Bayern Munich told its supporters that "they will subsidise" the £62 ($102) tickets at Arsenal by putting £74,350 ($122,300) toward the cost, according to Christenson & Bakowski of the London GUARDIAN. Bayern Munich said in a statement that it realized the match would make "a big dent in supporters' wallets" and wanted the gesture to be "a small thank you for the great support of followers" in '13, a year in which the club won the Bundesliga, German Cup, Super Cup, World Club Championship and Champions League. Bayern have made the 2,974 tickets available at £37 ($61) despite having had 18,000 supporters apply for the full-price tickets for the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie at the Emirates on Feb. 19. Arsenal's ticket prices "have been the subject of protests from both home and away supporters in recent seasons" (GUARDIAN, 1/9). REUTERS' Brian Homewood reported Bayern charges home fans between €15 ($20) for a standing place and €70 ($95) for the most expensive seats at home matches in the Bundesliga. Ticket prices for the home tie against Arsenal range from €35 to €100 ($48-$146). Tickets for away fans "are at the lower end of the price range" (REUTERS, 1/9). The DPA reported Bayern "has received 18,000 orders for the 2,974 tickets it will receive from Arsenal for the game." The club "will announce who will receive the tickets at the end of January" (DPA, 1/9).
BAYERN APPLAUDED: In London, Shergold & Barlow wrote the gesture is "just the latest example of how German football clubs lead the way in treatment of their fans." Season tickets and matchday prices "are considerably lower in the Bundesliga than the Premier League," with access to top-flight games costing as little as £10 ($14). Arsenal fans group “Black Scarf Movement” spokesperson Nordi Chaoui-Taylor said, ''We commend Bayern's gesture and once again this demonstrates that in Germany, the core support of clubs is truly recognized and taken care of. In this country it seems as if clubs are more focused on greed, looking to take their own fans for as much as they possibly can" (DAILY MAIL, 1/9).
