Manchester City supporter groups send open letter to Pep Guardiola over club’s ticketing policy | OneFootball

A number of Manchester City supporter groups have come together to pen an open letter to the club’s head coach Pep Guardiola over the club’s ticketing policy.

The letter sent to the 54-year-old indirectly via social media comes as Manchester City prepare to return to Premier League action this week off the back of their FA Cup semi-final triumph over Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.

Wolves are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium on Friday night, which will also see supporters engage in a second protest this month and a third this season, following their last demonstration that preceded the 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

Prominent supporter groups hold a significant level of frustration over what they say is City’s ongoing refusal to increase the number of season ticket-holders, encouraging fellow fans to remain on the concourse at the stadium this week until the sixth minute.

The relevance of minute six of this week’s game is a direct reference to the fact that it has been six years since the club last introduced new season tickets, despite the capacity of the Etihad Stadium drastically increasing over that period and is due for a further increase in 2026.

Now, as protest and fan action ramps up on social media and on the ground, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been sent an open letter by four prominent supporter groups on the issue.

The letter, which was first publicised on social media this week and signed by 1894 Group, Trade Union Blues, MCFC Fans’ Foodbank Support, and Solid Citizens read, “Pep, congratulations on leading us to another Wembley final.

“Before the Forest game, you said you understood the fact that fans are facing economic pressures. We are glad you recognise this and you have said that you prefer the fanbase to be alive and not passive.

“With this in mind, we ask you for one more favour. Your friends at the club have done many good things. Can you ask them to do one more good thing? Can you speak with your good friend, club CEO Ferran Soriano?”

The open letter continued, “The stadium is growing by 8,000 next season and the fans want the club to bring back some real season tickets so that the generational links can be protected. The amount of season ticket holders in the stadium has been shrinking.

“When fans cannot attend games the club then cannot resell those tickets because they are priced too high. We think the club has time to rethink two issues; season ticket availability, and match day pricing.

“No new season tickets has a greater negative impact on children than adults; the number of children with season tickets has more than halved in the last few years. £42 to £58 children’s tickets for the Villa game stops parents bringing their kids. We want the same things as you; a powerful club, with a loud atmosphere in the stadium.

“The North Stand redevelopment is a chance to make that happen. However, you will not get the atmosphere you crave if the club do not think again. Surely the most important thing is to ensure there are no empty seats inside the Etihad stadium.

“Make it easy for the fans to attend and you will get full attendance. This also means more revenue for the club as the fans spend more inside the stadium. The decisions the club make this summer could influence the way the stadium feels for many years to come.

“Thank you Pep once again for listening to the fans.”

The letter follows the second round of protests in a matter of weeks following action taken during the victory over Leicester City in the Premier League, with a demonstration before the win over Aston Villa highlighting three core issues.

Supporter groups point out that the capacity at the Etihad Stadium has increased by around 9,000 in recent years although there are now fewer season tickets than six years ago, while fans also have to pay up to £88 for a standard adult matchday ticket or up to £58 for a child.

It is also highlighted that tickets are being sold through third-party sites for inflated prices, with Manchester City having agreed upon a ninth official resale partner in a controversial agreement with Viagogo earlier this year.