West Bromwich Albion face revolt over ticket prices

Dec 13 2008 by Rebekah Oruye, Birmingham Mail

“We would be happy to spend £25 for this match, bearing in mind West Brom are at the bottom of the league and when they come to us, their fans will only have to pay £23.”

City were allocated 2,800 seats for the game but agreed to take 1,500.

Baggies spokesman Oliver Bhurrut said categories for all of the club’s Barclays Premier League matches were decided well before the season started and the club was “always mindful of fair pricing for all fans”.

“Manchester City, who finished in the top half of the table last term, were deemed to be worthy of a ‘category A’ game,” he said.

“It is difficult to compare Manchester City’s pricing policy with West Bromwich Albion’s.

“City’s stadium capacity is around 47,000 and they therefore have more than 20,000 extra seats to fill in home and away areas for every Barclays Premier League match.”

Oliver said Albion had been praised for season ticket deals after the club subsidised season ticket prices last spring.

“This season’s reduction sparked club record season ticket sales of more than 21,700, which means with a capacity of only 26,300 at The Hawthorns there are only limited matchday tickets available.”