Andy Cullen shares ‘challenges’ admission as season ticket price increase discussed
Portsmouth CEO Andy Cullen has informed supporters the reasons for the increased season ticket costs at Fratton Park, amid potential financial benefits for the club.
The club this week announced rises of between 9 per cent and 12 per cent on 2024-25 season ticket charges, following Pompey’s promotion to the Championship this campaign.
Speaking to BBC’s Andy Moon [16 May], Cullen explained: “We have some challenges of rising costs within the business, and we had to look at ways to generate more income to cover these.
“We have easy payment schemes that keep football affordable at Fratton Park.
“We don’t do these things just by sitting at a desk and slapping a cost on – we consult with supporters’ groups, and the Heritage Advisory Board, which we’re lucky to have with regards to these issues.”
Financial benefits for Portsmouth
One thing is for certain – Cullen and the club, probably correct in their decision to slightly increase costs anyway, are vindicated by Pompey’s promotion, making the cap of 15,000 season tickets far more feasible to reach.
The board are continuing to invest in the infrastructure of Fratton Park, in order to maintain the venue as a complex fit for modern purpose, as well as Pompey’s traditional home.
The Portsmouth CEO added: “You look at the developments of Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Fulham – it’s costing between £80million and £110m to redevelop just one stand.
“Another 5,000 seats [at Fratton Park] would deliver us about another £2m in revenue – that takes a long time to get payback, with a lot of things having to be done around the stadium to eventually be able to achieve that.”
The due care and investment being paid into the club means supporters will be far more on board with parting with an added £40-50 each year, and promotion this year is starting to show proof in the pudding for Pompey.
In other Portsmouth news, the club have made a call on free agent ex-Blue, Matt Ritchie.
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