Nottingham Forest have increased season ticket prices by an average of 24 per cent for the 2024-25 season.
The Premier League side announced the decision to put prices up on Tuesday with five games of the season to go, even if the club are relegated from the top flight this campaign.
The most expensive adult season ticket will be on sale for £850 — up from £660 for 2023-24, while the cheapest ticket has gone up from £465 to £550.
Advertisement
The club also announced an adjustment to the age brackets for ticket bandings at the City Ground. Last season, supporters between the ages of 12 and 19 were eligible to purchase a youth season ticket. But those bandings have been changed as part of Tuesday’s announcement, reducing the age bracket to 14-17 year-olds only.
The cost of child season tickets, meanwhile, has gone from as cheap as £90 to a blanket £190 price — representing a 111 per cent rise on last season.
It’s estimated the club stand to make around £2million from the changes.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are one point above the relegation zone, having seen four points taken off them for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. They have, however, appealed against the sanction.
Forest maintain prices have been “amongst the very cheapest in the division” and 2024-25 prices “remain as one of the best value in the Premier League.”
“We aspire to keep our season cards amongst the most affordable in the league,” chairman Tom Cartledge said upon the announcement.
“At the same time, it is imperative that the club continues to grow financially in order to remain competitive, particularly in light of the forthcoming squad cost ratio rules, which will cap spending as a percentage of club revenues.”
GO DEEPER
Corporate interests vs 'authentic' fans: The new Premier League culture war
The Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust issued a statement saying they “bitterly regret” the changes and say they were “not properly consulted in advance.”
“The average price increases actually imposed are totally disproportionate to the current inflation rate,” the statement added.
“It is accepted that season card pricing at Forest had been at the lower end of that at other Premier League clubs, however such extreme increases over a single season, during the ongoing cost of living crisis, will massively impact a large number of loyal fans and undoubtedly mean that many will now be priced out of renewing — a concern shared with the trust by many supporters.”
Advertisement
The statement continued: “There is little consistency to the percentage increases for different sections of the ground with no apparent logic or rationale explained for this seemingly arbitrary decision.”
In March, the Trust had said their view is that “following the trend of other Premier League club announcements of the ‘double whammy’ of raising prices and removing/reducing concessions would not be in the best interests of our members who have demonstrated exceptional loyalty to Nottingham Forest over many years”.
They added: “The Trust challenges the club to do the same with 2024-25 ticket prices and repay the loyalty that has been given over many years.”
Forest fan group Forza Garibaldi announced on Wednesday that they will “take a stand” against the decision by withdrawing all banners, flags and displays for this weekend’s home game against Manchester City.
A statement from the organisation read: “We understand that this may disappoint some of you and also the team who need our support, but it is important to us as a group that we are not allowing this decision by the club to go without action.
“While we realise such a step may ultimately be futile, we feel it is appropriate to demonstrate our frustration at this time and will highlight how vital supporters are to the club.”
A number of Premier League sides have announced similar and increased season ticket prices for next season.
In recent weeks, protests have been staged at Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Fulham, with fans accusing clubs of exploiting their loyalty during the cost of living crisis.
For next season, Arsenal have raised season tickets by six per cent in the lower tier and four per cent in the upper tier (ranging from £1,073 to £2,050). Tottenham also increased season ticket prices by six per cent (ranging from £856 to £2,367), while Manchester United and Manchester City’s are going up by five per cent.
Brighton season tickets are rising between five and eight per cent, Brentford up 10 per cent, and Burnley’s by more than that. On Merseyside, Everton and Liverpool are also putting up costs while some Aston Villa fans in the Holte End are having their seats removed to make way for hospitality.
GO DEEPER
Premier League ticket prices are rising - but how do they compare?
(Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
