The Newcastle United Supporters Trust has taken part in a Football Supporters’ Association campaign aiming to prevent further football ticket price rises. The ‘Stop Exploiting Loyalty” campaign comes after Newcastle United was one of 19 Premier League clubs to raise their prices this season, with NUST’s Adam Stoker explaining why the message was so important. Daniel Wales reports.
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00:00The phrase Stop Exploiting Loyalty was emblazoned directly in front of St James' Park early on Saturday.
00:06Like other clubs, Newcastle United increased their ticket prices this season,
00:10prompting the Supporters' Trust and Football Supporters' Association into action.
00:14We're here as part of the Football Supporters' Association's Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign.
00:19It's basically just a response to ticket prices on the rise across the league.
00:24This season, 19 out of 20 Premier League clubs have increased the prices.
00:29Obviously, Newcastle had that this season with a 5% increase in season ticket prices
00:33and increase in general admission, so we're part of it as well.
00:37There's obviously plenty of other clubs who have it worse, namely Spurs, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
00:43But yeah, just as a stand of solidarity between supporters across the league,
00:48to say that it's getting a bit far with record TV deals across the league,
00:54there's then record prices for fans to pay as a result and just don't think it's right.
00:59Adam outlined why rises in football ticket prices is such a big issue
01:04for so many who attend matches on a weekly basis across the country.
01:08Well, football clubs have been a huge part of our local communities for hundreds of years
01:12and have been built on by working class support and it's getting to the stage where
01:17it's more and more difficult for that support to come and follow their team.
01:21And just ticket prices across the league generally being above the rate of inflation
01:27just makes it more and more difficult for supporters to do what they love.
01:31And I mean, a large part of the reason why football is so popular is the atmosphere it creates
01:36and that traditional type of fan who has created that atmosphere is being priced out.
01:41But why do clubs feel that they are able to justify increasing their prices
01:46even when supporters give up their time and money to consistently support them?
01:51It's something that's ingrained in you. It's something that you do from birth for most people.
01:56So, yeah, fans aren't going to walk away and clubs know that.
02:01And in some cases, that's definitely what causes prices to go up.
02:06And we just want to ensure that that loyalty isn't exploited by clubs across the league.
02:13The main question is whether demonstrations like this do go on to have an impact.
02:18Adam made clear that there have been examples of positive dialogue with some clubs.
02:24Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we've seen, well, a perfect example is actually today.
02:29Arsenal's original plan was to remove some of the concession tickets,
02:34but with dialogue between supporters and the club, that is something that they have now backtracked on.
02:39It shows that with dialogue between fans and supporters that agreements can be reached that are sensible
02:44and are in the interest of both parties.
02:47It's just a good look for the club to be the ones that go against the grain and go,
02:51you know what, we're not going to do what everyone else is doing.
02:54We're going to help support our fans and not put the ticket prices up.