2011/2012 season tickets

[Biggles]

cite precident that it is against FL rules for standing to not cost less than seating. This is a matter for the conference AGM.

The Conference makes its own rules and does not have to take any notice of what the Football League does. In fact the Conference ruling on ticket prices has been done on the advice of a Football Supporters group who are also lobbying the Football league to implement to same ruling.

As we are now the only club that this ruling really effects i can't see the other 23 clubs at the AGM giving a toss about our predicament over the pricing policy.

In fact here is the website of the organisation that brought about the pricing policy

http://www.fsf.org.uk/

[Arendee]

I'm going to be cynical here - and this pains me to do so but I really feel that this is a major step backwards.

I think that the loyalty of season ticket holders is being treated as a soft touch. The desire to get more "casual" supporters through the gates is being funded by the season ticket holder. The economic balance between a season ticket and match day ticket is as narrow as I have ever seen - four tickets difference makes me wonder for the first time why I should part with hard earned cash, months (almost over a year with some games) in advance of an actual game. Are we being considered to dumb to recognise this? I would happily pay more than I do today if I felt I was getting something for it in return - an approach that any other service industry knows only too well.

Why hasn't the club learnt to sell its assets instead of simply charging more for the same thing. It has higher quality seats, boxes, refreshments, merchandise, sponsorship, etc. etc. - all of which cost the club little but add value and get people to pay more. What do we get instead - one flat charge regardless of where you go in the stadium - full stop.

It gives me absoluetly no pleasure to predict the following - less season ticket sales (approx. 25%) then ever before and a marginal increase (approx 10%) in match day sales. I would urge a quick rethink of this approach.

What this club needs now is a fresh new era that motivates people and companies to reconsider coming to Nene Park - not necesarily something that needs a major investment. There's still time to act but the downward spiral needs to be stopped.

<end of cynical rant>

[Sid]

I'm afraid you're right Arendee. Wages going down, prices in the shops rocketing up, no way I can afford an extra 75 quid (ok 60 if I don't rejoin the trust) for my DeBanke season ticket. Whatever the reasons for this massive increase I fear season ticket sales will be badly hit.

[Pigman]

I agree with all that has been said above, and even though the economics of it scream at me not to, I will be getting a season ticket this year. £13.43 a match to watch League 2 football next season is a snip ;) ................ ever the optimist me !!

I did write a big long reply and lost it when my internet connection went down :evil: , but I urge all of you who can afford it to get one as well.

The price of everything is going up, so why should my football be any different? I still resent being charged the same to stand as others are to sit, but understand thats beyond the club's control. £17 was a joke, £15 makes sense to me.

The club needs our money, it needs to improve cash flow and season ticket sales are a big part of that. If we want a club to follow we need to support it financially, I'll therefore be buying a ticket and some shares when they're on offer - there are good times around the corner at this club.

Hell, I'm feeling so positive about the future I'll even pay the bloody £17 to watch the Luton game on Tuesday (I've managed to get out of working that evening ).

[RushdenTillIDie]

It seems there's no value in standing in the De Banke anymore......Move to the Airware? ;)

I think i'll still get a Season ticket....it's money into the club and then even if i miss a game..i've still done my bit.

I still think they've missed a trick not incorporating some of our ideas...but i guess no one emailed them across - Maybe I Will. What's the best email address to send crowd returning ideas to?

[Pigman]

gill.wignall@rd-fc.co.uk

[RushdenTillIDie]

gill.wignall@rd-fc.co.uk

Thought it might be Gill, Thank you sir.

[Three of Diamonds]

If you had a season ticket last season, how will you be paying the same?
How can any pricing system be fairer when you are charged the same to stand behind the goal on the terrace as a seat at the side of the pitch? Cue Pigman.
I can see a drop in season ticket sales. Might as well pay on the day and have a seat with a better view as well.

The boots on the other foot now eh ? ;) I honestly don't see how the club gets too much gain out of a season ticket holder paying early. This club is in debt, it DOES NOT have an account that it can put money into and earn any interest, so that money is used to plug the holes which could cause cashflow problems later in the season (as we had last season). If the club thinks it can do without that money then it's better off NOT having people do that, because over 23 games the club gets more income.
The system is fairer based upon the bad ruling imposed on us and the need of the club to claw back some of the £68k it was losing out on with Trust Discounts, as it spreads the load around the whole supporter base rather than on the non-season ticket holders. The season ticket holders still enjoy a discount and get preferential treatment for tickets, as it should be.

[Trek]

I honestly don't see how the club gets too much gain out of a season ticket holder paying early.

The Club needs advanced season ticket sales to shore up it's revenue streams during the lean summer months, and putting aside the Conference directive issues, but still needs to give our supporters a better incentive to purchase a season ticket early or otherwise.

However, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating and I wait with interest to see how season ticket sales this season match up with last season's sales.

[Pigman]

I think there will probably be a drop in season ticket sales overall, mainly because people will think they may miss up to 3 games in the season anyway and therefore the most obvious financial benefit is lost to them, probably a free 4th or 5th ticket would have made it more attractive. Hopefully there won't be a loss of fans, and fingers crossed, the drop in prices overall may bring in more people on a matchday to compensate for any loss there is.

I guess they've done what any business has to do, they've looked at their outgoings and have then looked at what they need to cover those expenditures and have charged accordingly to balance the books, there is no pot of gold to draw from to top up the difference.

It'll upset some, others like me will see the reasons they've done it and accept it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy about it as I was expecting to pay a similiar price as I did for my half season ticket (x2 obviously) and its going to be quite a bit more, but I've heard enough from Justin, Liam and Steve to believe that my £300 will be well spent next season - I just hope that proves to be right and that good numbers of others feel the same.

I think we have a terrific young manager in Justin and I fear that if crowds continue to drop he'll be off - he's very frustrated about the lack of fans supporting the club, I just hope these prices don't drive more away.

What noww needs to happen is a massive drive by the club to promote itself in the wider community, to "sell" the stadium and our fantastic facilities to the wider community and the surrounding area - there are people in Bedford for example who have no idea how terrific our stadium is and how easy it is to get to from Bedford now the by-pass is open. promote, promote, promote - thats the key to getting people through the door.