|
Post by mattmw on Jul 7, 2014 17:16:21 GMT 1
Seems a reasonable scheme that rewards regular supporters over the occasional day visitor which is probably a good thing. Do just wonder if it might impact on your Boxing Day or Bank holiday type crowd who may get put off by paying £23. Membership scheme just seems like one extra barrier to the casual fan attending but not quite sure how many of them there really are
Would also be interested if the member scheme allows you to buy just your ticket or a number of them. IE if I'm a member but have a relative over who wants to go can I buy mine and their ticket at the same price?
Also wonder how many other clubs have a membership scheme.
|
|
|
Post by WATR on Jul 7, 2014 17:20:59 GMT 1
Seems a reasonable scheme that rewards regular supporters over the occasional day visitor which is probably a good thing. Sorry but it "rewards" nobody, it is more expensive for regular fans and even more expensive for non regular fans.
|
|
|
Post by Red Rose In Exile on Jul 7, 2014 17:47:56 GMT 1
I note the level of investment being made in the squad and have supported it on other threads - however, there was a distinct lack of investment in previous 2 seasons and it was said prices would not go up. We will still come to as many games as we can, but it doesn't mean I have to agree with the clubs policy!!
COYB
|
|
|
Post by pughywasfree on Jul 7, 2014 17:54:37 GMT 1
I am sorry but that is a serious kick in the teeth! I say that as a STH that paid early bird prices.
We have had to put up with s**t for two whole seasons. We get relegated and the price goes up! why are people going to pay more to watch a poorer league game?
I understand you don't get decent players without money but I find this very disrespectful towards fans that can't justify a season ticket.
Fans that pay on the day or come once and a while are potential season ticket holders the season after!
Making season tickets better value by increasing match day tickets WILL NOT increase season ticket sales it will just mean day trippers will either pick less games to come to or point blank refuse to pay 23 quid to watch a league 2 match.
I sometimes bring a few mates with me to the game but the was reluctant to pay 21 quid last season, no chance they would pay 23.
It's to high! surely its better to have two people paying 16-19 quid than one paying 23?
From a unimpressed CUSTOMER
|
|
|
Post by Dan F on Jul 7, 2014 17:54:56 GMT 1
Another appealing money saver on offer is our new five-match Flexi Ticket, where supporters can select five games and receive a significant discount overall. Phil Thomas will be delighted.... he been asking for this for years... a great idea for exiles. To be honest its a bit weird that when we asked about that in a meeting we were told it could not be done! Longer than that GP, I first asked for it back in 1999!!!! Still, Town and a fifteen year turnaround, not bad
|
|
|
Post by Matster on Jul 7, 2014 17:55:11 GMT 1
No price rise is ever going to be popular but I'm not going to bash this for the sake of it. As an ex-STH, membership seems the way to go - £18 per game on a flexi-ticket's not too bad. Bit confused by the pricing though. Is a "Match Day" price really the price for any single game, whenever you buy the ticket - ie no discount for buying in advance? Does the 5 game flexi-ticket apply to any 5 games - ie you use it till you've seen 5 games, or do you have to pre-select the games? Junior pricing is very confusing. Prices are shown for 12-16 year olds and 16-18 - which category does a 16 year old go into!? Pity that over 18s go straight to adult prices (unless I've missed something). No concessions for young adults (or students/unemployed)? That's a big disappointment. I thought the club was doing something for that group - am I wrong? Regarding the flexi ticket, I think for ease by the sales team it'll be the customer buying five printed tickets with the match names on each one.
|
|
|
Post by blazey on Jul 7, 2014 18:14:19 GMT 1
It is fair to say we now have the most complex ticketing system in the whole of League Two.
In the context of the good old "market rate" a one-off purchase of a match day ticket at STFC is expensive - probably the most expensive in the league. The membership idea does seem a bit silly as it creates too much unneccesary red tape for the casual punter who, as Pughy says, we are hoping to convert into a regular fan. If we are having a price differential why not just keep it as between advance purchase/match-day so everyone knows where they stand?
