David Gold has chosen to turn a ‘price rise’ argument on its head after complaints about the cost of tickets for the home clash with Arsenal on December 3.
The club has announced prices of £80 for the 1966 seats, £70 in Band 1, £65 in band 2, £60 in bands 3 and 4, and £50 in Band 5.
That has sparked criticism among some sections of supporters with accusations of a club rip off being thrown around on Twitter.
One follower told Gold: ” Rip off the loyal punters once again” to which the co chairman responded: “It’s your right to leave your seat empty but you gain nothing your club gains nothing and fellow fans miss the chance to see a game. dg.”
And another fan said: “Why should the prices go up just because it’s Arsenal?.”
It was then that Gold turned the argument on its head commenting: “Prices don’t go up because is a big local derby game against Arsenal. The prices go down when it’s not. dg”
By comparison West Ham charged £85 for band 1 seat at the Boleyn Ground for the same home game against Arsenal last season so a reduction of £15 on last season in real terms.
Very clever. This is the same argument used by the fictional Prime Minister, Harry Perkins in ‘A Very British Coup’. When asked to deny that he wants to abolish first class travel on trains he says he doesn’t… he wants to abolish 2nd and 3rd class travel. It is, however, sophistry. Not entirely sure what to make of this. My head tells me the two Davids have done a fantastic job, but my heart tells me that we own the club, not them. I just wish that we could all play nicely… at the end of the day I think we all want the best for West Ham and the fans.
When every match sells out it seems a futile arguement, demand is there for every game its no different for the gooners match. It’s annoying that I have to pay £20 more when I have been to all of the so called lesser games and mostly because of the bloody +2 I can’t get a season ticket. All these supposed stadium bans they are handing out what has happened to their season ticket seats ? No mention of that by the club, is that something you could enquire about Hugh ?