FORAS issue 'statement of concern' over ticket price increase for Cork City matches

PAYING THE PRICE: Cork City supporters before the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Cork City and Galway United at Turner's Cross in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Friends of the Rebel Army Society (FORAS) have issused a statement of concern surrounding the increase in ticket prices for Cork City FC matches.

The Trust, which previously owned the club, and its members believe the level of increase for ticket prices has been "disproportionate", and they have also expressed concern at the manner in which the club has responded to "legitimate apprehension".

Cork City's First Division title triumph in 2024 secured a return to the Premier Division for 2025, and with that the club made significant changes to their pricing structure.

To attend a game at Turner's Cross this season it will cost €25 per adult, €18 for teens and seniors, and €10 for under 13s, making City's matchday tickets the most expensive of any club across both divisions of the League of Ireland.

For supporters who buy their tickets online, the increases in ticket prices compared to last year has seen adult tickets rise by 67% (€15 online in 2024 compared to €25 online in 2025) while Juvenile and Seniors tickets are up 80% (€10 online compared to €18 online in 2025) and children’s tickets have doubled (€5 online in 2024 compared to €10 online in 2025).

FORAS are also unhappy that the arrangement surrounding a five match pass has changed, and now only permits the ticketholder to attend five consecutive fixtures, with no flexibility.

City have only played one home fixture to date which saw them draw with John Caulfield's Galway United 2-2 in a thriller on the opening night of the new season.

FORAS have noted that the attendance of 5,031 for that eagerly anticipated clash was lower than that of last year’s season opener against Kerry – despite last year’s fixture taking place in the First Division - while City’s previous Premier Division opener against Bohemians in 2023 drew a crowd of 6,487.

In a statement released on Wednesday, FORAS said: "All supporters recognise that the club is facing rising costs, and expected ticket prices to increase this season.

"However the disproportionate level of increase, which has made City the most expensive club in the country to follow, and the tone with which legitimate queries have been dismissed, is a cause for concern and anger among supporters.

"FORAS would like to take this opportunity to remind the club that supporters too, are facing rising costs across all aspects of their lives. We believe the disproportionate increases introduced this season are short-sighted, particularly for juveniles and children, and run the risk of losing the supporters of tomorrow who will be prevented from establishing a habit of regularly attending a game due to the expense involved.

"FORAS calls on Cork City FC to reconsider its pricing structure, and reflect on the manner with which it addresses legitimate supporter concern.

"FORAS believes that football without fans is nothing. The City fanbase is a broad church, with supporters based all over the country. A supporters’ ability to attend every game is not the measure by which their dedication to the club can or should be measured.

"There are a myriad of legitimate personal circumstances that can explain why a supporter cannot avail of a season ticket and have to – in the words of Mr Usher – “dip in and out” of games."