United reforms season-ticket policies

From next season, Season Ticket-holders will be able to opt in or out of each of the cup competitions the team competes in.

The changes have resulted from consultation with the Manchester United Fans’ Advisory Board (FAB) and Fans’ Forum, whose members have worked closely with the club to develop the revised policies.

Under current rules, Season Ticket-holders are guaranteed their seats for all 19 Premier League home games and are obliged to buy all FA Cup and UEFA Champions League home games. 

Under the new rules to be introduced for the 2022/23 season, fans will have the choice of a Premier League-only Season Ticket, with the option to add FA Cup, Carabao Cup and European tickets on a competition-by-competition basis.

Season Ticket holders who opt out of a competition will be able to apply for cup tickets on a match-by-match basis, subject to availability, alongside official members.

A Cup Season Ticket will also be introduced for the first time, guaranteeing access to all cup games at Old Trafford for Official Members.

Further flexibility will be provided by the launch of a ticket buy-back scheme, allowing fans to sell unwanted season tickets back to the club on a match-by-match basis where there is demand. This will be in addition to existing policies which enable tickets to be forwarded to Official Members or donated to Manchester United Foundation.

Collette Roche, Manchester United chief operating officer, said: “When the Fans’ Advisory Board (FAB) asked us to review our Season Ticket policies, we were pleased to work with them to explore options for providing fans with more choice and flexibility. We recognise that not all Season Ticket-holders are able to attend every home game over the course of the season, and given the high demand, we want to increase the opportunities for Official Members to access seats that would otherwise go unused.

“We have listened to fans’ opinions and worked closely with the FAB and Fans’ Forum to agree reforms that will allow each Season Ticket holder to choose the option that works best for them. We believe this new offer provides flexibility and fairness for both our Season Ticket holders and Official Members.”

Reform of Season Ticket policies was among the first issues addressed by the FAB after its launch in January. The FAB is comprised of seven fan representatives and six senior club leaders and meets four times a year for in-depth dialogue on strategic issues. It operates in tandem with the larger Fans’ Forum, which focuses on matchday and operational matters.

Roche said: “In the past year, we have set up the FAB, expanded the Fans’ Forum, and appointed our first head of fan engagement. These efforts are already resulting in tangible benefits for fans, and we’re grateful for the work of the fan representatives in helping deliver these positive changes.”