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Bolton Wanderers are still 26 days away from resuming life in the English third tier, but the club has already risked the wrath of fans up and down League One.
The club today announced ticketing details for the opening day clash with Sheffield United, which included the revelation that tickets for away fans will set them back a cool £30. Yep, £30 to watch Gary Madine, Darren Pratley and co take on a mid-table battler from last season.
The prices are frankly scandalous at best, and stink of a club that has yet to realise the level to which it has sunk. Even Premier League clubs are pushing for ticket prices to be limited to just £20 (see photo), so how do Bolton Wanderers think that £30 for a League One ticket is acceptable?
Yes, Sheffield United remain a big club but they only finished 11th in League One last season, some eight points off the play-off places and 19 points off automatic promotion. So to charge their fans £30 for the right to visit a likely-to-be half empty at best Macron Stadium is an absolute disgrace.
And it's safe to say that the Sheffield United fans are from impressed, given a handful of the immediate responses to the news via Twitter... Warning: This contains some strong language...
Gutted at not being able to go to this, but those prices are fucking outrageous for L1 football. #BWFC #SUFC https://t.co/URy04jOI0J
— Paul McDonald (@thecase1907) July 11, 2016
@OfficialBWFC Sort your ticket prices out get in real world, get a grip you're in LEAGUE ONE now! Scandalous policy! #bwfc #sufc
— chris ward (@wardychris1972) July 11, 2016
@OfficialBWFC that is terrible! £30 for away fans on opening day of season in league 1! I hope you go bust. That is disgusting #sufc #bwfc
— Dane (@Daneshaw8) July 11, 2016
Absolutely scandalous how @OfficialBWFC can charge 30 pound for league one football. That is a disgrace #BWFC #SUFC
— Thomas (@AlbinoHedge) July 11, 2016
£30 quid!!! You robbing gits @OfficialBWFC #twentysplenty #utb
— Bridgette (@BridgetteG68) July 11, 2016
Whether the club will reassess its ticket pricing policy and how much it will charge for other visiting teams this season remains to be seen, but I think it needs to realise the fact that it's now in League One and nobody wants to pay £30 to watch this level of football.
I was planning to make the trip from London to watch this match on August 6th, but if the home ticket prices are the same price then I for one will be boycotting it.