For as long as I can remember, Leicester City have streamed pre-season friendlies on their website/LC TV and/or the club's YouTube channel. I have enjoyed watching these matches over the years, as they give a good first glimpse of what you can expect from the season, new tactics and players, etc.
I was expecting to watch some of tonight's friendly with Shrewsbury through the usual channels. Until LCFC tweeted earlier this morning that to watch the match, you have to pay £10 to stream it through the club site. This is the same charge that fans had to pay for certain midweek matches in the Championship last season.
Now, I did pay the £10 fee on several occasions last season and endured the pretty amateurish commentary and production in order to watch my team. But there is not a bat in hell's chance that I will be doing the same to watch a pre-season match against a League One team.
What an absolutely scandalous decision by the club. KPFC seem to be doing everything in their power to annoy fans and turn even those who had warmed to them back against them. It is another sign of the creeping grifting culture that seems to be poisoning the club - from charging for physical season tickets and meet and greet events, to a £25 charge just to have a chance of purchasing matchday tickets (yes, I have paid this for a second season in a row, more fool me) which will on average be £55 per match (up from around £41 per match last season).
Now, I can only assume that this 'charge the fans for everything at all costs' approach is for one of two reasons:
1) The club's financial situation is worse than we thought and we really are skint. If this is the case, the club should be honest with fans and clearly explain the reasons for this, and what we as fans can do to help, without expecting us to pay £10 for a friendly with no context.
2) The club really has just become a greedy cesspit since Vichai died and the ownership and board have completely lost touch with the fans and what made KP so popular with the fanbase in the first place.
I am more inclined to think it's 2). Somewhere down the line, Top really does seem to have lost his heart and soul and that is seeping into the every day decision making, seeing fans as nothing more than consumers that they can milk.
What next, Top selling feet pics on line? Susan setting up an OnlyFans account?
The club is fast losing it's soul, and that is a real shame to witness. The reasons for sticking with this ownership are becoming less persuasive by the day.
Greedy, grifting KPFC
posted on 23/7/24
Sadly i agree with all you say, i remember how well the fans were treated under our late chairman.
All the freebies the fans were given during and after our great season.
It feels now that the loyal fans are just seen as a cash cow for the hierachy to exploit as they see fit, the debacle over the physical season tickets being a good example.
Think that our chairman does not see the club in the same way as his father, and sadly is losing the affection and respect of the fans.
posted on 23/7/24
Thorney; the annoying thing is that, come first day of the season or the next special date in the calendar, the club will whip out the free doughnuts and beer and expect fans to be grateful.
I do think they are overstepping the mark at the moment, to the point where even placid groups like Foxes Trust, who have been very forgiving and understanding, are starting to turn on them.
Sadly, it does feel like the old King Power, the one that combined generosity with competency, died in the plane crash along with Vichai, and what we have left is a nepo-baby desperately out of his depth, managing a club that has lost it's way and it's soul.
posted on 23/7/24
Foxello ,I think it all changed after fa cup win.
The powers that be thought that both they and the club were bigger than they thought,and it's all come back to haunt them since.
We have a dof that the fans all dislike and distrust,and an owner who I think is more interested in his horses and other hobbies.
Don't think any fans really trust the club anymore and it's really hard to look forward to this season.
posted on 23/7/24
sadly i think you'll find it par for the course.
Clubs will look to cash in on every aspect of their operations.
Tottenham have SPURSPLAY which is available to stream pre-season games and watch highlights during the season and other (pointless) content. Its £45 !!!! It used to be £30, which was too much and they offered £10 off with membership / STs, so @ £20 it was just about justifiable, but £45 (£35 after discount) no thanks!
posted on 23/7/24
I’ve just been sick in my mouth at the prospect of a Susan Whelan onlyfans page…..
But I wholeheartedly concur with this post. I think the change in club mentality is exemplified best by the choice of this years shirt sponsor - a dodgy gambling and cryptocurrency firm that has drawn backlash from fans and ex players alike.
This feels a far cry from the community centric club that Vichai built and more evidence for those Leicester fans with their heads in the sand to tell them that this club is descending into the type of soulless cash grabbing ownership they’ve been warning us of if the King Power ever sold up.
I’m absolutely sick and tired of debating with Leicester fans who still stick up for the ownership of this club. If they can’t see the wheels are coming off by now then God help them
posted on 23/7/24
Just don't know to say anymore
The club is drifting away
Charging for pre season so I'm guessing
Lcfc radio pre match won't be available Anymore obviously someone looked at the viewing numbers
Probably around 5000 and thought missing out there,,,
Where's the future supporters coming from
When it's to expensive to support your own team,,
When I started going and started noticing things
The gateman use to let two kids go through together
As there were 6 of us cutting the cost for dad's
What does it cost now too see a match ,,
And how are they going to atratck people when you can't by a single game ticket with out paying for membership and other bits just to get into the draw ,,,
Fed up and demorrolized same as wth the fecking auto correct 😭
posted on 23/7/24
Radio Leicester doing live commentary
posted on 23/7/24
It’s a very far cry from the Vichai experience. Can’t see it improving either.