If the club really needed to squeeze an extra £100 or so out of people, then surely they would get that money by having more people in the ground who would then inevitably spend that extra £100 over the course of 23 visits (club shop, kiosks, fans bar etc). Infact, I expect they'd spend a hell of a lot more than £100.
This feels like they're just trying to take advantage of people being swept up in the moment and just handing over the money. Can't see it at those prices though.
Because the majority of the people moaning are people who either have no intention of buying one regardless of price, and just love to have a moan, or are people who have hung on and hung on and are only now thinking of getting a season ticket because we're in the Championship, and are now moaning because it's more expensive than it was last week.
If it's gone up, it's gone up, it was obvious it was going to happen, every season they go on sale at one price, then that price gets increased after a period of time. There has been plenty of time to save up and buy a season ticket at the lower price, they've been on sale for a while now.
No, we are moaning because:
- we don't like sitting in a 1/2 empty stadium - it's the wrong way to increase revenues - it's the wrong way to increase support - it's probably killed off whatever chance there was of persuading the 'uncommitted/casual/fairweather' supporters to make a commitment - and those supporters like me that purchased their 25/26 season tickets weeks ago will now find the 26/27 renewal price will have increased steeply (and that likely includes you also).
As has already been pointed out, stop thinking about this from your just your narrow point of view and more from the point of view of how to fill those empty matchday seats.
Well the good news is, if you want a season ticket and are worried they'll sell, there's no rush, cause we won't sell more than 13k based on those prices, and that would be good going.
As for the argument of funding a better team. An increase of let's say £80 average per season ticket works out to 800k, being very generous here as that's 10k season tickets and most people would have bought early birds. Divide that by 52 so a players yearly salary and you're looking at a player for 15k a week, a lower average than most clubs top earner, and that's just one player, or, an £800k to £1 million transfer fee on a player.
Fleecing fans for an extra 50-100 quid on a season ticket is not going to make us a competitive championship side. It takes a lot more than that.
I also don't think there's much incentive here for loyalty points as most grounds will give big enough allocations, so the loyalty points won't be as meaningful, I can only see Millwall and QPR being the games that will be difficult to get tickets for, be plenty of tickets for the likes of Blackburn, Preston, Boro, Sheffield clubs, West Brom etc.
I think this is an own goal, and a bit short sighted.
Ipswich, Birmingham, West Brom, Portsmouth, Oxford, Norwich, Derby, QPR & Millwall will all sellout. My prediction if played on a Saturday/ Sunday.
Well the good news is, if you want a season ticket and are worried they'll sell, there's no rush, cause we won't sell more than 13k based on those prices, and that would be good going.
As for the argument of funding a better team. An increase of let's say £80 average per season ticket works out to 800k, being very generous here as that's 10k season tickets and most people would have bought early birds. Divide that by 52 so a players yearly salary and you're looking at a player for 15k a week, a lower average than most clubs top earner, and that's just one player, or, an £800k to £1 million transfer fee on a player.
Fleecing fans for an extra 50-100 quid on a season ticket is not going to make us a competitive championship side. It takes a lot more than that.
I also don't think there's much incentive here for loyalty points as most grounds will give big enough allocations, so the loyalty points won't be as meaningful, I can only see Millwall and QPR being the games that will be difficult to get tickets for, be plenty of tickets for the likes of Blackburn, Preston, Boro, Sheffield clubs, West Brom etc.
I think this is an own goal, and a bit short sighted.
Ipswich, Birmingham, West Brom, Portsmouth, Oxford, Norwich, Derby, QPR & Millwall will all sellout. My prediction if played on a Saturday/ Sunday.
They'll sell out but will make the latter stages of priority points, maybe even general sale (bar Millwall)
Well the good news is, if you want a season ticket and are worried they'll sell, there's no rush, cause we won't sell more than 13k based on those prices, and that would be good going.
