By Martin Graham
Manchester City fans are planning fresh protests against the club’s ticketing policy, focusing on the limited availability of season tickets despite recent stadium expansions.
Although City has enjoyed success on the pitch, including four consecutive Premier League titles and currently sitting third in the table, a section of the fanbase remains dissatisfied. A protest took place ahead of their recent victory over Aston Villa, organized by the 1894 Group, who outlined three main grievances.
Supporters argue that while the Etihad Stadium’s capacity has grown by 9,000 seats over recent years, the number of season ticket holders has actually fallen compared to six years ago. As a result, many fans face high matchday prices – up to £88 for adults and £58 for children. The group also claims these tickets often end up on third-party platforms with inflated price tags.
Following the Villa match, manager Pep Guardiola voiced his empathy with the supporters, stating he “understood the feeling” and expressed support for the fanbase.
The 1894 Group now intends to stage another protest before City’s home fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 May. Fans are being encouraged to stay in the concourse until the sixth minute of the match. This symbolic delay reflects the number of years the club has not released new season tickets.
Fans fear the issue will worsen next season as stadium expansion is expected to push capacity above 60,000. They believe that most of the new seats will be reserved for corporate clients, not regular fans.
A spokesperson for the 1894 Group said, “The empty seats for a big game last night tell their own story. Sadly, it’s been a common theme all season.” They added that the main problem is high ticket prices and claimed the club prioritizes attracting casual attendees over maintaining their loyal fanbase.
The club’s current policy includes limitations on how many home matches a season ticket holder can miss. Fans must either attend, resell their ticket to the club’s exchange, or transfer their seat for at least 14 home league games. Failure to comply may result in the loss of the season ticket.
Although this policy is intended to keep the stadium full, supporters claim that returned tickets are later resold, often through partners, at higher rates.
The Football Supporters’ Association criticized the club’s approach, describing it as a “culture shift” away from encouraging season-long commitments. The FSA pointed out that clubs have begun targeting occasional attendees who may spend more per visit than regular fans.
They also voiced opposition to the use of secondary ticket platforms, stating that inflated resale prices damage the traditional relationship between clubs and their core support.
