Athletic ticket prices frozen

ATHLETIC have frozen season-ticket prices for a fourth successive season to help fans during the recession.

There are also significant savings for tickets purchased by May 28 as well as an innovative cashback incentive.

If Athletic process 4,500 season-ticket applications by August 1 - the current total is almost 3,300 - they will give each season-ticket holder a £70 refund.

Chief executive Alan Hardy said: “We need to raise a certain amount of revenue and, if we go above that figure, we are prepared to give money back to the fans.

“One or two clubs operate similar schemes and the figure we have set, while still a big ask, is a lot more realistic to achieve than other such schemes.”

Athletic would need to increase season-ticket sales by about one third for the cashback scheme to kick in.

Mr Hardy believes the freeze on both season-ticket and matchday prices, early-bird discount scheme and cashback offer should help fans.

This is in stark contrast to Manchester United who this week have received criticism for raising season-ticket prices between £27 and £49 and matchday tickets by £1.

Athletic, confronted by increased operating costs, believe they have come up with a winning formula.

The price freeze means the cheapest season ticket is £303, which represents a saving of almost £7 per game on the matchday admission price.

Fans aged between six and 16 can again watch a full season’s league games for £50 (£2.17 per game).

There is also an easy payment plan available which means the cost can be spread over monthly instalments.

Tickets can be purchased from Boundary Park or online (www.oldhamathletic.co.uk) from 9am on Tuesday.

Mr Hardy said: “The global economic situation is hitting everyone hard, including football supporters everywhere and the clubs they follow.

“We rely greatly on the support we receive from Latics fans everywhere, and are pleased to be able to bring them a price freeze for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season.”