Champions League prices bring the worst out of Toon Twitter

Newcastle United have announced Champions League prices for next season and it’s safe to say it’s divided supporters.

Am I the only one surprised that we’re not all united on this issue?

We knew the Champions League wouldn’t come at a cut price, but £55 each for a minimum of six games is a lot. That’s an extra £330 expenditure between September and December on ticket prices alone if, like myself, you plan on going to the away games too. Even £165 for the home games is steep.

What’s baffling me the most is the people not only defending it, but insisting they’d be willing to pay more. And attacking anyone who disagrees.

The price announcement ignited fierce arguments on Twitter. Many supporters, including myself, lamented the high cost. There’s no getting away from the fact that football is already an expensive hobby, but that’s quite the additional chunk of money required to watch your team.

On the flipside, we had people telling us that if we didn’t like it, don’t bother coming. Bit extreme.

There’s a strange opinion that you cannot disagree with the price and still come. It doesn’t work that way. Am I happy about the prospect of an extra £330 on tickets alone before the end of this year? No. Am I going to pay it? Yes, because I’m absolutely obsessed with Newcastle United.

Of course, I’m in the fortuitous position of being able to afford it by making cutbacks in my personal life. Not everyone is in the same boat.

The prevailing argument of the price bootlickers is that if I and others don’t go, someone else will. Of course they will. We’re not stupid. But why would you actively want someone taking the place of a lifelong, committed supporter? Because we know who’ll take our place – glory hunters with money to burn.

It all feels a bit Super League, legacy fans to me. Tickets to the highest bidder. Football has been getting less affordable for years but we’re reaching the point where it’s becoming almost completely inaccessible to the average working supporter.

You’re not better than any other supporter because you can afford the Champions League, and neither am I for being able to afford it by cutting down on other expenses.

You’re not better than any other supporter because you’ve got the money to pay even more than £55 a ticket. You can afford it? Good for you. You can afford to pay more, and you’re telling the club you want to pay more? Good for you, but also sod you.

The elitism is appalling. Why would you willingly price your fellow supporters out of watching their club in Europe? The club that they’ve followed for years through thick and thin? Why would you want a rich part-timer taking their place?

The cost-of-living argument has divided people too. You shouldn’t be going to the football if you can’t afford to because of it. And while that’s true, I’m a strong believer in the idea that nobody should simply exist. We need to be able to live. For me, living is following my team.

Plus, it’s ignorant to suggest that the cost of living can’t affect people who already go to the football. Essentials are so expensive that yes, believe it or not, a lot of people are having to cut out these luxuries. So when those luxuries go up in price too, it’s untenable.

Some have brought the FFP argument into it. It’s been rebuffed instantly; if tickets were £40 (expensive, but less eye-watering), the club would only make £2.5 million less. That’s not exactly going to buy James 54679o0pp, is it?

So yes, you’ll see me at the Champions League games. But you won’t see me justifying the prices. Considering the wealth of the club, tickets are not a big income generator and supporters deserve better in this one area.

Other than that, naturally, we’re on cloud nine!