Bayern Munich‘s travelling supporters have joined in the campaign to limit ticket prices to £20 during their trip to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Celtic supporters group, the ‘Bhoys’, who are located on the upper tier of the Jock Stein-North Stand curve have been campaigning for Scottish football to adopt the new pricing strategy throughout the season.
The banner produced by the Bayern supporters read:
“STOP CLUBS’ PRICING INSANITY! TWENTY’S PLENTY”
It has long since been an argument held in German football that matches be accessible to supporters, as Jock Stein said “Football without fans is nothing.” However, in recent years prices for matches have inflated and supporters are attempting to regain control.
In January’s home win over Ross County, Bhoys released a banner in support of the campaign to lower prices.
“Motherwell v Celtic – £30. Hearts vs Hamilton £29. Celtic vs St Johnstone – £30.
“Lower prices for all fans. Celtic, set the trend.
“Twenty’s plenty.”
The campaign has received widespread support throughout the Celtic support and further afield with St Mirren amongst other teams echoing the belief that there needs to be a pricing strategy implemented into Scottish football to arrest the empty seats at some games.
St Johnstone, radically, decided to give Celtic three stands as they knew that they would be able to maximise the profit of these empty seats. The problem with twenty’s plenty is that people are still willing to pay £25, £30 and even £50 (for the lucky few) to see Celtic.
What would perhaps be better is a universal pricing strategy, communication between teams and transparency in ticket pricing. Whilst we do not want quality to dwindle, ticketing shouldn’t be viewed as a way to exploit supporters.
Scotland remains one of the best, if not the best supported league per capita meaning that the supporters are one of the biggest cash generators in the league. Why then try and price them out?
The league authorities would better hope that prize money through sponsorship increases to allow clubs to limit the prices and make Scottish football more affordable without taking it out the pockets of the clubs, who in turn take it off of supporters.
Until clubs see that extra cash, they will happily accept empty stands and hope that their support as well as the travelling support of Celtic (and others) keep cash coming through the books.
Stop Clubs Pricing Insanity! pic.twitter.com/HdIKj7dewX
— North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) February 25, 2020
Bayern Munich at Chelsea tonight.
"Away end: CFC 55£. FCB 59+1£.
Stop clubs pricing insanity!
Twenty is plenty"👏 pic.twitter.com/Zyikx4uba4— Football Away Days (@AwayDays_) February 25, 2020
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