Media Disparages QPR's Decision to Raise Ticket Prices - As Derby County Protest QPR's Decison

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The club's decision to raise ticket prices, critiqued by quite a few messageboard posters, attracts media attention (and criticism).
[See also: Official Statement Announcing Ticket Price Increases -- QPR's Ali Russell Comments QPR's Finances/Ticket Price Increases ----
Loyal Supporters Association (LSA) Statement ---- QPR Fan Reactions

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Daily Telegraph/The Daily Bung - Mike Norrish
The Daily Bung: Butch is back at the Bridge, while greedy QPR feel the pinch
All the news, views, gossip and rumours from the world of football you need to see you through the day, with hourly news round-ups and your chance to enter the debate, too....
So the backlash has begun over QPR's gruesomely greedy, penny-pinching, skinflint and downright wrong ticket prices.
Drawing themselves level with Mike Ashley in the Bung's new 'There's a credit crunch on, Stupid!' league table, the Rs are trying to charge Derby fans £40 for entry to Toff-tus Road.
Supposedly the world's richest club, owned by Lakshmi Mittal, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, QPR still think it's acceptable to charge Premier League prices for Championship football, even at a ground which is poor by Championship standards.
And Derby aren't having it. The midlands club have refused to accept the prices and have complained to the Football League.
Deby spokesman Matt McCann said: "We think it's too high and we don't think that's fair. We have stood our ground and QPR have exercised their right to appeal that to the Football League. We expect a decision within 24 hours but either way, we will make sure our supporters aren't the victims of this situation."
Derby, the Bung salutes you... Telegraph


- Also: The Spoiler "Money Matter$ - Derby County refuse to accept inflated ticket pricing at QPR - West Londoners vastly overestimate value of watching their team


Mirror/Ann Gripper - QPR money men are Category A clowns
“We have introduced a new three-tiered category banding structure, whereby adult matchday prices are determined by the opposition, their league position and the day of the fixture,” QPR announced on Monday.
So how QPR can justify asking fans to stump up £50 for some seats in the main stand for the Derby match later this month is a mystery.
Unbeaten in two games and finally boasting a league win under Paul Jewell, Rams fans are hoping their team has turned the corner. But whether that is really enough to rate as a Category A side – the verdict of the QPR money men – is another matter.
Equivalent seats last year cost just £22.
With the economy in meltdown and money too tight to mention – a feeling QPR fans must be all too used to from the years of uncertainty before last year’s mega-money Formula 1 takeover – this pricing policy is a real slap in the face for fans. Mirror


Mail That's rich: Mega-rich QPR anger fans with ticket price rises
For the so-called richest club on the planet, the penny-pinching at Queens Park Rangers is surprising.
After a huge rise in season-ticket prices, the club have announced a hike in matchday tickets which will see pay-on-the-day fans charged £50 for a "Category A" match.
A QPR spokesman said: 'As part of financial restructuring we need to increase our revenues. One hundred per cent of profits will be ploughed back into the club.'
But fans are not happy and there is talk of a protest at the next home game with Derby.
Despite the arrival of mega-rich owners, QPR are yet to sell out a home game this season and only 13,770 saw them beat Southampton in a ground that holds 19,100. Mail


BBC - Derby turn down QPR ticket prices
Derby County have refused to accept the prices set by QPR for the game at Loftus Road on 27 September.
The club said a pre-season price of £30 for adults and £20 for concessions had been agreed but had been sent tickets priced £10 above those amounts by QPR.
Club spokesman Matt McCann told BBC Radio Derby: "We think it's too high and we don't think that's fair.
"We have stood our ground and QPR have exercised their right to appeal that to the Football League."
A decision on the prices is expected later this week.
"One of our biggest frustrations is the inconvenience it's causing fans," added McCann.
"With going to London supporters may want to book a weekend and make an occasion of it.
"We expect a decision within 24 hours but either way, we will make sure our supporters aren't the victims of this situation."
QPR have recently restructured their ticket pricing with adult tickets ranging from £20 to £50 for league matches. BBC


Derby Evening Telegraph - League to rule on QPR ticket prices for Derby County clash
DERBY County are waiting for the Football League to rule on their row with Queens Park Rangers over ticket prices for the Championship clash at Loftus Road.
QPR want to charge visiting Rams supporters up to £40 to attend the game a week on Saturday – £10 more than originally agreed – but Derby have objected and say the price hike is unfair.
Now the dispute is in the hands of the League, who are expected to make a decision in the next 24 hours.
Clubs set their ticket prices before the start of the season and have to submit them to the League.
If a club varies the pricing, then both participating clubs have to agree to any changes.
QPR contacted Derby and said they wanted to increase the prices from £30 in the Upper Tier and £25 in the Lower Tier with the standard concessions to £40 and £30.
Derby refused to agree and QPR appealed to the League.
The Rams head of communications, Matt McCann, said: “One of our biggest frustrations is the inconvenience it is casuing the fans.
“Tickets have to be with us four weeks before the fixture so we can get them on sale and supporters can make their plans for the game but we got those tickets 12 days before the fixture.
“We need it sorting as soon as possible because we want to get the tickets on sale as quickly as possible so Derby fans can follow their team.
“We have stuck by our guns. We have been very firm on this from day one, we don’t think it is fair to increase those prices.
“Hopefully, the Football League will rule on our side. We have just got to hope commonsense prevails.”
Derby say they have a contingency plan in place if the outcome does not go their way. They want to make sure supporters are not the ‘victims’ of the situation.
QPR want to raise ticket prices not only for the Rams game but other fixtures as well. The West London club’s decision has angered their own fans and top seats for home supporters could now cost £50.
John Hemsworth, chairman of the Derby County Supporters Club’s executive committee said:
“We are very happy the club is sticking to its guns on this and, hopefully ,commonsense will prevail when the Football League makes its decision.
“The hold-up is a logistical nightmare for fans because you have to get tickets out in the post and book coaches. Normally we have away tickets two or three weeks before a game.
“Some fans cannot afford such price increases in the current economic climate. Going to QPR could cost a fan almost £100 if you take into account £40 for a ticket, £20 or more for travel and something to eat and drink.
“My main worry over all this is that if QPR get away with it, other clubs might try to do the same.”
“The prices are going up for QPR supporters as well and apparently they are not happy because they are being stung also.” The Rams