Premier League club Leicester City has announced a 5% increase for season ticket holders, after an eight-year price freeze.
The club had applied an eight-year freeze following its promotion to the Premier League in 2014, but there will now be an increase for the 2022-23 season.
For an adult season ticket-holder in the Kop section of the King Power Stadium (pictured), the price will increase by £1.05 per match, equating to roughly £22.89 per home game.
Seasonal Hospitality areas, First Floor in the West Stand and Fosse Club Premium will be subject to an average increase of 10% for renewals. Leicester said that this was to ‘reflect the higher rising costs in the hospitality sector’.
Any new season ticket purchases will also be subject to an average increase of 10% compared to prices from this season. Match-by-match ticket prices will also be increased by a similar percentage.
The process of renewing season tickets begins today (Tuesday) and existing season ticket holders will have until June 6 to secure their seats, with direct debit options to spread the cost over up to 11 months. However, participants will have until June 15 to opt out before any payments are made with the first payments taken on July 1.
Following the conclusion of the renewals process on June 6, any remaining season tickets will be made available for 2021-22 Fox Members.
Leicester said that the launch of the 2022-23 season tickets followed a period of consultation with season ticket holders and members, to garner feedback on potential pricing structures.
Enhancements made for next season include a direct debit extension, meaning fans can spread the cost over 11 months rather than the previous 10.
Season ticket holders will be able to resell their season ticket for up to three Premier League matches during the season, and be refunded 1/19th of the cost of their season ticket for each occasion.
The consultations also discussed a proposed mobile ticketing system, with a long-term objective of removing physical tickets and season ticket cards. Season ticket holders will have the choice when purchasing whether or not to use mobile ticketing or to still receive a physical card. Supporters must express their preference by June 16 or the default option will be to use mobile ticketing.
The SK1 Singing Section will be implemented for the entire 2022-23 season as it proved popular. This has resulted in the reconfiguration of the section, affecting Rows M to PP, seats one to 29 and seats 208-218. Seats in this section will not be available to renew immediately.
Leicester City chief executive Susan Whelan said: “It’s been eight years since we increased Season Ticket prices following promotion to the Premier League and the decision to implement an increase now has not been taken lightly.
“However, in order to continue to meet rising costs and to regularly compete with our Premier League rivals, it’s important we seek to optimise revenues – both for the responsible running of the Club and to ensure ongoing compliance with the game’s evolving financial regulations.”
Whelan added: “We do, however, appreciate that supporters too are affected by the current rising cost of living, which was a key consideration in the scale of increase we were prepared to apply.
“Investments in our Ticket Resale platform and the increase in the length of our direct debit offering are designed to assist with affordability and we will continue to seek ways to maximise the value of being a Leicester City Season ticket holder.”
Image: Wikimedia Commons/CC BY SA 4.0/Edited for size