‘Greed’ – Man United risk outrage by exploring £4k season ticket license for new £2bn stadium

Manchester United are considering the introduction of season ticket licenses worth £4,000 at their new stadium, talkSPORT understands. United unveiled their plans for a stunning 100,000 capacity ground in March in a project that could cost around £2billion. United have revealed plans for a new-look stadiumMan United Minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has secured government backing to regenerate the area around their current home at Old Trafford. However, their new-look stadium could bring a controversial change to season tickets. The Daily Mail have reported that fans could be charged £4k for the right to purchase a season ticket. Such a fee would come as a ‘personal seat licence’, with a number of venues in the United States already having this in place. It means United fans would have to pay the £4k on top of the prices set for their season tickets. talkSPORT understands the idea has been discussed at focus groups. However, United sources insist that it’s a hypothetical proposal at this stage. Reacting to the news on talkSPORT Breakfast, Wales legend Dean Saunders said: “I made a statement about four or five years ago, and I was wrong. “I said, ‘It won’t be long, because of the television money, that really it’d be a tenner to get in, £20, because they won’t need the gate receipts, because they’re getting £160m.’ But I was totally wrong. “It’s just gone through the roof. To take your kids to the football now, it’s a joke how much you’ve got to pay. And then on top of that, the food, a pint of beer, Diet Coke and some popcorn, hot dog. A controversial season ticket scheme has been discussedGetty “You come home, take your two kids to the football, you come home £400/£500 [down].” “Is that just exploiting the fans’ loyalty?” Alan Brazil asked Saunders, who replied: “Yeah, greed.” Saunders added: “It’s a bit like when your dog’s struggling, and the vet says, ‘What do you want to do, put it down or give it an operation, the operation is ten grand.’ And you find the ten grand. “So, it’s not fair on the fans, I don’t think. I thought that the TV money that they get would pay for the fans, to keep ticket prices low, but I was wrong.” The Premier League giants’ plans redevelop the area at Trafford Park could boost the UK economy by as much as £7.3b. A major transport hub would be built alongside sports, residential, entertainment, business and education premises. The whole are around the stadium is set for huge redevelopmentMan United The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force have also claimed that the plans would create in excess of 90,000 employment opportunities. United icon Gary Neville, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Trafford Council leader Sara Todd are part of the group. Construction could take up to seven years, meaning it would be ready for 2032, and they hope to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup final. However, Ratcliffe wants it done as soon of possible and is targeting an ambitious timescale of just five years. United have played at Old Trafford, which has the Premier League’s largest capacity of 74,140, since 1910. The new stadium would become the largest in the United Kingdom by surpassing the 90,000 available seats at Wembley Stadium. talkSPORT verdict on United plans for £4k season ticket charge talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook explained the plans under consideration at United. “United have held a series of focus group meetings with season ticket holders, supporters and corporate customers. “There’s been a variety of proposals that have been discussed, and this is probably the most attention-grabbing. “4k to guarantee your seat for 30 years, there’s been a lot of controversy about Sir Jim Ratcliffe moving long-standing season ticket holders from seats at Old Trafford. “Particularly those behind the dugout because he wants to sell them to corporate customers, so this would guard against that. “This license system is commonplace in America, particularly when it comes to help fund the building of new stadiums. “Of course, United have got a grand plan to rebuild Old Trafford and replace it with a £2b stadium. “We’ve often asked, bearing in mind Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pleaded poverty and said the club could run out of money completely by the end of this year, ‘Where are they going to get £2b from?’ “Well perhaps this is one area to help boost the coffers. I think it will go down like a led balloon amongst Manchester United fans, to be honest. “But what we know about Sir Jim Ratcliffe, we’ve seen over the last 18 months, he doesn’t really care about that, does he? He doesn’t really care about the scrutiny and the criticism that comes his way. “He makes his own decisions, and I think this would be another very unpopular one.”

