Ticket prices – UEFA lowers cap for away fans, but questions remain

UEFA has decided that clubs in the European Cup can charge lower maximum prices to away fans than before. A major annoyance will be somewhat reduced.

The maximum prices that clubs can charge fans of the visiting team will be reduced in two steps in the Champions League. From the current 70 euros, it will go down to 60 euros in the new season, and by the 2025/26 season the maximum amount will be 50 euros. The maximum price will also be gradually reduced in the Europa League and the Conference League.

“Today’s decision is another important step to reaffirm UEFA’s commitment to improving the matchday experience for all fans”said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin in a statement from UEFA. The decision was made after discussions with Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and the club association ECA. ECA boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in the statement: “The new price caps are another sign of how important away fans are to the atmosphere at European club matches.”

BVB fans pay 70 euros in Paris, PSG fans 18.50 euros in Dortmund

Al-Khelaifi is the president of Paris Saint-Germain. PSG usually maxed out the previous upper limit. Fans of Borussia Dortmund had to pay the maximum permitted price of 70 euros for the two away games in Paris in the 2023/24 season, both in the group and in the semi-finals. At Newcastle United, 69 euros were due. Advance booking fees from the clubs are often added on top. “Your greed is limitless”Dortmund fans wrote on a banner at the semi-final in Paris.

Fans of PSG and Newcastle, on the other hand, got into the stadium for 18.50 euros at the games in Dortmund. Newcastle fans wrote on a poster in Dortmund: “Change from a twenty-euro note – thanks BVB!” PSG fans display a banner in Dortmund that reads: “18.50 euros for away fans – PSG, follow suit!” The reason for the differences lies in the general rules for away fans in the European Cup. In addition to the upper limit, the following applies: Ticket prices for away fans may not exceed the prices of tickets for home fans in a “comparable category”. This means that away fans in Germany are guaranteed to get into the stadium cheaply, because home fans on the other hand benefit from cheap standing room.

Since 2022, UEFA has allowed standing places in European cups again after years of compulsory seating. Initially only in Germany, England, Spain, France and Italy, but from the 2024/25 season, clubs from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Scotland and Austria will also be allowed to offer standing places at international matches.

Fan representatives: Questions remain about fees

Martin Endemann of Football Supporters Europe sees the new price caps “a great success”However, he still sees open questions. “There is often a lack of clarity regarding the so-called advance or service fees. Some clubs add an increased service fee to the ticket price to finance expenses such as accompanying security guards or justified bus travel in the city.”says Endemann in an interview with Sportschau.

UEFA recently closed loopholes that allowed clubs to charge higher prices to visiting fans. The rule applies to the European Cup, but not to international matches. In the Nations League or the qualification for the major tournaments, the associations are not bound by any upper limits. In the 2024/25 season, Germany will play in Group A4 in the Netherlands, Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Home fans remain unprotected against high prices

According to information from Sportschau, there was resistance from some clubs in Europe to the reduction of the upper limit, but in the end it was implemented. And the new upper limit could raise the opposite question in some places: How much money should you take from home fans?

This season in the Champions League, VfB Stuttgart is charging its fans 55 to 70 euros for seats behind the goal above the standing areas, while in the other stands it goes up to 125 euros for the games against Sparta Prague, Atalanta Bergamo, Young Boys Bern and Paris Saint-Germain. At Borussia Dortmund, the cheapest seats cost 35 euros, the most expensive 75 euros. FC Bayern charges 60 to 120 or 50 to 100 euros, depending on the opponent. Bayer Leverkusen charges 33 to 55 euros, but reserves the right to charge higher prices for top games. RB Leipzig only publishes package prices for all four games in the league phase – seats cost an average of 30.50 to 97 euros.

UEFA regulations do not provide any protection for home fans when it comes to prices; clubs are free to set their own. “Local fan scenes are called upon to influence their clubs”says Endemann.

New danger for fans: “Dynamic pricing”

Valencia CF is introducing a “dynamic pricing” system for the current season. To put it simply, this can be compared to the pricing of airlines or hotel chains, which do not set prices but instead adjust them based on demand in order to get the maximum. This trend from the USA could become more widespread in Europe.