Manchester United have explained why there was a considerable increase in prices at Old Trafford for the brand new season, including an enormous hike in the fee of beer.
Fans discovered the painful recent prices on Saturday because the Red Devils hosted Fiorentina in a pre-season friendly, which finished 1-1.
Lager drinkers were hit within the pocket as a pint of Madri costs 51 per cent greater than it did last season, while a 500ml bottle of Carling has increased by 30 per cent.
Which means the pint of Madri is now £5.75, up from £3.80, and the bottle of Carling is £4.95, when it was also £3.80 last season.
The club has defended the move, saying that they had discounted beer prices for the last two seasons, a trial which has now come to an end.
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Not only that, but operating costs and the fee of produce has increased significantly, meaning they felt forced right into a price increase.
In response to the Manchester Evening News, a club statement read: ‘For the last two seasons, now we have trialled discounting beer following fan feedback.
‘Unfortunately, this has coincided with high increases in food & beverage (25-30%) within the last three years since kiosk prices were last reviewed holistically.
‘To reflect the rise in operating costs, and the rising cost of produce, for the 2025/26 campaign we is not going to find a way to proceed offering this discount and due to this fact some kiosk prices will increase.
‘Most notably, bottled Carling (500ml) will increase from £3.80 to £4.95 (which stays cheaper than 3 years ago), and a pint of Madri will increase from £3.80 to £5.75.
‘Although this is a rise on previous seasons, it still means a pint of beer is beneath the £6 average within the Premier League, and well beneath the typical cost of a pint of beer at five local pubs to Old Trafford utilized by fans on match day (£6.29).
‘Based on prices known publicly, the revised pricing means Old Trafford will serve the ninth least expensive pint within the Premier League.
‘Meal deals remain available, and fans can pick up three items for £10.70 (£1 increase on 2024/25) and 6 items for £20 (£2.80 increase on 2024/25) offering good value for money (meal deals include 1 hot food item, typically grill-type e.g. pie or hot dog, 1 drink e.g. beer, wine, or soft drink, 1 snack e.g. chips/crisps or confectionery).’
There may be already unrest amongst Manchester United fans over the best way the club is run by owners the Glazer family and minority owner Jim Ratcliffe.
A rise in ticket prices last season led to protests and supporter group The 1958 has confirmed there shall be one other protest as United face Arsenal of their Premier League opener on Sunday.
A spokesman for The 1958 said: ‘It’s a brand new season however the usual ownership issues. Twenty years of the Glazers and their debt mountain is 20 years too long. Enough is enough.
‘We won’t allow some natural optimism and a few shiny recent signings to deflect from the larger off-field picture.
‘Jim Ratcliffe selected to get into bed with the Glazers and, in our opinion, helps keep them in charge.
‘We protest not only against the Glazers, but now also against Jim Ratcliffe – a person once seen by many, including ourselves, as a possible saviour, a beacon of hope but now revealed as complicit in the continuing erosion of every thing that makes our club what it’s.
‘This is not any longer nearly ownership; that is about survival – the survival of our identity, our community, and our values.’
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