THE 93:20 NEWSLETTER:- ISSUE 3

Author

Howard Hockin
September 05, 2024

Welcome to Issue 3 of the 93:20 Newsletter. More a singular rant this time around, so apologies, as apparently, according to one Twitter scribe on this issue, some people just like to moan all the time. That does sound a lot like me, in all fairness. Anyway, have you seen the price of olive oil right now?! Disgrace!

As always, there’s a full list of what we have been up to later, and what we will be up to also. As is often the way with the podcast, it gets busier during an international break as we get creative, and spread our wings, away from City, doing the stuff we were always too scared to in the past. I even considered a monologue on why Sherwood is both the best and most flawed TV programme in existence, but thought that might be a bit too niche. Maybe next international break, eh? Still, what a stupid time for a break. I like to ease myself into new seasons, and the stress that inevitably accompanies them, so was initially fine with a break early doors. But City have been purring like Garfield in a lasagne factory (sorry), and in such situations the games cannot come quick enough. But life is paused, as summer ends, before we are all thrown into it, with the return of the Champions League, and of course most importantly of all – the Carabao Cup. There will be lots to talk about in the coming weeks.

So, about that moan. As you will be aware, Manchester City announced their prices this week for the Inter Milan Champions League game. They raised plenty of eyebrows. First of all, before I launch into my angry-old-man-shouting-at-clouds tirade, let’s play Devil’s Advocate here. If Inter had been the 6th game of 8th rather than the first, these prices would not have hit as hard. Maybe I am overreacting because it is the first game, the hardest, and most glamorous, home game of the four in the league phase. I get that. That still does not make it acceptable, in my humble opinion. Nor does the fact, as was pointed out to me on Twitter, that we’re playing the Italian Champions, and this represents value for money.

So my ticket will be £37.50. About the same as for a quarter-final in recent years. Clearly the Italian champions are so glamorous they’re on a par with a game like that. Either way, I am one of the lucky ones. This argument is not about me, it’s about everyone. That’s the cheapest price possible for an adult, a price with concessions as I am on the Cup Scheme. The benchmark is not the cheapest ticket, it’s the median one. Want to purchase an adult ticket for the cheapest part of the ground? That will be £42.50 please. Want to sit in East & Colin Bell Stand Level 2? A mere £62.50. If you’re taking kids, start saving now. Still, look on the bright side, this extra income can be added on to the riches now being received for charging for disabled parking spaces. I imagine this could make the difference between only winning one trophy this season and another treble. It’s the individual ticket prices that really bite, that are utterly extortionate, but then that’s been the way for a while. City even feel the need to take a huge cut on the ticket exchange site. Monetising everything.

It is symptomatic of living in a country where it is so accepted that you’ll be ripped off that these prices are seen as offering good value. City are playing a top-class team, and that is seen as a crucial factor to some, but misses the point that this is the league phase. It’s not good enough. It’s not acceptable, and we should stop acquiescing. No other fan base in any other country would allow, it, so why do we? Take a stand and boycott, and you’ll be laughed at.

What makes it worse is that the club seem incapable of looking at the wider picture. During this period, City will have four home games in a nine-day period. Did anyone at the club stop to consider the financial impact of this on fans? That was a rhetorical question. The league phase will also see four homes games instead of three in this revamped format, meaning more income for City however they price it. Did they consider the extra burden on match-going fans and think just maybe they could keep prices reasonable as a result, during an on-going cost of living crisis? That was also a rhetorical question.

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Did anyone at the club stop to consider the financial impact of this on fans? That was a rhetorical question.

This follows on from the summer of season ticket rises, as per usual, and City Matters attempted to stress the need for competitive cup match pricing this season on the back of the rises and extra game, and have been ignored. The 1894 group have tried to put forward their thoughts on the new North Stand expansion, and appear to be getting nowhere. But don’t worry, there will be another survey pinging into your inbox soon, so that the club can ignore you in an alternative way.

