This afternoon it has been confirmed by the Premier League that Manchester United, amongst all other Premier League clubs, have agreed that the current price cap of £30 on away match tickets will be maintained for the next three seasons in a move that undoubtedly benefits fans.
The idea was initially implemented for the 2016/17 season after the successful implementation of the Premier League Away Supporters' Initiative, where clubs provided a range of measures for their away fans.
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It is important that this price cap has been maintained with the UK’s current inflation rate of 9% sitting at a 40-year high, with gas and energy bills in particular rising highest.
This has created a cost of living crisis, with many struggling to afford to feed their families - something that United’s very own Marcus Rashford has done admirable work to help people with - power their homes etc.
Football is a very important part of a lot of people’s lives, and United in particular have one of if not the strongest group of away supporters in the country.
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With prices for everything else rising, it is key that football clubs have maintained this price cap for the next three years, in which we go into facing great uncertainty economically.
Oil and gas prices have been affected the most by inflation, due to a number of factors, and this has made the cost of fuelling cars very expensive, with many now costing £100 or greater to fuel up.
This impacts the ability of fans to travel to away games if they are driving themselves, making it far more costly for them.
For the fans who travel via coach, the cost of these coaches are also likely to increase which again makes travelling more difficult for away fans.
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These supporters show great loyalty to be there to support the club all around the country for league, FA Cup and League Cup games, and around the continent.
Manchester United have came out and welcomed these changes with Collette Roche, chief operating officer, saying: "We welcome the Premier League’s commitment to developing a new Fan Engagement Standard to improve the way all clubs work with supporters, and Manchester United is determined to remain at the forefront of those efforts.
"Our Fans’ Advisory Board has already established a strong role as a new channel for strategic dialogue between fans and the club, and we are pleased to see the Premier League embracing this model.”
In times of economic crisis, where many will face uncertainty with changes happening all around them, football can be a constant that provides some stability and order to their lives.
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The decision to maintain a price cap of £30 on away tickets, keeping them affordable for fans, is an important step to take in order to maintain this constant.
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League
Yusuf Haq