And the fact that the Glazer family has ripped up its initial plan to peg back prices this summer has been slammed as a cynical attempt to cash in on the club's success this season.
The documents also indicate that this year's whopping increases will not be the last, as the club has stated that it intends to `maximise revenue generated through ticket prices and enhanced stadium facility.'
That indicates that prices will continue to rise until empty seats begin to appear at Old Trafford.
Last summer, the Glazer family was only intending to put prices up by 2.5 per cent this year, after introducing a huge hike of 12.5 per cent in their first year of ownership.
But the family ignored that business plan and instead came up with an average increase of more than 10 per cent with prices in some areas of the ground rising as high as 14 per cent.
That increase ignored calls from supporters' groups, MPs and other bodies within the game for the huge influx of money from the Premier League's bumper overseas TV rights deal to be used to peg back ticket prices.
Inundated
The Manchester Evening News has been inundated with emails, letters and phone calls from supporters outraged by the increases, many long-term fans saying they can no longer afford the price, especially as season ticket prices now include automatic entry in the the cup ticket scheme which could cost fans up to £250 more a season.
But the United Supporters' Trust, MUST, believes the Glazers are playing a dangerous game by toying with fan loyalty.
A spokesman for the group said: "Many of our members have complained about these huge price rises for the third season running. Paying another 14% on top of last year's rise will prevent many of them from renewing their season tickets.
"If you add on to that the cost of the compulsory automatic cup scheme, which could be £250 a year or more, going to Old Trafford is becoming unaffordable for many traditional supporters.
"There is also resentment about the way their love and loyalty towards the club is being exploited under the Glazers' ownership when the club is making so much money out of the new TV deal and sponsorships.
"It seems clear from these leaked documents that the Glazers decided that they could get away with higher increases than originally planned, because Sir Alex has done such a fantastic job with the team producing the most exciting football at Old Trafford for years and winning the league in some style.
"From the murmurings we are hearing from United season ticket holders, the Glazers may well be misjudging just how far they can push things. They seem not to care about the fans if they can treat loyal supporters in this way."
Boom
The big price rise comes despite the fact that the club has been riding on a financial boom, not least from the bumper deal for overseas TV rights negotiated by the Premier League.
That deal means that United will receive £50m for winning the league, an increase of £20m on Chelsea's pay-out as champions last season.
On top of that, the success of the team in exceeding expectations in the Premiership, Champions League and FA Cup, the £12m windfall from the Jon Mikel Obi saga and the fact that United were the lowest net spenders in the Premier League last summer, have all created unexpected revenue.
United have flown in the face of current football trends, with Manchester City freezing their prices and clubs such as Bolton and Blackburn reducing the cost of some tickets. The spiralling cost of Premiership football has brought a fightback in the game, with the MEN's own `Make it Fair for Fans' campaign receiving widespread backing, including from sports minister Richard Caborn, PFA head Gordon Taylor and England boss Steve McClaren.
Asked to comment on the contents of the document and on the discontent among many fans over the price rises, a Glazer spokesman said: "We won't comment on these matters beyond saying that ticket prices represent excellent value for fans."
A United spokesman followed the same line, adding: "We believe that the prices we have set reflect not only demand for tickets at Old Trafford but also represents good value in the context of Premier League football."
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I'm not a season ticket holder as much as id love to be, so am not affected, but i agree the price increases are an absolute joke. it was always going to happen though, and as long as there are people out there dying to become a season ticket holder, the prices will keep rising. i dont think the fans would overly mind if all their money was being pumped back into the club using the transfer market, but using it to pay off a ridiculous debt makes everyone feel sick.
"..excellent value for the fans"
........... speechless .................
Joke. I wont be going to OT next season except for maybe a couple of one offs.
