City Announce Ticket Price Cuts Following Fan Consultation

City have confirmed that admission costs will drop by as much as 43 per cent for the upcoming campaign, representing the most aggressive pricing strategy implemented by any top-flight club in recent memory. This decisive action follows months of behind-the-scenes negotiations with supporter representatives and arrives as a direct response to mounting criticism over accessibility issues.

For 2025/26, the club's tiered pricing structure will see Category A fixtures - typically reserved for the biggest occasions including visits from Liverpool and the cross-city derby - priced between £40 and £60. Category B encounters will range from £35 to £55, whilst the most affordable Category C matches will cost supporters between £30 and £50.

The reductions prove particularly substantial for the club's marquee fixtures, where the cheapest seats have been slashed from previous levels, whilst even premium positions have seen prices tumble by more than a fifth. Young supporters under 18 will benefit from half-price admission, with additional 25 per cent concessions available for those aged 18 to 21, pensioners, and disabled fans.

City's commercial department have also introduced innovative flexibility measures designed to acknowledge the inconvenience caused by fixture rearrangements. When television scheduling or cup commitments force kick-off changes, ticket prices will either remain static or reduce further - they will never increase to compensate for the disruption.

The announcement addresses head-on the fierce backlash that erupted during last season's rearranged clash with Aston Villa, when supporters voiced fury over adult tickets starting at £71 for a midweek fixture that had been moved at short notice. Under the new framework, such pricing controversies should become extinct.

Alex Howell's City Matters advisory group have been instrumental in securing these concessions, engaging in year-long discussions with boardroom officials to deliver tangible benefits for the matchgoing faithful. The fan representatives have extracted commitments extending beyond mere price cuts, securing promises of additional season ticket availability and enhanced pathways to long-term membership.

Season ticket holders have also been protected through a price freeze, whilst the club's Flexi Gold package has undergone improvements to provide greater value and convenience for irregular attendees.

European competition pricing remains under review, though club insiders suggest Champions League matches will follow similar principles of affordability. With the expanded format increasing home group fixtures from three to four, maintaining reasonable admission costs becomes increasingly crucial for sustaining attendance levels.

The move represents a calculated gamble by City's ownership, sacrificing short-term revenue in pursuit of the atmospheric improvements that could prove decisive during crucial fixtures. With rivals continuing to push prices upward, this counter-intuitive approach may yet prove the masterstroke that transforms the Etihad into the fortress it has always threatened to become.

City Matters welcomed the development with a statement praising the club's commitment to accessibility: "These pricing reductions, combined with the season ticket freeze and expanded availability, demonstrate the genuine value of supporter engagement through our organisation."