Liverpool Fan Groups Slam Club's Pricing, Ticketing Structure for 2016-17 Season

Liverpool released their new ticketing structure and pricing for the 2016-17 season, and fans are not happy with what they are calling “morally unjustifiable” increases for a large amount of season-ticket holders, as well as matchday tickets. 

The Reds announced 64 percent of season-ticket prices will either decrease or freeze, while 45 percent of matchday tickets will decrease in price, per their official website. But the club's unofficial supporters union, the Spirit of Shankly, were able to look into the detailed prices―which are yet to be released―and came away disappointed.

According to their official website, the remaining ticket prices will increase dramatically, and the club's promise of the most expensive matchday tickets will be made available at £77 is untrue.

Andy Hunter of the Guardian shared a statement of the official Liverpool Supporters Committee:

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The outcome is extremely disappointing and a missed opportunity for LFC to lead in a fairer approach to ticket prices. After months of time and effort, meetings and debate of ideas and plans to lower supporters’ costs, the owners have chosen to increase prices for many. In the context of the huge income rises the club will receive next year, to up their revenue from fans through season and match-day tickets is both unnecessary and morally unjustifiable.

At a time of ever increasing commercial and media revenues, the club’s reliance on ‘general-admission’ returns is diminishing, and this is a lost opportunity for LFC to begin the reversal of the effects of inflation-busting prices that have forced out many loyal fans over recent years. We had hoped to find a solution to better accessibility to Anfield for younger and future generations through reduced ticket prices.

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While the club has made some positive moves, like giving priority access to local fans and free tickets to local youths, the fans' main issue appears to be with the pricing for the rebuilt Main Stand.

Jay McKenna of the Spirit of Shankly also warned fans to look past some of the headline-catching moves, like the Reds' announcement tickets will be made available for as little as £9:

He has an issue with the way the negotiations were handled and how little time the group had to go over the new plans:

The club and the Ticket Working Group worked on the proposal for 13 months, and it must be disappointing for all involved that at the end of such a long negotiating process, so many are left feeling disappointed.

With the Premier League's new TV deal set to increase the revenue of its clubs to unprecedented heights, per the BBC, the importance of matchday revenue will decrease dramatically.

Fans across the country continue to hope this newfound wealth will trickle down to them, but as evidenced by the latest developments from Anfield, negotiations will remain tricky.

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