Season tickets


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Firstly gate receipts are certainly not a drop in the ocean, especially when you're not in the Premier League. If fans are only happy to pay Non League prices don't whinge on when we finally have a Non League team to watch. The equivalent of £6.50 a game is more than fair to watch Championship, or God forbid, League One football and nothing you can say would make me think otherwise. The club is on its knees financially and needs to maximise all revenue streams.
but putting up prices will not maximise revenues, if the prices are not reduced next season they'll be less than 5000 season ticket holders, so expect sub 10k for some games.

It would be better to fill the stadium by reducing the price to whatever that would take. The extra takings on refreshments would counter some of the loss and the fact the stadium was full would encourage an atmosphere. I hate sitting in the stadium now as it's so empty.
 
You've totally hit the nail on the head there. The product is now so cheap and has been devalued so much it doesn't really matter if they turn up or not meanwhile the club still have to make provision for them in terms of hiring stewards and policing for the game.

I used to take the bairn with me but he's lost interest over the last few years and he doesn't bother anymore.

I wonder what has caused the product to be devalued....certainly not the season ticket prices. If we want to use market forces arguments to set our season ticket prices it doesn't lead to putting them up does it? Understand what you are saying, but the product needs improving if people are going to pay for it, just like anything else.

It's indisputable that we have enough fans to fill the SoL if there's enough happening on the pitch to attract them, almost regardless of what division we're in...we've had plenty of sell outs in the Championship after all and I dare say it's even possible in L1 occasionally, and while there are some costs associated with a larger crowd (stewarding, policing) they are a drop in the ocean really compared to the benefit of a big crowd and probably also the additional revenue gained from the shop/refreshments etc.

Therefore if you're going to use market forces you should aim to set the ST prices at whatever it takes to fill the ground. You then end up with a situation where people buy STs because they have to if they want to guarantee a seat, and then prices can be adjusted to suit.

I don't necessarily think that this would work to the extent that the SoL would be filled by slashing prices, but it's worth considering. Perhaps something a little more creative too: adult prices reduced heavily for those renewing or buying by a deadline, or for those committing to two seasons perhaps? 10 free matchday tickets for friends with each ST?
 
I wonder what has caused the product to be devalued....certainly not the season ticket prices. If we want to use market forces arguments to set our season ticket prices it doesn't lead to putting them up does it? Understand what you are saying, but the product needs improving if people are going to pay for it, just like anything else.

It's indisputable that we have enough fans to fill the SoL if there's enough happening on the pitch to attract them, almost regardless of what division we're in...we've had plenty of sell outs in the Championship after all and I dare say it's even possible in L1 occasionally, and while there are some costs associated with a larger crowd (stewarding, policing) they are a drop in the ocean really compared to the benefit of a big crowd and probably also the additional revenue gained from the shop/refreshments etc.

Therefore if you're going to use market forces you should aim to set the ST prices at whatever it takes to fill the ground. You then end up with a situation where people buy STs because they have to if they want to guarantee a seat, and then prices can be adjusted to suit.

I don't necessarily think that this would work to the extent that the SoL would be filled by slashing prices, but it's worth considering. Perhaps something a little more creative too: adult prices reduced heavily for those renewing or buying by a deadline, or for those committing to two seasons perhaps? 10 free matchday tickets for friends with each ST?
Imagine it was 25quid for kids and 200quid for adults across the board. That could possibly double the attendance, then that leads to more money spent in the ground and club shop. Upping the prices will do the exact opposite.
 
Imagine it was 25quid for kids and 200quid for adults across the board. That could possibly double the attendance, then that leads to more money spent in the ground and club shop. Upping the prices will do the exact opposite.

People with spare tickets can't even give them away for free at the minute, let alone 200 quid! Not sure how we could afford to pay the players as well as all the extra costs of running a club this size charging those prices either.
 
It absolutely beggars belief that some people on here are in favour of prices going up. Seriously what planet are you all on ?? Someone posted before that kids should go up from £25 to £150, well Ive got 2 kids season tickets and theres not a hope in hell id pay £250 MORE for them to watch league 1 football. The chairman owes SAFC fans a massive apology for destroying our club and 140yrs of history. Now, im not saying they should give season tickets away but a price drop is the absolute least they can do. Currently I pay £400 for mine, a 6yr old and a 10yr old, Id expect that to be £300 maximum in league 1 for me to even consider renewing. If thats too much to ask then thats 3 season ticket holders gone.
 
