Man United considering controversial £4,000 seat plan for new stadium
Manchester United confirmed their plan to build the ‘world’s greatest stadium’ in March, replacing Old Trafford, which has been the club’s home ground for the past 115 years.
The new stadium is expected to have 100,000 capacity, making it one of the largest in Europe. INEOS are targeting the 2031/32 season for its opening.
It is already attracting interest, with the stadium potentially being one of the 2035 Women’s World Cup venues, to be co-hosted by England.
Lord Seb Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games, will spearhead the new stadium’s plan, which is reportedly set to cost more than £2 billion.
According to the Daily Mail, Man United are now considering charging fans up to £4,000 for the exclusive right to buy a season ticket at their planned new stadium.
This strategy, known as a ‘Personal Seat Licence’ (PSL), is common in the National Football League, where some seat licences cost as much as £60,000, but fans can pay in instalments.
It is also used in La Liga, as Barcelona and Real Madrid have raised massive amounts by selling the seat licenses in the VIP areas of their revamped stadiums to wealthy individuals.
Using a similar approach, around 20 per cent of United’s new stadium is ‘expected to consist of corporate offerings’.
Fans who purchase the PSL will have the ‘first refusal’ on the seat for the next 30 years, but will lose it if they do not buy a season ticket.
United are yet to make a final decision on the PSL, as they are still consulting fans, and a survey will also be conducted to gauge opinion.
United could be the first Premier League club to introduce the PSL, but would face strong opposition from supporters to implement it.
Article written by Henry Thornton .