Yahoo News Stoke City fans face ticket price hike as Leeds United statement puts Coventry City in the dock
Leeds United have bumped up away ticket prices for Stoke City fans by £5 for next season after ditching an attempt at reciprocal agreements.
Leeds have confirmed a new fixed price of £30 for away supporters in the 2024/25 Championship. Stoke followers were charged £25 when they visited Elland Road for a mid-week match in March, the same as Leeds supporters had been charged at the bet365 Stadium back in October.
But prices varied wildly across the Championship through the campaign and Stoke fans could get in at Hull for £10 but had to fork out £37 at Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers.
AWAY TICKET LEAGUE TABLE: Coventry City shamed in Championship price list
READ MORE: Stoke old boy Steven Nzonzi makes surprise decision
And it was Coventry who criticised Leeds for trying to standardise prices between clubs, releasing a statement at the time saying: "We believe it is not for opposition clubs to dictate pricing or price categories to other clubs. Using high prices at their own club as a negotiating tool to adjust prices at other clubs should not be the case."
Coventry did not respond to a request for a comment when they came under fire for their own ticket policy - and Leeds have hinted that this change of direction stems from that fall out.
A statement from Leeds today said: "The new fixed price will be £30 per adult ticket to each match, whoever the opponent is. This approach falls in line with the Premier League’s pricing policy.
"At the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Leeds United contacted all opposition clubs in the league to try and agree a reciprocal pricing deal to benefit all fans. Whilst some accepted and both sets of supporters were able to benefit from this, some clubs would not agree to reciprocal arrangements.
"As a club, [we] recognise the vital role that away supporters play at every match and we believe in a fair and consistent pricing strategy for all football fans. We hope that this move will ensure our loyal supporters also pay fair and consistent prices when travelling to support the team away from home."
Stoke host Leeds on Boxing Day and the re-match will take place on Easter Monday, April 21. Both matches will be shown live on Sky Sports.
