Fulham fans have urged owner Shahid Khan to reconsider the price hike for 2023-24 season tickets, after a plan to charge as much as £3,000 was revealed this week – leading to some fans suffering ‘distress and anxiety’.
The Premier League club’s new proposals were announced on Wednesday – with the Cottagers plotting a staggering 18 per cent rise in price for three sides of Craven Cottage – as well as charge up to £3,000 for their new Riverside Stand.
The west London outfit’s price scheme has angered supporters – with the Riverside Stand, which is due to be fully open ahead of next term, stirring up most of their fury.
It would become the most expensive seat in the Premier League without hospitality, coming out at £157-per-match.
The Fulham Supporters Trust have accused Khan of causing ‘distress and anxiety’ and have penned an open letter to the owner urging a rethink over the new prices.
Fulham’s new Riverside Stand is causing fury among fans due to its season ticket pricing there
The stand, which will be fully open ahead of next season, will cost £3,000 to sit in for 2023-24
It would become the most expensive seat in the top-flight without hospitality at £157-per-game
An artist’s impression of how the stand will look once it’s fully open with fans for next season
The Fulham Supporters Trust have asked owner Shahid Khan (right) to reconsider ticket prices
Fulham fans wishing to renew their season ticket have until April 18 and at these prices to do so
‘The pricing structure has caused distress, anxiety, anger, and disillusionment among a significant proportion of our loyal fan base,’ the trust said.
‘Seats priced at £3,000 appear to be among the most expensive non-hospitality season tickets in football worldwide.
‘We believe this pricing structure is out of touch with the financial realities facing many of our loyal fans. In the Riverside Stand, we ask that the pricing model is significantly revised. Its pricing ostracises the vast majority of fans from ever experiencing it.
‘Sustainability comes from sporting merit, driven by vocal fans, which will deliver better results than turning Fulham into a club that only the wealthy can afford to attend.
‘Despite undertakings to consult on season-ticket pricing, there was none at any stage.’
Their anger was further fuelled by the club asking fans to pay by Tuesday, April 18 if they wanted to purchase the most expensive seats, and given only six further days if the wanted season tickets in the same stand at a cost of between £1,250 and £1,450.
Fulham feel their general prices are low by comparison with similar Premier League clubs, having risen by an average of two per cent over the past 20 years.
They have also stressed that they informed supporters that they were buying a seat for only this season, due to the still unfinished building work, and these are new prices, not a renewal figure.
Fulham’s new Riverside Stand will host a hotel and spa which includes a rooftop pool
Fulham fans face the prospect of paying up to £3,000 to watch Premier League football
The development of Craven Cottage’s Riverside Stand will increase the ground’s capacity to 28,500 and when complete also include a rooftop swimming pool as part of a hotel and spa.
The lower tier of the £160million redevelopment, which houses 2,000 fans, was opened at the start of the season and from next year both tiers will be able to host up to 8,000 supporters.
There will be 600 seats level with the penalty area that will cost £3,000 for the season, while the level below will set fans back about £2,250.
Currently Tottenham have the most expensive non-corporate match day seat, averaging around £106.50 per game. While at Manchester City, a season ticket would cost three times less than Fulham’s new prospective prices, at £980.
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