81 year old Man Utd fan Michael Carney is being forced to leave his season ticket seat of 45 years so club can make more money from it.
The long-time fan, has attended matches at Old Trafford for 74 years, including 45 years in the same seat, is being moved from their seat to make way for corporate hospitality.
The club plans to convert seats near the dugouts of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand into premium hospitality areas to generate additional revenue, a move that has sparked frustration among loyal supporters.
This reflects a broader trend in sports where clubs prioritise high-value corporate packages over traditional season ticket holders, often citing the need to offset rising costs or maintain competitive pricing elsewhere.
Fans like Carney, who have witnessed decades of the club’s history – from the Busby Babes to the 1999 Treble – feel this shift undermines their loyalty. The decision has led to protests and a sense of disconnect, with many arguing it prioritises profit over heritage.
“74 years of loyal support – for what?” 🪧
An 81-year-old Manchester United fan is being forced to leave his season ticket seat so the club can make more money from it. pic.twitter.com/nnQEXJxRji
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 8, 2025
These Manchester United fans have been season ticket holders for many years, but from next season they are all getting moved so the club can sell their seats in the hospitality section instead.
A real shame to see the clubs loyal fans are being treated this way. pic.twitter.com/sJ91gdXlxm
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) April 6, 2025
Carney held up a sign towards the Old Trafford directors’ box midway through the second-half of Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Man City.
At the end of the merseyside Derby, United supporters made their feelings known about next season’s ticket price rises, the cutting of concessions and the amount of money paid to service Man Utd’s £1bn debt, with a ‘sit-in’ protest arranged by the 1958 fan group.
At the bottom of their season ticket renewal letter this year, a note from the club read: “We have identified a small number of general admission tickets directly adjacent to the home and away dugouts that will be converted to hospitality seats this summer.
“This reflects the high value of this unique location and will help to raise hospitality revenue to keep general admission Season Ticket prices lower. Your current seat is included within this block, and we will therefore need to find you an alternative seat for next season.”
Carney has sat in the same seat since 1980, and prior to that, he was in the ‘United Road’, which is now the Sir Alex Ferguson stand.
Speaking to BBC Sport at his home in Northwich, 25 miles from Old Trafford, talks about all the legends he’s seen in person, seeing their 26-year wait ended for a league title in 1993, as well as the two Doubles, the 1999 Treble and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League-winning side.
He still has the newspapers from the day of the Munich air disaster, Best against Benfica in Lisbon in 1966, the 3-3 with Real Madrid two years later on the way to winning the European Cup for the first time.
But after all these years of his loyalty and support, man Utd are seemingly turning their back on him. He said: “It is very sad after all these years. They could put you anywhere and I don’t think you will be able to argue much. If you don’t like it, clear off.
“They are brilliant seats. Mine is smack on the halfway line, midway between the dug-outs and the directors’ box.
“One way of looking at it is that we have been fortunate to be sitting there for all those years – but you get used to it.
“It has been happening on an individual basis for some time now. Before every game, you get an email saying if you can’t make the game, let them know and they will give you your money back. If you have not been, the lads around will ask whoever is in the seat how much they paid for it. Very often it would be £250-£300. That is a good way of seeing what they want to do now, taking everyone out en-bloc.”
Credit – BBC Sport
Of the protest demonstration and his banner: “I was going to do it in the second half because I didn’t want to risk being sent out [of the stadium by stewards] in the first.
“I was waiting for an injury but it got to 60 minutes and nothing had happened. I just got up and put my poster up. People turned around to face the directors’ box. Everyone was applauding. It achieved what I wanted and got a lot attention.”
Carney has learned that Man Utd will contact him to go through his options, despite this, he’s still yet to receive a call from them.
“My first reaction was ‘I have been watching them for so long and it is all about money, I don’t want to go next season’,” he said.
“That could still be the case but United has been such big part of my life for all these years.”
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Twitter users gave their reaction after hearing that the 81 year old Man Utd fan is being forced to leave his season ticket seat so the club can make more money from it…
@Toadspotter32: Hi Michael, I am a life long City fan but just wanted to say I am 100% on your side, and anyone else impacted by this. What price loyalty? As we used to say in the Army “It’s mind over matter, they don’t mind and you don’t matter.”😡😡 Good luck pal.👍👍
@______Shiv: We need to get behind this supporter, come together and unite in stopping this from happening. I understand we need the money, our finances are incredibly dire at the moment. But doing things like this is not the way. Them seats are very unique and should be for normal fans
@Trickypig74: Where does it end? Leeds fans having to prove they were actually at a match through CCTV, 80% attendance rules, scrapping FA cup replays so they can make more money playing friendlies, etc. Fans’ll remember this down the line when should these clubs fall on harder times…
@lennyb1983: Its disgusting this, but not shocked. Wont be long before the every day fan can’t attend Premier League “top 6” games anymore. I have a few mates who have given up season tickets at Anfield and Old Trafford as the prices go up massively every year
@Supergoon231: Our national game has been destroyed by billionaire owners who treat fans with contempt and cash cows
@E131970: Can’t stand premier league football anymore. Walking away from West ham at end of season, after 49 years. At 54 the Love for the club will always be there but the passion for this modern football has gone. Money and gentrification of football has killed it.
@brian_gayle92: All clubs are the same these days. Games just a steaming big pile of greed and the emotion and atmosphere has been sucked out of it
@BridgnorthWolf: Football is not for the working man anymore. I’ve just about had enough alongside VAR, and awful officiating has ruined the beautiful game.
@walshcat1: Join the ever growing list of other clubs and fans. The FA have created this with rules on investment and sustainability. It’ll happen more and more
@jamemcfc9: Disgusting to see how the local fan is getting treated don’t matter what fanbase they are it’s disgusting these owners are nothing but money grabbers
@hammers4work: Bang on football has gone , too much money in the game , boring football , no tackling. We are brainwashed by the media that these players are world class. 90 minutes of very little quality. These are stealing a living. Overpricing proper fans out of football.
