Spurs and West Ham fans launch damning statements against clubs’ ticket price hike amid cost of living crisis

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United supporters are both fighting against the increase in ticket prices from clubs as football fans continue to battle with the cost of living crisis.

Spurs endured a torrid season last time out rocked by the disruption caused by Antonio Conte's rant against the club's higher powers and have now raised tickets by as much as £13 per match ahead of the upcoming campaign. Meanwhile, at the London Stadium, season ticket holders are facing an 8% increase in the price paid to watch their side.

Supporters groups from both the London sides have released statements condemning their clubs' decisions to hike prices given the current economic climate.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust response to ticket prices

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust criticised the club for not listening to calls to freeze ticket prices and not having consulted fans about the decision.

The group said: "Our ticketing team was informed of the plans to increase match day pricing on Friday morning.

"The Club is aware THST lobbied for a price freeze on all match day pricing and, having been informed this morning, we along with the wider fanbase have been told rather than consulted. This must change if dialogue is to happen and supporter input is genuinely desired.

"The Club knows this is something THST cannot support and we feel an increase of this magnitude is excessive. Our match tickets are already amongst the most expensive in the Premier League and fans should not have to dig further into their pockets when they are already seeing their living standards squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis.

"We were also made aware of plans to move Newcastle United from a Category B to Category A game and Nottingham Forest from Category C to B. The split was previously five Category A games, nine Category B and five Category C. From next season it will now be six Category A games, nine Category B games and four Category C.

"We will now be looking closer at the breakdown of increases across all price points and will then calculate the additional income this will generate for the Club. Whilst we recognise the increased operational costs and lack of European revenue for this coming season, we believe there are other ways the Club can generate this lost revenue. This burden should never be pushed on to match-going supporters."

West Ham United Independent Supporters Committee response to ticket prices

At West Ham, the widespread 8% price increase has come under fire from fans who acknowledge that while some areas of the ground are benefitted from lower prices, there are still thousands of supporters affected.

There are also complaints about the increase in senior concession age that will affect a segment of supporters, labelled as 'insensitive and inexcusable'.

The West Ham United Independent Supporters Committee said: "The ISC has surveyed our respective fan groups and unsurprisingly the feedback has been extremely negative. The 8% increase applied to the 1966 and Bands 1 through 4 is considered both excessive and unjustifiable, while the Club enjoys a second consecutive season of European success with fans attending more games and incurring the associated costs.

"Based on an estimated incremental revenue of £3M, the vast majority of season ticket holders will be faced with an 8% increase to generate an approximate 1.2% revenue increase for the Club’s bank account. The Club marketing department continues to focus on the lower pricing of Bands 5 and 6, however the issue of affordability extends to all season ticket holders, regardless of price band and also applies to Claret Members and non-season ticket holders.

"The Club announced an increase to the senior concession age qualification from 65 to 66 years of age. While the current government state pension age is 66, this was introduced October 2020 following legislation passed in 2011.

"There is no legislative requirement for the Club policy to reflect or track the government state pension age and it’s solely the prerogative of the Club to determine senior concession eligibility. But to inform hundreds of loyal 65-year-old season ticket holders just 24 hours before the renewal window opened that they would not qualify for the anticipated senior concession season ticket is both insensitive and inexcusable."