiums otherwise its appeal will slowly decline, even to rights holders. Avarice will only damage the game and clubs. https://t.co/dQtjVdpjBZ
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2018
It also reported that Tottenham told it “there is no like-for-like seat comparison anywhere within the new stadium as spectators will have the benefit of improved facilities compared to the old White Hart Lane. This leads the club to reject the view that season ticket prices have risen at all”.
The trust said: “Some fans will be paying £880 more than they did at White Hart Lane if they wish to continue having a seat on the side. Fans watching from behind the goal will have to pay at least £200 more than they did at White Hart Lane. In any terms those are price rises.”
Less empty seats leads to a better TV product (money) but also better atmosphere, which in turn affects testosterone levels and territorial behaviour in players, therefore increasing home advantage. There’s financial value in every added league point too. #Footballhttps://t.co/jeUzXcKziH
— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) March 13, 2018
Highlighting the online petition currently running at change.org, it added: “We remain committed to a full dialogue with the club as soon as it is ready to properly address supporter concerns. In the meantime, we will be considering other methods of encouraging change.
“While £50 deposits for season tickets start being taken on Monday, there is still time for the club to reconsider before the 16 May deadline for full payment.”
In an update on their season-ticket renewal process on their official website, Tottenham said: “It is natural that supporters relate the old with the new however there is no like-for-like seat comparison anywhere within the new stadium.
“All seats have uninterrupted views, comfortable modern seating, more leg-room, with spectators closer to the pitch than at any other comparable ground in the UK as well as a significantly enhanced experience for every spectator on concourses.”
