Brighton have announced their season ticket prices for 2025-26 with an average five percent rise across the stadium and sweeping changes to concession prices.
The biggest increase impacts those in the West Lower either side of the players’ tunnel. A seat in this premium area jumps 7.2 percent from £965 to £1035. It becomes the first general season ticket in Brighton history to surpass the one thousand pound mark.
Those sitting in the central areas of the West Stand Lower, East Stand Lower and the whole East Stand Upper will now pay £900 rather than £860. An increase of 4.6 percent.
West Stand Upper Central and West Stand Lower Wings season tickets are going up by 2.8 percent, from £595 to £610.
Season tickets in the North Stand, South West Corner and West Upper Wings increase from £595 to £610, equating to 2.5 percent.
The lowest price rise in the stadium falls in the family section, where an increase of 2.4 percent takes an adult season ticket from £620 to £635.
For some idea of how these prices fit in with what is going on in the wider country, the rate of inflation in the UK in December 2024 was 2.6 percent.
The cost of a Brighton season ticket in the 2025-26 season for the majority of the East Stand is therefore increasing by two percent more than inflation. A prime West Lower seat meanwhile is rising by nearly three times the level of inflation.
It is the third season in a row in which Brighton have increased season ticket prices. There was an average rise of four precent from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
Prices then went up by an average of six percent from 2023-24 to 2024-25. Add the latest rise and it means the average cost of a Brighton season ticket has increased by 15 percent in three years.
Bigger news than the 2025-26 Brighton season ticket price increases is what the club are planning to do with concessions.
From 2026-27, the age at which a person qualifies for a senior concession ticket will change to 66.
The discount available on concession tickets is also to be reduced to a stadium-wide 25 percent by the 2027-28 season, followed by a further reduction to 20 percent for 2029-30.
Brighton have said the reason for this is a 95 percent season ticket renewal rate, meaning season ticket holders are getting older and more are qualifying for concessions.
Senior concessions now account for 18 percent of the total crowd, up from 10 percent. The Albion are losing money because of the passage of time. In Zone D, just 53 percent of season ticket holders are paying adult prices.
Demanding more pounds from pensioners is therefore necessary for a club who had to scrape by on broadcast of revenue of only £155.2 million in their most recent published accounts.
Under 10s concessions are also being removed from sections of the Amex. Discounted season tickets will no longer be available in the central areas of the West Stand Lower, East Stand Lower, the whole East Stand Upper or North Stand safe standing areas from 2025-26, except for those with existing seats.
Still, at least Brighton have not targeted concessions to the degree of other Premier League outfits. Spurs, Manchester United and West Ham have scrapped concession prices completely as English top flight football decides it wants to price out lifelong loyal supporters and young new recruits from watching their teams live and in-person.
The club are also formally stating that season ticket holders must attend, share or list their seat for resale on the exchange for at least 75 percent of home games. Otherwise, they may not be allowed to renew for 2026-27.
Supporters who have not taken one of those actions for games they have been unable to get to this season have been subject to an email admonishing them.
Many season ticket holders have found the tone of it unnecessary; especially as the 75 percent threshold was scarcely been mentioned before the current campaign.
At least we now all know where we stand – even those with 100 percent attendance yet to receive the correspondence treating them like a naughty schoolboy.
It is not all bad news, however. Interest free direct debits remain in place, allowing season ticket holders to spread the cost over a year rather paying one lump sum.
Without the direct debit option, many Brighton fans would be priced out of owning season tickets. Your correspondent barely notices the £59.16 leaving his account each month for a West Upper seat.
The new prices for 2025-26 in said seat equate to £38.42 per game. A reasonable price to watch Premier League football.
Those supporters who currently pay by direct debit will have their seats automatically renewed without needing to do anything. Those who pay by lump sum need to renew by 5pm on Monday 10th March.
