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Newcastle Instructed To Make Saints Payment
Written by Newcastle Utd
Newcastle United have been instructed to make a payment to Southampton Football Club after a complaint was upheld by the Premier League
Newcastle United have been instructed to make a payment of more than £12,000 to Southampton Football Club after a complaint was upheld by the Premier League in relation to ticket prices for Saints fans at St. James' Park.
After the Magpies' offer of a lower reciprocal ticket pricing deal for both clubs' travelling supporters was rejected by Southampton, Newcastle set away ticket prices for Southampton's visit to St. James' Park in December at £37 for adults, £33 for seniors and £22 for juniors - matching the prices imposed by Saints on Newcastle fans travelling to St. Mary's Stadium in March.
Despite Newcastle United setting prices for home fans in adjacent seats on Level 7 of the Leazes End at the same price, the Premier League upheld Southampton's claim that prices were set unfair in relation to those available to home supporters.
The Premier League argued that seats at the opposite end of the stadium in the upper Gallowgate End constituted a 'comparable area' where tickets were available for less, despite notable differences in the configuration, facilities and viewing angle between the stands.
Newcastle United have therefore been instructed to revise ticket prices down to £27 for adults, £22 for seniors and £13 for juniors and have paid Southampton in lieu.
In line with the Premier League's aims to arrest declining away fan attendances at matches, United have established reciprocal pricing deals with two top-flight clubs this season - West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City.
Prices were agreed between the clubs at £15/£5 (adults/concessions) and £20/£5 respectively, representing savings of 61.5 per cent (WBA) and 40 per cent (Swansea) for Magpies supporters based on last season's prices.
Last season, Newcastle's travelling fans were charged an average of £39.87 for their match tickets by Premier League clubs, while visitors to St. James' Park paid, on average, only £29.63.
Young Magpies fans were also charged £17.76 per ticket, while young fans were welcomed to St. James' Park for significantly less - only £13.68 on average, with several games set at just £5.
As a result of the Club's efforts, including discounting tickets for forthcoming trips to Stoke and Arsenal and lobbying for improvements in the way tickets are sold, the Magpies are one of only five clubs in the Premier League to have increased their average away following and the average away attendance at their own stadium this year.
Newcastle United are proud to be at the forefront of keeping our national game affordable and will continue to pursue reciprocal pricing deals for the benefit of all football supporters where possible.