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Season tickets, 2011/12


sotonian

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Just phoned the club and asked if the 65 concession is a typo or a change slipped in without being announced properly, she went away to find out and the latter is correct.

 

Big increase for less games.

 

Same amount of games. Anyway, 60-65 is the age group that can (usually) afford it most. If people have retired before 65 then they have enough wedge for a 30% increase anyway. If they haven't, then they should pay the same as any other working person.

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The prices are a little higher than I expected by about £60-70 but over a season I guess that's not too bad.

 

I can understand if they aren't fussed about promoting season tickets etc, I have no problem with that. I do think things like the concessions age change could be handled better though.

 

The old 'football clubs being run purely as a normal business' discussion is a complicated one for all sorts of reasons, I accept that this is what football has become now, but my opinion is that communication costs nothing.

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Mine has gone up 65%

 

Paid £460 last year Adult and Junior

This year £705.

 

TBF, we are in the middle of two extremes.

 

Last year was a bargain in reality, and this year is a probably a little expensive, when you compare the two though it makes it look like daylight robbery.

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And it's galling that I get 30% off the rail trip with a Senior Railcard, free bus but then have to pay full to get into the ground.

 

I've long believed that concessions for 'Seniors', students, etc, should be standardised across the board, and perhaps defined using government definitions that are aligned with state pension/benefit type rules. But private companies can basically do things as they see fit, hence the disparity.

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Don't Norwich sell theirs dirt cheap to fill the ground though? That is not always the best way to maximise revenue which is what Saints will try to do under Cortese.

 

They weren't dirt cheap. The cheapest "normal" seats started off at £389 in February and ended up at £435 in April.

 

What was different was how they used bands of renewal prices with time limits on them, 12 month interest free credit schemes, good marketing and communication and they kick-started the selling of tickets in February.

 

Of course there has to be a balance between maximising revenue and maximising ticket sales and I'm not suggesting they should be piled high and sold cheap, just that we should have been more imaginitive and engaging with regards shifting them at a sensible price.

 

I suspect the delay experienced before the recent announcement of prices is due to Saints having taken the opportunity to price their own tickets based on what others charge in their respective league. For example, why would you charge say £500 if everyone else in your locality / league might be charging £600?

 

Have to say that I don't buy this at all. I'm sure we'll have a nose around at what others are charging (with a pang of pride or jealousy), but very much doubt that what others are charging will have any discernible impact on what we are prepared to pay.

 

Most people will buy because at the end of the season they made that decision and will do so regardless unless prices are totally ridiculous.

 

For the core support I have no doubt that the majority would renew even if there was only a week to do it in, but as the 10,000 spare seats for most games showed last year, there is still a very large audience out there who need to be enticed back. Giving them three weeks (with some steep season ticket prices) doesn't seem to be the most aggressive sales policy.

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£300 (centre - senior) - £515 (centre - full)

 

I'm 61 so no longer qualify for senior ticket.

 

BTW I think that makes us the only club in the country to not give concessions to over 60's.

I assume it is down to the retirement age being lifted. in theory i suppose the club feel that the concession only goes to pensioners. I get no concessions either and would like them to lower it to the over 50's Edited by OldNick
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For the core support I have no doubt that the majority would renew even if there was only a week to do it in, but as the 10,000 spare seats for most games showed last year, there is still a very large audience out there who need to be enticed back. Giving them three weeks (with some steep season ticket prices) doesn't seem to be the most aggressive sales policy. It seems that the club wish to sell less S/T but more on the day basis. I know Man u like to have more fans turn u who are not there every game as they are likely to spend in the club shop.Te novelty of going to the game is higher for those people and if they bring a youngster then the shop is normally a port of call.

I'm sure Im wrong as normal but..

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Quick comparison with other clubs.

 

Adult tickets only. New purchase prices. If no direct equivalent, comparisons made on location.

