Leeds United board give in to economic pressure as fans now face challenge
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has shared that Leeds United fans face an extra “challenge” on their hands to meet the 10% increase in season ticket prices set by the board this week.
Maguire confessed that double-digit inflation has left football clubs scrambling and boards like Leeds are now passing this problem on to season ticket holders.
Speaking on the Price of Football podcast (9 March), Maguire expressed his deepest sympathies for Leeds United fans who have been left outraged by the board’s decision this week.
“The owners will say that Leeds are losing money so we need to address this, the owners are also aware that Leeds have got a fantastic fanbase and if some people can’t afford to renew their season tickets the club will be sorry to see them go but they’ve got a long waiting list,” said Maguire on The Price of Football podcast. (9 March)
“From an economic point of view you can understand, football clubs are facing double-digit inflation partly due to their inability to control their wage costs.
“And they are passing this on more or less to season ticket holders themselves, I think Leeds fans are irate when we are all having to tighten belts far more than we have done, and that’s the type of mess that we are in.
“So I feel a huge amount of sympathy for Leeds fans because they are incredibly loyal and to be asked to find an extra 10% will be a challenge.”
Fans Fuming.
The cost of season tickets at Leeds are going up by 10% next season, it’s the second rise in 12 years and also the second 10% rise in the last two.
With everything seeming to get gradually more expensive in England at the moment it’s an outrage that boards can treat their loyal fans like this, but it’s hardly surprising.
Money is evidently tight in the game at the moment, however, fans must always come first, yet at the moment it feels like they are the first to be put on the chopping board.
The 22,000-long waiting list at Elland Road says all you need to know though and if you can’t afford to pay the increase there will simply be someone else waiting just behind you to take your not-so-golden ticket.
Andrea Radrizanni and co know this is the case and unfortunately, they are here to make a business thrive and making decisions like this one is the cost of that.
The appetite for a bigger audience in West Yorkshire is evidently large, so shouldn’t a bigger stadium be first on the list of agendas to solve this problem and keep loyal fans from missing out?
This said stadium development is reportedly at the heart of the 49ers’ vision for the club and with luck, they can bring in some positive changes that affect fans in the right way.
In other Leeds United news, the club may now face a losing battle to keep their star player at Elland Road beyond the summer transfer window.
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