Ahead of the group stage draw on 29 August, the Club has confirmed to THST that it will not be offering Champions League multi-game ticket packages at a discount for this season. We’re extremely disappointed with this decision; a move which, in our opinion, further erodes the value of a season ticket and One Hotspur membership.
For context, in the 2016-17 season the Club gave season ticket holders and members the chance to buy all three home UCL group stage tickets before match dates or opposition were known, in return for a discounted price of between £70 and £150. This was an extremely popular move, and led to record-breaking attendances at Wembley Stadium, where the Club was playing European games.
The following season, the Club again offered the packages, although with the discount reduced. Again, the package was extremely popular. Last year, with all the uncertainty over when we would move in to our new home, it was not possible to offer the packs: a decision we fully understood and supported. This season, it would have been entirely possible for the Club to offer the package, but it has chosen not to despite strong lobbying from the Trust on the back of substantial support from fans. 86% of the 4,300 fans surveyed this summer wanted the packs to be offered this season.
Alongside the introduction of the multi-game European pack, the Club removed the two home cup credits that had been included for some years in season tickets. A home season ticket had comprised 19 home league games and the first two home cup ties – itself a reduction on the number of cup games included some years ago. The reason given to the Trust was that including home cup ties wouldn’t give them the flexibility to offer discount deals and to be creative with the way UCL or UEL group stage tickets were sold.
Now that the Club has decided not to offer this package, the reason it gave for removing the home cup ties no longer applies, and so these should be reinstated. But the Club has told us it will not be doing this. It has also said the reason for offering the group stage package was to compensate fans for the “inconvenience” of having to go to Wembley. And yet when we lobbied for more accessibly priced seats and for season ticket holders to be allowed a year’s amnesty at Wembley to compensate for the inconvenience, the Club refused because it said there was no inconvenience involved.
Removing games from season tickets without reducing the price of season tickets is a price rise. Spurs fans now pay some of the highest prices in Europe to watch their team after years of steep ticket price inflation.
It’s extremely regrettable the Club has decided to withdraw such a popular offer. While the team is riding high it’s likely that tickets will sell regardless. However, fortunes change over time and it’s then that the Club will rely on the loyalty of supporters to fill the stadium. It would be good to see that loyalty recognised and rewarded in good times as well as bad.
THST Board
13 August 2019
The following season, the Club again offered the packages, although with the discount reduced. Again, the package was extremely popular. Last year, with all the uncertainty over when we would move in to our new home, it was not possible to offer the packs: a decision we fully understood and supported. This season, it would have been entirely possible for the Club to offer the package, but it has chosen not to despite strong lobbying from the Trust on the back of substantial support from fans. 86% of the 4,300 fans surveyed this summer wanted the packs to be offered this season.
Alongside the introduction of the multi-game European pack, the Club removed the two home cup credits that had been included for some years in season tickets. A home season ticket had comprised 19 home league games and the first two home cup ties – itself a reduction on the number of cup games included some years ago. The reason given to the Trust was that including home cup ties wouldn’t give them the flexibility to offer discount deals and to be creative with the way UCL or UEL group stage tickets were sold.
Now that the Club has decided not to offer this package, the reason it gave for removing the home cup ties no longer applies, and so these should be reinstated. But the Club has told us it will not be doing this. It has also said the reason for offering the group stage package was to compensate fans for the “inconvenience” of having to go to Wembley. And yet when we lobbied for more accessibly priced seats and for season ticket holders to be allowed a year’s amnesty at Wembley to compensate for the inconvenience, the Club refused because it said there was no inconvenience involved.
Removing games from season tickets without reducing the price of season tickets is a price rise. Spurs fans now pay some of the highest prices in Europe to watch their team after years of steep ticket price inflation.
It’s extremely regrettable the Club has decided to withdraw such a popular offer. While the team is riding high it’s likely that tickets will sell regardless. However, fortunes change over time and it’s then that the Club will rely on the loyalty of supporters to fill the stadium. It would be good to see that loyalty recognised and rewarded in good times as well as bad.
THST Board
13 August 2019
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