The Emirates is notorious as one of the most expensive stadiums in the Premier League to watch football, but not any more as Arsenal are listening to the fans.
Arsenal have just announced the outcome of a major ticketing review, after extensive discussions with supporter groups they are going to implement major changes aimed at providing tickets at lower prices, rewarding season ticket holder loyalty and a ticket exchange scheme.
Biggest part of the new structure will be the grading of League games into A. B & C games which will mean that individual match tickets in the category c will be some 28% lower than the equivalent seat was last season, this is particularly good news for us Saints supporters as we are likely to be in thie category. If this is the case then we could pay as little as £25.50 for a lower tier ticket for our game there in September.
However there is a price to pay for casual Arsenal supporters, although the club are slashing the cost of prices in the A & B categories, this will lead to an increase for class A games, that will increase from £51 to £62 next season, in general though the cost of watching Arsenal if you brought all 19 league games will remain roughly the same, however it will reward those that are prepared to wacth the less fashional clubs whilst those that only turn up for the big names will be charged more.
Perhaps one system that Saints should consider now they have the card system is the ticket exchange, saeason ticket holders who cant go to a game can sell the seat back to the club (presuambly at less than the ticket cost to cover costs) who can then re sell it, with automated cards its easy to de activate a season ticket for an individual game and re sell the ticket.
All in all good to see a big club listening to its fans.