‘Man United face another PR disaster’ after new controversy – Keith Wyness
Manchester United fans have expressed their disappointment following the recent ticket price hikes at Old Trafford.
The Premier League side confirmed earlier this week the majority of their season ticket prices will increase by about 5 per cent for next season after they were previously frozen for 11 years up until 2022.
Although there will be a price freeze for under-16s tickets, Man United have faced criticism after halving the 50 per cent discount for senior citizens to 25 per cent.
Newcastle United and Arsenal have revealed their season ticket prices will also rise by up to 5 per cent, while Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham and Brentford have frozen their prices for 2025-26.
Football Insider revealed on 19 March United’s ticket prices will skyrocket by the time they move into their new stadium, which is expected to take at least five years to build and cost £2billion.
The Athletic reported on 17 March Old Trafford chiefs were initially aiming for a 20 per cent rise in 2025-26 ticket prices before the club’s Fans’ Advisory Board contributed to them searching for different solutions to better protect season-ticket holders.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – revealed United could be facing another “PR disaster” if they looked to implement such a ticket price rise in future seasons.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come under fire in recent months for his cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford after sanctioning charity cuts and halting benefits for ex-players.
Man United have caused ‘uproar’ after ticket price hike
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted United’s five per cent rise in season ticket prices has caused an “uproar” among the fans.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t know how they’re going to look at 20 per cent.
“The five per cent created a bit of an uproar. Now 20 per cent just beggars belief how they could try and do that.
“I mean, if it was to say 20 per cent over the next 10 years or the next five years even, you could sort of get on board with that and understand it because sort of inflation would dictate that.
“But to say a 20 per cent leap in one season, I haven’t seen that report myself, but if that’s the case, then I’d be very concerned as a United fan that this is the case going forward.
“It would be another one to add to the list of PR disasters we’ve discussed many times.”
| Ranking | Stadium | Capacity |
| 1 | Old Trafford (Man United) | 74,197 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham) | 62,850 |
| 3 | London Stadium (West Ham) | 62,500 |
| 4 | Anfield (Liverpool) | 61,276 |
| 5 | Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) | 60,704 |
| 6 | Etihad Stadium (Man City) | 52,900 |
Man United line up Viktor Gyokeres signing
Football Insider revealed on 15 March Man United remain keen on signing Viktor Gyokeres as they look to add to their attacking options this summer.
The Manchester giants could face competition from some of their fellow Premier League sides after Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have all expressed an interest in the 26-year-old.
Gyokeres, who has registered 40 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances this season, has a close relationship with United manager Ruben Amorim after the pair worked together at Sporting Lisbon.
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