Man Utd announce major changes to season tickets prices ahead of 2024/25

Manchester United have announced major changes to season tickets ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and will raise prices for the second season in a row.

The club had frozen costs for 11 years prior to this season, when a five percent increase was confirmed for 2023/24. And the club revealed on Friday that prices will be raised by another five percent next term.

United said the decision was made due a 40 percent raise in the cost of delivering matches over the last five years, with the increased charges needed to ensure the club continue to operate on a ‘sustainable basis’ and to support other investments, such as maintaining Old Trafford.

United described the five percent increase as a ‘club-wide decision’ but would not be drawn on whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe or Ineos had any direct say. The new minority investor is expected to make staff cuts when his purchase of just over a quarter of the club’s shares is officially confirmed later this month.

As part of the news, which was announced to season-ticket holders via email, United revealed plans to upgrade their digital ticketing system ‘to increase security and reduce touting’.

The controversial executive seating in the heart of the Stretford End will also be replaced and the seats made available for season-ticket holders. Five hundred seats have also been set aside for holders of a new youth season ticket for fans aged 16-25, while United plan to build a further 1,300 safe-standing seats in the first tier of the North-West quadrant.

But the changes announced may not be enough to placate fans who have seen a gradual decline in the last decade and are now being charged more to watch a side who have lost seven of their 16 home games this season.

United also announced record revenue of £648.4m for last season and yet still managed to post a loss of £42.1m, before recording a first-quarter loss of £25.8m for the three-month period ending 30 September. 

The financial outlook for United is bleak and 17 players were allowed to depart in some capacity over January in an effort to reduce their wage bill. United’s season-ticket increase could also be explained by a £15m reduction in the forecasting revenue guidance for 2024, following the early exit from the Champions League this season.