Hammers Fans Fume as Ticket Prices Soar and Concessions Slashed: "My Son is Heartbroken"

As West Ham United fans prepare for the new season's kick-off against Aston Villa at the London Stadium, a simmering discontent boils over amongst supporters, fuelled by rising ticket prices and the removal of concessionary season tickets in significant sections of the ground.

A small group of disgruntled supporters were spotted handing out leaflets outside the stadium, voicing their anger. The leaflet, titled "My Grandad took my Dad, then my Dad took me..." evokes a sense of generational legacy, lamenting the loss of affordability for families and the future of West Ham support. The leaflet directs fans towards an online petition, which has already garnered over 17,000 signatures, calling on the club to reconsider the changes to its ticketing policy.

The decision to scrap concessionary season tickets in sections one to four has sparked outrage amongst the Hammers faithful. Unless younger fans are willing to settle for seats in bands five and six, furthest from the pitch, they face the full adult ticket price. Tickets for those aged under 21 and over 66 have also seen an average increase of 7.5%.

The most expensive season ticket, located in the 1966 West Stand, now costs £1,720 for adults, concessions, and under-18s, representing a £100 hike from the previous season. The second most expensive, the 1966 Billy Bonds Stand, has also seen a price increase of 6.25%, reaching £1,445.

West Ham have attempted to appease fans by introducing individual matchday concessionary tickets for games in bands five and six. The club stated this decision came after "listening to feedback from supporters" and following meetings with fan group representatives. However, this concessionary measure only applies to Category AA and A fixtures, while discounts for Category B and C matches, as well as all home cup games, are available in every seating band, with the exception of the 1966 stands.

This attempt to pacify the disgruntled supporters has been met with further frustration. An elderly fan, expressing his frustration with a clenched fist, declared, "Keep up the fight – it's ridiculous what this club is doing." The lack of support for the club's policy is evident in the attendance figures. Despite a crowd of 62,463 for the opening day defeat to Aston Villa, a planned boycott of the Betway Cup friendly against Celta Vigo on August 10th resulted in a significantly lower attendance of 15,000 fans.

While the club enjoys a summer of positive recruitment with additions like Wes Foderingham, Luis Guilherme, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and the promise of a new era under manager Julen Lopetegui, the atmosphere surrounding the club is poisoned by the contentious ticket changes.

Paul Colborne, Chair of Hammers United, a dedicated fan group, is amongst those distributing leaflets and highlighting the unfair impact of the changes. "If you want a new season ticket and don’t want to sit in band five or six, it’s going to cost you ridiculous amounts of money," he states. "Not all grandparents or parents can get to band five or six because there are so many stairs. But even if they can, they'll be separated from their family and friends."

Colborne expresses his worry that the next generation of West Ham fans will be priced out, forced to support other clubs, or simply unable to afford attending matches. "Those who can afford it might not want to go because their friends aren't there. It will honestly kill our fanbase."

Lisa and Freddie Kemp, a couple unable to bring their grandchildren to games due to the pricing and concession changes, echo this sentiment. "They are pricing out young fans," Lisa says. "It's always two steps forward, 100 steps back with West Ham. The fans are the heart and soul of the club."

The impact on families is further highlighted by James Kemp, a father unable to take his six-year-old son to the Aston Villa match. "It's extremely disappointing, and hurtful, that I'm unable to take my boy to matches this season," he says. "I simply cannot afford to pay full adult prices for my six-year-old. My son is heartbroken that he can’t go and watch the team, especially the new signings."

Charlie Knott, 23, is another fan who feels the pinch of the price increase. He explains, "It's infuriating, growing up being known as the family club of the Premier League, to now having to try and scrap together to just go and see the club I've never doubted I wouldn't be able to see."

The discontent amongst fans is palpable, and it remains to be seen whether West Ham will address these concerns and find a solution that resonates with their most loyal supporters. As the season progresses, the atmosphere at the London Stadium will serve as a barometer for the club's response to the growing sense of disillusionment amongst its fanbase.