West Ham United are facing a backlash from fans over their decision to increase the price of concession season tickets by 7.5 per cent.
The club have phased out concession tickets, moving them to the upper tiers of the London Stadium and into lower-priced bands. The move has been met with criticism from fans, including Hollywood actor Ray Winstone, who has described the decision as “disgusting”.
Winstone has called on fans to boycott the club in protest against the price hike, claiming that the club is “out of touch” with its supporters. The actor has also criticised the club’s decision to move away from its traditional values, claiming that the club is more interested in making money than in its fans.
West Ham have defended their decision to increase the price of concession tickets, claiming that the move is necessary to fund the club’s ambitions. However, the club has faced widespread criticism from fans, who believe that the price hike is unfair and will discourage young people and older fans from attending matches.
The issue of ticket prices has become a major talking point in English football, with many clubs facing criticism for increasing the cost of tickets for fans. West Ham’s decision to increase the price of concession tickets is likely to further fuel the debate about the affordability of football for ordinary fans.
Who cares what that free loader has to say. He didn’t come to Prague for the final as he wasn’t handed a free corporate ticket from one of his mates. Part time fan as far as I’m concerned.
I disagree with the majorly (and Ray) and agree with the clubs position on this. You don’t become a top 6 side by charging peanuts for tickets, especially in the days of PSR – you have to speculate to accumulate. Club needs all the revenue possible to remain competitive which ironically is the opposite of being out of touch with the fans. The fans wanted glory, we wanted Europe, we wanted fresh legs and a new manager, and that’s exactly what we’re getting, but it comes at a cost.
If what people really want is to truly be a club for the “working class” like it keeps being suggested, then in todays football the fans need to lower their expectation to relegation battles.
Many will disagree I’m sure, but I’m also sure if you ask those fans what they want from West Ham in terms of performance, and how much they want to contribute financially to help that, there’ll be a very big delta!
Utter tosh. The delta is minimal when compared to any number of areas where the club have wasted money.
The move promised affordable football and that promise is being broken for the most vulnerable/future fans.
You only have to look at what the club did to Tony Carr and his two season tickets for life.
Utter tosh? Coming from somebody who thinks the only real West Ham fans are impoverished? Affordable football gets you in relegation spot/lower league football. If it bothers supporters that much then buy a couple less pints and don’t bother with the burger van net net you’ll be in the same position. Premiership football is a premium, expensive business.
Who made the statement all West Ham fans are impoverished? Certainly wasn’t me.
That said there will be, like any other club varying degrees of wealth.
Im quite privileged in terms of my seats in the ground but I wouldn’t like to see those less fortunate forced out when the club made a commitment to protect those same groups when we moved.
You’ve always made some sweeping generalisations in your last comment about the fan base so well done you.
*also
Don’t be scared of lower league football. Your team is your team. The league is irrelevant.
If you in a good well paid job. What about us pensioners who have supported the club through thick and thin and now can’t afford a decent seat. As you get older the eyes and bladder get weaker and banishing the older population to the gods is both ageist and lacks empathy.
Agreed, Terry, no reason and no need to push ‘concessions’ up to the highest altitude.
Awful PR and Useless Biz Management.
Who advises the board on these things.. Sometimes I wonder.
Exactly so, PB. can’t have upwards of a hundred million ‘invested’ every year ( or ‘lost’ if you allowed DM to be in charge of selling players), without paying for it. Many on forums expect to have cheap family football but watch the best players in Europe.. it all comes at a price.
This is a strange comment. Are you agreeing with the actions of the club? Are you saying the elderly/younger supporters going with parents etc should be phased out because they can no longer afford it?
You say prem football comes at a price. I’m not saying every ticket should be a tenner not at all. But comments from the likes of PB are essentially saying ‘am alright Jack’’ I can pay the extra so screw everyone else.
https://www.claretandhugh.info/season-tickets-why-the-universal-anger/ If you want to know my stance
I read the article at the time. I agreed with everything you said.
Hence why I found it odd you agreeing with the other post which is at odds with the article you posted.
I cannot agree with those who state that withdrawing concessions and hiking ticket prices is a necessity to be successful on the pitch and being in the EPL.
We will eventually move to what Spurs have done already which is same prices for all bands irrelevant of who you are. Some people just can’t see this is the first step.
I have never felt the need to comment until now. Free loader Winstone at it again. Get the fans on my side and I might get my complementary ticket etc. back . Hammer who pays his way. G.
Ray Winston is right the income gained from stoping concession tickets for over 66 years old and children is disgraceful!!! It’s minimal and it’s morally wrong a lot off these older hammers have only a certain income to live on.And they should have the choice to be able to sit nearer the pitch as walking up the steps could be too difficult for them to manage.Also children shouldn’t be victimized by Sullivan and Brady,when they sold the stadium to the fans.They said there will be tickets that are affordable for everybody,by increasing the prices of these tickets for the young and vulnerable they have proved that they don’t care about west hams fans.Families should be able to attend together at an affordable price as should pensioners.This is discrimination of the worst type and us fans should back our own not the billionaire who owns the club.
Pipe down old boy and keep your wig on.
This is no longer affordable entertainment, long gone are the valid supporters of our Massive Club, why do you ask ,well the fat cat of the boardroom are just lapping up the cream and nothing leftover, then they move on to another Club stripping the assets, take look a Birmingham City and then make your mind up ,ask anyone who supports them they tell you.