kwsaint Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 They've sold out there end and I don't think there will be too many tickets left in our end to be honest. Quite an important game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 No; because of the lack of takeup in the boxes and coporate lounges. Even if regular seats sell out we'll be at least 1,000 short of the stadium capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 1000 empty corporate seats, that's a lot of money we're losing out on, if only we had an experienced premier league corporate sales manager to sort this out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 1000 empty corporate seats, that's a lot of money we're losing out on, if only we had an experienced premier league corporate sales manager to sort this out. Not quite that many; some of the reduction is from segregation, of course. But yes, the corporate areas are still in dire need of a rethink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 1000 empty corporate seats, that's a lot of money we're losing out on, if only we had an experienced premier league corporate sales manager to sort this out. the corporate areas are still in dire need of a rethink. The fact we’re supposed to be being run as a self-sufficient business makes the clubs apparent lack of interest in generating as much revenue as they could in certain areas quite baffling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 The fact we’re supposed to be being run as a self-sufficient business makes the clubs apparent lack of interest in generating as much revenue as they could in certain areas quite baffling! Unfortunately they seem to have taken the stance that they know what is best, and are providing a service that very few people actually see the benefit of paying extra for. Its not lack of effort on the club's behalf; the Mike channon Lounge has just had an expensive makeover; its just not a very good end product. The lounges and services offered have changed significantly since the takeover and the net effect is quite clear that the changes are not at all popular, with more empty seats and empty boxes than ever before (certainly in the top league). Having done corporate myself a few times (before and after takeover) its very easy to see why its so empty, its just a flawed product being offered for too much money. Yet the club continue to offer what they think people should have, rather than what they actually want. A little bit of listening to current and former customers would go a long way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 Yet the club continue to offer what they think people should have, rather than what they actually want. A little bit of listening to current and former customers would go a long way. Yeah totally agree, from what I've heard recently, in some areas it's not that they are offering something people don't want, but more that what they 'say' they are offering is different to the reality. I know couple of people who splashed out on the special more expensive seats in one of the lounge areas (can't remember what's it's called) and the service and food available was awful apparently, nothing luxurious about it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 18 November, 2012 Share Posted 18 November, 2012 Yeah totally agree, from what I've heard recently, in some areas it's not that they are offering something people don't want, but more that what they 'say' they are offering is different to the reality. I know couple of people who splashed out on the special more expensive seats in one of the lounge areas (can't remember what's it's called) and the service and food available was awful apparently, nothing luxurious about it at all. The Club Lounge membership is in the Mike Channon suite, which was refurbed this summer. £999 I think for a season ticket (plus VAT), which doesn't actually give you anything extra other than a nice seat and access to a pay bar and pay cafe type food (croque monsieurs, chicken wraps and hot dogs are the only food on offer). Its all very low brow (despite the club describing it as a "high end bar type experience!!). The exec boxes have also seen a big increase in price of late; yet the free booze has been massively cutback upon to something like 1 bottle of beer and a glass of wine for free per person. Which kind of defeats the purpose of a corporate day out at the footy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 . I know couple of people who splashed out on the special more expensive seats in one of the lounge areas (can't remember what's it's called) and the service and food available was awful apparently' date=' nothing luxurious about it at all.[/quote'] That's sad, why have they wrecked it I wonder? I have been a guest a couple of times pre league 1 and the food and service were excellent. My sister's wake was held there last year which was very good, though that was only a buffet on a non match day. My work may be hosting an event there soon, perhaps we should rethink! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchen Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 But if, as is often suggested here, Cortese is focussed on the bottom line - car park charges, no freebies for ex-players, sacking programme sellers, being generally evil - why would he miss a trick like making money from corporates? Is it simply a case of Saints getting the product or marketing wrong or are there other factors? We are in a recession where perhaps local companies would find it difficult to justify having a corporate box at the same time as they are sacking staff. We are newly promoted to the top league and perhaps local businesses have lost the habit of having a box at St Mary's. We may simply be trying to charge too much for what we are offering. How do our corporate sales compare to, say, Reading who are in a similar position? I don't know because I have no access to the figures or to discussions at the club. If we're missing a potentially large income stream then obviously we need to look at what we're doing wrong. I can't believe those discussions are not already happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 But if, as is often suggested here, Cortese is focussed on the bottom line - car park charges, no freebies for ex-players, sacking programme sellers, being generally evil - why would he miss a trick like making money from corporates? Is it simply a case of Saints getting the product or marketing wrong or are there other factors? Having experienced corporate myself and spoken to friends who use it for entertaining clients themselves, its a common feeling that the product is wrong. Exec boxes are supposed to be the one of the most luxurious options available, but you're made to pay extra for your drinks. And the Mike Channon suite has tried to go all trendy but just ended up being a pay bar and cheap cafe food type option (which you have to pay around £20 - £30 extra per game for the privilege of). We are in a recession where perhaps local companies would find it difficult to justify having a corporate box at the same time as they are sacking staff. We are newly promoted to the top league and perhaps local businesses have lost the habit of having a box at St Mary's. We may simply be trying to charge too much for what we are offering. How do our corporate sales compare to, say, Reading who are in a similar position? I don't know because I have no access to the figures or to discussions at the club. If we're missing a potentially large income stream then obviously we need to