Newcastle announce season ticket price rise for third successive season
Newcastle United have announced a five per cent increase in season ticket prices for the 2025-26 season.
It marks the third successive season that the club have raised season ticket prices by five per cent.
The increase comes despite calls from the Newcastle United Supporters' Trust (NUST) in January to freeze ticket prices and 'recognise the financial strain many fans are facing'.
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Newcastle chief executive officer Darren Eales said the decision was taken 'reluctantly' but that it was ultimately 'unavoidable'.
The club's fan advisory board said they were 'hugely disappointed' and 'unanimously rejected' the decision.
Newcastle follow Arsenal in increasing supporter costs for next season, with The Athletic reporting on Tuesday the north London side are set to increase their ticket prices by an approximate average of 3.7 per cent.
Other Premier League sides, including Liverpool, Brentford and West Ham United, have all opted to freeze prices for the 2025-26 campaign.
Newcastle had their transfer activity limited in the summer to ensure they abided by the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), and ticket prices is one source used to maximise their revenue streams. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Eales stressed the need for the club to remain competitive against sides with bigger revenues.
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'Raising ticket prices is a decision we make reluctantly but it is one that is unavoidable if we are to keep pace and build towards our collective ambitions,' Eales said in a statement.
'In a world of profit and sustainability rules, we must continue to face up to challenging decisions and find a balance that keeps football affordable while ensuring the club is able to compete. Without this approach, achieving the sustainable success we all crave simply becomes impossible.'
The rise also comes amid a number of Newcastle supporters already coming off a long-term season ticket price freeze after the club introduced fixed-term price freezes ahead of the 2010-11 season.
A statement from Newcastle's fan advisory board read: 'Against the backdrop of the long-term deal ending and the announcement made by the club earlier this week regarding improved financial performance for the year to 30 June 2024, we reject the choice made by the club to increase the cost of all adult season tickets by a further 5 per cent.
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'We are hugely disappointed and request full consultation on all future ticketing decisions. This includes, individual match tickets, cup schemes and memberships.'
Junior season ticket costs at St James' Park will remain frozen for the 2025-26 campaign and concession prices will also still be offered, while the price rise will not impact fixtures in domestic cup competitions. A 12-month direct debit scheme has also been introduced.
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PSR has definitely restricted Newcastle's post-takeover rise and the club are adamant that every revenue stream must be maximised to try and bridge the gap to those above.
However, for those supporters coming off the long-term frozen deal, who are already facing a significant rise in their season-ticket price, a further five per cent increase will be difficult to stomach. For those who were already paying full price, three successive annual rises of five per cent during a cost-of-living crisis in one of the poorest areas of the country will hit hard.
The Newcastle Fan Advisory Board (FAB) announced that they 'unanimously reject' the decision and expressed their 'huge disappointment', with supporter groups writing to Eales in January, requesting a price freeze. The Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) also used #StopExploitingLoyalty in their response to Newcastle's decision.
Beyond the most important economic effect supporters will feel from the increase, many may also question why prices are rising when Newcastle have failed to strengthen their first XI for three successive windows. Wor Flags, the supporters' group responsible for pre-match displays at St James' Park, even pointed out on social media that many tickets in the Gallowgate End at St James' Park will be more expensive in 2025-26 than those in several areas of The Kop at Anfield.
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With matchday revenue (£50.1m) also now the lowest of the club's three main income streams, according to the club's accounts for 2023-24, and only producing 15.6 per cent of their entire £320.3m annual revenue, it is questionable how much of a difference their five per cent rise will actually make.
Newcastle insist that every penny counts in a PSR world and will allow the club to better bolster Eddie Howe's squad, but this latest decision has prompted anger and resentment among their fanbase.
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