Season Ticket - Next Year?

[Diamond]

gonna throw my two-penneth in here.

We're going to expand, and this time next year the club will be selling season tickets for the extra 6000 seats in the magnificent looking East Stand (hats off to the club for the designs). How about they look to freeze prices, offer a reduction of £50-£80 to those renewing, thereby effectively creating a waiting list via sensibly priced tickets.

They are guaranteed £30m+ for finishing even 20th next year, so in reality they could knock off £100 per season ticket which would drive almost 100% renewals, increase the waiting list which, league position being favourable, would mean the selling of the extra 6000 seats could be a foregone conclusion via the waiting list.

Increasing the price now would, IMO, be a massive mistake. Now is the time to think of 12 months ahead and the commercial opportunities available then, not what can be driven via season ticket sales this season. By my maths they would have generated an approx £7-£8m this year. They can literally afford to drop this by £2-£3m when you look at the tv money coming in next season.

Time to think ahead - please RFC!

[Woodcote Royal]

I believe we might get a price freeze for next season but the fact is, this club does think ahead and is very thorough in it's research.

This is telling them (and it'd pretty obvious anyway) that selling 30k seats in the Premiership will not be too much of a problem but that 38k will take some doing.

So, I doubt they will feel the need to offer heavy discounts at this stage whilst they still have the option to just extend the East Stand.

[knobby_1871]

hopefully the new seats will be offered to existing STH first as some of us may want to join the east stand crew

[rabidbee]

hopefully the new seats will be offered to existing STH first as some of us may want to join the east stand crew

Presumably they'll offer them on a Royalty points basis? That should ensure that long-standing STHs get first pick.

[TFF]

Despite another £80million loss Chelsea have this morning announced a price freeze for next season.

Hopefully that sets a precedent.

[Gordons Cumming]

Despite another £80million loss Chelsea have this morning announced a price freeze for next season.

Hopefully that sets a precedent.

Sorry, but they live a different world so don't count.

[working class hero]

If prices were hiked by £150 for the season I assume we would still sell out. We might have different fans - but the ground would be packed. It would raise an extra £3,600,000.

Those of us who were priced out could then see the cheaper seats in the new stand as being our chance to get back into the ground.

I hope this doesn't happen. But RFC is a business - so it just might.

[ayjaydee]

If prices were hiked by £150 for the season I assume we would still sell out. We might have different fans - but the ground would be packed. It would raise an extra £3,600,000.

Those of us who were priced out could then see the cheaper seats in the new stand as being our chance to get back into the ground.

I hope this doesn't happen. But RFC is a business - so it just might.

Not sure I agree with you WCH. I consider myself loyal to the core and with a decent amount of disposable income but if they were to raise the prices by anything approaching £150 I would consider they would be taking the piss and they wouldn't get a penny out of me. Reckon there would be a lot like me and I'm not sure they would find sufficient replacements.

I have already decided the AST wil be knocked on the head next season, having "done" all the new grounds this year I will pick and choose away games. The committment to every ticket with no returns possible was OK this year as not too much trouble to get rid of the odd ticket but I "forced" myself to go to the shitehole that is Fratton Park just'cos I had a ticket and couldn't get shot of it. £50 odd quid on the train plus ticket plus beers for a trip to Middlesbrough is a once in a lifetime expenditure etc.etc.

[working class hero]

If prices were hiked by £150 for the season I assume we would still sell out. We might have different fans - but the ground would be packed. It would raise an extra £3,600,000.

Those of us who were priced out could then see the cheaper seats in the new stand as being our chance to get back into the ground.

I hope this doesn't happen. But RFC is a business - so it just might.

Not sure I agree with you WCH. I consider myself loyal to the core and with a decent amount of disposable income but if they were to raise the prices by anything approaching £150 I would consider they would be taking the piss and they wouldn't get a penny out of me. Reckon there would be a lot like me and I'm not sure they would find sufficient replacements.