Imagine it was 25quid for kids and 200quid for adults across the board. That could possibly double the attendance, then that leads to more money spent in the ground and club shop. Upping the prices will do the exact opposite.
Even if you just did that for certain sections of the ground, and reduced the 'premium' areas by a little less (to maximise revenue from those who value a seat on the half-way line, for instance, or who don't want to move to a cheaper zone), it would certainly boost the crowd, even if it didn't double it.

When all's said and done though, we all know what brings the crowds to the SoL, and it isn't up to the fans to bankroll it, when all the club seems to want to do is reduce debt.

It actually doesn't make a massive difference to revenue anyway, considering the scale of our debts. Not counting any additional matchday revenue:

A crowd of 18,000 at an average of £13 a game brings in £5.4m a season (roughly what I reckon we will get if we keep prices as they are and go down)
A crowd of 25,000 at an average of £9 a game brings in £5.2m
A crowd of 30,000 at an average of £7 a game brings in £4.8m

Worth it just to get the fans back on side, if they're refusing to do that by the traditional method of actually putting a decent team out.
 
Even if you just did that for certain sections of the ground, and reduced the 'premium' areas by a little less (to maximise revenue from those who value a seat on the half-way line, for instance, or who don't want to move to a cheaper zone), it would certainly boost the crowd, even if it didn't double it.

When all's said and done though, we all know what brings the crowds to the SoL, and it isn't up to the fans to bankroll it, when all the club seems to want to do is reduce debt.

It actually doesn't make a massive difference to revenue anyway, considering the scale of our debts. Not counting any additional matchday revenue:

A crowd of 18,000 at an average of £13 a game brings in £5.4m a season (roughly what I reckon we will get if we keep prices as they are and go down)
A crowd of 25,000 at an average of £9 a game brings in £5.2m
A crowd of 30,000 at an average of £7 a game brings in £4.8m

Worth it just to get the fans back on side, if they're refusing to do it by the traditional method of actually putting a decent team out.

That's a very risky strategy though as lowering the prices doesn't necessarily mean a bigger crowd and could cost the club a fortune. We've done those cheap ticket bundles this season which has made little difference and in the PL the £10 tickets didn't make much difference to the crowd.
 
That's a very risky strategy though as lowering the prices doesn't necessarily mean a bigger crowd and could cost the club a fortune. We've done those cheap ticket bundles this season which has made little difference and in the PL the £10 tickets didn't make much difference to the crowd.
The opposite strategy that you're suggesting though is essentially one of exploiting the loyalty of those who'll renew regardless. At least my way the fans might feel like they're being offered an olive branch in the darkest of times, rather than a larger, thicker stick of wood inserted somewhere unpleasant.
 
but putting up prices will not maximise revenues, if the prices are not reduced next season they'll be less than 5000 season ticket holders, so expect sub 10k for some games.

It would be better to fill the stadium by reducing the price to whatever that would take. The extra takings on refreshments would counter some of the loss and the fact the stadium was full would encourage an atmosphere. I hate sitting in the stadium now as it's so empty.

It would scare the players, and we drop again. It's catch 22 mate.
 
this will be my 20th season ticket in a row on renewal

would have renewed without thinking about it regardless of what league we're in but if they have the nerve to increase the price after the shit we've been served up lately i'm out
 
The opposite strategy that you're suggesting though is essentially one of exploiting the loyalty of those who'll renew regardless. At least my way the fans might feel like they're being offered an olive branch in the darkest of times, rather than a larger, thicker stick of wood inserted somewhere unpleasant.

I can see your point but I just can't see how a club at our level can operate by selling season tickets for £25. As an example of what we are competing against Bolton charge £32 (Fair enough that's an adult) for one match. It's probably fair to say we won't be seeing the riches of the Sky TV money in the next few years which makes gate receipts our most important revenue stream. Slashing the most important area of revenue to a businsess so heavily in debt just doesn't make any sense.

For a league one game I would not expect to pay more than £10.

There's teams in the Conference charging 17 and 18 quid.
 
Our only hope next season is away fans bringing 5k. Otherwise the stadium will be lucky to be 40% full.

A sad reflection of a terrible reign
 
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