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‘Greed’ – Man United risk outrage by exploring £4k season ticket license for new £2bn stadium

Manchester United are considering the introduction of season ticket licenses worth £4,000 at their new stadium, talkSPORT understands.

United unveiled their plans for a stunning 100,000 capacity ground in March in a project that could cost around £2billion.

United have revealed plans for a new-look stadium

Minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has secured government backing to regenerate the area around their current home at Old Trafford.

However, their new-look stadium could bring a controversial change to season tickets.

The Daily Mail have reported that fans could be charged £4k for the right to purchase a season ticket.

Such a fee would come as a ‘personal seat licence’, with a number of venues in the United States already having this in place.

It means United fans would have to pay the £4k on top of the prices set for their season tickets.

talkSPORT understands the idea has been discussed at focus groups.

However, United sources insist that it’s a hypothetical proposal at this stage.

Reacting to the news on talkSPORT Breakfast, Wales legend Dean Saunders said: “I made a statement about four or five years ago, and I was wrong.

“I said, ‘It won’t be long, because of the television money, that really it’d be a tenner to get in, £20, because they won’t need the gate receipts, because they’re getting £160m.’ But I was totally wrong.

“It’s just gone through the roof. To take your kids to the football now, it’s a joke how much you’ve got to pay. And then on top of that, the food, a pint of beer, Diet Coke and some popcorn, hot dog.

A controversial season ticket scheme has been discussed

“You come home, take your two kids to the football, you come home £400/£500 [down].”

“Is that just exploiting the fans’ loyalty?” Alan Brazil asked Saunders, who replied: “Yeah, greed.”

Saunders added: “It’s a bit like when your dog’s struggling, and the vet says, ‘What do you want to do, put it down or give it an operation, the operation is ten grand.’ And you find the ten grand.

“So, it’s not fair on the fans, I don’t think. I thought that the TV money that they get would pay for the fans, to keep ticket prices low, but I was wrong.”

The Premier League giants’ plans redevelop the area at Trafford Park could boost the UK economy by as much as £7.3b.

A major transport hub would be built alongside sports, residential, entertainment, business and education premises.

The whole are around the stadium is set for huge redevelopment

The Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force have also claimed that the plans would create in excess of 90,000 employment opportunities.

United icon Gary Neville, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Trafford Council leader Sara Todd are part of the group.

Construction could take up to seven years, meaning it would be ready for 2032, and they hope to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup final.

However, Ratcliffe wants it done as soon of possible and is targeting an ambitious timescale of just five years.

United have played at Old Trafford, which has the Premier League’s largest capacity of 74,140, since 1910.

The new stadium would become the largest in the United Kingdom by surpassing the 90,000 available seats at Wembley Stadium.

talkSPORT verdict on United plans for £4k season ticket charge

talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook explained the plans under consideration at United.

“United have held a series of focus group meetings with season ticket holders, supporters and corporate customers.

“There’s been a variety of proposals that have been discussed, and this is probably the most attention-grabbing.

“4k to guarantee your seat for 30 years, there’s been a lot of controversy about Sir Jim Ratcliffe moving long-standing season ticket holders from seats at Old Trafford.

“Particularly those behind the dugout because he wants to sell them to corporate customers, so this would guard against that.

“This license system is commonplace in America, particularly when it comes to help fund the building of new stadiums.

“Of course, United have got a grand plan to rebuild Old Trafford and replace it with a £2b stadium.

“We’ve often asked, bearing in mind Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pleaded poverty and said the club could run out of money completely by the end of this year, ‘Where are they going to get £2b from?’

“Well perhaps this is one area to help boost the coffers. I think it will go down like a led balloon amongst Manchester United fans, to be honest.

“But what we know about Sir Jim Ratcliffe, we’ve seen over the last 18 months, he doesn’t really care about that, does he? He doesn’t really care about the scrutiny and the criticism that comes his way.

“He makes his own decisions, and I think this would be another very unpopular one.”