Stop Exploiting Loyalty - A NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN
Supporter groups from across the Premier League are calling on their clubs to ‘’Stop Exploiting Loyalty’’ with a wave of protests planned over the next two weekends across stadiums, including our home match versus Crystal Palace on the 2nd November 2024.
Wolves 1877 Trust are an active participant in this FSA led campaign; whilst it is not directed at Wolves in isolation, many of the issues raised such as increasing ticket prices, concession restrictions, alongside ‘over inflated’ prices of in-stadium food and beverage do concern Wolves fans.
Fans from all top flight clubs will meet ahead of games in the next fortnight to show their growing support for the national #stopexploitingloyalty campaign.
Trust Chair, Daniel Warren said: ‘’It seems that loyal supporters are being squeezed financially by the clubs in a wide ranging and targeted way; this campaign is about much more than just ticket prices, our concern grows about the erosion of the availability and price of concession tickets for young and old supporters. It seems that the traditional loyal supporter is the target of a coordinated campaign by club owners’’
Nineteen of the 20 topflight clubs raised prices last season; only Crystal Palace froze prices, whilst Wolves introduced eye-watering ticket price increases in the summer as well as targeting concession prices for ‘special treatment’. A campaign by Wolves supporters’ groups led to 15,000 fans signing a petition resulting in the club CEO, Jeff Shi, committing to not increase adult prices again next season. The Trust will be arguing for a total freeze, not just adult prices, alongside the protection of concession ticket prices in coming seasons.
Trust Vice Chair and FSA National Council member, Ciaran Barker said “Wolves and other Premier League clubs need to take notice of this growing campaign, at Molineux this season we have seen that supporters are ‘voting with their feet’ as every home match has gone to general ticket sale, with empty seats clearly visible across the stadium. It’s time football got its spending under control rather than looking at ways in which it can financially exploit the loyalty of its most committed supporters’’
Premier League revenues continue to grow, with the newest four-year TV deal bringing in £6.7bn for the domestic portion alone. This will be almost doubled by foreign rights packages. On average, match day gate receipts are marginal in comparison with clubs generating around 7%-13% of their income from matchdays.
Huge transfer fees, wages and agents’ commission are clear examples that football has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Owners need to realise that they are increasingly alienating their most loyal supporters, and for a club like Wolves that has spent more time in the Championship than the Premier League over the last 30 years those supporters are the lifeblood of the club.
How to get involved:
Our home match versus Crystal Palace is a designated FSA campaign match on Saturday 2nd November 2024 5:30 pm kick off. The FSA #stopexploitingloyaltybanner will be on display from 4:30 pm, located outside the stadium at the Sir Jack Hayward statue, adjacent to the fan zone. Supporters of both Wolves and Crystal Palace will be encouraged to show their support as they make their way into the ground.
Also, for supporters travelling to Brighton this weekend, the FSA banner will be on display opposite The Prince Albert pub, Trafalgar Street, Brighton from 1:00 pm. The pub allows away supporters so a good place to grab a beer and support the FSA campaign.
ENDS
Notes:
· Wolves 1877 Trust is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation of supporters. It is committed to strengthening the voice for supporters in the decision-making process at a club and strengthening the links between the club and the community it serves. Membership details: https://www.wolves1877trust.co.uk/associate-membership
· The Football Supporters Association (FSA) is the national, democratic, representative body for football supporters in England and Wales. They are the leading advocates for supporter ownership, better fan engagement, cheaper ticket prices, the choice to stand at matches, protecting fans rights, good governance, diversity, and all types of supporter empowerment. They are an advocate of legislation to introduce an independent regulator for football.