The always suspect argument that this is the price you pay if you want City to be competitive, and that argument, which may have once had a slither of relevance, is now totally redundant, and beyond tiresome. Think the prices will plummet if we’re relegated? City have never had more money at their disposal than they have right now. The net spend kings have a number of war chests at their disposal. They could have spent £100m on a player in the summer. The new Champions League format will add extra tens of millions into the kitty, as will the end of season Club World Cup. Expect another commercial of sponsor or two this week, because we absolutely need that crypto partner in West Africa. That’s the point here- the prices are needless. They do not increase City’s competitiveness by even 0.01%. I have been privileged to experience the last decade and more of success, and I appreciate that it does not come for free. If I felt these prices were helping in any way towards more success in the future, I’d bite my lip and carry on. That is not the case. City could have done something good, they could have done something nice, but that is not how they approach pricing. It’s spreadsheet-based, stripped of consideration and emotion. I support a money-making machine. This actually gives the club the opportunity to give something back now and then with minimal risk or cost, but instead the priority is to take more not give, and keep making that lovely lucre. The price of success, some may say. But there is a better way, a compromise, and we should strive for it. A compromise where no one loses out. Stand up for ourselves. Let the club know what we think. One day, they may actually listen. Because, what City are doing is clear. They are pricing at the maximum level they can get away with, at a price they are confident will see the game sell out – and it will sell out. That is their priority, income, and nothing else. So excuse me if I do not have my head up the arse of Khaldoon Al Mubarak at his next end-of-season interview, when he once more mentions how important the fans are. Some are, the ones that like to splash the cash on match day. Not the ones who are there just to watch football.

I don’t want to get carried away. Ollie Holt once wrote potentially the worst opinion piece I have ever experienced, now sadly lost in the ether, speculating that naming rights on a stadium was a slippery slope, and what next? Teams changing their names due to sponsors? So I don’t want to be lumped in with the likes of him with some pointless hyperbole, but have little doubt, the concessions will soon be eased out, and it won’t be long before dynamic pricing appears at a ground very near to you. It’s already popped up at Valencia and Celta Vigo, as football becomes ever more an exclusive club. Funny how dynamic pricing only works in one direction.

The club had better hope those 115 charges do not stick, because then they will be crawling back for the support of those legacy fans. I have no problem with “tourists” and “day trippers” going to matches, there is enough room for everyone, especially in a 60,000 stadium, they’ve got as much right to be there as anyone, subject to availability, but you won’t be seeing those tourists in half-and-half City/Burton Albion scarves I can assure you. You’re driving away your old, core fan base City, and I hope it’s worth it for you. I know plenty who have already made sacrifices. Stopped going altogether, dropped out of Champions League games and more. This will now accelerate. That is it for me on cup schemes, I will just be a season ticket holder, and will pick and choose my other games, and take my chances. This was the final straw. I may even cancel the cup schemes right now, but I don’t think I could tolerate their constant begging emails.

You don’t have to hate the pricing. You do not have to agree with me on this, that is fine. This is a subjective issue, and we all have different ideas on what constitutes “fair”. But don’t hate those that do. Stop defending everything the club do, it is ok to criticise, and stop falling for the PR. It didn’t have to be this way. If City really do need to squeeze out every penny, then try entering the pitch on time in future – that way you won’t have to price games like Inter at this level.

It will be interesting to see how the other three less glamorous ties are priced. Watford too. And the knock out stages, which I would hope we reach. If this is a one-off, then it is of course hardly the end of the world. But for me it is setting a very dangerous precedent. Time will tell where this ultimately leads. The other games will be cheaper, that is a given, but by much?

One final point, reacting to breaking news – I take it all back City, I was wrong. I’ve just seen Aston Villa’s prices for the Champions League. £70 as the cheapest, or £97 if you’re really lucky. Astonishing. Of course this is not an announcement to use in City debates. It could be worse is not an argument. But ultimately, I guess I should be thanking City for giving me something to talk about in an international week.

Overreaction? Definitely maybe. But I just want something back from the club. An acknowledgement we exist. I don’t ask for much. Just the odd gesture, the odd well-priced ticket, the odd help to keep my head, and others’, above water, not too much to ask for is it? Well, apparently it is. It’s a fairly minor irritation in the scheme of things, but sometimes it is cathartic to get things off your chest, so thank you for indulging me. And ultimately it’s not the price itself that most irks me. It’s losing a long-standing fanbase one by one, and for what? A weeks wages for Nunes. Just don’t ever dare moan about that atmosphere again Pep. Your best mates helped create it.

