Manchester United fans have been left infuriated by ticket prices for their San Diego friendly against Hollywood-owned Wrexham, with the cheapest seat costing $180 (£146).
The friendly between the Red Devils and National League leaders Wrexham was announced on Monday with the Welsh side’s owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, teaming up with legendary Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, to promote the pre-season fixture.
However, the fixture will mostly feature Man Utd academy stars, or players on the fringes of Erik ten Hag’s first team, and ticket prices have left fans furious with the cheapest seat at the Snapdragon Stadium costing $180 on ticketmaster.
For some of the best seats in the house, fans will have to cough up north of $425 (£345) if they’re to get inside the ground for the July 25 game. “The ticket prices are ridiculous,” one fan fumed on Twitter.
Another added: “United youth and reserve side playing in San Diego against Wrexham. Tickets behind the goals start at $250 and back of upper tier $180. Utterly insane.”
Nonetheless, Wrexham are looking forward to the big occasion, and hope to be heading to the US as a League Two side. They’re currently on 97 points after 39 games played, and are only behind title rivals Notts County on points difference - and have two games in hand.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: “We’re looking forward to being able to play in the United States for the first time in the Club’s history. The match against Manchester United is sure to be a memorable occasion at the Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego.
“The tour will be an excellent opportunity for us to prepare for the 2023/24 season, and the match against Manchester United will be a competitive fixture and a good test for us as we look ahead to the new campaign. We enjoy welcoming supporters from the US to the Racecourse Ground, and we’re looking forward to being able to play in front of some of these new fans on American soil in the summer.”
Man Utd football director John Murtough added: “Manchester United has a history of nurturing and promoting youth and this is a chance for not only Erik but also our US supporters to assess the homegrown talent that is developing within our Academy, and hopefully to be able to say, ‘I saw him here first,’ if some of those players go on to establish themselves as first team regulars.”
