Elche season ticket holders pay between 10 and 20 euros for the Cup clash with Girona
Yesterday the club announced ticket prices for the upcoming Cup match against Girona. The game is set for Saturday, January 6 at 18:00 at Martínez Valero. Season ticket holders will pay 10 to 20 euros depending on seat location, with the option to buy two additional tickets at the same price. Many fans consider the price fair, describing it as symbolic or modest, yet some question why a payment would be required after so much effort has already gone into the season.
The date marks a significant moment as LaLiga leaders EA Sports share the top spot with Real Madrid, while Barcelona and Atlético trail closely. The cup encounter presents a single elimination path with the dream of advancing, a prospect highlighted by coach Sebastián Beccacece and the players. Yet the central question remains, should dreams carry a price tag?
Discussion after the last match
In the stands and amid the queues at the entrances, fans debated whether season tickets should cover cup matches. The club has not issued a direct statement yet, and the silence has fed speculation. Notably, the current subscription drive includes the league’s second half and the final game of the first round but excludes the Cup tie.
The attendance for the Elche versus Mirandés match dropped below ten thousand, underscoring the current urgency among supporters. This context intensifies the debate over charging subscribers for cup games, a topic that has resurfaced repeatedly in recent seasons.
The recent results and the Cup history
Elche has not hosted a Cup match in this fixture line for nearly two years. The team fell 1-0 away to Ceuta on January 3, 2023, failing to reach the last 32. Earlier, on December 20, 2022, Elche defeated Guadalajara 3-0 in the second round and previously faced similar outcomes in earlier rounds. In the prior campaign, the club finished second in the league and exited the cup in the last 16 after a defeat to Real Madrid. Home draws and notable cup victories against Almería, Unionistas de Salamanca, and Leioa marked the journey, with a historically charged moment when the Madrid game also involved an entrance fee for subscribers.
Despite past performances, many fans view the current season through a different lens. Girona is not Real Madrid, and Beccacece’s squad has not met expectations after relegation to second place. Supporters’ groups argue for a free cup match, pointing to the club’s centennial status and the perceived gap between expectations and results.
David Aranda, president of the Peñas del Elche CF Federation, stated that subscribers should not be charged after a disappointing season. He argued that collecting fees from subscribers would be disrespectful, especially given the federation’s historic role among fans. Carlos San José from the Altabix supporters group added that a limited transfer budget and ongoing promises of a competitive squad do not justify charging subscribers, calling it inappropriate to require fees for a cup game.
Supporters from united groups weigh in with varied opinions. Some memories point to the club’s earlier stance that cup matches were not part of the subscription price, while others note that if the club proceeds with fees, it should be balanced by a fair approach given the season’s challenges. The ongoing debate centers on whether cup commitments should be subsidized by the cornerstone of the club’s fan base, the season ticket holders.
Calls to reward the subscriber
The federation of fan clubs has voiced a pragmatic stance. The belief is that cup matches were not originally included in subscriptions, yet a symbolic fee can be seen as a way to acknowledge supporters who endured a difficult period. Some fans argue that the club should minimize costs for subscribers while others maintain that moderate fees reflect the financial health of the club and the broader market environment. Opinions vary widely, reflecting a broader discussion about the club’s financial strategy and its impact on fans on a holiday weekend.
From the perspective of fan leaders, the goal is to balance practicality with fairness. Critics say the club should prioritize fans who have stayed loyal through tough seasons, while supporters who are nostalgic for historic campaigns warn against profit-driven decisions during a period marked by strong public sentiment and a desire to see the club thrive alongside Girona in a high-stakes cup tie.
Ultimately, the conversation centers on how much value a cup match provides to a community of season ticket holders and casual fans alike. The club’s leadership faces a delicate task: maintaining financial viability while preserving the trust and enthusiasm of a loyal fan base during a period of high expectations and intense rivalry.