West Brom slash season ticket prices following relegation from the Premier League
Albion have slashed season ticket prices to their lowest level for a decade following relegation from the Premier League.
The Baggies have announced drastic reductions which will see adult season ticket-holders in all areas of the ground make a saving of £70 compared to last summer’s prices - and up to £51 in the early bird window.
Adult tickets in the Birmingham Road and Smethwick Ends for the 2018/19 Championship campaign now start at £329, or the equivalent of £14.31 per game.
The most expensive seats in the ground, in the West Stand and East Stand Upper Tier, are priced at £429.
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In a bid to bring in younger fans, the club has extended its under-11 price category to all areas of The Hawthorns, with tickets costing just £49.
The under-17 category, in which tickets are priced £99, has meanwhile been extended to under-18. Seniors can pick up their season ticket for as little as £269.
And though the club intend to adjust their senior concession criteria to 65 and over from 2019 onward, they intend to honour existing concessions for next season and beyond for supporters aged 60-64 who purchase a season ticket this summer and continue to renew going forward.
Albion have moved to reduce prices in a bid to re-engage with supporters following a nightmare season which will end with the Baggies relegated from the Premier League after eight seasons in the top flight.
Despite a heartening rally under the caretaker stewardship of Darren Moore, their demotion was confirmed on Tuesday night when Southampton won 1-0 at Swansea.
Chief executive Mark Jenkins, who returned to The Hawthorns in February following the sacking of predecessor Martin Goodman and chairman John Williams, has made no secret of his desire to build bridges with the fanbase and give supporters “value for money”.
Jenkins has described the reduced season ticket prices, first mooted back in March, as a “statement of intent”.
The club’s hierarchy is understood to have become increasingly concerned by the steady decline in attendances at The Hawthorns in recent seasons.
Figures in the Baggies most recent set of accounts revealed season ticket sales for the 2016-17 campaign to have been the lowest for nearly ten years. That was despite Albion being the West Midlands only top flight representatives for the first time in their history.
It is hoped now drastically reducing prices will lead to a surge in sales as the club target an instant return to the Premier League next term.
Jenkins said: “We acknowledge this has been a season which has tested the patience and loyalty of our fans.
“We have much to do this summer to get us in the right shape for making as swift a return as possible to the Premier League.
“But we intend to hit the ground running, starting with the season ticket details which I hope will be seen as a statement of intent.”
Existing season ticket holders have until 5pm on Friday, June 8 to renew their existing seat. After that time they will be released for general sale.
