West Ham supporters will recall that Hammers United wrote to Daniel Kretinsky on July 29th seeking help in our campaign against inflation busting ticket price rises and attacks on concessions.
A Request For Help – Letter Sent From Hammers United To Mr Daniel Kretinsky Today >>
Unfortunately 3 months later we have received no reply.
We therefore hand delivered the following letter by hand to the office of Jonathon Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade today (November 4th)
From: Hammers United
Save Our Concessions
To: Jonathan Reynolds
Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Re: Daniel Kretinsky’s bid to take over the Royal Mail
Open letter – 4th November, 2024.
Dear Jonathan Reynolds,
Daniel Kretinsky cites his conduct as a major shareholder in West Ham United as proof of his trustworthiness to honour the traditions of the Royal Mail. (1).
Such trustworthiness is a central issue in your appraisal of his bid to take over the Royal Mail. He also insists that he is “super transparent” and “absolutely open to scrutiny.” (2)
We therefore urge you to examine his involvement in the policies of WHU since he bought a 27 per cent stake in the club in 2021 and became the second largest shareholder.
In particular we draw your attention to the significant restriction of cheap, concessionary tickets for juniors and elderly imposed by WHU in March this year.
The club revealed that from the beginning of our 24/25 campaign, new season ticket holders were no longer able to buy concessionary season tickets in the majority of the stadium.
Under 18, Under 21 and Over 66 supporters wishing to be new season ticket holders would only be able to buy concessionary season tickets in “Bands 5 and 6” at the top of the stands.
The elderly and little kids were expected to climb approximately 100 steps to watch the game in seats with a distant view of the pitch. (3)
Along with other West Ham fan groups, Hammers United launched the Save Our Concessions protest campaign and the club altered its stance slightly to allow new season tickets for Over 66 supporters to be sold at concessionary prices in Bands 3 and 4.
Disappointingly these tickets were offered at three quarters the price instead of the traditional half. (4).
However, no such consideration was given to U21s and U18s. We are also trying to clarify the club’s stance towards concessions for supporters with disabilities.
A West Ham home match is a traditional gathering of the Claret and Blue Clan – a focal point for London’s East End and its diaspora to gather together. The best of the East End tradition is inclusivity – everyone is welcome.
But the club sent out this message to children and elderly, unable to afford full price, and unable to climb the steps: you’re not welcome.
For many it will now be unaffordable to pass the Claret and Blue torch down the generations. So how does the club’s assault on concessions accord with British tradition? We’d be grateful if you would put this question to Mr. Kretinsky.
Hammers United is a 20,000 strong West Ham fan group among several others backing the Save Our Concessions campaign. Fans of Liverpool, Everton, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest and our London rivals Spurs have stood in solidarity with us at games this season.
The concessions issue is a national issue.
We wrote to Mr. Kretinsky on the 29th of July expressing our concerns and asking him to press our case within the club.
We e-mailed the club’s media team on the 9th of October reminding them of our letter to Mr Kretinsky, without reply.
We would like to stress that we do not assume he is personally in favour of concession restriction at West Ham.
The club has emphasised that existing season ticket holders are unaffected. But we are aware that when companies wish to abolish entitlements, they do so incrementally.
The juniors will come of age and the elders will die off or fail to renew. With only a handful of concessions left, abolition will go unnoticed, unless the club is challenged. The club insists that some tickets are sold cheaply but it’s impossible to know how many. By other metrics, West Ham have the fourth most expensive season tickets in the Premier League.(5)
You are relying on the integrity of Mr. Kretinsky’s promises to uphold the traditions of the Royal Mail, in particular the obligation to provide a universal service throughout the UK at uniform prices for six days a week. We assume you will be examining the reliability of these promises in your review of his bid.
In his interview with Bloomberg Television on the 30th of May this year, Mr. Kretinsky effectively invited an examination of his record at West Ham to demonstrate his willingness to abide by British traditions and persuade you to allow the Royal Mail takeover.
He said: “We firmly hope there would be no reasons why the decision would be negative. We are effectively a loyal investor in the UK for more than ten years … We are a very proud minority shareholder of West Ham United so what I want to say is we are loyal to the British environment and to Britain. I think we have proven the way we operate.” (6).
We invite you to examine his record at West Ham and to urge him to use his considerable influence to restore previous traditional concessions at our club.
Yours sincerely,
The Hammers United Committee.
Footnotes
1) Daniel Kretinsky interview with Bloomberg TV 30.5.24, comments at 10 43 and 12 20 approx. Also see attached transcript excerpts.
2) As above, comments at 10 43 approx
3) 23/4 season tickets https://www.hammers.news/news/every-west-ham-season-ticket-renewal-price-for-the-2023-24-season-revealed-for-all-bands-as-club-announce-hike-despite-record-tv-deal 24/5 season tickets https://www.seasontickets.whufc.com/pricing
4) In July, after protests, the club promised some concessionary seats would be available for new Over 66 and disabled season ticket holders in Bands 3 and 4, lower down, but none for new U18 and 21 new season ticket holders. These would cost ¾ of the full price instead of the traditional ½. https://www.whufc.com/news/message-our-loyal-season-ticket-holders
5) See analysis 24/25 Premier League season tickets in Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/08/15/premier-league-ticket-price-hike-war-on-kids-elderly/ (15 June 24)
6) Premier League Handbooks 2017 Rule 7 page 194 https://www.scribd.com/document/442149139/Barclays-Premier-League-Handbook-2017-18-FINAL and 2024, rule 7, page 240 https://www.premierleague.com/about/publications and email to us from WHUFC 27 9 24: “We don’t have a dedicated family stand at London Stadium.”
7) Daniel Kretinsky interview with Bloomberg TV 30.5.24, comments at 12 20 approx. Also see attached transcript excerpts.
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