West Ham United faced a backlash from supporters after a significantly reduced crowd attended their pre-season friendly against Celta Vigo. The discontent stems from rising ticket prices and changes to concessionary rates, leading to a widespread boycott among fans.
The club has come under fire for increasing season ticket prices above the rate of inflation, while also restricting concessionary rates to specific ‘unreachable’ top-of -stadium seating areas. This decision has disproportionately affected families and pensioners, prompting many to stay away from the London Stadium.
The low turnout serves as a clear message to the club’s hierarchy about the growing dissatisfaction among supporters. With the new Premier League season just around the corner, West Ham face a crucial juncture. They must address the concerns of their fans and find a solution to the ticket pricing issue to avoid further alienation of the fanbase.
Manager Julen Lopetegui acknowledged the reduced attendance but expressed optimism about the atmosphere for the upcoming league opener against Aston Villa.
“We have to say thank you to the fans for coming to the game today and supporting us – that’s very important for us.“ On next week’s Premier League fixture, he said:“I’m sure we will have a fantastic atmosphere from them when we face Aston Villa next weekend. It will be a big challenge for us, and we have to be ready.“
However, the club’s leadership must recognise the urgency of the situation and take steps to rectify it. The irony of spending £170 million-plus on new players and simultaneously trying to recoup peanuts- about £600,000 -by kicking the oldest and youngest fans where it hurts is not lost on anyone.
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Is this site going to push Sean’s one hundred and seventy million plus number on just about every article? It is a very flawed number – it is the gross spend ignoring sales and it presumes that all add-ons will be activated. Sean’s a bright boy, telling other writers to not to keep flinging it into every article might make sense.
I can appreciate the distaste that an increase in season ticket prices presents to supporters, but on the one hand, we all want to see a stronger, deeper squad, capable for challenging across all competitions which surprise surprise, costs £m’s and on the other hand want to maintain cheaper game tickets at a time when money is hard for everyone… for context, have a look at the cheapest season ticket prices in the Premier…. Hammers are the cheapest. https://www.givemesport.com/every-premier-league-clubs-cheapest-season-ticket-2024-25/
It seems our season ticket prices are the best. But for those who cannot afford a season ticket or who are on the waiting list will be expected to fork out extra.
Case in point, I travel 210 miles one way to get to a game, so end up having to pay for my ticket and my sons ticket, stay in a hotel, pay for lunch and dinner plus fuel etc. it works out costing me about £300 for one game which is close to the price of a season ticket.
Also pensioners cannot afford season tickets (in the main) and those who only come and watch an occasional game due to budget constraints are also suffering.
So you certainly have a valid point in your message but it’s important to recognise that it’s the people who come to two of three matches a season that really feel the pinch.
Also expecting pensioners to climb stairs at a ripe old age is also inconsiderate and not well thought out by the board. I feel for the board as they are working hard to provide us with a team to make us proud but common sense has to orevail, especially for pensioners
Being a pensioner i don’t have no bother climbing all those steps to my seat in band 5.
It’s not the Eiffel tower we are climbing probably twenty steps at the most.
Have you seen how small . The allocation of cheapest season tickets is now .
It’s not so much the cost of the ticket it’s more the amount of price hike plus change in concessions,some people have had there seats in the lower from day one,now if they want their child or grandchild to support the team they will have to pay full price for the extra season ticket or move up into the stratosphere…oh while being told by Brady that they continue to hold family values at heart
Utter crap and you know it .
They cannot win,can they?
Spend fortunes on transfers and then they bleat about minor price increases
Minor,It’s double for kids and OAPs
No concessions whatsoever for kids is that fair .
You and Peter smith sound suspiciously the same . You’re rumbleld pack it in . When in a hole stop digging.
It’s not really about minor price increases. It’s about the way they are treating pensioners and families for what, as Simon says, is peanuts to a premier league football club.
West Ham has always been a special place for players and fans alike it’s a special club and over the years we have seen good times and bad but the fans have always stayed loyal to the club but now Sullivan and co are now trying to rip off dedicated fans of the club by making ticket prices unaffordable for a large section of supporters Sullivan needs to put a stop to the unfair price increases before it turns into a major revolt by fans at the end of the day it does not matter who the owners are because West Ham Utd is the fan’s club and the owners would be wise to rember that
Bennyboy Baker, every club has supporters who will say the exact same points you have made in your comments mate… it boils down to budgets. I’m not gonna get into a disagreement with a fellow Hammer, we all want to see success and good football in the club, its why we go to games, regardless of age or family status… I’m sure that all the clubs supporters have the same thoughts, we’d all love to see season tickets at £250 pa, but we’d have the biggest stadium in the first division as a result.
tell that to the Arsenal supporters and their success in the league and recruitment drive – you want good players, you gotta pay for ’em…. they don’t come for nothing…
Arsenal still have concessions for kids .
I agree with that . pensioners should be treated better . But the myth west ham United is the cheapest club to watch in London. Is utterly laughable. No pensioner or kids concessions whatsoever . Unlike the other 6 London clubs in the premier league.
I know stats and figures can be manipulated to show whatever you want, but either all the web site comparisons for cheapest season tickets are lying or there is a conspiracy being led by WHU to show false data. I’m guessing that the increase is going to hit you in the pocket Trevshead? Football is like any business, transport, retail, tech whatever, if you give your product away how is the club supposed to make money, cos thats what they are in it for – its a terrible business model to give a portion of the best seats that can generate hundreds of £000’s to pensioners and kids. I know we’re not going to agree on this, but times change and the club has to move on or get left behind.
I’ve got a 66+ concession, same seat, almost same price as last season. Nobody who renewed has been chucked upstairs.
No, but no doubt they’ll double the renewal prices for oldies next season if they think they can get away with it. And then maybe no season tickets at all – pay per game only.
Hopefully the club sees sense . Even the the north London propaganda 2 . Have concessions for kids utterly ridiculous position for the club to be in . I suspect it’s all on the baroness .
All blown out of proportion by the brain dead board haters. Existing concession season ticket holders are not impacted. New season ticket holders will have to go in the cheaper seats or pay full tick price. Real fans already have season tickets. Can’t see any problem.
Fans didn’t boycott the game in protest. Friendly games are crap, it’s holiday season and I for one just could not be bothered.
Psssst Peter,yes they did
Surely enough now!
The point has been made that some fans are not happy, but now is the time move on and to support the team.
It should be exciting times with a new coach and a new players, so lets get behind the team, after all we are supposed to be supporters!
Yes Gary. They did indeed . It’s utterly ridiculous the lengths some go to defend Sullivan and Brady. The biggest tragedy of all is the fact they wouldn’t defend any genuine whufc supporter with a genuine grievance . Which affects them . In left wing politics and they would be called scabs .
I went to a game last season and watched Hammers beat Arsenal 3 – 1 for a tenner!
Stop moaning , sit in the pub £5. 00 a pint