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Season Ticket Holders Opinions Wanted; reduced prices
Topic Started: Sep 25 2006, 03:23 PM (949 Views)
greydog
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Ian Bennett
[ *  *  *  * ]
chilternblue
Sep 26 2006, 12:35 PM
greydog
Sep 26 2006, 06:50 AM
chilternblue
Sep 26 2006, 05:14 AM
If the prices were dropped to around £14-£18 i might think about it. Shelling out £29 for a match against leicester is a joke really. What are you getting for your £29 quid. You could have a round at a decent golf course for that, 2 or 3 dvds, so on and so on. Are you really getting value for your money. Judging by the way they are playing i think not.
The loyalty argument is a load of tosh as well. When have Blues ever been loyal to the fan? They didn't come and see me when i was bad.

While I agree that £29 is a lot in comparison to some other clubs for this level of football I think you've hit the nail on the head when you compare going to support your team to other leisure activities such as golf, DVDs etc.
The point is that the "real" fan - not knocking you - doesn't see going to St Andrews as an either/or situation. You go because you can't not go! You prioritise and good luck if you prefer a game of golf, it's your choice.
I think this attitude shows why we have gates of below 20,000 and supports the idea that the extra 8 - 9,000 were mainly made up of Premiership groupies. I accept that in that figure there were quite a few like chilternblue who honestly want to go but choose not to because of the pricing policy (which I agree is totally wrong but as I say above, I can't not go!)
:( **thumbup

I appreciate your comments but I was there with my season ticket in the old 3rd division. I even used to fly back from France to watch them when I was living on the continent. I choose not to go at the moment because I have grown increasingly fed up with the quality of the current teams performances. Although the cost is not an issue with me I feel aggrieved to be subsidising the players and management at this football club at the moment. I suppose the last 2 seasons have finally wore me down.
What are the Premiership groupies as you put it, missing out on in this division though? These people will only come if the side is doing well and choose not to go if the side is poor. I see nothing wrong in this as its up to the club to ensure that there product is good enough to warrant £29. At the moment it isn't.
I hate to say it but viler have played there trump card by getting in O’Neil. All of a sudden they look like a different proposition altogether. Surely this is the way our board should be heading.
If they were to appoint Alan Curbishley, install an old trafford type pa system, install a decent electronic scoreboard and improve the half time entertainment. I know for sure that the Blues I know and love would be back in business and there would be 30016 to prove it.

Can't argue with any of that :applause:
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david_kelly
Peter Enckelman
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People will return when they feel the club has some momentum.

Bruce = Stagnation

Curbishley = Progress.

BRUCE OUT!
CAMPAIGN AGAINST BLUES FORUM CENSORSHIP
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bat1978
Bob Hatton
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While appreciating the things that have been said so far on this thread - there are people (like me) who find it absolutely 100% impossible to afford a season ticket (especially on my wages!!). Games like Leicester and Chesterfield etc, lower league teams would be great to bump up the numbers for the club - but I can't even afford £29 for one ticket (a game which I was going to bring my nephew to - his first footy match).

I'm not disagreeing with anyone here, I fully respect the fact that the ST WAS expensive, and I think you SHOULD get a refund or thereabouts if the board decide to lower the prices - but I just wanted to put the point across for some of us fans who may be on minimum wage with kids :)
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chilternblue
Ian Bennett
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bat1978
Sep 26 2006, 04:48 PM
While appreciating the things that have been said so far on this thread - there are people (like me) who find it absolutely 100% impossible to afford a season ticket (especially on my wages!!). Games like Leicester and Chesterfield etc, lower league teams would be great to bump up the numbers for the club - but I can't even afford £29 for one ticket (a game which I was going to bring my nephew to - his first footy match).

I'm not disagreeing with anyone here, I fully respect the fact that the ST WAS expensive, and I think you SHOULD get a refund or thereabouts if the board decide to lower the prices - but I just wanted to put the point across for some of us fans who may be on minimum wage with kids :)

I remember in the 80s when it used to cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for kids. It just shows how things have changed.

There is a new type of fan at football these days which probably explains why fergie slated his own fans the other night when they played celtic. The prawn sandwich brigade are evident all over now and it's a shame football has priced folk like yourself out of the game.

