00:01Supporters across Merseyside say football is becoming less affordable as both Liverpool and Everton face criticism over new ticket price
00:09rises affecting match-going fans.
00:12For the ordinary working-class people, I'd say it's astronomical the way the prices have gone up.
00:21People at top don't really care, so they're making money. They're not going to think, oh yeah, let's make equal
00:25chances for everyone else.
00:26They're going to be like, you know what, we're making money. Let's put them in a position where we can
00:29keep taking their money.
00:30I think they need to do something about it.
00:33In Liverpool Football Club, the fan group Spirit of Shankly's staging protests after the club confirmed general admission tickets will
00:40rise in line with inflation for the next three seasons,
00:42despite opposition from the supporters' board, which has called for a freeze.
00:46The club says the decision follows rising matchday operating costs, which its days have increased by 85% since the
00:532016 season.
00:55Liverpool Chief Executive Billy Hogan said no one at the club takes ticket pricing decisions lightly,
01:02adding that the club must remain sustainable whilst competing for trophies on and off the pitch.
01:07He said costs, including utilities and business rates, have risen sharply in recent years.
01:12Liverpool say every pound generated is reinvested into the playing squad and infrastructure,
01:17although Billy Hogan also acknowledged record revenue does not always translate into profit due to rising costs.
01:25I think for the ordinary working class person, I think it could be quite hard.
01:30I think, unfortunately, I should imagine you have to be a little bit more up the upper class,
01:35because my brother-in-law, he used to always, but now he's stopped because he just said he's got three
01:41boys,
01:41so it's just stopped. It's bad enough getting the kits and things like that.
01:45I've been lucky enough to get a couple of them there.
01:48That's three, but that's the only time I go.
01:50So, yeah, it's way too much. You've got to pay those quite expensive wages for footballers, aren't you?
01:58At Everton, the fan advisory board has also raised concerns after the club confirmed significant price increases
02:05for the next season following discussions with supporters.
02:08It says while some supporters will see no increase, many face rises of up to almost 10%,
02:15which it says is close to three times the current inflation.
02:19The board says it's disappointed that supportive feedback has not been reflected in the final decision
02:24and warned of the impact on affordability.
02:27The football club said pricing has been reviewed following supportive feedback
02:31in the first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium,
02:34while a simplified tiered system and a revised family area intended to widen access.
02:40Don't get rewarded for loyalty anymore, do you?
02:42I think it's greed. I think a lot of it's greed with these companies.
02:47I mean, the cost of living, I mean, it's just skyrocketed.
02:50Both clubs say they remain open to engagement with supporters,
02:55but fans warn of the impact on communities.
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