Manchester City attempted to INCREASE ticket prices before last-minute u-turn | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City had originally attempted to increase ticket prices for the 2025/26 season before a dramatic u-turn and follow-up statement released this week.

Manchester City announced earlier this week that following constructive dialogue with fan representative group ‘City Matters’ across two meetings, a decision had been taken to freeze general admission season tickets and Premier League match-by-match tickets next season.

While the news received large portions of praise from areas of the club’s fanbase and across the Premier League, there was a remaining feeling that the damage had already been done in previous seasons and that costs should have been reduced.

A statement from the club read, “Manchester City can confirm that general admission season ticket and Premier League match-by-match ticket prices will be frozen for the 2025/26 season.

“This follows the Club’s latest consultation meeting with its elected fan engagement programme, City Matters, and reflects the positive and constructive dialogue that has taken place over recent weeks.

“The Club would like to thank City Matters representatives for the feedback they provide on a range of topics relating to ticketing, and for sharing a broad range of perspectives from the fans they represent.”

However, new information has now emerged stating that Manchester City bosses had first made attempts to increase ticket prices of supporters starting from the next season, before ultimately u-turning on the proposal when it was met with further opposition.

That is according to MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, who reveals that City had first proposed a 2.8 per cent increase at a meeting with the club’s Premier League mandated fan advisory board, ‘City Matters’.

Officials from within the Etihad Stadium had explained in their proposal that the plan for price rises were in line with the Consumer Price Index, however talks with City Matters saw the club freeze prices days after protests within and outside Pep Guardiola’s squad’s arena.

Talks between Manchester City and City Matters are expected to continue over the course of the coming weeks as both parties put forward their proposals and suggestions to improve the Etihad Stadium as an atmospheric experience for supporters.

One area still to be discussed and debated centres around the newly-expanded North Stand, of which Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak once told an end-of-season interview with the club of his idea of building a ‘Blue Wall’.

Manchester City’s statement earlier this week said, “The Club and City Matters will continue ongoing discussions and consultations throughout the coming months around the evolution of the fan experience on matchday in the redeveloped and expanded Etihad Stadium.”

As for the stance taken by Manchester City supporter group ‘The 1894’, there has already been a suggestion that further protest action could come as soon as later this month when Aston Villa visit the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.

A brief comment from the group on social media read after Manchester City’s statement on season ticket prices, “No announcement on season ticket availability. We will now consult with our members and wider fan base about whether further action should take place.”