Ticket prices ahead of Non-League Play-Off Final cause mayhem for Solihull Moors fans

Vanarama has pledged £20,000 to fund transport and tickets after fan dismay over ticket prices for the National League Play-Off Final.

In one of the biggest games of the non-League calendar, Neal Ardley’s Solihull Moors and Paul Hurst’s Grimsby side will fight for a place in League Two at a packed Olympic Stadium in London. However, the announcement of Adult ticket prices set as high as £45 and concessions placed at £20 for under-16s led to instant backlash on many of the club’s social media channels.

Soccer Saturday host and Sky Sports pundit Jeff Stelling was one of the most vocal opponents of these prices, tweeting: “Don’t we want people to support their local teams? They already have to pay for travel from Solihull and Grimsby to East London. These fans are the bed rock of football and yet treated shamefully.”

Fans have also noticed a lack of options for those who fall under concessions like children and OAPs.

These complaints have led to the title sponsor of the competition, Vanarama, stepping in and attempting to cover the ticket, travel, and accommodation costs for many fans. While they have no say in the pricing of the tickets, Vanarama have stated that they intend to have a “positive impact on the league”. 

Solihull prices have now fallen, with under 16s tickets at £10.

This may be too late, however, with Solihull commenting on their Twitter account that there has been a “disproportionate number of concession tickets purchased” for the final, meaning that some fans may be refused entry upon arrival to the ground. 

High ticket prices have led some to question whether clubs have found higher profitability by charging more and selling to fewer fans. Allegations like this have become more apparent after outrage in 2019 and 2021 over the £41 entry fee for a Torquay game against Hartlepool.