Stefan Borson: Man United want to match Man City and Chelsea after new reveal
03/23/2025 08:40 AM
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come under fire in recent months following his cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford.
The Premier League side confirmed earlier this week the majority of their season ticket prices will increase by about 5 per cent for next season after they were previously frozen for 11 years up until 2022.
Although there will be a prize freeze for under-16s tickets, Man United have faced criticism after halving the 50 per cent discount for senior citizens to 25 per cent.
Newcastle United and Arsenal have revealed their season ticket prices will also rise by up to 5 per cent, while Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham and Brentford have frozen their prices for 2025-26.
Football Insider revealed on 19 March United's ticket prices will skyrocket by the time they move into their new stadium, which is expected to take at least five years to build and cost £2billion.
The Athletic reported on 17 March Old Trafford chiefs were initially aiming for a 20 per cent rise in 2025-26 ticket prices before the club's Fans' Advisory Board contributed to them searching for different solutions to better protect season-ticket holders.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the Manchester giants' hierarchy has been "almost Trumpian" in the way it negotiated the ticket price increase.
United will also move fans from their seats behind the dugouts to turn them into a lucrative VIP hospitality area for next season.
Man United kicking fans out of seats after ticket update
Borson suggested United are looking to match Man City and Chelsea by introducing the VIP dugout seats, with the latter charging up to £12,500 for a similar experience at Stamford Bridge.
He told Football Insider: "It feels like the 20 per cent was floated to give them the sort of cover for when they eventually do put in a lower amount.
"It's almost Trumpian in its way of negotiating.
"I think it’s very unlikely that any club of the size of United could implement a 20 per cent increase.
"Now, the reality is that a number of the seats will have far in excess of 20 per cent increases because if you look at what’s happening around the manager’s box, they are doing a Chelsea and a City by coming up with a dugout offering.
"They have moved those people from those seats, so a lot of those people have been there 50 years and have season tickets that have been in the family for 50 years around the dugout.
"Those are now going to be corporate seats, so you would imagine that they’re going to be 10 times price-wise versus what they were before.
"That means they will be far more than the 20 per cent or the 5 per cent."
| Ranking | Stadium | Capacity |
| 1 | Old Trafford (Man United) | 74,197 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham) | 62,850 |
| 3 | London Stadium (West Ham) | 62,500 |
| 4 | Anfield (Liverpool) | 61,276 |
| 5 | Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) | 60,704 |
| 6 | Etihad Stadium (Man City) | 52,900 |
Chelsea certain to sign Man United loanee Jadon Sancho
Football Insider revealed on 19 March Man United are unlikely to be open to Jadon Sancho returning at the end of this season.
Chelsea have an obligation to buy the 24-year-old for £25million when his loan spell comes to an end, but they can pay a fee to cancel the deal if they wish.
However, sources say Chelsea are certain to sign Sancho if they qualify for next season's Champions League.
Chelsea currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, while United are 13th after 29 matches.
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The post Stefan Borson: Man United want to match Man City and Chelsea after new reveal appeared first on Football Insider.
