Bristol City will not entertain Reading's ticket price incentive that would offer a reciprocal ticketing arrangement to reduce away ticket prices for supporters.
The Royals have written to every Championship club offering away supporters a capped £20 ticket price at the Select Car Leasing Stadium if their fans are charged the same at an opposition ground.
As it stands, four teams have accepted the proposal in Cardiff City, Huddersfield, Blackburn Rovers and Swansea. Reading have ensured the same Twenty's Plenty stance for the last six years, ensuring away members can purchase an adult ticket for just £20.
However, they changed that initiative this summer only charging that fee if clubs offer the same price when Reading travel away from home. City charged Reading supporters £28 for an adult ticket last season, £25 for 65 and over and £25 for fans aged between 22-24.
Bristol Live understands the Robins will not be taking Reading up on the offer as they don't feel it is financially feasible. This is despite the rapid rise in the cost of living, including the often extortionate rail prices and rising petrol prices to travel across the country to watch their team in action.
City fear around a 30 per cent reduction in away ticket prices would then have to be levied onto home fans, in order to keep revenues at an acceptable level, driving up the cost dramatically for Robins supporters to attend matches at Ashton Gate. Last season, Reading sold out their 1,045 allocation for the Wednesday night trip.
For the benefit of argument's sake, City would generate £29,344 if each ticket sold cost £28. If the tickets were priced at £20, City would generate £20,900. Although the counter-argument would be that the club would likely be able to increase the allocation of the away end if they reduced the price and therefore recoup the funds that way.
A statement posted by Reading read: "Since 2016, we have championed Twenty’s Plenty. However, despite our best efforts, very few other clubs in the Championship have followed suit in their pricing strategy.
"That has resulted in our travelling fans routinely paying well in excess of £20 for the privilege of watching the Royals on the road, while opposing clubs’ travelling fans have all paid £20 or less to follow their team to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
“For clarity’s sake, clubs are only allowed to charge away fans the equivalent price that they charge their own supporters in a comparable section of their stadium. So by keeping matchday ticket prices so low at Reading, we have also been committed to keeping prices for visiting supporters at the same level.
“In 2022-23, adult matchday ticket prices will, in some sections, be elevated slightly above the £20 mark – meaning we will now be permitted to set the equivalent price to away fans.
“However, every Championship club will be given the opportunity to offer their fans £20 tickets when their team visits RG2…but only if they commit in advance to a reciprocal arrangement for our loyal away fans in the reverse fixture."
Bristol City have offered a ticket incentive for the opening home match of the season against Sunderland with season ticket holders able to bring two friends for just £12.50 each. Members can also claim a ticket for £15, available in the South Stand, Family Area and Dolman Wings.
The same members discount also applies to the home match against Huddersfield at the end of August. In the Premier League, clubs have agreed to stick with the maximum £30 price cap on away tickets until 2025. It was first introduced in the 2016-17 by the Premier League Away Supporters' Initiative although there is no such ruling in the Championship.
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