Liverpool FC fans in revolt over price hikes
ANGRY Liverpool fans have staged the first-ever walk-out in the 132-year history of the iconic Anfield stadium in a bitter row over higher ticket prices.
Supporters groups are angry over the pricing for the enlarged Main Stand, which has 8,500 more seats and has cost the club’s American owners Fenway Sports Group, more than £100m to redevelop.
A walkout on the 77th minute – symbolic as £77 is the cost of the most expensive seat in the new stand -took place during Saturday’s home match against Sunderland. Reports suggested that as many as 10,000 supporters took part in the protest organised by influential groups Spirit of Shankly and Spion Kop 1906.
Spirit of Shankly said in a statment: “We are extremely disappointed at the prices and the missed opportunity by the club to deal with the issue of ticket prices.
“We believe it is right and fair to lower ticket prices in order to sustain our support and subsequently the atmosphere inside Anfield.”
The club says it has frozen or cut 64% of season ticket prices and 45% of matchday tickets. Chief executive Ian Ayre told the club’s website that a limited-availability £9 ticket is also being introduced for some low category games, one of the cheapest full-price tickets in the Premier League.
He added: “The building of the new Main Stand is a huge investment by Fenway Sports Group and we have to pay that back, but I think the reflection of the prices shows that we’re moving as many tickets as we can in the right direction downwards, but then at the same time providing something for everyone.
“I think when we had our discussions with the ticketing working group around affordability, we fairly established that what affordability means for one person is different to another.”
