Champions League ticket prices spark fury amongst Aston Villa fans
Aston Villa Football Club this afternoon confirmed and announced the ticket details for this season's UEFA Champions League campaign. Villa fans have been eagerly awaiting this news since the club finished fourth in the Premier League last season to qualify for Europe's elite competition for the first time in over forty years.
Champions League excitement
Following an exciting Champions League draw last Thursday, an intriguing fixture card was drawn up for the Villans. Villa will play eight initial league phase matches and hope to do well enough to qualify for at least the play-offs to the knockout round. Villa's eight fixtures are detailed below:
Date | Opposition | Venue |
|---|---|---|
Tues. 17th September 2024 | BSC Young Boys | Wankdorf Stadium |
Wed. 2nd October 2024 | Bayern Munich | Villa Park |
Tues. 22nd October 2024 | Bologna | Villa Park |
Wed. 6th November 2024 | Club Brugge | Jan Breydel Stadium |
Wed. 27th November 2024 | Juventus | Villa Park |
Tues. 10th December 2024 | RB Leipzig | Red Bull Arena |
Tues. 21st January 2025 | AS Monaco | Stade Louis II |
Wed. 29th January 2025 | Celtic | Villa Park |
Ticket prices in full
Tickets will be available for all fans, including season ticket holders (STH), and are split between adults, Over-66 and Under-21, Armed Forces and Under-18s.
Ticket prices are split across six different zones around Villa Park. The most expensive ticket comes in the 1888 suites situated in the Trinity Road Stand, which will cost all age groups £97 or if you are a STH, £82. The prices for other zones are as follows with season ticket prices in brackets:
Zone 1 - £94 (£79) for all age groups
Zone 2 - £94 (£79) for adults. £83.50 (£73.50) for over-66 and under-21. £85 (£75) for Armed Forces. £30 (£20) for under-18.
Zone 3 and 4- £85 (£70) for adults. £75 (£65) for over-66 and under-21. £78 (£68) for Armed Forces. £30 (£20) for under-18.
Wheelchair Bays - £85 (£70) for adults. £75 (£65) for over-66 and under-21. £78 (£68) for Armed Forces. £30 (£20) for under-18.
The fans have generally reacted to the news with frustration and anger at the incredibly high price of the tickets across social media. Many have described it as a 'disgrace' and that they are treating their loyal fans unfairly. Particularly for those who have supported the clubs through the highs and (many) lows in the past several decades.
A disgrace to the loyal fans who came when were absolutely not worth watching, fix up.
— Ryan (@avfcry) September 4, 2024
When you compare the prices of Champions League tickets to those of other English clubs it does seem that Villa fans are being charged a much higher fee. Newcastle United fans last season were dismayed when they were told they would be charged £55 to see the Magpies play a Champions League fixture at St James' Park which is significantly cheaper than Villa fans will have to pay. This season in terms of season ticket pricing, Arsenal's Champions League pricing is included in the ST price, whilst Liverpool will charge £45 and Manchester City will charge £52.50 (average). Whilst the average season ticket Champions League ticket price for Aston Villa is £76. Significantly higher.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire criticised Villa’s pricing on social media: “A ticket to see the European Cup Final in 1982 between Bayern Munich and Aston Villa cost 20 Guilders (£4.28). Inflation since then (CPI) would take that to £14.78 today. Villa are charging £85-97 for non STH and £70-£82 for adult STH for a group game.” (The Shields Gazette)
Popular football journalist Henry Winter also slammed the club for their ticket pricing (see tweet below).
Aston Villa have to generate money for PSR, signings and wages etc, but their #UCL ticketing strategy is iniquitous. Some games are £1 a minute. A lot of clubs raise ticket prices atm but this looks sheer opportunistic greed. It will alienate loyal fans who’ve been behind the…
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 4, 2024
A small portion of Aston Villa fans have reacted to the news in a more positive light with one fan saying, "‘Ouch they are expensive, 'Why can’t we sign players’. Unfortunately, the club has got to try and milk the Champions League campaign for all they can so the second statement becomes a thing of the past. Like it or watch it on TV."
This latest ticket pricing news comes at a time when Villa fans are already starting to feel aggrieved by similar changes at the club. Many season ticket holders arrived at their seats at Villa Park for the first time this year to find their seats had been replaced by hospitality areas and many changes in infrastructure around the ground have seen people have difficulty finding their seats or even being able to see clearly from their seats. The latest news will come as a kick in the teeth for most who have stuck with the club through several painful years in the past. Yes, the club is attempting to generate more revenue and this is another box to tick in doing that but those loyal fans are beginning to suffer as a result despite the football on the pitch being the best it has been for many years at Villa Park.
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