LEIGH LEOPARDS owner Derek Beaumont has defended the decision to charge home and away supporters as much as £40 for a single fixture at the Progress With Unity Stadium in 2027.
Single match-day admission for adults currently stands at £30 for home fans.
For fans who have a lower-tier membership which does not include tickets, that price is going up to £35.
If the person is not a member, it will rise from £30 to £40, with Beaumont explaining: “There’s more emphasis and importance on being a member.
“My aim is to have that stadium, or three sides of it, as members-only. The South Stand is then one half for away fans and the other half is for casual walk-up fans.
“The price for single entry will change from £30 to £40. That’s a significant leap, I accept that, but it makes the membership even more attractive.
“Red card members will be able to get the individual tickets at £35 instead of £40 because they’re a member.”
For away supporters, Beaumont has explained that if you are season ticket holder at another Super League club, then it will cost £35 to attend an away fixture at Leigh. Non-season ticket holders will be charged the full £40.
“Anyone who is a member or a season ticket holder of another club can buy their ticket at the discounted price of £35,” added Beaumont.
“At £30, we weren’t the dearest club anyway; there’s seated places in stadiums at £32 and £33. It’s more than a game of rugby, it’s a show, it’s an entertaining night out – and £40 for that is great.
“In other words, be part of our ‘Famileigh’ and the increase isn’t to £40. If you want to just rock up with no real involvement in the club or buy-in then the price you pay will be £40.”
While few Super League clubs have yet announced the price of match tickets for next season, only Leeds Rhinos offered any of their regular tickets above £40 this year, however their adult prices began at £26.
Leigh, along with Wigan Warriors, are facing a Rugby Football League investigation into their conduct over the past twelve months after a ticketing dispute flared up again.
Beaumont reacted furiously to Wigan stating away supporters would be limited to one stand for their play-off semi-final, which could have been a repeat of last year’s fixture against the Leopards if not for their eliminator defeat at Wakefield Trinity.