#StopExploitingLoyalty – Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

#StopExploitingLoyalty: Chelsea supporters ship a transparent mandate and vote in opposition to the membership’s new exploitative ticketing measures

Chelsea supporters have at this time (23 June) given a transparent mandate for the Chelsea Supporters’ Belief (CST) to hitch the FSA’s “Cease Exploiting Loyalty” marketing campaign.

Every week after the FIFA Membership World Cup kicked-off, a contest by which the membership may pocket as much as £97 million, Chelsea FC supporters have indicated that they don’t imagine their loyalty is known or appreciated by the membership.

Throughout a latest survey performed by the CST, virtually 90% of respondents instructed the CST to hitch the marketing campaign which was launched in 2024 and has obtained worldwide consideration.

The message is obvious #StopExploitingLoyalty.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Belief will now take motion to focus on how supporters are constantly being missed and shine a highlight on how Chelsea FC is exploiting the loyalty of these people who find themselves the lifeblood of the membership.

Regardless of record-breaking income, Chelsea FC has damaged its dedication to “maximise all different income streams earlier than rising prices for supporters,” by introducing a variety of latest insurance policies that hit the pockets of loyal supporters.

The brand new reserving payment per ticket was broadly rejected by supporters, as was the lower to concession reductions for cup fixtures. The choice to introduce a credit score system for tickets bought on the ticket change reasonably than giving the cash instantly again to the vendor’s checking account was additionally dismissed by supporters.

As well as, the membership has launched an exploitative ‘precedence’ membership costing £60 which has no recognition of loyalty. It is a 50% value improve for the “hottest” membership. The gross sales of the brand new ‘precedence’ memberships will likely be uncapped and can subsequently imply that members should pay extra for his or her membership to entry tickets which aren’t assured.

The pockets of members are being hit with an extra preliminary membership price, plus raises to the precise value of tickets, plus a brand new reserving payment. For instance, a member who attends solely 5 video games throughout a season, can count on to pay a minimal of 16% extra in 2025/26 than they did in 2024/25. It is a unhealthy deal for members who simply need to watch their staff play, and lots of are rightly asking “What’s the level of shopping for a membership?”

As well as, Season Ticket costs have elevated by a median of over 17% within the final two years. Whereas the membership has dedicated “that any cash raised by Chelsea will likely be spent on Chelsea,” solely 29.25% of respondents to the CST survey thought that the ticket value will increase have been both acceptable or very acceptable. As well as, solely 22% believe within the membership to successfully reinvest the elevated income into Chelsea FC.

The CST has constantly warned the membership that point after time they’re making poor selections that infuriate supporters. This statistic is subsequently actually alarming and can’t be ignored.

A Chelsea Supporters’ Belief spokesperson, stated:

“Piece by piece, Chelsea FC is alienating a big a part of our core fan base with selections that may slowly power supporters to choose and select which video games they attend.

“The exploitation of members can be a fear, and we’re deeply involved that the more and more unhealthy deal that members have will negatively affect our membership for generations to return.

“This ought to be an enormous wake-up name to the house owners and the senior management staff inside the membership. Supporters are rejecting the choices made by the membership and are evidently sad with the present path being taken.

“Not solely is it ethically improper to take advantage of the loyalty of the lifeblood of our membership, however it’s strategically short-sighted and obliterates any belief or goodwill that had began to be constructed by latest constructive initiatives.”

Full survey outcomes may be discovered right here.