Chelsea has risked antagonizing hospitality season ticket-holders by offering a 3% refund to "compensate for the lack of Champions League football at Stamford Bridge next season," according to Matt Hughes of the LONDON TIMES. The club charges upwards of £5,000 ($7,300) plus VAT for a "hospitality package that includes all Premier League matches, home ties in domestic cup competitions and, ordinarily, three Champions League group games." It is understood that when it "became clear that Chelsea would not qualify for the Champions League this season, the club wrote to all hospitality members offering tickets for four Europa League games as an alternative." However, Chelsea "did not qualify for the secondary European competition." The club has now offered "existing hospitality ticket-holders" a 3% refund. Chelsea played 25 matches in all competitions at Stamford Bridge last season, "so some have queried the club’s valuation of a Champions League match" as 1% of their total package and "are unhappy with the size of the refund" (LONDON TIMES, 5/18).
