Why Aston Villa could play their Premier League opener in front of a half-empty stadium

Heads are gradually turning from Euro 2024 to the return of the Premier League, but Aston Villa’s opener could be missing an integral element.

Villa resume their league duties in exactly one month and a day, starting their next trip to the London Stadium, home of West Ham United. Unai Emery and company will be aiming to at least maintain last season’s achievements when they finished fourth, but why not dream of going one better?

With Villa’s strong finish in the last term and the Hammer’s appointment of a new manager in Julen Lopetegui, the fixture promises to be an interesting clash and has therefore been handed the 5.30pm Saturday 17th August slot . However, the Sky Sports cameras may be greeted by a half-empty stadium for one reason – the price of tickets.

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This is a problem Villa supporters know all too well, with the club themselves recently announcing price increases for the new season. West Ham appear to have done the same as in previous years, which affects the price ranges for home supporters hoping to attend matches against the best opposition.

As Villa qualified for the Champions League the following season, they were labeled as ‘Category A’ opponents for the Hammers – meaning the cheapest general admission seats at the London Stadium will cost supporters £45, while the most expensive ones can reach up to pounds. 105.

Season ticket holders are also affected as West Ham’s ‘Category A’ matches remove children’s concessions. That means a child’s ticket for the season opener will cost the same as an adult’s.

With Aston Villa’s new Champions League status confirmed, Liran Froidn, co-founder of Ticket-Compare.com, explained that it can have a “big impact” on away days.

He said: “Now that the Villans are listed as Category A opponents for many clubs, tickets for fans in stadiums across the country could suddenly become a lot more expensive.

“This is the case at West Ham’s London Stadium, where families could end up paying hundreds of pounds more to watch a game at Villa this season compared to last.

“Ticket prices in the Premier League are constantly rising due to pressures such as inflation. However, sometimes there are sharp spikes due to the challenging nature of a match. That is exactly what happens with Villa’s opponents.”

Supporters’ group Hammers United have been particularly vocal about the price hike, even launching an online petition calling for the club to revert to the pricing strategy of previous seasons. A report from Hammers News claims the club’s fans could take action against the increase by boycotting the game in protest and watching TV.

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