Birmingham City owners execute financial decisions that may irritate certain Blues fans
Birmingham City suffered relegation to League One last season.
Birmingham City has announced price increases for corporate tickets for next season, despite their relegation to League One, according to the Mirror.
Season ticket holders in the Legends Lounge area are claimed to have received notice of their renewals for the upcoming campaign.
The Blues were relegated to the third tier, where they will play for the first time since 1995.
The club’s stay in the Championship came to an end with a 22nd-place finish following a difficult season on and off the pitch.
Following Tony Mowbray’s forced departure, Chris Davies has been appointed manager, and he will be entrusted with returning the team to the second level at the first try.
Birmingham City announce major price hike
Birmingham have outlined the logic behind the shift, which will cost corporate fans £2,925 per ticket, up from £1,800 in the Championship last season.
The club believes that the projected £15 million investment in upgrading the facilities and experience this summer will be worthwhile.
“The club is spending up to £15 million this summer on improvements to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and the two training grounds,” the club said in a statement, according to the Mirror.
“We are making a major investment in our corporate hospitality programs.
“We have improved what used to be the Legends, Jasper Carrott, and Boardroom clubs.
“And we’ve built a new hospitality facility in the Gil Merrick.”
“The catering and service for all of the new lounges will be provided by Levy, the company that manages Wimbledon, Twickenham, Tottenham Hotspur, and a number of other Premier League clubs.”
“The prices for each one reflect the excellent experience our fans will have.”
“For those who do not require that level of hospitality, we can provide an enjoyable experience in the Wiseman and Captain’s Clubs, both located in the Main Stand.”
“We will also provide public admission fans with the option to experience the new Box to Box bar and restaurant area on Kop Street, as well as the new permanent Fan Zone near the Tilton and Main Stands.
“The goal is to be able to offer all our supporters an experience that meets their needs and delivers excellent value for money.”
Difficult first season for Birmingham’s new owners
Birmingham finished one point behind safety, but Plymouth Argyle in 21st place won against Hull City on the penultimate day to guarantee their place in the Championship for another year.
Last summer, Tom Wagner’s Knighthead Capital assumed full control of the Blues, resulting in relegation in their first year as owners.
Despite the decline, their goals are obvious with this new investment in the club’s facilities.
This summer will be an opportunity to support Davies in the transfer market, ensuring that the squad can compete for automatic promotion back to the second tier at the first attempt in 2024/25.
Price change a natural step to St. Andrew’s restructuring
The club’s investment this summer includes reorganizing the hospitality options at St. Andrew’s, creating different tiers to meet different needs.
This price change acknowledges that and will not have a significant impact on the typical Birmingham fan.
This investment is a net positive for the Blues and demonstrates the owners’ desire to assist strengthen the club, despite the team’s struggles in the previous year.
This summer is an opportunity to learn from past mistakes committed in the previous 12 months, with Davies’s support in the transfer market, which will be of much greater importance to most club supporters.