Manchester City are to trial an initiative next season offering Premier League matchday tickets priced at £10 for adults living in the local area, with between 100 and 500 tickets set aside at the discounted rate for every home game in the top flight.
Residents in wards surrounding the Etihad Stadium will be able to apply for the reduced-price tickets, which will also be available for some domestic cup and European fixtures. Concession tickets will cost £7.50, while under-18s will pay just £5. Tickets will be allocated by ballot to give applicants equal access, with residents required to provide evidence of their postal address as part of the registration process.
Eligible areas include the Manchester city council wards of Ancoats & Beswick, Clayton & Openshaw, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Ardwick, and Miles Platting & Newton Heath. The scheme was developed following consultation with fan advisory board City Matters, after residents highlighted a desire for greater access to tickets on matchdays during regular engagement meetings the club has held with the local community since moving to the Etihad in 2003.
Danny Wilson, the club's managing director of operations, said: "Manchester City has always been rooted in its community and, as we grow, we want to ensure people who live closest to the Etihad Campus remain part of everything that happens here.
"We know matchdays bring significant social and economic opportunities to the area, but with more matches, more activities and more visitors than ever before, it is important that those who live closest to us can continue to enjoy the experience, make lasting memories, and be a part of the journey with us."
The initiative follows Manchester City's decision to freeze ticket prices for a third consecutive season, alongside the introduction of a new bracket of adult tickets starting at £25 for some midweek Premier League fixtures.
The scheme begins with the Premier League opener against Bournemouth on 23 August, the first home game of Enzo Maresca's tenure as head coach following Pep Guardiola's departure after a decade in charge.