'I Suspect...' - Stefan Borson drops verdict after Aston Villa price-hike controversy

Aston Villa’s ticket prices for their upcoming Champions League games are not unusual after London-based clubs have been charging similar rates in recent years.

That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the Villa hierarchy are unlikely to look at the issue in the same way British owners do.

The Villa Supporters Trust has branded the club “out of touch” for charging up to £97 a ticket for home Champions League matches this season.

They said: “Loyal Villa fans who’ve waited as long as 40 years to celebrate this momentous season are being punished and exploited at the expense of the club’s compliance to PSR, ESR and publicly known revenue generation targets.”

The West Midlands giants increased season ticket prices by 5 per cent this term and also ripped out 900 season ticket seats to make way for new hospitality areas.

Aston Villa price hike follows live entertainment theme

But Borson believes Villa’s ticket-price hike follows the theme of live entertainment prices increasing across the country.

“These are big prices, but it’s not unusual,” Borson told Football Insider.

“The London clubs have been charging these sorts of prices for Champions League tickets.

“Live performance ticket prices across live entertainment, be that the theatre, music, sports generally and Champions League final tickets – have a look at those ticket prices.

“It’s just the reality I guess over time.

“We are becoming in the UK more Americanised in terms of what people are prepared to pay and what people are asked to pay for live entertainment.

“Unfortunately, I suspect the American-owned clubs just don’t understand or look at the issue in the same way that the Brits look at it.”

In other news, Aston Villa offered big-name star before Liverpool deal agreed.

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The post 'I Suspect...' - Stefan Borson drops verdict after Aston Villa price-hike controversy appeared first on Football Insider.