As for the argument of funding a better team. An increase of let's say £80 average per season ticket works out to 800k, being very generous here as that's 10k season tickets and most people would have bought early birds. Divide that by 52 so a players yearly salary and you're looking at a player for 15k a week, a lower average than most clubs top earner, and that's just one player, or, an £800k to £1 million transfer fee on a player.
Fleecing fans for an extra 50-100 quid on a season ticket is not going to make us a competitive championship side. It takes a lot more than that.
I also don't think there's much incentive here for loyalty points as most grounds will give big enough allocations, so the loyalty points won't be as meaningful, I can only see Millwall and QPR being the games that will be difficult to get tickets for, be plenty of tickets for the likes of Blackburn, Preston, Boro, Sheffield clubs, West Brom etc.
I think this is an own goal, and a bit short sighted.
Ipswich, Birmingham, West Brom, Portsmouth, Oxford, Norwich, Derby, QPR & Millwall will all sellout. My prediction if played on a Saturday/ Sunday.
They'll sell out but will make the latter stages of priority points, maybe even general sale (bar Millwall)
This is what I meant. There's no rush for me to get a season ticket, as I know it's likely I'll be able to get a ticket, especially with those prices.
When is the date that tickets get released for those season ticket holders that do not renew? Want to get my youngest her first season ticket in the family stand but not too many options in that area.
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just think £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy then?
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just thing £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy them.
Because if you do the sums it isn't always cost effective to buy a season ticket if you know you will miss some games - that is inevitable for some people especially with family commitments.
Those who have a more limited budget have to make choices and committing to 3rd Division football is not the pull it might be to you for everyone.
You have to accept that success (promotion) creates interest and bigger crowds but has to be balanced with financial reality for your target audience.
Those that renewed 'early' will feel the pain next year.
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just thing £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy them.
Because if you do the sums it isn't always cost effective to buy a season ticket if you know you will miss some games - that is inevitable for some people especially with family commitments.
Those who have a more limited budget have to make choices and committing to 3rd Division football is not the pull it might be to you for everyone.
You have to accept that success (promotion) creates interest and bigger crowds but has to be balanced with financial reality for your target audience.
Those that renewed 'early' will feel the pain next year.
And I get that.
But, those who renewed when we may have been paying for third division football should be rewarded for that loyalty. Keeping the price the same once promoted doesn’t do that.
I was just making a point to someone who seemed to be moaning about a price increase.
Considering we had 40,000 at Wembley you’d hope half of them would want a ST next season.
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just thing £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy them.
Because if you do the sums it isn't always cost effective to buy a season ticket if you know you will miss some games - that is inevitable for some people especially with family commitments.
Those who have a more limited budget have to make choices and committing to 3rd Division football is not the pull it might be to you for everyone.
You have to accept that success (promotion) creates interest and bigger crowds but has to be balanced with financial reality for your target audience.
Those that renewed 'early' will feel the pain next year.
And I get that.
But, those who renewed when we may have been paying for third division football should be rewarded for that loyalty. Keeping the price the same once promoted doesn’t do that.
I was just making a point to someone who seemed to be moaning about a price increase.
Considering we had 40,000 at Wembley you’d hope half of them would want a ST next season.
And more might if they had retained the price and said (for example) secure your ticket now to avoid a price rise in 3 weeks time. The opportunity was there to cash in on the feel good factor.
Rewarding loyalty was already there (early bird /phase 1) but they've now added a penalty for the very audience they are trying to attract by having a 3rd phase.
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just think £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy then?
People are definitely different, if I did 50 games I'd need a new job and a divorce. The schedule format of the championship actually makes a ST a far bigger and harder commitment than league 1... its not just about the £90 increase a day after a Wembley win.
As per my original post, if you miss 4 midweek games, a season ticket is pretty pointless, focus should be getting more people to games and spending money once there.. Long term there's far more money in that now that they are slowly bringing things back in house.
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just thing £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy them.
