Wednesday 22nd January 2025
The AST has made the following submission to the Arsenal Advisory Board (AAB) ahead of discusssions on ticketing arrangements for 2025/26
In advance of the AAB meeting to discuss ticketing arrangements for the 2025/26 season, the AST would like to reiterate the following key points, which build on the workstreams and discussions that took place in 2023 and 2024.
Our priority request for next year is the introduction of the option of a 19 game Premier League season ticket for those who wish to purchase one.
This would have the following major advantages:
We have been encouraged by this option having been recognised by the Club as one that could be beneficial and reassurance that it was being seriously considered. We hope it will be introduced for season 2025/26.
The FSA have this year launched a campaign called ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty’ that is focused on securing fairness for fans on ticketing issues. Its inception was inspired by increasing concern that clubs across the Premier League were increasing ticket prices well above inflation and seeking to remove concessionary ticketing. https://thefsa.org.uk/news/stop-exploiting-loyalty/
We believe this is an important message and ask that this year Arsenal continue to apply all of the existing concessionary ticketing arrangements and for 2025/26 apply a freeze on general ticket prices.
In recent years the Club has seen its revenues increase greatly from both broadcast and commercial revenues, while ticketing revenue has also increased as fixture lists have expanded and categorisation has increased.
Further protests are planned by the FSA on this theme and we know that it is being monitored carefully by senior politicians and the shadow football regulator. The AST hasn’t felt the need to participate in any protest so far given positive discussions and outcomes at recent AABs and we hope that this years outcome will produce similar.
Finally, there is also concern at the categorisation that has been given to some matches. As previously raised, making Champions League group stages ‘ABBB’ for not particularly inspiring matches in a group stage of a competition where qualification is all but guaranteed (24 out of 36 teams qualify) is just too high.
If Arsenal continue to progress in the Champions League then we face a scenario whereby a fan attending all 7 games (possibly 8) could pay for tickets in the categorisation of ABBBAAA(A). This is a huge outlay and needs to be considered by the Club alongside its constant positioning of how much it values supporters in the ground and their support.
We also saw increased pricing applied to the League Cup this year and note that in the past the League Cup has been a valuable entry level ticket often purchased by younger fans and those from diverse backgrounds who live nearer the stadium. We welcome reassurance this will be considered in setting categorisation for next season.
Notes:
Our previous surveys and statements on ticketing are included below.
