Manchester United are opening their doors to fans for away game screenings at Old Trafford this season.
The new scheme, which will cost fans £25 per match, will see supporters unable to land away match tickets the chance to watch United from the international suite at Old Trafford.
In what has been described by insiders as a pub-like atmosphere, the suite will be decked out with big screens showing the games, as well as a bar and hot food.
The £25 admission includes one free drink as well as a portion of food in what sources feel represents a value-for-money experience.
Season ticket holders now have the chance to buy tickets to stadium screenings of the first three away games of the season, at Fulham, at Manchester City, and at Brentford.
United have one of the most in-demand away tickets and demand to go continues to be at an all-time high despite the disappointment of results on the pitch.
Manchester United are set to offer fans the chance to watch away games from Old Trafford
Tickets to the international suite will cost £25, with tickets including a drink and a portion of food
It’s hoped the screenings will help ease demand for away-day tickets in the United fanbase
Insiders hope the screenings can help ease the demand and prove popular, particularly given that more fan protests are planned against the club’s ownership for the forthcoming season, as Mail Sport first revealed.
There has been friction with supporters just recently after it emerged that bosses were considering bringing in a controversial personal seat licence system (PSL) should they move to a new stadium, which would see fans charged up to £4,000 simply for the right to buy a season ticket.
That prospect triggered anger among large sections of the fanbase, who have already launched a series of protests against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group.
Mail Sport revealed plans are in place for further, large-scale demonstrations in a move which may come as a blow to United officials hoping to build on the optimism triggered by the arrivals of summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo and some encouraging performances from Ruben Amorim’s men on their US tours they seek to improve on last season’s 15th-placed finish.
Supporters’ group The 1958 claim the introduction of PSLs – which United are adamant has only been explored hypothetically – would ‘force out supporters who have followed the club for decades’ and represent ‘another step towards the Americanisation of our game’.
While United would be the first Premier League club to utilise such a system they are commonplace in the NFL.
They also say the fact that US-based CSL International raised the prospect with fans during a consultation over the stadium ‘shows just how out of touch our club and owners have become’.