Anyway, I’ll finish on lighter matters (and the above is absolutely a first world problem, City charging £7.50 more for a ticket than I found acceptable), by taking the opportunity to once more laugh at United. There’s little more to be said in many respects, especially after we had a good laugh on pods this week. But I would like to focus on the signing of Ugarte as a barometer for my thoughts. To be perfectly blunt here, I of course hope he fails miserably, but more to the point, he should receive no sympathy if this move hampers his career further. He chose this move, and should be well aware of how it could play out, as shown by every single previous transfer to United over the past decade. He took the money, and a misplaced romantic notion of United based on what they used to be, in simpler times. So if it all goes horribly wrong (and it may not), he only has himself and his agent to blame. If swathes of United fans can persuade themselves that better times are always around the corner and that Ten Hag is a great manager simply hindered by injuries, then we should not be surprised if players are taken in by the façade that is Man U also. Long may it continue. There are a hundred better set ups that Ugarte could have gone to, but I guess the pull of that fabled DNA was just too strong. Or more to the point, United are the club always willing to pay up.

Apropos of nothing, Manchester United have won five of their last sixteen Premier League games. But let’s not be hasty Brexit Jim, Omar et al – trust the process. You’ve got to give managers time!

Also apropos of nothing, I dug out season ticket prices for the 1989/90 season yesterday, included in the Bournemouth match programme, the game where we threw away, temporarily, promotion and a three-goal lead. The dearest price for early-birds was £130. The Kippax was £50. We’ve all been had by the “brand”.

Enough chat. Here’s what the 93:20 podcast is all about. Thanks again to City Report for powering everything we do. Remember that all our subscriber shows have free 15-minute samples on Soundcloud. That the price per show is under 20p, apart from the free content, and that we constantly strive to get even bigger and better. You can subscribe for a single month and see what we are all about, but subscribe for longer and the podcast is even cheaper! There’s no other podcast offering anything close to our range of shows, we hope you enjoy them all.

What We Have Done This Week:

The Hub:- Episode 8

Bailey is joined by Analytics Utd co-founder Cal Goodall and City tactics expert Sam to discuss West Ham’s transfers, how their season may play out and look at South American players coming to the Premier League.

The Review:- Eff Off

Ahsan is joined by Bailey and Ste to purr over another sparkling City performance. All the talking points from the win over West Ham covered.

Tackled:- Episode 2

Howard and Ste are back with the new show, where they look at a range of topics across the sport, from Liverpool and United to Declan Rice, ticket prices, Europe and a whole lot more.

Still To Come:- A Lot!

The Hub:- Episode 9

Bailey is joined by Peter Prickett, a.k.a. The Bearded Coach, to discuss how England develop players like Phil Foden, why there isn't enough English managers in the Premier League and how Liverpool are different under Arne Slot.

The Friday Show – A Tale of Two Cities

You know the score. Lots of chat in another bumper episode – looking at the international break, Carsley, youth, City’s tactical evolution. Ticket pricing, Leicester City’s Premier League slap down, and much more.

The Hub:- Episode 10

In the next week or so, we will be chatting to the creator of Stats Bomb about his work and the importance of stats.

Hot Potatoes

It’s back! An honest debate on hand-selected “hot” topics, perhaps including my claim that Carlos Tevez was “not all that” (ahem).

No History – Alex Williams

Now that I have devoured his excellent autobiography, we will be looking at his time at City, racism, and his legacy outside football

Author Interviews

With a spare of other excellent books due to be released, we have a couple of interviews lined up for the coming weeks, that are not to be missed.

Fantasy Football Show

With the season a few weeks in, it may be time to revisit our teams, look at the latest hot properties, bargains, players to avoid and strategies.

Plus England Reviews, the return of the Premier League, and much more besides! We really spoil you…

If you are not a subscriber to our player shows, then enjoy some free samples of what we are about. Every show we do will have a 15 minutes sample on Soundcloud, along with a full, free weekly Friday show, jam- packed with content. Give it a try!

And that’s a wrap, until next week, and the return of proper football. Have a great week all, and as always, up the blues.