I have already decided the AST wil be knocked on the head next season, having "done" all the new grounds this year I will pick and choose away games. The committment to every ticket with no returns possible was OK this year as not too much trouble to get rid of the odd ticket but I "forced" myself to go to the shitehole that is Fratton Park just'cos I had a ticket and couldn't get shot of it. £50 odd quid on the train plus ticket plus beers for a trip to Middlesbrough is a once in a lifetime expenditure etc.etc.

But that is the point I am making. There are lots of wealthy folk who are now interested in buying STs for RFC. If the ordinary fans are priced out they will be replaced..... I suspect that the likes of thee and me would then be offered cheaper seats in the new stand to sell it out too. My own stance is that if I am [effectively] priced out by my club then there will be a bitter divorce and I will never return to the club again. Already this season I have sworn off away games because of the cost. I could have afforded to go - but I won't because I despise the prima donnas in the Prem and refuse to pay through the nose so that the likes of Sidwell can afford to feed his baby.....

[Winchester Royal]

Some away games have been very reasonable though...
Surely theres room to differentiate between different away games.
Sheffield United was dead cheap, as was Birmingham... Whereas Chelsea and United were a lot more...

[shadesrwrf]

What people seem to be missing is that there will be no new seats next season, they're not going to be ready until the season after. So the argument that there'll be increased revenue from that quarter doesn't work. So, the reality is the club will have major building work plus increased wage bills and a difficult second season to fund. I predict a price riot.

[Stranded]

What people seem to be missing is that there will be no new seats next season, they're not going to be ready until the season after. So the argument that there'll be increased revenue from that quarter doesn't work. So, the reality is the club will have major building work plus increased wage bills and a difficult second season to fund. I predict a price riot.

They will also receive an unprecidented (sp?) increase in TV revenues.

[shadesrwrf]

What people seem to be missing is that there will be no new seats next season, they're not going to be ready until the season after. So the argument that there'll be increased revenue from that quarter doesn't work. So, the reality is the club will have major building work plus increased wage bills and a difficult second season to fund. I predict a price riot.

They will also receive an unprecidented (sp?) increase in TV revenues.

I have a strong suspicion the club will tell us that's not quite enough.

[Stranded]

What people seem to be missing is that there will be no new seats next season, they're not going to be ready until the season after. So the argument that there'll be increased revenue from that quarter doesn't work. So, the reality is the club will have major building work plus increased wage bills and a difficult second season to fund. I predict a price riot.

They will also receive an unprecidented (sp?) increase in TV revenues.

I have a strong suspicion the club will tell us that's not quite enough.

Then they will have a lot of disgruntled customers. Chelsea have frozen prices and Bolton have become the first to confirm a decrease for next year.

I know our situation is different but if many more clubs come out in the next few weeks and say that they are freezing/decreasing prices next year then any price rise will be hard for any club (not just us) to explain away convincingly.

[Dirk Gently]

What people seem to be missing is that there will be no new seats next season, they're not going to be ready until the season after. So the argument that there'll be increased revenue from that quarter doesn't work. So, the reality is the club will have major building work plus increased wage bills and a difficult second season to fund. I predict a price riot.

They will also receive an unprecidented (sp?) increase in TV revenues.

I have a strong suspicion the club will tell us that's not quite enough.

Then they will have a lot of disgruntled customers. Chelsea have frozen prices and Bolton have become the first to confirm a decrease for next year.

I know our situation is different but if many more clubs come out in the next few weeks and say that they are freezing/decreasing prices next year then any price rise will be hard for any club (not just us) to explain away convincingly.

http://www.fsf.org.uk/petitions/away-tickets/
2704 signatures and rising

[RG30]

http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TicketNewsDetail/0,,10418~875784,00.html

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/season-ticket-prices-announced.html

[PieEater]

After checking the prices last year out ST's are amongst the more expensive and generally on a par with Portsmouth's. Wait till you see their price increases and I'll bet ours will be the same. Having said that, with the extra TV income, no change in price is viable.

I don't buy the idea of paying extra to fund the stadium expansion, it is meant to be self financing based on payback over a few years. There aren't too many investments you could get such a good payback in such a short time.

