Ian Darke urges Aston Villa to review decision ahead of Bayern Munich showdown
Ian Darke has urged Aston Villa to review their decisions on ticket pricing as supporters prepare to take expensive seats for Bayern Munich.
Ardent fans have been forced to fork out up to £97 for an individual match ticket as the German giants come to Villa Park on Wednesday 2 October in the first home Champions League match of the modern era for the club.
Season ticket holders have also been forced to pay separately for the European tickets, with prices controversially starting at £70. Non-season ticket holders are having to pay at least £85 for a regular seat, with President of Business Operations Chris Heck appearing to controversially blame PSR concerns.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, TNT Sports commentator Darke, who covers this season’s Champions League, said: “It is just too steep. Aston Villa really need to take a look at that one.
“£85 at the lowest pricing for a Champions League ticket in this era is far too much.
“This is a lot of money, particularly for die-hard fans who have been there week-in, week-out through some dark times in recent years. [The club] need to take another view.”
Aston Villa fans scolded by costs for Bayern Munich clash
The first Champions League game in its current format to ever be played at Villa Park, a first appearance at home in the continent’s elite competition for over 40 years and a staple for any fan of the club has been used as a cash cow.
While in any other business, this would be seen as an obvious move, it does leave a sour taste, particularly for those – as Darke says – who have followed the Villans in horrendous times, even within the past decade, and some of whom have never seen their generation follow the club in the Champions League.
In addition, the excellent start to the domestic season and the feel-good factor around the fanbase under Unai Emery has been exploited to high heaven here.
It will still be a full house for the visit of Bayern, winners on six occasions including as recently as 2020, which is exactly what Villa knew when they announced the prices.
The TV revenue from the Champions League – largely on which you will hear the tones of Darke narrating the matches – should have realistically been enough for the board to take a backseat in demanding the hike of ticket prices.
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