 

----------------------Saints--------------------Coventry City------------------Derby County

 

Family enclosure-------£460------------------------£299 (No direct equivalent)-------£445 (No direct equivalent)

 

Behind Goal------------£540------------------------£299----------------------------£375

 

Half way line----------£595-------------------------£375----------------------------£480-£560

 

 

In conclusion, we are now quite expensive.

 

Only compared to those clubs, probably more accurate to compare us with Hammers, Leeds, Brum, Notts Forest and so on ....

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I work part-time and also have a work pension so can afford it more than some.

 

But I live 200 miles from St Mary's and a season ticket isn't really cost effective, but I regard the premium i pay for games (I can only get to about 12 home games a year) as support for the club and a guarantee of a ticket for big games. The senior discount was a big factor in me deciding to have a ST, but it's now going to hurt.

 

And it's galling that I get 30% off the rail trip with a Senior Railcard, free bus but then have to pay full to get into the ground.

 

I doubt it will happen, but would appreciate an amnesty on existing 60-65 year olds remaining seniors!

 

Absolutely! Why should this age group subsidise the students? And only a two-week window for renewals. Somebody doesn't know how to run a football club.

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Only compared to those clubs, probably more accurate to compare us with Hammers, Leeds, Brum, Notts Forest and so on ....

 

FWIW, here's StuRomseySaint's "Price Comparison Index" (I take no blame for any inaccuracies):

 

 

 

For the relegated teams and those in the top half last season or of similar size to us.

 

'R' is for Renewal Price 'N' for New STH

 

Leeds - R) *? N) £612

Ipswich - R) £480 N) £507

Saints - R) £465 N) £540

West Ham - R) £515 N) £515

P*mpey - R) *? N) £499

Cardiff - R) £399 N) £419

Watford - R) £395 N) £395

Reading - R) £395 N) £395

Leicester - R) £379 N) £379

Forest - R) £378 N) £405

Birmingham - R) £369 N) £369

Burnley - R) £368 N) £368

Blackpool - R) £339 N) £339

Derby - R) £270 N) £350

 

*? - Could not find early bird prices.

 

All prices based on the cheapest adult standard ticket ( not family enclosure or restricted view )

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Same amount of games. Anyway, 60-65 is the age group that can (usually) afford it most. If people have retired before 65 then they have enough wedge for a 30% increase anyway. If they haven't, then they should pay the same as any other working person.

 

Didn't check about the amount of games, just thought for some reason the Championship had less teams in it. That's an age thing which should qualify me for discount lol

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Only compared to those clubs, probably more accurate to compare us with Hammers, Leeds, Brum, Notts Forest and so on ....

 

Also, Coventry must have 15000+ spare seats to sell based on last season's attendance. I don't think we will expect the same problem.

 

Supply & demand...

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I assume you took advantage of the March Madness, albeit with the distinct possibility of L1 football.

 

Looking back, the March madness thing was clearly an attempt to get much needed cash quickly into the business rather than an attempt to be fan friendly and therefore those prices will have been unsustainable.

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£515 for me in block 30... that's over £100 increase or 25% to see a squad that will most probably see little change. Of course I'll be paying to keep my seat, but to my mind that increase is somewhat excessive in the current economic climate and not really repaying loyal ST holders for keeping the club going through the dark years.

Edited by Saint Fan CaM
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Absolutely! Why should this age group subsidise the students?

 

One could argue that other age groups have been subsidising "pseudo-pensioners" over the years.

 

In every other walk of life, it is recognised that people are living and working longer so to stick to an artificially low 'retirement age' for the concession rate is illogical. My Dad is still working at the age of 70 and has far more disposable income than me. Why should I subsidise a cheap ticket for him?!

 

That said, it would have been 'nicer' to have phased it out rather than taking the sledgehammer approach but such is life.

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One could argue that other age groups have been subsidising "pseudo-pensioners" over the years.

