Man Utd ticket price for elderly supporters a 'total disgrace' say fans

A Manchester United fan organization, The 1958, has fiercely criticized the club’s latest season ticket price increases, labeling the changes for some elderly supporters “a total disgrace.”

The announcement, made on Monday, revealed a third consecutive year of roughly 5% price rises for most ticket holders, though under-16s will see no increase.

However, certain senior citizens are facing steeper hikes due to a significant reduction in their discount, sparking outrage among fans who see it as an attack on the club’s most dedicated long-term followers.

Previously, some seniors enjoyed a 50% discount on season tickets, but this has now been standardized to a 25% reduction for all over-66s, aligning with the state pension age. The 1958 claims this adjustment effectively translates to a 57% price surge for those affected, targeting “generational fans” who have backed United for decades.

In a strongly worded statement, the group argued, “This marks the start of a push to shrink the season ticket holder base. We’ve long warned that the club is sidelining matchgoing supporters, and slashing the 50% pensioner discount to 25% for those who relied on it is utterly shameful.”

Feedback gathered via BBC Sport’s Manchester United page echoed this sentiment, with fans describing the move as “cynical” and “insulting.” One supporter expressed devastation, saying they were “heartbroken” and could no longer afford to attend games after years of loyalty.

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) responded by demanding “urgent talks” with club officials, urging a more gradual rollout of the discount reduction rather than an abrupt change. “These steep increases hit older fans hard, and it’s no shock that they’re stirring such alarm,” MUST stated, pointing to the widespread unease among the fanbase.

United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, defended the pricing adjustments, insisting the club had strived for a “fair and reasonable” approach. He explained that the changes aim to counter “ongoing rises in operating costs,” a challenge the club has tackled through various cost-saving efforts.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has overseen significant financial restructuring since taking a stake in the club, has described these measures as essential to stabilizing United’s future. The club also highlighted consultations with their Fans’ Advisory Board, noting that season ticket prices, when adjusted for inflation, remain below levels from a decade ago and competitive with other north-west English clubs after being frozen for 11 straight seasons until 2022.

United justified the senior discount reduction as a way to eliminate inconsistencies, where some fans received a 50% cut while others got 25%, ensuring all seniors now benefit from a uniform concession.

However, this rationale has done little to quell criticism. The 1958 and other fan voices argue that the move prioritizes financial streamlining over supporter loyalty, particularly for older fans who may struggle to absorb the increased costs on fixed pensions.

The lack of a phased transition, as MUST suggested, further fuels perceptions of insensitivity from a club already under scrutiny for its handling of fan relations under Ratcliffe’s cost-focused regime.

This pricing controversy emerges amid broader questions about United’s direction. While the club boasts on-pitch progress—highlighted by a recent 3-0 win over Leicester City—the off-field disconnect with supporters threatens to overshadow such achievements.

For senior fans, the price hikes represent more than just a financial burden; they signal a potential erosion of the matchday culture that has defined United for generations. As fan groups push back and the club doubles down on its economic reasoning, the divide between Old Trafford’s hierarchy and its loyal base appears to be widening.