Sir Jim Ratcliffe increases ticket prices AGAIN as Man United announce rise for 2025-26 season

Manchester United have hiked season ticket prices for the 2025-26 campaign by five per cent in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest attempt to increase revenue.

United confirmed the increase – an average of £2.50 a ticket and £47.50 a season – in a statement on Monday.

In another major change, seats close to the dugouts will be converted into hospitality ‘to reflect the high value of this location’ in a move that mirrors the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea. 

It is the third consecutive campaign where the club have put up the cost of a season ticket by five per cent, following 11 years of freezes.

Prices have been frozen for under-16s, while concessions are also set to be reinstated for younger and older fans after criticism over the mid-season hike to £66 a ticket for seats to matches that had not yet been sold.

United will also effectively fine season ticket holders £10 if they fail to list their seat for resale within 14 days of the game, and the club also confirmed matches from next season will be placed into categories for members and concessions.

United’s season ticket holders will be charged five per cent more for their seats next season

The change will allow the club to charge higher prices for matches against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Ratcliffe, 72, had confirmed in a recent interview with Gary Neville that there would be a ‘modest’ increase and the five per cent rise is less than supporters had feared.

But he has ignored calls from the club’s Fan Advisory Board and Fans Forum to freeze prices.

‘We, the Manchester United Fans’ Advisory Board, strongly advocated for an across-the-board price freeze for 2025/26 season, one we felt was justified due to the current circumstances,’ the FAB said in a statement.

‘While we did not get the freeze we argued for, we are relieved that the club was persuaded to limit the increases to the same percentage rise as recent seasons, and we are pleased they froze prices for our youngest fans.

‘We also shared our concerns over policy changes and advised against any immediate changes without consultation including those to minimum usage, match categorisation, concessions and relocations. 

‘However, we welcome the club’s renewed commitment not to make any such future changes without consultation with fans including through MUST, FAB and the Fans’ Forum.

‘We acknowledge that the senior leadership of the club, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada, made themselves available throughout the process and the club were well informed of fans’ feelings when making their decisions.’

Berrada said the increase was to ‘offset continued rises in operating costs’ after Ratcliffe astonishingly claimed last week the club could have gone bust by Christmas without his series of brutal cuts, including to 450 jobs.

‘Prices remain significantly lower than a decade ago when adjusted for inflation, and at similar levels to peer clubs in the north-west of England,’ United’s CEO said.

‘We understand that any price rise is unwelcome, especially during a period of underperformance on the pitch, and we listened carefully to the strong arguments put forward by the FAB in favour of a freeze. However, the club has decided that it would not be right to keep prices unchanged while costs rise and the club continues to face financial issues. We have kept the increase to the lowest possible level and protected our youngest Season-Ticket holders from any rises, while ensuring the club remains financially strong enough to invest in improving the team.

‘Our overall strategy is to price tickets at levels that keep every seat filled for every game, maximising support for the team, and providing a variety of options for different fans, including concessions for our young and elderly supporters.’

The announcement comes just over a week after thousands of United fans protested against the Glazer family and Ratcliffe prior to the clash with Arsenal.