 

In every other walk of life, it is recognised that people are living and working longer so to stick to an artificially low 'retirement age' for the concession rate is illogical. My Dad is still working at the age of 70 and has far more disposable income than me. Why should I subsidise a cheap ticket for him?!

 

That said, it would have been 'nicer' to have phased it out rather than taking the sledgehammer approach but such is life.

All my life I have seen every other class of society get a concession that was not available to me, even when I was a student. Now that I finally get some incentive it is ripped from my grasp.

 

All I can say is that there are going to be a lot of empty seats next season.

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Yes but the free ticket now restricted to only one area of the ground, yes the age has gone up but sure the concessions have changed as well sure it was U18 before not U17 , means for me 3 tickets thick end of £1000 to pay up to take my daughters to the game and stay sitting with friends. Son won't be getting ticket from Dad this year as that's a stretch too far.

Good to see installments back though

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All I can say is that there are going to be a lot of empty seats next season.

 

Maybe. Maybe not. What figure do you reckon, roughly? Average number of empty seats per game? (not that I'll be checking up on your prediction as the season progresses of course...)

 

;-0

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All my life I have seen every other class of society get a concession that was not available to me, even when I was a student. Now that I finally get some incentive it is ripped from my grasp.

 

But that's a good thing isn't it? It's an indication that your life expectancy has increased over the course of your life time. How can that be a bad thing?!

 

Only on the Saints Web Forum could we get people moaning about living longer.... ;-)

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Yes but the free ticket now restricted to only one area of the ground, yes the age has gone up but sure the concessions have changed as well sure it was U18 before not U17 , means for me 3 tickets thick end of £1000 to pay up to take my daughters to the game and stay sitting with friends. Son won't be getting ticket from Dad this year as that's a stretch too far.

Good to see installments back though

 

It was in fact, U16! But have a moan without the facts anyway...

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Informed sources outside of the club suggested to me that the new owners were badly advised on ticket prices when they took over. The cut in prices was too severe for the facilities etc.

 

When we did not gain immediate promotion it was difficult for the club to try to redress the balance.

 

It was always expected that promotion would bring a rebalance to charges and so it proved.

 

The move to 65 for concessions does not come as a great surprise. We may be leading the pack but most will follow in the next few years.

 

The increase was a bit more severe than I was expecting but I will be renewing. I hope the quality of football matches the prices. If so I for one will not be complaining.

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ok can someone tell me then how the chapel and itchen are different prices for basically the same view? I really dont think they have thought about this at all!

 

One assumes they are trying to get more people in the Chapel end because it is historically less popular? Just seems they are trying to even out demand around the ground

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Informed sources outside of the club suggested to me that the new owners were badly advised on ticket prices when they took over. The cut in prices was too severe for the facilities etc.

 

When we did not gain immediate promotion it was difficult for the club to try to redress the balance.

 

Makes sense

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They weren't dirt cheap. The cheapest "normal" seats started off at £389 in February and ended up at £435 in April.

 

What was different was how they used bands of renewal prices with time limits on them, 12 month interest free credit schemes, good marketing and communication and they kick-started the selling of tickets in February.

 

Of course there has to be a balance between maximising revenue and maximising ticket sales and I'm not suggesting they should be piled high and sold cheap, just that we should have been more imaginitive and engaging with regards shifting them at a sensible price.

 

 

 

Have to say that I don't buy this at all. I'm sure we'll have a nose around at what others are charging (with a pang of pride or jealousy), but very much doubt that what others are charging will have any discernible impact on what we are prepared to pay.

 

 

 

For the core support I have no doubt that the majority would renew even if there was only a week to do it in, but as the 10,000 spare seats for most games showed last year, there is still a very large audience out there who need to be enticed back. Giving them three weeks (with some steep season ticket prices) doesn't seem to be the most aggressive sales policy.

 

Those Norwich season tickets seem cheap to me given the league they were in last year but take your point around some of the initiatives.

