Manchester United are considering charging fans up to £4,000 solely for the purchase of season tickets for their planned new stadium.
The introduction of a "Personal Seat License (PSL)" system – common in the United States but yet to appear in the Premier League – is one of numerous proposals specifically put forward to Manchester United by US consulting firm CSL International, and it is highly controversial.
While Manchester United officials stress that no final decision has been made and the matter is still in the exploratory stage, the move would force fans to pay thousands of pounds, after which they would still need to pay separately for season tickets.
Under this system, in American sports, it amounts to a form of de facto crowdfunding – fans who pay for the personal seat license will have priority rights to purchase seats for the next 30 years. However, if they fail to buy a season ticket, they will automatically lose the license.
Following the takeover by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos Group, Manchester United unveiled concept designs by award-winning architect Lord Norman Foster, which will see a 100,000-seat new stadium built next to Old Trafford.
The stadium is expected to cost more than £2 billion. The club is seeking government funding for broader infrastructure as part of this massive redevelopment project, but the stadium construction costs will be covered by the club itself.
Manchester United insiders insist that the introduction of seat licenses (PSLs) is only hypothetical and part of a range of options for the new stadium's ticketing model.
In the second week of July, they held focus group discussions with season ticket holders, members and corporate clients.
Manchester United sources said these proposals are part of a series of early ideas and themes that have been presented to fans to see which resonate and which need refinement.
They added that a survey of all fans will follow.
There is no doubt that opposition to seat licenses (PSLs) will be very strong. For the upcoming season, adult season ticket prices for Manchester United fans will range from £608 to £1,121, a 5% increase. Prices for fans under 16 remain unchanged.