look at what we're doing wrong. I can't believe those discussions are not already happening. It would be very naive to suggest that the financial situtation has had no effect; it surely will have done. I certainly thnk we're charging too much for the standard of product being offered though; I know from previous other threads on here and on the UI that other previous corporate clients have decided they've had enough of such a shoddy service and instead head to Oxford Street or other So'ton restaurants pre-game and go to the game just with regular season tickets. Plus others who went for Club Lounge membership this year but won't be renewing next year as its not worth the extra cost for little extra benefit. We've obviously, for one reason or another, lost a lot of our previous support from local companies such as Cedar Press and other suppliers who have been cast off in the past 2 or 3 years. There's been a lot of changes in the Corporate areas lately; and they're clearly not working. Its not that club aren't doing anything about it; the renovation costs for the Channon refurb (the one that ended in court) was over £300K just for that one supplier. You ask some good questions about corporate at other clubs, and I definitely feel we have a lot to learn from similar clubs who, from away games seen, don't seem to be facing the same problems that we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 It sounds very poor, but regarding the point about "Saints should be listening to their customers" - has anyone here that used the service actually given feedback? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 It sounds very poor, but regarding the point about "Saints should be listening to their customers" - has anyone here that used the service actually given feedback? I've not previously had the opportunity of providing direct feedback, other than finding and using a generic email address from the OS. But no, I've not done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fromdayone Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Not quite that many; some of the reduction is from segregation, of course. But yes, the corporate areas are still in dire need of a rethink. Also looks bad on TV as the corporate area seating is right opposite the main cameras!.. so even a 30k crowd looks a bit empty in places due to the positioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spudders Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 It sounds very poor, but regarding the point about "Saints should be listening to their customers" - has anyone here that used the service actually given feedback? Yes, my friend contacted the club via twitter and got no response, then by email and did hear back from them, although they didn't answer the specific issues he'd questioned them on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
This Charming Man Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Imagine it will sell out in the peasant seats... bar the standard hundred odd empty seats in Block 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lets B Avenue Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Just got tickets for friends and got them in Block 43. Newcastle not taken their full allocation apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Just got tickets for friends and got them in Block 43. Newcastle not taken their full allocation apparently. Indeed; the whole of Block 43 is now available (845 seats still on sale). Surprising, I always thought the Toon Army travelled really well, I remember them having the whole of the Archers quite a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Just got tickets for friends and got them in Block 43. Newcastle not taken their full allocation apparently. Very surprised by that. Guess all their Europa League journeys will take priority for many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Just reported on Newcastle website that they have secured another 300 tickets for Sundays game. It was originally declared a sell out but these have gone on sale? Reduced segregation ala Coventry last season ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Just reported on Newcastle website that they have secured another 300 tickets for Sundays game. It was originally declared a sell out but these have gone on sale? Reduced segregation ala Coventry last season ? Wouldn't necessarily have to be reduced segregation, just move the netting two-thirds across block 43 for example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 The exec boxes have also seen a big increase in price of late; yet the free booze has been massively cutback upon to something like 1 bottle of beer and a glass of wine for free per person. Which kind of defeats the purpose of a corporate day out at the footy! I believe it's a maximum "free" spend of £200, anything above that amount has to be paid for. Pretty poor when you're paying around £200 per head per game in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Very surprised by that. Guess all their Europa League journeys will take priority for many. Quite probably so. My Geordie mate is making a point of going to every away Euro game as he doesn't rate their chances of making it into Europe again foe a while. He realises that they over achieved massively last year and that this year they seem devoid of ideas, not helped by loads of injurys and suspensions. He is however making the trek down to The Costa Del Southampton, but just a day trip, whereas normally they'd make a weekend of it. Coach deps at 5 am and not back much before midnight then work on Monday morning - rather him than me. Probably a longer trip than the away game they had at Bruges!! Pity the Thurs game is at home. Do they play full strength or rest players like Spurs did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 19 November, 2012 Share Posted 19 November, 2012 Pity the Thurs game is at home. Do they play full strength or rest players like Spurs did? The last game they had in Europe used a number of their first choice XI... 01 Krul 02 Coloccini 06 Williamson (S Taylor - 58' ) 34 Tavernier 08 Anita 20 Bigirimana (Cabaye - 72' Booked ) 22 Marveaux 24 Tiote Booked 25 Obertan 23 Sh Ameobi 28 Sa Ameobi (Amalfitano - 83' ) Substitutes 21 Elliot 03 Santon 27 S Taylor 31 Ferguson 04 Cabaye 17 Amalfitano 09 Cisse They won't have long to prepare tactically for the Saints game as they will get Friday off to recover from the game on Thursday and travel to Southampton on Saturday for Sunday's game. Saints should (in theory) be a fresher and more prepared for the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 800 left as of this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Randell Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 800 left as of this morning. Best way of getting a ticket for today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Will pretty much sell out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Best way of getting a ticket for today? The only way I think- get up the ticket office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 Best way of getting a ticket for today? TO mate but only up till 2pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian lord Posted 25 November, 2012 Share Posted 25 November, 2012 It sounds very poor, but regarding the point about "Saints should be listening to their customers" - has anyone here that used the service actually given feedback? The empty seats should be all the feedback they require...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now