Partnership Details:: The deal allows Viagogo to resell *hospitality* tickets for Man City men's and women's games, drawn from the club's existing allocation.
Fan Concerns:: Supporters worry about away fans obtaining tickets in home sections (citing recent incidents), potential price gouging, and the club partnering with a ninth ticket resale platform despite previous unresolved issues.
Club's Stance:: City states the tickets are capped at a fixed price (no dynamic pricing) and are marked as 'official partner' sales. The club recently banned/suspended hundreds of accounts for ticket touting.
Planned Protest:: Three major fan groups (1894, Trade Union Blues, MCFC Fans Foodbank) are urging fans to boycott the first nine minutes of the upcoming Premier League match against Leicester City on April 2nd – one minute for each resale partner.
Why this matters:: The situation highlights the ongoing tension between football clubs seeking commercial revenue and fans concerned about matchday safety, affordability, and feeling disconnected from club decisions.
Manchester City's announcement of Viagogo as an official hospitality ticket resale partner has been labelled 'tone deaf' by supporter groups. This partnership is the ninth such agreement the club has made for ticket resales, adding to existing frustrations.
Concerns stem from recent matches where away supporters reportedly accessed home sections, leading to safety worries. Fans fear that adding another resale platform, particularly one like Viagogo which has faced scrutiny over pricing practices, exacerbates this issue. The club banned 165 ticketing accounts and suspended 354 others this season due to touting, indicating the scale of the problem.
Fan groups state they are unwilling to use the club's official exchange for fear of where tickets end up. The timing is also sensitive, as an open letter regarding ticket pricing from seven supporter groups allegedly remains unanswered after seven weeks, and season ticket prices for 2025-26 are yet to be confirmed. The City Matters fan advisory board previously went on strike over lack of engagement on this topic.
While the club insists the Viagogo deal only involves existing hospitality allocations with fixed price caps, the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) questions the necessity of clubs using third-party resellers whose business model often involves higher prices, contrasting it with clubs running their own face-value resale platforms. The UK government has also recently consulted on potentially capping resale ticket prices.
Why are Man City fans protesting?
They oppose the club's partnership with Viagogo (the 9th resale partner), citing concerns over safety (away fans in home areas), inflated ticket prices, and lack of club communication on ticketing issues.
Which tickets are being sold on Viagogo?
The club states it's only for existing hospitality ticket allocations for men's and women's home games, not standard tickets.
What action are fans taking?
They are planning a 9-minute boycott at the start of the home game against Leicester City on April 2nd.
Fan Power:: This situation demonstrates fans organising to voice concerns about club decisions impacting their matchday experience and wallets.
Ticket Resale Issues:: It highlights the broader debate around secondary ticketing platforms, safety implications, and the affordability of attending live football.
Club-Fan Relations:: The incident underscores the importance of communication and consultation between football clubs and their supporter base, especially regarding sensitive issues like ticketing.
Do you think partnerships with resale platforms like Viagogo are beneficial or detrimental to football fans? Let us know!
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