The London Stadium could be half empty for West Ham’s Premier League season opener and even Aston Villa will be shocked as to why.
It is a clash of the claret and blues when West Ham welcome Aston Villa to the London Stadium for the opening game of the Premier League season in a month’s time.
The game will also mark Julien Lopetegui’s first as West Ham’s new boss.
He will come up against his fellow Basque Spaniard Unai Emery and his impressive Aston Villa outfit.
The clash between the Hammers and Villa has already been selected for TV in the 5.30pm slot on August 17th.
After the dullest international tournament in living memory – where West Ham and Villa fans felt justifiably aggrieved at how criminally underused their star forwards Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen were – fans have already been voicing their excitement about the game.
But that excitement has turned to anger at West Ham this evening.
The game is already live on TV and at the more difficult 5.30pm Saturday slot.
But the London Stadium could be half empty for West Ham’s season opener and even Aston Villa will be shocked.
Stadium could be half empty for West Ham season opener vs Villa
Hammers fans have already been up in arms over the ticketing situation at their club.
Supporters groups such as Hammers United have launched a petition after season ticket prices rose above the rate of inflation.
But tensions reached boiling point between West Ham fans and the board after it emerged new concessions are now restricted to bands five and six.
That means children will now charged full adult price for a new season ticket because there are no more concessions seated together.
“The next generation of West Ham fans are being priced out,” Hammers United state.
Now there’s been a development regarding the first game of the new campaign between West Ham and Villa.
Because Aston Villa has been classed as a Category A game – possibly for the first time ever – with prices topping out at an eye-watering £105.
Villa were good last season granted. But many have been left bemused by the decision to elevate the Midlands side to Category A status.
Even Villa will be shocked by Category A elevation
The cheapest seat – in Band Six – will be £45 for members and £50 on general sale.
“West Ham’s home game against Aston Villa has been classed as a Category A game with tickets priced between £45 and £100 for Claret Members and £50 to £105 for general sale,” West Ham insider Sean Whetstone said along with the price list for the match.
“Like last year there are no concession prices for Category A games.”
The announcement comes just two days after West Ham issued a statement to “reassure our loyal Season Ticket Holders that the club remains absolutely committed to our policy of providing affordable family football at London Stadium.”
While it is no dig at Aston Villa, who did a brilliant job to qualify for the Champions League last season, supporters have been up in arms about the announcement.
Hammers United have highlighted that it will cost a family of four in Band Four seats £280 to watch West Ham vs Villa based on two adults and two children.
West Ham are massive and selling out home and away is never a problem.
But given the strength of feeling over the concessions and price hikes that already existed, this Villa decision could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Instead of looking forward to a new season and new era under a new manager, fans may find themselves turning their back on the game in favour of watching it on TV instead.
And that’s the last thing the Hammers board, supporters or Premier League want to see.