I think there's truth in that: I've always argued that the ticket offers we used to offer forced gates down overall.
I've defended club policy on tickets in the past: the gap between walk up and ST prices, the premium paid by new ST holders. It's kept gates far higher than following our relegation in 09 (COVID aside) despite the likes of Pulis, Warnock and Monk doing their worst to the team.
But there is no denial that, prices across the board are very high compared to what other clubs in the division charge.
I get that this is a tax-and-spend type model, that all the money we pay goes back into the team (and still not profit is made), but we don't get the better service to justify our higher prices.