Arsenal spark fan fury with 'outrageous' ticket surcharge for Barcelona Champions League game

Season-ticket holders at Emirates Stadium are entitled to seven cup matches on top of the standard 19 league games for the price of their ticket, which is the most expensive in the Premier League ranging from £1,035-£2,039 for adults.

The home leg against Barcelona on February 23rd is the seventh home cup game of the season but the club have designated it a category A fixture – a status usually afforded to league matches against the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham.

In an email to supporters, Arsenal explained that as a result the club would be adding a surcharge, which would be added to the season ticket renewal price for next season. Fans do have the option to opt out of the match.

The email, published by arseblognews, reads:

“As a result of our continued progress in cup competitions this season, our FA Cup Fifth Round home match against Hull City on the weekend of 19/20/21/22 February is the sixth cup credit for the 2015/16 season and will be a category C match.

“Consequently, our UEFA Champions League Round of 16 fixture against FC Barcelona, to be played on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 will be our seventh cup tie credit of the season and has been designated as a category A fixture.

“Due to the number of matches played this season and the categories assigned to them, there will be an additional cost to your season ticket for the 2016/17 of [between £18-30 depending on the price of your seat]. This additional cost will be added to your renewal price for next season.”

Evening Standard reporter James Olley tried to raise the issue with Arsene Wenger in his weekly press conference, only to be silenced.

The timing of Arsenal’s email was particularly bad. Fans of the club have often expressed frustration at Wenger’s reluctance to spend money in the transfer market while they are being charged the highest ticket prices in Europe and an estimated £200m sits in the bank.

News that the club were going to levy an extra £30 on top of their season tickets, coming just days after a 0-0 draw against Southampton which extended their winless streak to four games, had many crying foul.

A statement from the Arsenal Supporters' Trust read:

An Arsenal spokesperson told the Mirror: "Each Arsenal season ticket includes admission to all 19 home Premier League matches, as well as the first seven home cup ties in European competitions and the FA Cup. The structure of each season ticket is based on six category A matches; 14 category B matches; and six category C matches.

"Depending on the number of matches played in a season and the categories assigned to them, this could result in a refund or additional cost to the price of each season ticket. For example, season ticket holders received a refund on this season’s prices, due to the categorisation of matches last season.

"For this current season, due to the number of matches played and the categories assigned to them, we have communicated to all season ticket holders that there will be an additional cost, which will be added to the season ticket price for next season. Each season ticket holder will be contacted to advise them of the figure which will be added to their renewal price for next season. This cost will range between £7 and £30."

This is an unconscionable move from Arsenal. The club who already charge the highest ticket prices in the land want to fleece their fans out of another £30 – and for what? Arsenal didn’t have to classify this game as a category A match. The basic understanding of the season ticket is that you get seven cup games – not that you might have to pay more on top of that if those additional matches are against brilliant teams.

For the sake of some short-term financial gain Arsenal have lost a lot of goodwill with supporters, and with the club sitting on huge cash reserves that was in short supply anyway. It is another prime example of how some of the most financially engorged clubs in the world are still seemingly intent on alienating their traditional fanbase, with no foresight as to what affect this will have on the culture of the club or the atmosphere in the stadium.

In fact, Arsenal’s surcharge fits perfectly with the philosophy expressed by Liverpool’s unfortunate faux pas exposed on Thursday: ‘Turning fans into customers’.

The surcharge news comes on the day that Daily Mail columnist Charles Sale revealed details about how Premier League clubs rejected a proposal to cap away ticket prices at £30. And the prime movers behind the blocking of the initiative? Arsenal, apparently.