Kieran Maguire: FSG are ‘exploiting’ Liverpool fans with £96m Anfield U-turn
FSG are ‘exploiting’ the loyalty of Liverpool fans after making a U-turn on ticket distribution in the Anfield stadium expansion.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the details behind Liverpool’s 7,000-seat stadium expansion.
Anfield is set to expand its capacity to 61,000 for the start of the 2023/24 season, placing it as the fourth-largest venue in the Premier League.
As revealed by Football Insider sources (21 March), the stadium expansion is set to earn Liverpool an extra £10million in matchday revenue per season, meaning they could earn as much as £96million throughout the campaign.
However, while initial plans were to add 5,200 general admission tickets and 1,800 hospitality seats, Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have gone back on their statement.
They now plan to add 4,800 general tickets and as many as 2,000 hospitality seats.
Maguire labelled the U-turn ‘disappointing’ and believes FSG are squeezing as much money as possible from the club’s fanbase in order to get the best return on their investment.
“Liverpool owners FSG have been focusing on the return on investment and the quickest time they can get their money back on the stadium investment,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Unsurprisingly, they are trying to maximise the money gained from the commercial and hospitality sector, which means proper Liverpool fans have been pushed to the back of the queue.
“Only 4,700 additional tickets sold is very disappointing – and it’s unlikely many of those will be given to season ticket holders because FSG realises that general admission generates higher prices.
“Fans going to one-off matches are more likely to head to the merchandise store and spend significant amounts.
“FSG are exploiting the loyalty of the Liverpool fanbase, and it shows the supporters of the club are getting squeezed by their owners for their money.“
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