**thumbup
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micky
Olivier Tebily
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i must admit i was very close too not having my season ticket this season.( the 10% off swung it) 500 odd pound for this division was unbelievable. lets face it we all knew the board would charge low prices for the southends,qpr, etc....but we need the atmosphere back in stans.....i say its ok by me......PS.( i wont be happy till they change that **** music pre-kickoff ,its embarrasing)
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jassyblue80
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Trevor Francis
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chilternblue
Sep 26 2006, 06:02 PM
bat1978
Sep 26 2006, 04:48 PM
While appreciating the things that have been said so far on this thread - there are people (like me) who find it absolutely 100% impossible to afford a season ticket (especially on my wages!!). Games like Leicester and Chesterfield etc, lower league teams would be great to bump up the numbers for the club - but I can't even afford £29 for one ticket (a game which I was going to bring my nephew to - his first footy match).

I'm not disagreeing with anyone here, I fully respect the fact that the ST WAS expensive, and I think you SHOULD get a refund or thereabouts if the board decide to lower the prices - but I just wanted to put the point across for some of us fans who may be on minimum wage with kids :)

I remember in the 80s when it used to cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for kids. It just shows how things have changed.

There is a new type of fan at football these days which probably explains why fergie slated his own fans the other night when they played celtic. The prawn sandwich brigade are evident all over now and it's a shame football has priced folk like yourself out of the game.

**thumbup

I had a season ticket even then, even though there was no problem with sell outs... and there was only ever a que for the season ticket entrance... think my first season ticket was about £30 :P
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bluepeter
Peter Enckelman
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I`d rather there be a full house even if that would mean some paying reduced prices.
No fun in sitting in a ground by yourself because you`re the only one who can afford to get in !!

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jassyblue80
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Trevor Francis
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bluepeter
Sep 27 2006, 02:09 PM
I`d rather there be a full house even if that would mean some paying reduced prices.
No fun in sitting in a ground by yourself because you`re the only one who can afford to get in !!

true, it does feel a bit wierd having room in the tilton... however the bar always manages to be full :P
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Bluefan
Peter Enckelman
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The Board are between a rock and a hard place. The better the atmosphere the more supporters come. The higher the price the fewer that come. The smaller the income the fewer top players the club can attract. The fewer top players the less come.

I am a long time ST holder and I struggle to find the money but think the Board have got it about right.

They are being pragmatic and responding to market forces.

The truth is that all entertainment, holidays, shows, clubs, bars, restaurants and particularly professional football are to my eyes ridiculously over priced and are not reflected in the cost of living index that governs large numbers of supporters wage demands and pensions. It is not fair - it never was - but it is how it is.

Fortunately or unfortunately I am a Blues addict. Not a strong position when involved in market forces.

So my advice to my fellow addicts is to put the injustice behind you and concentrate on enjoying your regular Blues fix. You will be more content and live longer. KRO!
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Paul Tait's Tee-Shirt
Paul Tait's Tee Shirt
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As a lapsed season-ticket holder, I can fully appreciate the views of those who have renewed at considerable cost, against "Cut-Price" deals.

However, paying £29 to see Leicester is a ludicrous amount of money and will lead to another poor crowd and poor atmosphere.

My solution (and I've said it on other threads so apologies for repetition) is sell off the front 4 Rows around the ground at £10 a head, first come, first served. I doubt many season-ticket holders have or would want seats in these rows, which are in the main restricted in their view of the whole pitch. This would have the advantage of drawing in a few more "casual" fans to boost the atmosphere, give the players a lift (to have home fans nearer to them) and not penalise too much season-ticket holders who have a far superior view for their money.
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monkey78
Unregistered

I think a problem which blues are creating now is investing in the future fans. I got hooked in the 80's when my uncle used to take me to the games. My 1st season ticket was £12 in the Kop. Cup games were £2 for me. I got the bug and had a season Ticket for 18 years, I just gave it up this summer. Now, a few people on here are saying they can't afford to take kids down or won't pay the prices. This leaves a generation of potential fans with no games to go to. I know the board have done cheap kids STs but they still need adults to take them and they are the ones being priced out.

I can afford to go down every week if I want to but whats the point, It makes me angry when I see the rubbish on show, and knowing how much they get paid for it. I would reconsider however if Brucie went tho'.
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olton1
Joe Hart
[ *  * ]
I won't pay £29.00 + £15.00 for me & my little girl to go to see Blues v Leics -

When I buy something I weigh up whether I think it's worth the money - this is too much in my opinion - I'm not paying it.. simple.

I know some will accuse me of not being a "proper" supporter, I have been going on & off for the best part of 30 years, Blues are important to me but I don't think that I am especially important to them.

