CYPRIOTS’ excitement over their teams’ success in Europe has been overshadowed by the steep prices their clubs are charging for tickets.
Anorthosis Famagusta has been forced to make special package deals after being bombarded with complaints from fans, who felt the prices for attending the Champions League games were way too high.
Nicosia clubs APOEL and Omonia face similar complaints, charging fans up to €50 for tickets to attend their next games in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
On Monday, Anorthosis announced it would cost €80 per ticket for each of the group stages’ three games at home, or €200 for all three, to sit in the western stand of GSP Stadium in Nicosia.
Tickets in the southern and northern stands (behind the goalkeepers) are cheaper at €50 each or €120 for all three matches. This is a far cry from the average €20 that fans are expected to pay for normal league games.
Despite the fact that these prices are similar to those of other European countries (for example, Manchester United is charging £59 and £72 for category A and B tickets for its Champions League match against Villarreal, while the cost for the Juventus-Zenit game is €142 and €192), Cypriots are still up in arms over the prices.
Taking the fans’ reactions into consideration, Anorthosis’ Board of Directors announced this week that they would be offering special packages in a bid to encourage more fans to come to the games.
Specifically, the Famagusta team are offering free tickets to each child under the age of 12, whose parent has bought a package for all three games. The offer stands for only one child per package.
Members of the Anorthosis supporters association (PANSYFI) will also be entitled to a €40 discount for packages in the northern stand, meaning they will have to pay €80 to watch all three games.
“This is of course a step in the right direction. However, it is understandable that the specific move does not completely address the disappointment of Anorthosis supporters over the prices that were announced, and there is the reasonable expectation that there will be more,” the team’s fan site stated yesterday.
THE PRICES
Anorthosis Famagusta FC – GSP Stadium
Western Stand: €80
Eastern Stand: €60
Northern and Southern Stand: €50
Packages: €200 for the western stand, €150 for the eastern stand and €120 for the northern and southern stands.
APOEL FC – GSP Stadium
Western and Eastern Stands: €40
Northern Stand: €30
Children: €5
AC Omonia – GSP Stadium
Western and Eastern Stand: €50
Northern and Southern Stand: €45
Children: €5
