Aston Villa confirm ticket price increases after ignoring fan pleas

The most expensive season ticket inside the ground will now cost £991, though the club has frozen prices for supporters aged under-21.

Single match tickets will also be going up by five per cent for adults, with the most expensive price for a category A fixture now £97. 

In a statement, Villa said increasing prices for the fourth consecutive year was to ensure they could “create the strongest team possible”.

The club, just as it has in previous years, cited the need to boost revenues to help comply with both the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules and Uefa’s cost control measures as justification for putting up costs.

An increase had been anticipated despite fan groups, including the Villa Supporters’ Trust, releasing a statement back in February calling on the club to freeze prices for next season, describing it as “crucial for the long-term spirit of the club”.

Several other Premier League clubs, including Wolves, Liverpool and Manchester City, have announced freezes for next season, the latter after fan protests about planned increases.

Villa began a consultation process with its fan advisory board (FAB) in February, with the proposed price changes presented at a meeting on Wednesday night. It was the final meeting before the FAB is due to be reconstituted over the summer.

In addition to putting up prices, the club has also announced a shake-up to its season ticket waiting list.

Villa say there are currently 45,000 names on the list though almost half (46 per cent) had not attended a match in the past two seasons.

They now plan to re-order the waiting list by introducing a system which will see fans earn points for each match they attend. That will include fixtures in the Women’s Super League.