By Kieran Maguire

17th Oct, 2023 | 2:25pm

Lionel Messi cited as Fulham owner blamed for fan protest - Maguire

American owners are to blame for increased ticket pricing in the Premier League at clubs such as Fulham.

That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that American owners are trying to implement ‘dynamic pricing’ in English football.

As reported by the Evening Standard, Fulham fans are set to protest against increasing prices at the club, with the Fulham Supporters’ Trust (FST) calling tickets “increasingly unaffordable”.

Fans are planning an organised protest outside Craven Cottage before their side faces Manchester United on 4 November.

The London club announced an 18 percent increase to season ticket costs for the 2023/24 season and introduced a new £3,000 ticket to fans.

Maguire believes Fulham are going down the route of dynamic pricing in order to boost matchday revenue figures at Craven Cottage.

“I think what we’re seeing in terms of ticket prices rising is a function of having so many American owners in the Premier League,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.

“They are used to what they refer to as dynamic pricing where prices rise to match supply and demand.

“They will have seen what’s happened at Inter Miami, where season ticket prices there have doubled or even tripled at the prospect of seeing Lionel Messi.

“I think they would like to replicate that.

“They are unable to control the value of the broadcasting deals, so effectively they’ve only got a passive position there.

“Once commercial deals are signed, it’s all sealed off.

“So their only opportunity to expand in terms of matchday income is either to make stadiums bigger, which is a costly exercise, or to put up prices.

“It looks like Fulham are going down this route.“

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