Because if you do the sums it isn't always cost effective to buy a season ticket if you know you will miss some games - that is inevitable for some people especially with family commitments.
Those who have a more limited budget have to make choices and committing to 3rd Division football is not the pull it might be to you for everyone.
You have to accept that success (promotion) creates interest and bigger crowds but has to be balanced with financial reality for your target audience.
Those that renewed 'early' will feel the pain next year.
And I get that.
But, those who renewed when we may have been paying for third division football should be rewarded for that loyalty. Keeping the price the same once promoted doesn’t do that.
I was just making a point to someone who seemed to be moaning about a price increase.
Considering we had 40,000 at Wembley you’d hope half of them would want a ST next season.
I’d guess that on the day three-quarters would easily want a ST but reality quickly kicks in and practicality and costs will rapidly bring that number down.
Next season there will be 33 ‘weekend’ fixtures, so simplistically let’s say 17 home games. But, as a Championship club we could find that only half of those might be a 3pm Saturday KO and outside that time and day the practicality of travel throws a big spanner in the works for a lot of people.
Makes you wonder if nobody realised we were now a Championship club and what the implications were before they released those increased ST prices.
Wonder what they would charge in the event of Promotion to the PL?
They’ve made worthwhile for people that renewed early and it’s still only £24 a game.
So what if they move kick off times or they’re midweek.
I don’t get some people. Desperate for a Wembley ticket but can’t go to The Valley on a Tuesday night.
You not have a job or a family ? I've had over a decade as worth of STs over the years but situations change.
Yes mate I have a couple of businesses and a family.
Guess some are different, I did 50 games last season, I understand it’s different for some.
I just thing £25 a game is good value for championship football. There are cheaper alternatives such as behind the goal. its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
I just don’t get how people are shocked every year by price increases.
It was cheaper last week so why not just buy them.
Because if you do the sums it isn't always cost effective to buy a season ticket if you know you will miss some games - that is inevitable for some people especially with family commitments.
Those who have a more limited budget have to make choices and committing to 3rd Division football is not the pull it might be to you for everyone.
You have to accept that success (promotion) creates interest and bigger crowds but has to be balanced with financial reality for your target audience.
Those that renewed 'early' will feel the pain next year.
And I get that.
But, those who renewed when we may have been paying for third division football should be rewarded for that loyalty. Keeping the price the same once promoted doesn’t do that.
I was just making a point to someone who seemed to be moaning about a price increase.
Considering we had 40,000 at Wembley you’d hope half of them would want a ST next season.
And more might if they had retained the price and said (for example) secure your ticket now to avoid a price rise in 3 weeks time. The opportunity was there to cash in on the feel good factor.
Rewarding loyalty was already there (early bird /phase 1) but they've now added a penalty for the very audience they are trying to attract by having a 3rd phase.
They’d already had an early bird price freeze window. If you’re renewing it’s still the same price as before Sunday is it not. Again rewarding people who have stuck with it whilst it’s been pony.
It’s really not a big deal that those who now fancy a ST as we were promoted pay £4 a game more.
And don’t forget there’s a 10% discount for VG too. I’d suggest it’s the people that moan about not getting tickets and points systems that don’t want to pay the going rate.
Disclosure - I haven't had a season ticket since 1998, and prior to that 1992. You can probably see the reason for having them in those years. I bought for next season on Friday before the final. Outside of those season ticket years I've attended anywhere between 5 and 40 games a season. I went least in the Premier years, and the most in the wilderness years of Selhurst and Upton Park.
I think the club have made a marginal but disappointing commercial / marketing error here.
Perception is everything. The decision to increase prices may (and probably does) have some commercial rationale behind it, but the impression is one of opportunism at the expense of loyal fans.
They will undoubtedly have softened demand. That softening may be surpassed by the incremental margin on new season ticket sales. Instinct tells me it will probably balance each other out (and even if there is an upside, in the scheme of things it's unlikely to be material).
