As a result of a record high television deal, Sunderland AFC have followed in the footsteps of West Ham in becoming only the second club in the highest tier of English football to guarantee reduced ticket prices for next season, 2016-17.
In the wake of the decision by Sunderland officials, chief executive, Margaret Byrne said;
“Keeping the cost of watching football at a realistic level is something that is very topical at present.”
The topic is, of course, very relative. Recently, Liverpool FC fans took to protesting, alongside club legend Jamie Carragher, by leaving the stands on the 77th-minute mark in a league game against Sunderland. Plans to make a Liverpool matchday ticket price to be risen to £77 were dramatically overturned and halted by the board of Liverpool in the wake of supporters protests. The power shifted back to the people in which the guaranteed highest match day ticket for a Liverpool home game will be £59.
Sunderland, recently have been a club proud to support, more so for their human resource department than their league standings, having also recently donated to the flood Brunton Park of Carlisle, one of only two Premier League teams to reply to Carlisle’s plea. Season tickets at the Stadium of Light will start at £350 for adult season tickets, down by £20. Sunderland, well and truly, understand the importance of supporters in the modern game, because without supporters what would a club be?
