Henry Winter has been left fuming with Aston Villa after the club announced their ticket prices for this season’s Champions League games.
Villa is returning to Europe’s Premier competition after 40 years, and the joy has been completely ruined by the club’s decision to increase the ticket prices, which has left the loyal fan base in a fury.
According to Express and Star, the cheapest ticket for a season ticket holder for a Champions League game is £70, and the most expensive ticket for an adult non-season ticket holder is priced at £94.
The Telegraph reports that the cheapest ticket prices for games against Bayern Munich, Bologna, Juventus and Celtic have been priced at £85 for non-season ticket holders.
Winter expressed his fury on X saying that this is nothing but an “opportunistic greed” from Villa, and it will alienate the loyal fan base.
While there is no doubt that Villa will have to generate revenue to meet PSR requirements, the senior The Times journalist has branded Villa’s Champions League strategy as “iniquitous”. He feels this is a huge own goal made by the board.
He wrote on X: “Aston Villa have to generate money for PSR, signings and wages etc, but their Champions League ticketing strategy is iniquitous. Some games are £1 a minute.
“A lot of clubs raise ticket prices atm but this looks sheer opportunistic greed. It will alienate loyal fans who’ve been behind the team through thick and thin. It will affect the atmosphere. It will stop those fans pushed to the limit from spending at the concessions.
“Returning to Europe’s elite competition should be a time of celebration for Villa fans, not worrying about the cost and whether your club actually cares for you. So much is right about Villa atm, manager, team, etc. But this is a huge own goal by the Board. Read the room. Listen to your fans.”
Aston Villa fans are furious with the decision
Winter is absolutely spot on with his assessment. Only this week, Villa admitted that they were hours away from facing a points deduction for breaching football’s financial rules before they sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus.
The deal helped them stay clear of PSR threat and allowed them to sign a raft of new players as Unai Emery bolstered the squad in almost every department.
Many fans are putting the blame on the PSR, suggesting that it has forced Villa into taking such a drastic step.
Aston Villa have to generate money for PSR, signings and wages etc, but their #UCL ticketing strategy is iniquitous. Some games are £1 a minute. A lot of clubs raise ticket prices atm but this looks sheer opportunistic greed. It will alienate loyal fans who’ve been behind the…
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 4, 2024
But no matter how you spin it, the truth remains that ticket pricing must be sensible. The game is nothing without the loyal fans, and Villa will suffer if they alienate their loyal fan base.
They have done some incredible work on and off the pitch in the past 15 months, but the decision could hurt them badly.
Sadly, football is a business now, and Villa have to find ways to secure profits as well. Villa will face Bayern Munich in their first Champions League game at Villa Park in October.
