Richard Mennear: Sunderland leading the way on ticket pricing

Fan power has been evident recently thanks to Liverpool's decision to perform a major U-turn on plans to increase ticket prices
Thousands of Liverpool fans staged a mass walkout after 77 minutes in protest at rising ticket prices at Anfield next seasonThousands of Liverpool fans staged a mass walkout after 77 minutes in protest at rising ticket prices at Anfield next season
Thousands of Liverpool fans staged a mass walkout after 77 minutes in protest at rising ticket prices at Anfield next season

Proposals to increase some tickets to £77 led to thousands of fans leaving Anfield after 77 minutes of the match with Sunderland.

No question it had an impact on the result, with the atmosphere being sucked out of Anfield when the Reds were leading 2-0.

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Sunderland, of course, staged a late, dramatic comeback to draw.

And while the Liverpool board should be applauded for listening to fans, it should never have reached that stage in the first place.

As Alan Shearer rightly said on Match of the Day, with the new £5billion bumper television deal coming into play next season there is no reason why any Premier League club should be raising ticket prices.

Instead, it should be the exact opposite. Ticket prices should be falling.

Step forward Sunderland AFC.

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The Black Cats have announced price reductions throughout the Stadium of Light on season cards for 2016-17.

Next season, adult season cards are priced from £350 (£18 per game) and supporters aged over 65 can secure their seat for £250.

Excellent value - whichever division they are in.

To their credit, Sunderland have worked hard to keep football affordable in this part of the world, as have Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool United too.

Other parts of the country could learn an awful lot from the North East.