View: Friedkin given reminder of Everton fan influence as Man United protest planned

Dan Friedkin will struggle to charge over-the-top prices at the new Everton Stadium as fans prepare to protest before facing Manchester United on Sunday.

Manchester United fan group The 1958 posted on BlueSky (26 November) that fans of both clubs will stage a protest displaying a “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” banner over increased ticket prices at Old Trafford on 1 December.

With the hosts choosing to price members’ match tickets at £66 regardless of age or concessionary status, fans coming together in opposition will be a welcome sight for those affected.

It also represents a stark reminder to incoming Toffees owner Friedkin that while the club are moving to a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium in 2025, fans won’t accept exorbitant ticket prices without a fight.

Everton Stadium must be made affordable for fans

Joining hands with a fellow club to protest over exorbitant ticket prices, sets down an important marker for incoming owners and the Premier League.

Upon completing his takeover, which is expected to be given the green light within weeks [Alan Myers, 20 November], Friedkin hiking matchday ticket prices up to anything near £66 would immediately leave a sour taste in the mouth.

While Friedkin’s arrival is seen as a positive from almost every angle compared with Farhad Moshiri’s haphazard ownership, he’ll still need to get Toffees fans onside, and that must come off the pitch too.

The club’s relocation to Bramley-Moore Dock is set to bring in close to £40million per season more than Goodison Park in terms of matchday revenue [Kieran Maguire, 8 July], but this can’t come via an increase in ticket prices.

Their new stadium may prove to be a best-in-class arena which blows the local competition out of the water, but doing so on the backs of hardworking fans would quickly make Friedkin an unpopular, divisive figure.

In other Everton news, Jeff Stelling slammed the notion that Sean Dyche was to blame for the Toffees’ 0-0 draw with Brentford.

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