I'll pay this year but will not accept an above inflation rise next year. Everyone who sits near me says the same thing.
the golden goose is looking rather precarious !! I can feel empty seats coming on !!
i have 3 season tkts . my tkts have increased 54% in 3 seasons. what other buisness could try and justify these over the top increases. and before any of you armchair fans come on and start spouting about market forces. if sky put up your prices by 54% you could go to your local cable company. if your council put up your council tax you would be up in arms. I have no option but to accept this daylight robbery. my alternative is not to go after 44 years of supporting MY team.
Also, the huge increase last year was to buy a new midfield, and this did not happen.
If any business man says you are getting "excellent value" i can gaurantee your paying well over the odds !!!
BobbyD i dont have a season ticket so it doesnt directly affect me, but i feel sorry for fans like yourself who are getting ripped off. Utd dont care whether or not you renew your tickets as if you dont someone else will have them. Thats the sad truth of it.
Its a shame that when the club is prospering financially its fleecing its fans more than ever. As someone else said, if the money was going back into the club then, whilst still being a rip off, at least it would be some comfort. However the fact that all our finacial success garnered by on field success, and the revenue brought in from charging fans inflation busting prices, is used to pay the Glazers debts. Its a joke of a situation but i'm sure we'll have the usual apologists saying that everything is Hunky Dorey. The fact is that if the Glazers weren't involved we'd still be making this money but it wouldn't be going on interest payments
I'm one of those armchair fans bobby, but i'm right with you when it comes to your anger over the price hikes on tickets.
I love this club and i want to see them compete with the financial muscle of all the other top teams in europe, but not at the cost of squeezing out the kind of fans this club has relied on for over a 100 years.
I'm sure there are other more imaginative ways to skin the fans, like through merchandising. At least the fans then have a real choice to make. But having to choose between going to the game or not for fans who have been season ticket holders for years just isn't right.
Its not like any other business, where this kind of pricing policy is expected. It has to be about the football primarily, and thats not just the players and the coaching staff, it includes the 76000 fans in the stadium and those who travel regularly with the team. You can't afford to alienate any one out of that equation. The players and the coaching staff get well looked after. Lets not forget the fans. When you're players are struggling on the pitch, its these same fans who are capable of lifting them.
I wish there was some way the fans could force the glazers hands on this issue, but unfortunately the club knows there will always be other people able and willing to show them the money.
I hope though that the glazers get a nasty shock and alot of those tickets aren't sold, but i have a nasty feeling that won't be the case.
Looks like the prawn sandwich brigade will be out in force from next season clapping the team along. Not something i'm looking forward to.
big mistake! many cant afford these new prices let alone want to pay to support the club! its stupid and will backlash on the glazers! fergie better get a big transfer pot for this increase!
"excellent value for fans" no excellent value would be half the price!
bobby dazzler many supporters have become armchair supporters because of the prices they have charged,im an old stretford ender sat afternoon pie bovril walked there from salford and walked home chatting about the match win lose or draw,
I now live in rochdale as my work brings my here.
Many just cant afford these ridicules prices.
Last time i went to ot was to the copenhagan game and i was given the tickets and the atmosphere was dead not singing all dancing stretford end its now the west stand,whats happening its turned into a monster.
The old south stand is full of sour faced cheshireites saying oh golly what a fab goal and shouting bravo.
Its dead.
Oh and for some people would who arnt good at maths why dont they just not put percentages but actual prices.
The glazers have always been obviusly cynical opportunists out to make the biggest and fastest bucks. Once the milchcow runs dry, they will sell out to the Chinese or whoever offers them the most. The only thing I find surprising is how many people remain willing to play their tune and keep paying more and more when they could join the fan owned revolution
I agree with every word of Stuart Brennan's report except for the Man 'U' response. How can the millionaire Glazers recognise what represents 'excellent value' to the average fan? Also, I wrote requesting clarification about the changed charging basis to David Gill - surprisingly I didn't even get an acknowledgement let alone a response(a fan of 45 years standing) Are you aware that the car park tickets are rising from £150 to £230 (53%+ increase - is that recognising loyalty?) from a disgruntled fan who will not renew the family's 4/possibly 6 season tickets next season despite such a good 2006/2007 season. I will support the team but not the Club who have lost all sense of reality
Bobbyd its getting expensive just being a armchair fan! With the TV deal now being split between Setanta, Sky and ITV. (with the FA cup) Also speaking as an someone who was involved in running several pubs all over Manchester I won't get started on the ridiculous costs of supplying customers with Football. Viva la internet streaming and dodgy foreign satelite stations!
