The Everton Fans’ Forum plans to raise the issue of ticket prices with the club after the release of details for the FA Cup clash with Bournemouth
An Everton supporters organisation plans to raise concerns with the club over the cost of adult tickets for the FA Cup game with Bournemouth.
Everton Fans’ Forum has expressed disappointment over some elements of the pricing for the fourth round tie in February.
And while the group is widely positive around the club’s recent ticketing initiatives, including the handling of the transition of season ticket holders from Goodison Park to the new waterfront stadium ahead of next year, it plans to raise its position with club officials.
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Ticket details for the Bournemouth game were released on Saturday, with an adult ticket costing £35. The Fans’ Forum said that was £10 more than the fourth round tie last year, which was also against Premier League opposition in Luton Town.
The group responded on X, formerly Twitter, to state: “We will be advising the club that in the current financial climate, with the current ticketing and travel costs, these prices are too high. In the equivalent round last season against Luton, adult tickets were £10 less than this season.”
While adult tickets cost £35, Under-18s can buy a ticket for £5, and it is understood Everton’s approach to prices for the game was intended to be viewed from that wider perspective, with it possible for a child to attend a game in Goodison Park’s final season with an adult for a combined total of £40 – still £15 cheaper than the cost of an adult ticket when Bournemouth visited Everton in the league earlier this season.
Speaking to the ECHO this week, Fans’ Forum chair Rob Fisher acknowledged the positive pricing of the U18s tickets and said the club deserved credit for recent ticketing schemes, including for the new stadium and the pricing of previous cup games this season. But he said concerns remained about the cost given the time of year, the price of the equivalent game 12 months ago, and with the game coming amid a busy and expensive run of fixtures for supporters that includes several long away trips and the re-arranged Merseyside derby.
The pricing comes amid a period of wider protest against cost increases in the Premier League, with Everton supporter organisations having repeatedly shown solidarity with fans of other clubs, including Fulham and Manchester United, due to changes to pricing and ticketing policies those outfits have taken. Such protests have not been directed at Everton.
Of the plans to highlight the Fans’ Forum concerns in the group’s next meeting with the club, Rob added: “Last season we had an equivalent game, even if Bournemouth are currently performing better than Luton were, and this is £10 more. In that way, this seems like a bit of a high price increase. It is also a big increase on the last round, albeit that was against Football League opposition and on a Thursday night.
“We feel that this is probably a bit high, particularly as it is coming in the window of season ticket renewals. We all know that January is a tough month for everyone too, as we try and make our finances stretch after Christmas. With trips to Crystal Palace and Brentford coming up too, we just feel that, in the current climate, there may have been an opportunity to enter at a lower price point.”
