Friedkin Group sent message over ticket prices as Everton supporters' group seek talks

Friedkin Group sent message over ticket prices as Everton supporters' group seek talks

The Everton FAB will look to hold talks with the potential new owners over long-term ticket pricing

Prospective Everton owner Dan Friedkin and the club's new stadium

An Everton supporters group said it will urge the club’s prospective new owners to engage with them over ticket prices should their takeover plans receive approval. The Friedkin Group is primed to take control of the Blues after agreeing a deal for current majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake in the club.

That move is now the subject of scrutiny from regulators including the Premier League, with few anticipating any late stumbling blocks.

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If and when the US group formally take control, Everton’s Fan Advisory Board is hopeful representatives will be open to discussions about the organisation’s long-term approach to ticket pricing as the club grows into its new home on the Liverpool waterfront.

DAVE POWELL: Premier League clubs could face action over ticket prices if supporters are no longer valued

The takeover process is set to overlap with the plans to migrate season ticket holders from Goodison Park to the new stadium. Further details on what will be a complex transition are expected soon following the latest rounds of consultation between the club and supporter groups.

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Dave Kelly, chairman of the Everton FAB, said this was an area the club had historically been good in and, while the group awaited the final details of how the move will initially impact supporters, there was also hope that a positive relationship with the Friedkin Group could be built so the new owners have an awareness of fan sentiment over the longer term.

Mr Kelly told the ECHO: “Football needs to be priced in a way that all fans who can attend games can afford to do so. Everton supporters have, in my view, played a major role in keeping Everton in the Premier League and helping the club get to the point where the move looks possible as a top flight club.

“We are also in the midst of a cost of living crisis and I would hope any changes show an awareness of this. We would welcome the chance to engage with the prospective new owners to try and help ensure pricing is reflective of the fanbase.”

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His comments come as ticket pricing is set to take centre stage over the coming weeks as fans across the Premier League join forces to call for clubs to avoid pricing supporters out of the game. The first of those protests - part of the Footballer Supporters Association’s Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign - have taken place with both sides represented when West Ham United met Liverpool in the Carabao Cup at Anfield.

That came in the wake of West Ham withdrawing junior and OAP concessionary seats for new season ticket holders in most parts of the ground. This meant there were no general admission tickets at concessionary prices for games this season against Aston Villa and Manchester City, while disabled supporters were also charged full cost.

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Mr Kelly was positive about Everton’s historic approach to ticketing and said the plans to join similar protests when the Blues host Fulham and travel to Southampton were to show solidarity with the wider campaign rather than highlight any current concerns at Goodison.

But he said the FAB was keen to work with the new owners to ensure Blues were not priced out in the future and added: “We are realistic enough to know that going to Bramley-Moore, an all-new, all-singing, all-dancing, stadium will come at a premium and supporters will have to expect to pay more going forward. Clubs are looking to maximise their incomes and that includes matchday revenue, so something is coming down the line. We would just hope that new owners would do this sympathetically.”

The Friedkin Group, which already owns Italian giants Roma, is expected to win approval for its plans in a deal that could be signed off before Christmas.

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•Everton FAB is set to host an online fan engagement meeting at 7pm on Wednesday, October 16 with new stadium architect Dan Meis as guest speaker

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