00:00The phrase Stop Exploiting Loyalty was emblazoned directly in front of St James' Park early on Saturday.
00:06Like other clubs, Newcastle United increased their ticket prices this season,
00:10prompting the Supporters' Trust and Football Supporters' Association into action.
00:14We're here as part of the Football Supporters' Association's Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign.
00:19It's basically just a response to ticket prices on the rise across the league.
00:24This season, 19 out of 20 Premier League clubs have increased the prices.
00:29Obviously, Newcastle had that this season with a 5% increase in season ticket prices
00:33and increase in general admission, so we're part of it as well.
00:37There's obviously plenty of other clubs who have it worse, namely Spurs, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
00:43But yeah, just as a stand of solidarity between supporters across the league,
00:48to say that it's getting a bit far with record TV deals across the league,
00:54there's then record prices for fans to pay as a result and just don't think it's right.
00:59Adam outlined why rises in football ticket prices is such a big issue
01:04for so many who attend matches on a weekly basis across the country.
01:08Well, football clubs have been a huge part of our local communities for hundreds of years
01:12and have been built on by working class support and it's getting to the stage where
01:17it's more and more difficult for that support to come and follow their team.
01:21And just ticket prices across the league generally being above the rate of inflation
01:27just makes it more and more difficult for supporters to do what they love.
01:31And I mean, a large part of the reason why football is so popular is the atmosphere it creates
01:36and that traditional type of fan who has created that atmosphere is being priced out.
01:41But why do clubs feel that they are able to justify increasing their prices
01:46even when supporters give up their time and money to consistently support them?
01:51It's something that's ingrained in you. It's something that you do from birth for most people.
01:56So, yeah, fans aren't going to walk away and clubs know that.
02:01And in some cases, that's definitely what causes prices to go up.
02:06And we just want to ensure that that loyalty isn't exploited by clubs across the league.
02:13The main question is whether demonstrations like this do go on to have an impact.
02:18Adam made clear that there have been examples of positive dialogue with some clubs.
02:24Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we've seen, well, a perfect example is actually today.
02:29Arsenal's original plan was to remove some of the concession tickets,
02:34but with dialogue between supporters and the club, that is something that they have now backtracked on.
02:39It shows that with dialogue between fans and supporters that agreements can be reached that are sensible
02:44and are in the interest of both parties.
02:47It's just a good look for the club to be the ones that go against the grain and go,
02:51you know what, we're not going to do what everyone else is doing.
02:54We're going to help support our fans and not put the ticket prices up.
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