They also have to consider what they will do the season after when these seats are available, the club would want to fill them.

[RG30]

Another Premiership club with price reduction;

http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10303~989546,00.html

http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasonTickets/0,,10303,00.html

With Portsmouth, even there stadium is far worse limited than our's and with Gaydemak now shafting the plans to re build Fratton and instead going for a new stadium, then that will take a few years.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Hmm, I hope RFC follow suit on this. Seeing as they have missed a trick by not being one of the first out of the blocks they are almost obliged to follow suit and freeze/reduce prices

[RG30]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/blackburnrovers/roverslatest/display.var.1230855.0.rovers_slash_ticket_prices.php

BLACKBURN Rovers today delivered on their promise to slash prices by announcing a 25 per cent reduction in the cost of adult season tickets for next season.

Chairman John Williams has been at the forefront of the great gate debate' in recent months, and went public with his plans to use some of Blackburn's share of the new TV deal, which is likely to amount to £35 million when it kicks in next season, to bring down ticket prices at Ewood Park.

With matchday attendances on the slide across the Premiership, Williams feels drastic action needs to be taken to entice the missing fans back, and Rovers aim to lead the way by giving more than £1million back to supporters in the form of reduced prices.

In a throwback to last century's prices, the cheapest adult season ticket will cost just £249 for the CIS stand, which has nearly 5,500 seats available at that price.

The cost of a season ticket behind the goal in the Blackburn End will be just £299, a 30 per cent reduction on this season's average price of £425.

The price for juniors will remain at £99 in the lower tier (£80 in the upper tier family area), which means a family of two adults and two children will be able to enjoy 19 Premiership matches at around £10 per head per game in the most popular part of the ground next term.

The most expensive season ticket will cost £399 - a big reduction of £196 on this season's price of £595.

Club officials believe passionately that for the game to thrive for future generations then more fans need to be enticed back into the grounds to watch the action live.

As a consequence, match day prices for 15 of the 19 Premiership matches have also been slashed to £15 for a quarter of all home seats, with seats behind the goals for home and away fans for these games reduced to £20.

There will be four higher priced home matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea with home fans being charged between £25 and £35.

Away fans will be charged £30 for these four fixtures, a reduction of 16 per cent on this season.

Former Ewood ace and Lancashire Telegraph columnist Simon Garner, has applauded Rovers decision to cut prices, hailing it "a bold move in the battle to win back the working class fan."

Now Williams is hoping to see a positive response through the turnstiles as Rovers attempt to lure back the 4,000 season tickets holders who have fallen by the wayside since the club returned to the Premiership in 2001.

Williams said: "We believe the best way to enjoy Premiership football is watching it live in the stadium.

"We hope these prices will not only retain existing supporters but also attract those who have not been for some time through the turnstiles next season to offer the team even greater vocal backing.

"In setting this price structure, we have recognised the concerns of supporters who feel that the cost of watching live football has become too expensive.

"We have addressed this issue and at the same time made sure we remain competitive on the pitch. Fans want to see the best players in action at Ewood Park and for the club to continue to be a force in the Premiership.

"The new pricing structure is part of a planned commercial strategy, which is the result of research by our sales and marketing team.

"We have already introduced a number of initiatives this season designed to attract more supporters. These have included a loyalty card scheme, price reductions for selected Premiership matches, and cheaper tickets for our European campaign.

"We will continue to look at different ways to add extra value for season ticket holders as they are the lifeblood of the club."

Manager Mark Hughes added: "The players all want to play in front of full stadiums and it makes a huge difference to them. The supporters really can act as the twelfth man and lift the players.

"I've been lucky enough to play in front of packed stadiums across Europe, and I know the positive effect it can have, so it would be great to see Ewood packed every week next season.

"When the ground has been full for games this season against the likes of Liverpool and Bolton, the atmosphere has been amazing.

"Football is a passionate game and we want passionate supporters in Ewood Park to help inspire the team.

"Cost is an issue and we have taken the bull by the horns and reduced prices, and hopefully this will encourage even more supporters to come to games."