Having said that, I think anyone who got in on the first two phases of the early bird season ticket offer got a really good offer - more in line with what I think a match day ticket should cost in an ideal world scenario! The flexi-tickets I also think are a positive step forward in principal although I would like to see the small print as others have mentioned.
It will be interesting to see as the season develops whether the club go for more ticket offers (bring a mate for a fiver etc) - particularly after the decent pricing for the League Cup match and the pre-season friendlies which I think was almost universally welcomed.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 19:00:16 GMT 1
I have to say I'm disappointed that the casual supporter will have to shell out £23 for a match day ticket.
I have taken advantage of the dynamic pricing arrangement in the past so for me the replacement seems to be the flexi-ticket arrangement although I am not yet clear as to how this will operate in practice.
Does seem that the new arrangement has become more rather than less complex. My biggest concern is that we are discouraging the casual supporter, many may well think twice about shelling out £23 to watch Accrington at home on a Tuesday night, for example.
In my case I was always planning to watch the Town more on the road than at the GM next season; with the new pricing structure I may even forego a few home games now and add in some more away trips instead.
|
|
|
Post by spartan on Jul 7, 2014 19:00:58 GMT 1
I've had a look down the home fixture list to see how I would set about cherry-picking games. My starting point was to read the list of the main promotion candidates as asesssed by the bookies. (The latter seem to have half the teams in the division as 'no-hopers'!)
The 'big' games against the teams expected to have promotion aspirations are TRANMERE 16 August, LUTON 30 August,CARLISLE 16 September (Tuesday night) BURY 21 October (Tuesday night) POMPEY 25 October - then a months gap to BURTON 29 November, then another long gap to STEVENAGE on 24 January 2015 followed by SOUTHEND 7 February NORTHAMPTON 28 February, OXFORD 21 March, YORK on 18 April finishing up with the final game v PLYMOUTH on 2 May.
So from late October to the last week in January, there's not very much to whet the casual supporter's appetite. Once you get out of the rhythm of going to games.......
Personally think it's looking like a sabbatical for me this season.
I refuse to pay any sort of ST increase, and £400 is total madness. As a senior STH (I'm in the 60-64 age group) I could if I wanted watch a season of Premiership football at the Hawthorns for under £300!
|
|
|
Post by ferkle94 on Jul 7, 2014 19:04:12 GMT 1
They've updated it to add student rates. £17 without membership, £14 with.
|
|
|
Post by atcham jack on Jul 7, 2014 19:05:59 GMT 1
how much is it for an occasional pensioner please. sounds as though matt williams has dropped a cob.
|
|
|
Post by WATR on Jul 7, 2014 19:12:05 GMT 1
how much is it for an occasional pensioner please. sounds as though matt williams has dropped a cob. £18, up from £11 last season.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 19:28:06 GMT 1
The only customers rewarded by this are those of us who are in the lucky position of being able to afford the one off price of the early bird, or the extra burden of finance.
I thought the dynamic pricing was an excellent scheme and I know two people on low incomes who used it to bring their youngsters a couple of times last season.
It would be interesting to see the data on the dynamic pricing scheme. Maybe the SP can ask for it.
I think though what really gets me is how the article gives the 'good news' before we are click the link to see the real story - that prices have gone up after two seasons of rubbish and you’re going to have to pay extra for the privilege of watching football at a lower level.