Enjoy the game, I'll listen on the radio.
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WythallBlue
Steve Claridge
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The last 2 posts mirror my position exactly! Sorry but we,ve been hurt once too often and spent far too many years where we are now-and it is massively overpriced and rubbish to watch.........!!!!

The thrill of the 90s (following the Gold's/Sullivan takeover) was giving everything you'd got to get our beloved club back where we belonged. Even when we got relegated to the 3rd division at Tranmere (and albion survived bizarrely cuz that season it was down to goals scored not goal difference-typical of Blues luck eh?) it didnt matter and I renewed my season ticket.

Then the play off heartbreaks killed me every year-3 wrecked summers! But still I renewed without question!

Not this time though-I'm still very very hurt that we lost our Premier status and with no guarantee of getting it back I'm not ready to renew at a cost of around £1700 for the family to watch the crappy championship! I took them to the Shrewsbury game and they were praying for a goal to prevent extra time so boring was the game!! I don't think they even cared who scored it!!!!!!

So no-I'm not paying £90 (as I mentioned earlier in the thread) to watch Blues V Leicester-£50 for 2 adults and 2 children would be about right.
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Bluebird
Paul Tait
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I haven't read all of the posts so my apologies if this point has already been made....
I am a Season Ticket Holder and I am okay with the prices being dropped....
As balance, why not automatically include all Home Cup Matches for Season Ticket Holders in the price they have already paid?
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Aussiebrum
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Mikael Forssell
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Jassy, in any pricing policy the Board has to factor in the value of the Brand.

Discounting is not possible and I respectfully suggest your theory of elasticity (relative to pricing) is likely to be incorrect.

The salient problem is the high costs of runing a club, forcing the management to charge high prices. The sad part is this will prevent some from attending.

I very much like another posters idea of heavy discounting of the restricted view seats, as this would enable some to attend that may not otherwise - I suggest that is the angle to pursue.

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jassyblue80
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Trevor Francis
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Aussiebrum
Sep 29 2006, 04:15 AM
Jassy, in any pricing policy the Board has to factor in the value of the Brand.

Discounting is not possible and I respectfully suggest your theory of elasticity (relative to pricing) is likely to be incorrect.

The salient problem is the high costs of runing a club, forcing the management to charge high prices. The sad part is this will prevent some from attending.

I very much like another posters idea of heavy discounting of the restricted view seats, as this would enable some to attend that may not otherwise - I suggest that is the angle to pursue.

My thoughts behind the idea are that the club (owners) would subsidise for this season, in an attempt to attract the consumer again. Hopefully this would increase the revenue from other aspects of the club (shirts, food etc...)

My main point was to try and ensure that the ground is full and for the fans to help push the team back into the premier where the money really is.

Like you say the club should be run as a business and sometimes you have to “speculate to accumulate” (I hate that phrase). In the short term the club probably would make a small loss at discounted prices but in the long run, they may keep hold of a bigger fan base and hopefully gain automatic promotion to make up for the loss of one season?

The whole point of this post is to gauge ideas and suggestions, I have contacted the club with the initial idea, and would be grateful of anymore suggestions and help on this matter as I am not a business man and don’t really have a head for figures, so if anyone wants to chip in please feel free. I have been told I will receive a reply within 7-10 days, so I would like to have something prepared by then if at all possible.

Thank you
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Aussiebrum
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Mikael Forssell
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I certainly understand where you are coming from, but still disagree.

At our club in melbourne (and we won the Grand Final last week) we allowed children in for free (subject to be accompanied by an adult) - and the move backfired. A charge works better and there is the feel good factor of children being members.

Discounting is the laziest form of marketing, you use it when you are bereft of better ideas.

Up-selling other offers is more commercial. You’ll see cleaver brands offer deals like by 2 and get one three is far better than a silly 33% off deal.

I actually felt the season ticket options offered this year were rather prudent, hopefully it worked reasonably well.

Clearly there are no simple short term solutions, and good on you for the positive aspect of contacting the club with your suggestions.
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jassyblue80
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Trevor Francis
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Aussiebrum
Sep 29 2006, 09:02 AM
I certainly understand where you are coming from, but still disagree.

At our club in melbourne (and we won the Grand Final last week) we allowed children in for free (subject to be accompanied by an adult) - and the move backfired. A charge works better and there is the feel good factor of children being members.

Discounting is the laziest form of marketing, you use it when you are bereft of better ideas.

Up-selling other offers is more commercial. You’ll see cleaver brands offer deals like by 2 and get one three is far better than a silly 33% off deal.

I actually felt the season ticket options offered this year were rather prudent, hopefully it worked reasonably well.

