Chelsea shelve plans for season ticket price hike from 2022 following fierce backlash from fans

Chelsea have confirmed they have frozen plans to increase season ticket prices next season following the fan backlash after the club signed up to the European Super League.

The Blues held a scheduled fans’ forum meeting held on Monday night, just 24 hours after they had signed up to the breakaway league and a day before they would join the five other English clubs in withdrawing from it, where the issue was discussed. 

And following fan fury earlier this week, the plans to increase season ticket price have now been shelved following the mass protests outside Stamford Bridge at their initial involvement in the creation of the European Super League.

Chelsea have confirmed they have frozen season-ticket prices for next season

It comes after fans’ directed their anger at the club for their part in the European Super League

Fans will therefore pay the same prices that they did for the 2011-12 Premier League season, while the club also stated prices for the 2022-23 season ‘will be considered at a later date.’

But The Athletic claim those plans – brought up in the meeting attended by under-fire chairman Bruce Buck and chief executive Guy Laurence – will also not be put into action.

The club will also postpone a final decision on European ticket prices next season until it is confirmed whether Thomas Tuchel’s side will play in the 2021-22 Champions League or Europa League.

Blues chairman Bruce Buck attended the fans’ forum meeting on Monday night

Chelsea play the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday and sit fourth in the Premier League table on goal difference, as they remain tied with London rivals West Ham on 55 points ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

The club also announced a hospitality redevelopment called Westview in the West Stand at Stamford Bridge as part of the fans’ forum. 

Rail seating will also be set up in the Matthew Harding Lower and The Shed End in time for the start of next season, and while that is expected to reduce the club’s stadium capacity by more than 500, it would allow for a future introduction of safe standing.

Also present was chief executive Guy Laurence (third from left) who has been called to resign

But the developments have raised further questions as to the status of the large-scale redevelopment of Chelsea’s home ground.

Having been granted planning permission in March 2017, the proposals were first paused by Roman Abramovich in June 2018 due to what the owner called ‘an unfavourable investment climate’.

That planning permission, granted by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, has now expired.

Chelsea have postponed a final decision on European ticket prices next season 

The Blues were one of the first clubs to signal their desire to leave the Super League agreement 12 clubs around Europe had struck, but were the last to publish a statement from the Premier League ‘Big Six’ confirming their withdrawal.

It followed their supporters blocking Fulham Road and protesting against the Super League ahead of their draw against Brighton on Tuesday, which saw Blues director Petr Cech have to get off the team bus to plead the fans to let the team into the ground.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust also released a statement the day after calling for Buck and Laurence to resign, stating that they had zero confidence in the board and that the duo’s position were ‘untenable’.

Thomas Tuchel has since revealed he has not spoken to owner Roman Abramovich after the Super League plans collapsed, while JP Morgan have pulled their £3.5billion financial commitment for the competition, calling it a ‘misjudgement’. 

Chelsea have also announced hospitality redevelopments and rail seating at Stamford Bridge