I much preferred it if the Club was just honest and said look these are the x, y, and z reasons instead of treating us like a bunch of mugs.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 19:36:05 GMT 1
Is there a buy before the day discount? The increase could cause casual supporters to become even more casual costing the club more in the long run especially if we don't have a good season. Will away fan's get any discount for purchasing in advance? As we've played many of the Club's for years we are not going to be the most attractive away day in the Division this Season so away fans who pick their games might choose the cheaper options and we wont get anywhere near the away gates that we had the last two Season's(perhaps making the difference up for this is the reason). I always thought one of the incentives of buying early was to avoid the hassle of queuing on the day.More people (Home and Away fan's) are going too hold off to the last minute now if it makes no difference.
|
|
|
Post by SouthStandShrew on Jul 7, 2014 19:37:21 GMT 1
Oh for the days 12 quid Macc Town away....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 19:39:28 GMT 1
It may be the dawn of a new era at the GM but sadly the new found transparency of late has taken a knock with this announcement, a poor PR day for the club in my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by blazey on Jul 7, 2014 19:44:20 GMT 1
I much preferred it if the Club was just honest and said look these are the x, y, and z reasons instead of treating us like a bunch of mugs. This. Given the tendency of the rate of profit to fall, I don't think it should be unexpected that there will be a modest increase in ticket prices every few seasons regardless of what league we are in - and I think most supporters would accept this if conveyed transparently as many of the clubs costs - upkeep of the ground and facilities, youth academy, staff - cannot be reduced without being to the detriment of what happens on the pitch. The new ticketing initiative does seem a bit of a cheat as it has been used to cover potentially hefty increases on some match tickets without explanation.
|
|
|
Post by buryshrew on Jul 7, 2014 19:48:30 GMT 1
Great press release. I've never felt quite so lucky to have the opportunity to reduce the amount of additional money it will cost per match to watch league 2 football as opposed to the lower prices of last seasons higher league. Gotta love marketing!
|
|
|
Post by atcham jack on Jul 7, 2014 20:13:06 GMT 1
sounds as though some fans are being asked to stump up for an overspend on the squad. i will still go if i can to the october cheltenham game. perhaps the club has a christmas club i may join!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 20:22:45 GMT 1
Expected negative response really!
Some will stop going, but that's the way of the world, I am afraid price increase is a certainty at some point for everything, food, home, clothes leisure and entertainment! STFC, correct me if I am wrong have frozen prices for a good number of seasons in the past. It is inevitable prices will have to increase eventually.
In this instance hardcore loyalty (those renewing their ST at the earlybird rates) after a season has been rewarded,,,,,,, and why not!
|
|
|
Post by atcham jack on Jul 7, 2014 20:29:17 GMT 1
from league 1 to league 2 and pensioners last season £11, this season £18 =60% increase. shurely shome mishtake Matt! but it equates to the price of 6 pints of ale for 94 minutes of eclectic soccer.
|
|
|
Post by davycrockett on Jul 7, 2014 20:30:12 GMT 1
Just thought I'd check Blackpool ticket prices and it seems they have a much simpler scheme... A slightly higher price BUT £5 off with a membership card making the maximum price with a membership card £20 for an adult for Championship footy, the same as Salop for league 2! Add to that cheaper options in certain stands making it cheaper than Salop and a senior ticket starting at 60 for £19 less £5 for members means a 60 year old could pay £14 on the day! And under 7's FREE with junior card..... www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/tickets/ticket-prices/Can I suggest as a fans group we ask our Fans Parliament rep. to talk to other reps and ask for a meeting to discuss this as I thought that the new club policy was to involve the fans hence the fans parliament .... Or was that just to keep fans quiet when the club were under pressure due to poor performance on and off the pitch...... I would have thought the FP would have been involved with the Open Day which is yet to be announced yet can't be more than 3/4 weeks away but according to El no meeting has happened since the new chief exec. arrived...... I can see Rolands face now, I've done all this and they're still not happy One last thing have the club chosen the Fan Liason Person that has to be in place under league rules yet?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 20:50:44 GMT 1
Yes Nicko, bang on.
I've been enjoying melons updates. Very straightforward and honest.
The article is typical STFC bulls**t however.
I would assume the club ran this past the supporters parliament chairs....... There is clearly no time imperative for releasing this news given the half arsed way they forgot students and also the fact you can't even buy a membership card yet.
|
|
|
Post by SouthStandShrew on Jul 7, 2014 20:58:55 GMT 1
£18 for OAP?
