Sheffield Wednesday’s recently raised ticket pricing have certainly gotten Preston North End supporters talking, with at least 2,400 Lilywhites fans expected to travel from the North West to the Steel City for their Hillsborough match on November 29th. The cost of matchday tickets, particularly in the current financial context, has sparked heated disagreement among followers, with some believing that they are being priced out of watching their team week in and week out. It is well established that in the Premier League, there is a £30 cap on the price of away tickets, regardless of whether a fixture is in the high or low category bracket when tickets are issued within a stadium’s home quarters. This, of course, does not apply to clubs in the Championship, League One, or League Two at the moment, with owners of specific clubs highlighting the need to raise ticket prices in order to increase or maintain the rate of revenue streams due to a significant disparity in the amount of money pumped in by television rights holders. In past seasons, Wednesday was one of numerous clubs chastised for ticket pricing in both the home and away sections of Hillsborough, with the Owls’ last home game before entering administration against Middlesbrough on October 22nd costing adult Boro fans £35. While selling the club is Begbies Traynor’s top objective, the administrative group has agreed to decrease ticket costs, with the 1-1 draw against Norwich City on Bonfire Night set to a maximum of £30. Unsurprisingly, such exploits have persisted, and Preston fans are the latest group of fans to embrace the change. Preston North End fans react to Sheffield Wednesday’s reduced ticket prices
Paul Heckingbottom’s side has had an unexpectedly excellent start to the Championship season, sitting firmly in the play-off picture after 15 games and 26 points. Despite a remarkable haul in the first three months of the season, the vast bulk of points have come at Deepdale, with North End picking up just nine points from seven away games, including triumphs over Derby County and Southampton. Hillsborough has also been a somewhat pleasant hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years, with the club winning two and drawing one of their last three games in S6, despite the fact that fans have had to pay a high price to attend. That has all changed ahead of the forthcoming conference, with adult tickets costing £30, £20 for over-65s and 17-20 year-olds, £15 for those aged 11 to 16, and only £10 for those aged 10 and under.
Unsurprisingly, supporters have welcomed the news, with one remarking that it is no surprise that Dejphon Chansiri is no longer the Owls’ owner.
Another supporter was in complete agreement with such an opinion.
One fan was definitely lured by the costs and responded with a well-known GIF of boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned group of tickets sold out quickly, but the club verified to one fan that a further block of seats went on sale on Thursday morning, adding to what is sure to be a rowdy atmosphere.
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