A longtime Manchester United supporter is losing his seat at Old Trafford, which he has held for 45 years. The club is reallocating his seat for corporate hospitality.
Michael Carney, 81, has been a dedicated fan through Manchester United`s history, witnessing moments from the Busby Babes era to the modern day.
The club sent season ticket holders, including Carney, a renewal notice stating that some seats near the dugouts will become hospitality areas.
The letter explained this change is to increase revenue from hospitality, allowing the club to maintain lower general season ticket prices.
Carney displayed a sign during a match against Manchester City to express his disappointment.
One side of his sign stated, “I was sat here before you were born!”
The other side questioned, “74 years of loyal support – for what?”
Carney, who cherishes memorabilia from Manchester United`s past, feels let down by the club.
Speaking to the BBC, he expressed his sadness about losing his seat after so many years, acknowledging the club has the power to relocate fans with little room for argument.
He described his seat as ideally located on the halfway line, between the dugouts and directors` box.
Carney mentioned that while he appreciates the years he had the seat, fans become accustomed to their usual spots.
He noted the increasing trend of the club reselling seats on a game-by-game basis, observing this move to convert a block of seats to hospitality as a larger scale version of that practice.
Manchester United, under new sporting operations management, is making significant changes, including cost reductions.
The club has informed affected season ticket holders that their seats behind the dugouts will be converted to a VIP hospitality section.
These changes have sparked protests, with fans expressing anger over rising season ticket costs, reduced concessions, and the club`s debt.
Senior season ticket holders are facing substantial price increases, which have been criticized as unfair.
Fan groups have organized protests against these changes.