 

My point about competitive positioning was more about Saints wanting to pitch their prices toward the upper end of the league scale and not a point relating to how much we as fans are prepared to pay (there are a strong majority that will pay whatever). I'm certain if I was running any business I would want to price according to what could be achieved in the market and price benchmarking is part of this in business generally so i fully expect this research to have been done by Saints when deciding on the policy.

 

A two week window for renewals and a two week window for new purchases seems plenty for those who want to buy. We might lose the odd spontaneous buyer here and there but balanced against the revenue increase by optimal pricing I would say it is insignificant so we may be agreeing to disagree on that point.

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My son (who is 4) and I sit in block 10 and it will now cost us an extra £207 to retain our seats next season.

 

Or we move to the chapel / family enclosure which would cost us £380 all in. Which is £37 more than last season.

 

Hmmm no brainer for me. Chapel here we come!

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FWIW, here's StuRomseySaint's "Price Comparison Index" (I take no blame for any inaccuracies):

 

 

 

For the relegated teams and those in the top half last season or of similar size to us.

 

'R' is for Renewal Price 'N' for New STH

 

Leeds - R) *? N) £612

Ipswich - R) £480 N) £507

Saints - R) £465 N) £540

West Ham - R) £515 N) £515

P*mpey - R) *? N) £499

Cardiff - R) £399 N) £419

Watford - R) £395 N) £395

Reading - R) £395 N) £395

Leicester - R) £379 N) £379

Forest - R) £378 N) £405

Birmingham - R) £369 N) £369

Burnley - R) £368 N) £368

Blackpool - R) £339 N) £339

Derby - R) £270 N) £350

 

*? - Could not find early bird prices.

 

All prices based on the cheapest adult standard ticket ( not family enclosure or restricted view )

 

So from this analysis it seems we are pitched slightly higher for new ST holders but in the pack for renewals which makes sense to me and does suggest benchmarking has gone on. I am of course comparing us with a peer group in the south as prices do tend to drop as you go into the midlands and northern areas other than for the really big clubs.

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My son (who is 4) and I sit in block 10 and it will now cost us an extra £207 to retain our seats next season.

 

Or we move to the chapel / family enclosure which would cost us £380 all in. Which is £37 more than last season.

 

Hmmm no brainer for me. Chapel here we come!

 

I'm thinking its going to be a tight squeeze in the chapel next season :p Maybe the chapel will be the loudest section for once!!

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Those Norwich season tickets seem cheap to me given the league they were in last year but take your point around some of the initiatives.

 

My point about competitive positioning was more about Saints wanting to pitch their prices toward the upper end of the league scale and not a point relating to how much we as fans are prepared to pay (there are a strong majority that will pay whatever). I'm certain if I was running any business I would want to price according to what could be achieved in the market and price benchmarking is part of this in business generally so i fully expect this research to have been done by Saints when deciding on the policy.

 

I think Norwich had the balance about right, but I think trying to come to a price that you feel is "about right" is almost impossible to achieve and will very often be biased by the financial situation of those who are trying to justify £380 or £465. I can afford £465, but have already had a few phone calls/texts by some in my group who think the price is steep (and coupled with increases for kids might mean we are moving to The Chapel or they are not renewing).

 

Problem is that judging by the opportunity to purchase being only 5 weeks (see below), then I have to say I'm not as confident as you are with regards the research that the Club seem to have undertaken here.

 

I think our prices are at the top end of whaty I was expecting, and whilst I personally think they should be a bit cheaper, the price is not my main issue. My main beef is how we have sety ourselves up to shift them.

 

A two week window for renewals and a two week window for new purchases seems plenty for those who want to buy. We might lose the odd spontaneous buyer here and there but balanced against the revenue increase by optimal pricing I would say it is insignificant so we may be agreeing to disagree on that point.

 

But once you've agreed your prices (however optimum you think they are), then what are you gaining by restricting the time in which they can be purchased???

 

Other clubs such as Norwich spread their season ticket sales over five months, we have chosen to spread them over five weeks.

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