The Premier League is facing growing fan dissatisfaction due to rising ticket prices, which is casting a shadow over the league’s economic recovery after the pandemic.
Supporters from several of the league’s most influential clubs—including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Everton—protested this past weekend. These protests were organized under the slogan and hashtag #StopExploitingLoyalty.
According to the Football Supporters’ Association, 19 out of 20 Premier League clubs increased their ticket prices this season. This follows similar hikes for 17 out of 20 clubs in the 2023–2024 season, causing frustration among fans. However, this year, some clubs, like Manchester United, introduced midseason price hikes, taking the issue to a new level.
In an open letter to Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada, the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust wrote, “Tickets are the access point for match-going supporters.
By exploiting them, you risk losing the goodwill and affinity which brings so much added value to the club, not just in support for the team but financially as well, both in terms of fans’ discretionary spend and also value for sponsors. The marginal gains in ticket revenue will be outweighed by the loss in these other areas.”
Despite the fierce rivalries between these clubs, which have existed for over a century, there is unusual agreement on the ticket pricing issue.
“We all go to games, love our club, and want to keep football affordable for future generations whilst protecting heritage and communities,” said FC58, another Manchester United fan group. “The only way we can achieve this is collaboration. This is our first step. This movement will grow.”
Fan groups in English professional soccer often have significant influence on club operations, partly due to the long-standing connection between each club and its local community.
This fan unrest comes at a time when the financial situation for the Premier League is improving, and reliance on gate revenue is decreasing as media income grows. Last week, the Premier League announced its total commercial and broadcast revenue for the 2025–2028 cycle is set to increase by 17%, reaching $15.3 billion. International media rights are a key factor in this growth.
This increase follows a report from Deloitte earlier this year, which showed the Premier League generated $7.43 billion in revenue during the 2022–2023 season, making it the highest-earning league in Europe. This was the first season without restrictions after the COVID-19 pandemic.