OOOOOOOOH!
that's a lot of DOLLAR!
Wonder what the "Wait-and-see" brigade think of this, or perhaps they feel it is "value for money"!!!!! I feel sorry for anyone who has a ST and can no longer afford to renew but this is just a sugn of the way Glazer does business, he will bleed everyone dry before he buggers off!
Raise prices too high and the ones that can afford to watch the games will not be the ones that generate the famed OT atmosphere. We'll be reduced to the likes of Chelsea's 'tie & tuxedo' crowd and no one will fear coming to play at OT anymore. So long as MU is successful, either OT will be filled or the number of empty seats will not affect total gate collection targets. However, the atmosphere at OT will no longer be the same and that's the real shame. Hope the Glazers take this into account as they say 'many things money can buy but some things are just priceless'.
Quote "Prices will continue to rise until empty seats begin to appear at Old Trafford." This is the price now being paid by the 'wait and see' Reds. Well you've waited and you've seen. Starve a parasite and it will move on or die. Fight back by voting with your feet. Don't feed the greed. Fight for United. LUHG
All football fans, no matter what club they support, now have to stand side by side and demand action.
The current situation at Utd, sees tham looking at what other clubs get away with charging for inferior football and facilities and resulting in Utd wanting the same. The likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea charge stupid prices, with many smaller clubs such as fulham (£49 for Cat A games) demanding far to much. All football fans need to take action against this, perhaps a UK wide day of boycott. The media myth that highlights Blacckburn and Bolton for reducing prices is nothing more than a PR stunt. Blackburn increased prices by 15% at the start of last season and are now reducing them by 10%, that is still an overall increase. Bolton charge on average £39, yet are redicing prices by 3%, which is still infalted. Arsenal and Chelsea say they are freezing prices, yet at £42 lowest price, its a feable jesture.
This is why the club is looking to the Far East. Local fans are struggling to pay the prices so they need the new money in China, Korea etc to pick up the slack. It pains me to say it but ticket prices could rise to £80 a game and due to the loyalty needed to get cup final tickets etc I honestly believe OT would still sell out. The Glazers need to pay off the debt and this is the easiest way of raising new revenues.
It's a disgrace, but short of a mass boycott not a lot can be done.
They can't use the example of City, Bolton and Blackburn reducing o freezing prices. They have to do that. Look at the rubbish they are serving up on the field.
ABSOLUTE DISGRACE
The latest price hikes and compulsary cup ticket scheme tell you everything you need to know about the current regime at Old Trafford.
I gave up may season ticket at the end of last season when it went up over 15% and I think a lot more will now follow.
If the club was ownd by the fans this would never happen but unfortunately I don`t think enough people will boycott to casue any drastic changes and the increases will probably continue until all the hardcore fans have gone and been replaced by the increasing number of the sort of people the club now seek to attract.
It is all going to end in tears, as soon as United start finishing out of the top four and no Champions League football which could happen when Fergie retires, it could be another Leeds.
It is all fine and dandy now but Fergie, Neville, Scholes and Giggs will not have too much longer to go. If Ronaldo see the team dwindling, he will be off.
It is terrible exploitation due to the size of our club, the atmosphere has been poor since the Stretford End and United Road (apart from the odd game here and there), the fans who are only there due to success will be gone and the loyal fans who have stopped going because of the prices will be lost forever, sticking to watching it on TV. It is very worrying.