Athletic Club decided to withdraw invitation tickets at San Mamés
Athletic Club has decided to withdraw invitation tickets at San Mamés Stadium, freeing up 1,019 seats and generating a profit of 1.3 million euros annually, for many different reasons.
Athletic Club decided to withdraw invitation tickets at San Mamés
According to Mundodeportivo.
Context
Athletic Club, with its long history and strong ties to the community, is seeking to maintain sustainable development. Revoking tickets may be a necessary step to ensure that the club best serves its members and fans.
Why this is important
The Athletic Club's decision to revoke invitations to San Mamés not only affects individuals such as former presidents and players, but also reflects a serious management policy aimed at increasing member participation. This also shows that Athletic Club is making efforts to improve revenue and ensure that scarce resources are used effectively.
Main point
- Athletic Club decided to withdraw invitation tickets at San Mamés.
- Athletic Club has decided to withdraw invitation tickets at San Mamés Stadium, freeing up 1,019 seats and generating a profit of 1.3 million euros annually, for many different reasons.
- La cifra que ganará el Athletic con la retirada de las invitaciones a San Mamés.
Jon Uriarte, President of Athletic Club, announced four main reasons for the decision to revoke invitations at San Mamés Stadium, affecting many subjects such as former presidents, players, ex-players, directors and employees. This decision caused a deep controversy this season.
The first reason is institutional. Mr. Uriarte emphasized that "Athletic is a club, not a joint stock company. We are an entity that belongs to our members and must comply with our internal rules, including Article 7 which states that it is our duty to attract new members."
The second reason is related to the social aspect. "This is very important. In many matches, demand for tickets exceeds supply. Many people cannot buy tickets. Currently the waiting list to become a member exceeds 11,000 people."
The president also gave a third reason related to management, stating that "since our arrival (summer 2022) we have tried to manage more professionally. This is something we have defended a lot. There is a need for rigorous management in all areas of the club, especially in the management of scarce resources such as seats at San Mamés".
Finally, the fourth reason is economic. Mr Uriarte said "this is not something new. We have recorded losses in five of the six seasons up to 2024-25 and in the last eight seasons, there are six seasons where we will lose money. These seasons have all coincided with periods when the men's team did not participate in European competition. The club has continued to grow, but to maintain this growth without having to tighten our belts, we need to generate revenue".
Despite these reasons, Mr. Uriarte has denied that Athletic is in a "war economy", as many have speculated. He emphasized that "that is not true. Athletic are implementing a growth strategy. We need to adjust our finances and there are two ways to do that: increase revenue and reduce losses. Reducing expenditure is easy, but that will make us a smaller club. We are committed to growth by generating revenue".
With this decision, Athletic Club will free up 1,019 seats at the stadium and the revenue will amount to 1.3 million euros per season. Part of this will be sold to the public and part will be reserved for generating new members. Currently, Ibaigane has not yet decided the specific quantity for each category. "I have the feeling that among the club's staff there is dissatisfaction, that we want to cut back, that we are stingy people. This is not a hobby or a sudden idea. It has a huge economic impact on Athletic," Mr. Uriarte emphasized.
What happens next
Athletic Club plans to continue monitoring ticket demand and the membership waiting list, which currently exceeds 11,000 people. They can also consider other measures to improve their financial situation, especially in the context that the men's team has not participated in European competition in recent seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Athletic Club decide to revoke invitations to San Mamés?
Athletic Club revoked invitations for four main reasons: institutional, social, management and economic.
Who confirmed the decision to revoke invitation tickets?
The decision to revoke invitations was announced by Athletic Club President, Jon Uriarte.
What changes are there in ticket management at San Mamés?
Athletic Club will manage tickets more strictly to attract new members and meet high ticket demand.
Why did Athletic Club make this decision at this time?
This decision was made because ticket demand exceeded supply and to improve the club's economic situation.
How many people are waiting to become members of Athletic Club?
Currently, the waiting list to become a member has exceeded 11,000 people.
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