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Exeter may charge more on Boxing Day
Exeter City may increase ticket prices for their Boxing Day match against Hereford United because of the extra cost of policing the Conference clash.Club officials are considering a universal £1 price hike to cover a potential £10,000 loss from having the encounter categorised as 'high-risk' according to the Exeter Express and Echo.
Exeter police have taken the decision to categorise the game as 'high risk' because they expect high numbers of travelling fans at the holiday derby game.The decision means more police officers will be on duty in and around St James's Park and the city before and after the match and the kick-off time will be brought forward to 1pm.
PC Roy Adams, of Exeter police, said: "We have to evaluate every game Exeter play. It is a relative 'local' derby and if we consider there are likely to be issues that require policing, then obviously we charge the club for that.
"The club do not have a say in that. We understand it is a lot of extra expenditure to the club, especially with it being a bank holiday game, but we have to consider people's safety at the game.
Grecians managing director Ian Huxham said City could be £10,000 out of pocket because police working on bank holidays are paid double time, the club would have to print tickets for away supporters, and they would lose money in the St James's Centre due to the early kick-off.And Huxham, who said he has 'no arguments with the police or their decision', has now asked fans for their thoughts on a potential price increase.
"With it being a high-profile game and on a bank holiday, we could be losing thousands of pounds,.So quite clearly we need to consider every option and that's all we are doing. We're not taking a decision now because if we're doing well in the league, enjoying huge gates and have a bumper crowd on Boxing Day, then it probably won't be necessary to have to ask fans to share the costs.
"But if we're having a difficult year we want people to understand that we may have to contemplate a one-off price rise and there is a justifiable reason for that."