Perhaps a powerful marketing and long term fan engagement approach would have been to announce that the club would hold a certain number of season tickets (250?) at the existing price for a limited period of time (48 hours?), available to those that had loyalty points from the previous season. Loyal fans would be rewarded, and the club would have been seen to "get it".
Anyone without any loyalty points from last season or who purchased after the limited time window would get the new Championship price.
The clubs optimises short term demand, builds a revenue pipeline (ticket sales and ancillary sale projections), capitalises on fan engagement and still has the opportunity to market the higher prices, with a value proposition, to the long tail of potential purchasers.
If I put this on a powerpoint presentation, I think Bazballers would have a run for their money.
Pricing is a move to change the economic demographic of the supporter base. To people who have above average income I would suggest is the idea. Would expect the price rise for the 26/27 season will be just as much if still in the Championship. It is a trend in football today.
Pricing is a move to change the economic demographic of the supporter base. To people who have above average income I would suggest is the idea. Would expect the price rise for the 26/27 season will be just as much if still in the Championship. It is a trend in football today.
I think they got it wrong, but I think its more to do with trying to optimise revenue than socially engineer the fan base demographic.
Not sure what anyone’s moaning about. Our tickets in the covered end lower last 2 years have been close to what Dartford charge a season. So no problem with them going up.
If we want to better part of that is “supporting” the club financially. I’m sure the extra money helps a little.
The amount of warnings we all got before the playoffs it was clear it’s best to buy weeks ago.
If you can’t afford it the put it on monthly
Oor are that tight if you miss a few games you go to your little calculator to see how much a game is give your head a wobble.
Not sure what anyone’s moaning about. Our tickets in the covered end lower last 2 years have been close to what Dartford charge a season. So no problem with them going up.
If we want to better part of that is “supporting” the club financially. I’m sure the extra money helps a little.
The amount of warnings we all got before the playoffs it was clear it’s best to buy weeks ago.
If you can’t afford it the put it on monthly
Oor are that tight if you miss a few games you go to your little calculator to see how much a game is give your head a wobble.
I didn't see these - just a note that sales would stop on Saturday and resume after. Was there any reference to prices increasing?
I think a price increase was inevitable and correct.
I think there is a valid debate as to whether £90 is too much and will it deter renewals and new or returning buyers. It certainly made me think "wow, how much?"
The counter argument is that if you didn't have a ST last season it is not an increase. If you did, you could have already bought at the lower price.
And, of course, it is a "better" product.
We don't know the match ticket prices for next year IIRC so not possible to say "if you miss four games it's not financially viable"
Also even with in house retail, catering is still outsourced and added profit per attendee is only £1 or £2 per game.
It would be interesting to hear from the Advisory Board members as to what the thinking was behind these numbers and what the projected income figures were at lower or higher increases.
It would be interesting to hear from the Advisory Board members as to what the thinking was behind these numbers and what the projected income figures were at lower or higher increases.
My starting guess is they had no input or knowledge
I think a price increase was inevitable and correct.
I think there is a valid debate as to whether £90 is too much and will it deter renewals and new or returning buyers. It certainly made me think "wow, how much?"
The counter argument is that if you didn't have a ST last season it is not an increase. If you did, you could have already bought at the lower price.
And, of course, it is a "better" product.
We don't know the match ticket prices for next year IIRC so not possible to say "if you miss four games it's not financially viable"
Also even with in house retail, catering is still outsourced and added profit per attendee is only £1 or £2 per game.
It would be interesting to hear from the Advisory Board members as to what the thinking was behind these numbers and what the projected income figures were at lower or higher increases.
Well if they increase match day prices too (much) that’s a further disincentive to the new/floating support.
The price point has to relate to alternate entertainment options (especially for a family) and a Sky / streaming subscription. The comparison is not other teams (for example) because most would not think to support a different team.
