Arsenal will not be making any ticket price increases next season. The move follows a full review by the Arsenal Board, which included an assessment of the current economic environment and feedback from fan groups. The price freeze applies to all match ticket prices including season tickets in both general admission and club level. Club level season ticket renewals will begin on Feb. 12 (Arsenal). REUTERS' Keith Weir reported Arsenal put ticket price rises on hold for next season "after complaints from fans unhappy at the cost and the club's failure to win a trophy" since '05. Supporters' groups across the country "are lobbying for a cap on ticket prices for away fans." Many "are also questioning why admission is so much cheaper at matches in Germany's Bundesliga." Arsenal fans "have grown frustrated" after the club sold top players Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Robin van Persie to ManU in recent years, accusing the board of "putting profit ahead of performance" (REUTERS, 1/29). The London EVENING STANDARD reported Man City fans' complaints "sparked a new campaign to curb rising ticket prices," but Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger defended the club's pricing policy, arguing that "the club needed the money in order to continue competing" with its rivals at the top of the Premier League (EVENING STANDARD, 1/29).
