Manchester United are exploring a contentious ticketing scheme that would require supporters to pay as much as £4,000 simply to secure the right to purchase season tickets at their proposed new ground.
The club is examining the introduction of Personal Seat Licences, a revenue-generating model widely used in American sports but not yet adopted in the Premier League.
US consultancy firm CSL International presented various options to the club, including this PSL proposal, as part of funding strategies for the planned venue.
The scheme would mean supporters must pay thousands of pounds upfront, with the additional cost of season tickets on top of this initial outlay, according to the Daily Mail.
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|Manchester United are exploring a contentious ticketing scheme that would require supporters to pay as much as £4,000 simply to secure the right to purchase season tickets at their proposed new ground
Under this arrangement, supporters who purchase a PSL would secure priority access to their seat for three decades.
However, failure to renew their season ticket would result in automatic forfeiture of the licence.
The system has become standard practice in American sports venues as a method to help finance stadium construction. Supporters would need to invest thousands upfront before facing the separate expense of annual season tickets.
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This approach represents a significant departure from traditional British football ticketing practices, where fans typically pay only for their season tickets without additional licensing fees.
The 30-year duration would theoretically provide long-term seat security for committed supporters willing to make the substantial initial investment.
The club conducted discussions with supporter focus groups during the second week of July, engaging season ticket holders, members and corporate clients about various ticketing models.
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United representatives emphasise that these concepts remain hypothetical and form part of broader explorations into pricing structures for the new venue.
The club maintains that no definitive decisions have been reached regarding implementation.
Officials describe the PSL proposal as one element within extensive preliminary ideas and themes shared with supporters to gauge reactions and identify areas requiring further development.
The club plans to distribute a comprehensive survey to all supporters at a later date to gather wider feedback on the various options under consideration.
The new stadium, designed by acclaimed architect Lord Norman Foster, would accommodate 100,000 spectators and is estimated to require investment exceeding £2billion.
United aim to inaugurate the venue for the 2031-32 season, though negotiations over acquiring the Freightliner Terminal site behind the Stretford End remain unresolved.
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Similar licensing systems generate substantial revenue in American sports, with San Francisco 49ers fans paying up to £60,000 for seat licences at Levi's Stadium.
The Los Angeles Rams reportedly planned charges reaching £166,000 at their SoFi Stadium.
European football has seen limited PSL adoption, with Barcelona and Real Madrid implementing schemes targeting affluent supporters in premium sections, raising significant funds through their stadium redevelopments.