I know a group of 6 friends who’s working pattern not ideal. Bought two season tickets which they share so everyone gets their fair share and buy extras if needed. Gave them the ability to get priority for away games, and of course all went to Wembley.
Comments
This feels like they're just trying to take advantage of people being swept up in the moment and just handing over the money. Can't see it at those prices though.
- we don't like sitting in a 1/2 empty stadium
- it's the wrong way to increase revenues
- it's the wrong way to increase support
- it's probably killed off whatever chance there was of persuading the 'uncommitted/casual/fairweather' supporters to make a commitment
- and those supporters like me that purchased their 25/26 season tickets weeks ago will now find the 26/27 renewal price will have increased steeply (and that likely includes you also).
As has already been pointed out, stop thinking about this from your just your narrow point of view and more from the point of view of how to fill those empty matchday seats.
My prediction if played on a Saturday/ Sunday.
In the Dockers stand.
its a costly business going to football once you’ve added England and away games too.
Those who have a more limited budget have to make choices and committing to 3rd Division football is not the pull it might be to you for everyone.
You have to accept that success (promotion) creates interest and bigger crowds but has to be balanced with financial reality for your target audience.
Those that renewed 'early' will feel the pain next year.
Rewarding loyalty was already there (early bird /phase 1) but they've now added a penalty for the very audience they are trying to attract by having a 3rd phase.
People are definitely different, if I did 50 games I'd need a new job and a divorce. The schedule format of the championship actually makes a ST a far bigger and harder commitment than league 1... its not just about the £90 increase a day after a Wembley win.
As per my original post, if you miss 4 midweek games, a season ticket is pretty pointless, focus should be getting more people to games and spending money once there.. Long term there's far more money in that now that they are slowly bringing things back in house.
Makes you wonder if nobody realised we were now a Championship club and what the implications were before they released those increased ST prices.
If you’re renewing it’s still the same price as before Sunday is it not.
Again rewarding people who have stuck with it whilst it’s been pony.
I’d suggest it’s the people that moan about not getting tickets and points systems that don’t want to pay the going rate.
I think the club have made a marginal but disappointing commercial / marketing error here.
Perception is everything. The decision to increase prices may (and probably does) have some commercial rationale behind it, but the impression is one of opportunism at the expense of loyal fans.
They will undoubtedly have softened demand. That softening may be surpassed by the incremental margin on new season ticket sales. Instinct tells me it will probably balance each other out (and even if there is an upside, in the scheme of things it's unlikely to be material).
Perhaps a powerful marketing and long term fan engagement approach would have been to announce that the club would hold a certain number of season tickets (250?) at the existing price for a limited period of time (48 hours?), available to those that had loyalty points from the previous season. Loyal fans would be rewarded, and the club would have been seen to "get it".
Anyone without any loyalty points from last season or who purchased after the limited time window would get the new Championship price.
The clubs optimises short term demand, builds a revenue pipeline (ticket sales and ancillary sale projections), capitalises on fan engagement and still has the opportunity to market the higher prices, with a value proposition, to the long tail of potential purchasers.
If I put this on a powerpoint presentation, I think Bazballers would have a run for their money.
Oor are that tight if you miss a few games you go to your little calculator to see how much a game is give your head a wobble.
But regardless it’s a poor commercial decision when the club should go out if it’s way to attract new / floating support.
I think there is a valid debate as to whether £90 is too much and will it deter renewals and new or returning buyers. It certainly made me think "wow, how much?"
The counter argument is that if you didn't have a ST last season it is not an increase. If you did, you could have already bought at the lower price.
And, of course, it is a "better" product.
We don't know the match ticket prices for next year IIRC so not possible to say "if you miss four games it's not financially viable"
Also even with in house retail, catering is still outsourced and added profit per attendee is only £1 or £2 per game.
It would be interesting to hear from the Advisory Board members as to what the thinking was behind these numbers and what the projected income figures were at lower or higher increases.
Gave them the ability to get priority for away games, and of course all went to Wembley.