Clearly there are no simple short term solutions, and good on you for the positive aspect of contacting the club with your suggestions.

I don't know if its the laziest option, but probably one out of desperation... and sitting in a half empty quiet St Andrews is desperate. I was hoping those days had long gone, but obviously I was naive to think this. Reading through a few of these posts it appears that it isn’t just the cost stopping some, it’s the opposition, the tactics etc…

Of course we all despair at times at a sub or defensive/attacking set up… but isn’t that what football is all about… everyone’s a manager?

I think by reducing the prices and offering season ticket holders further reward we would see a few return to St Andrews, but not the numbers I (and the club) would hope for.

Its only an idea, and probably one the club wont run with anyway :(
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Paul Tait's Tee-Shirt
Paul Tait's Tee Shirt
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In all the years that me and my mates had season-tickets (Block 5 since the new stand was built) there were always Cut-Price deals on offer depending on the strength of the opposition. A home Friday night televised game was always prime for a reduction. It was somethng that as season-ticket holders we put up with for the club to increase the atmosphere in the ground. This season when we need to attract fans back the pricing is set in stone, no flexibility - Big mistake imo and reflected in the poor gates so far :unsure:
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garyinash04
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Steve Claridge
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I am amongst the group who class themselves as fortunate enough to be able to afford season tickets for me and my 2 lads. In total, they cost me close on £900 and I pay this because my 2 boys love going to the Blues and painful as it is to have to find such a sum, I am willing to make sacrifices to be able to keep taking my boys to the games. It's an addiction that the three of us share and is massively important to me.

That said, I think the price of STs and tickets in general at St Andrews are outrageous. They were incredibly steep in the Premiership - in the Championship they are almost beyond belief. There is no doubt at all in my mind that the product is overpriced and the public are voting with their feet - apart, of course, from my fellow addicts who will keep going regardless of price.

It pains me hugely to see the ground half empty and the atmosphere reduced to a morgue on occassions. In this respect, I have no problem accepting match-by-match price reductions to entice people to come and thus increase support for the team.

My personal view is that prices MUST come down to reflect the value of the product. I have long believed that ST holders especially deserve a far better deal. Reduced prices for fairly unattractive cup games against the likes of Wrexham are not what I am looking for, nor are free yearbooks or whatever (products like this invariably end up being flogged off for next to nothing anyway).

I feel ST holders should benefit from their loyalty in their pockets. IMO, the longer you hold your ST, the cheaper it should be. I'd like to see a discount system that rewards loyalty - 20% off game-by-game prices in the first year you have a ST, 25% off if you have it again for a 2nd year, 30% in the 3rd year etc. This could be capped at (say) 40-50% for really loyal, long-term ST holders.

This would give people like me a real sense that my loyalty was valued and appreciated. Then they could make whatever game-by-game special offers they like and I wouldn't care a bit!
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salad_dodger
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Paul Tait
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Aussiebrum
Sep 29 2006, 04:15 AM
Jassy, in any pricing policy the Board has to factor in the value of the Brand.

Discounting is not possible and I respectfully suggest your theory of elasticity (relative to pricing) is likely to be incorrect.

The salient problem is the high costs of runing a club, forcing the management to charge high prices. The sad part is this will prevent some from attending.

I very much like another posters idea of heavy discounting of the restricted view seats, as this would enable some to attend that may not otherwise - I suggest that is the angle to pursue.

With all due respect Aussie that is a very weak arguement, purely because the cost of running the club has dropped by over £10 million in wages just from the players released, thats without the other retained players dropping to half of last seasons wages, staff that were made redundant etc etc.

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Aussiebrum
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Mikael Forssell
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Yes salad, the costs have dropped - as has income!!!

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Paul Tait's Tee-Shirt
Paul Tait's Tee Shirt
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18,002 :(

The Club need to sort this out and quick. I can see less than that against Norwich.
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stevio11
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Alex Govan
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Sorry Lads but this was the first home game I missed this season.WHY ?,I go on holiday in 2 weeks and I think that £30 is better in my pocket and enjoying my hoilday rather than being ripped off and watching a sub standard bruce type performance again.I have a limited income and whilst I did want to come today,I made the decision which I thought was in the best interest for me.

And I think a lot of fans are having to do that now

I was a season ticket holder as well but cannot afford the outlay now.
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mattieb5
Martin Grainger
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Provide a quality product and people will pay. Sell an inferior product at premium prices and see what happens......18002 (and the 2, you know whoyou are!!)
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