Can't be right?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 21:01:22 GMT 1
I would assume the club ran this past the supporters parliament chairs....... There is clearly no time imperative for releasing this news given the half arsed way they forgot students and also the fact you can't even buy a membership card yet. Whilst I would agree the article and pricing appears confusing and poorly put together, do you honestly think any club who is going to increase it's prices should be expected to, and would, run it past it's supporters parliament.......
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 21:09:10 GMT 1
God this club annoys me at times. They have some good ideas in principle such as this membership scheme and the bundle tickets, but they never manage to implement them correctly, in this instance they mange to ruin those ideas by increasing prices.
If we had stayed in L1 and done this I'd have said it was understandable but I'd have still said it was a p!sstake considering the standard of football in the last two seasons. The fact this has been done in L2 really does amaze me, and this is coming from someone who isn't affected by this as I'm a season ticket holder.
£23 to turn up and watch football, £13 in our last season at Gay Meadow wasn't it? No wonder people have had enough
|
|
|
Post by Optimistic Shrew on Jul 7, 2014 21:13:36 GMT 1
In 07/08 season it was £15 a ticket for adults - First season at the new ground. In 14/15 season now £23 a ticket for adults
In 7 seasons it has gone up £8 in total, an average of more than £1 a year since the move to the new ground. I think I'm also right in saying it was £19 in the 2012/13 season - First season in League 1. So a £2 increase the last 2 seasons.
I feel that this price rise is extortionate and does not persuade fans to buy a season ticket which it's probably aimed to do, they would have in most cases got one by now if they wanted one and the fans that pay for match ticket fans will be put off going or choose to go to less games. Putting off potential future season tickets.
Picture the scenario: 11 year old tells his dad he'd like to watch a Shrewsbury game. His dad obliges as he also hasn't been before so would like to go to a game to see if he likes it but then chokes on his tea to find out it's £23 so will give it a miss.
Add to this there isn't much incentive for away fans. We're probably the most expensive away trip next season. The teams we will be playing have been regular visitors to the new ground over the last 8 years apart from Newport, York and Cambridge.
|
|
|
Post by thesensationaljt on Jul 7, 2014 21:17:53 GMT 1
I could have understood a nominal £1.00 membership fee up to a point, but £5.00 is simply silly. Just when things seemed to be going really well, the club throw a spanner in the works. What does that do to encourage the casual supporter? What happened to that bring a mate idea? I know you'll read this club officials, so I'll tell you now, you haven't been very clever. It's hard enough to prise people away from watching football on tele anyway, so this is a great help.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 21:19:36 GMT 1
I would assume the club ran this past the supporters parliament chairs....... There is clearly no time imperative for releasing this news given the half arsed way they forgot students and also the fact you can't even buy a membership card yet. Whilst I would agree the article and pricing appears confusing and poorly put together, do you honestly think any club who is going to increase it's prices should be expected to, and would, run it past it's supporters parliament....... Give me one good reason why not Foxie. i didn't say they should be agreed with the SP. But why wouldn't you (and perhaps they were consulted) run such a significantly new concept past your appointed fans representative chairs?
|
|
|
Post by stuttgartershrew on Jul 7, 2014 21:24:40 GMT 1
Do just wonder if it might impact on your Boxing Day or Bank holiday type crowd who may get put off by paying £23. Yeah, it'll be interesting. I normally pop over and see a couple of games over the Xmas period but like I say, I can't justify paying that to watch 90 minutes of 4th division football. I know its Town bless em but that's just too much. Whether many more will feel the same we'll have to wait and see but perhaps many who don't go too often might be happy to pay a bit more on the odd special occasion. Maybe that's what the club are banking on (so it's not too many who have to end up paying 23 quid too often anyhows and those who go regularly do have other options). Maybe the odd ticketing initiative here and there might come about. Now we've someone new at the post you never know.
|
|