The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

My issue is much broader than how much I pay for my season ticket. I will also buy one at the higher cost. I'm getting increasingly concerned that all we are doing here is speeding up the process of losing season ticket holders - a decline that has been happening for maybe 8 or 9 years. I wrote my last post based on the messages from other posters in this thread.

I'd really like to see this rise being announced in conjunction with efforts to try to reduce its impact on the individual season ticket holder.

Arendee wrote:My issue is much broader than how much I pay for my season ticket. I will also buy one at the higher cost. I'm getting increasingly concerned that all we are doing here is speeding up the process of losing season ticket holders - a decline that has been happening for maybe 8 or 9 years. I wrote my last post based on the messages from other posters in this thread.

I'd really like to see this rise being announced in conjunction with efforts to try to reduce its impact on the individual season ticket holder.

The more people that have season tickets then its more likely that the better discounts will be awarded but the low levels of season tickets holders we currently have no longer mean its worth the discounts of the past.

Also it may be that the proposed Share option scheme will bring in much more income to cover the summer break.

The price of my season ticket in the North Stand will be £24 more than last season (taking advantage of the maximum early discount in each case), whereas the match day price is reduced from £17 to £15. I think this will probably make many current season ticket holders revert to paying on a match to match basis given the large up-front commitment to get far less benefit than previously.
Given that many season ticket holders are likely to miss at least 3 games (especially with the numerous re-arrangements) it no longer makes financial sense to commit funds up front.
Against this, having a season ticket does guarantee a particular seat and priority for tickets for any cup games, etc.

Other than the reserved seat the same arguements apply to De Banke season tickets. I do think that £300 is an awful lot of money for a standing season ticket at our level. I wonder how our prices will compare with other clubs at, and even above, our level.

The club will need considerable revenue from season ticket sales to see them through the summer months, as Trek has pointed out, so I think they may have shot themselves in the foot a bit with the proposed pricing structure.

rushdenman wrote:
The club will need considerable revenue from season ticket sales to see them through the summer months, as Trek has pointed out, so I think they may have shot themselves in the foot a bit with the proposed pricing structure.

Perhaps the Beasants have plans to 'sweat' the facilities to improve revenue streams during this period, that we are not aware of, to possibly offset a likely drop in the sale of early bird season tickets, Martin?

Trek wrote:

rushdenman wrote:
The club will need considerable revenue from season ticket sales to see them through the summer months, as Trek has pointed out, so I think they may have shot themselves in the foot a bit with the proposed pricing structure.

Perhaps the Beasants have plans to 'sweat' the facilities to improve revenue streams during this period, that we are not aware of, to possibly offset a likely drop in the sale of early bird season tickets, Martin?

Let's hope so Paul, but most of the developments they have spoken of so far will require investment up front rather than immediately creating revenue streams.
Maybe they know some bankers who are looking to invest their bonuses ;)

Noticed this other day whilst doing photos for Coventry v Sheffield Utd the programme notes on new season ticket prices were quoted.

How can a Championship club be cheaper than the Conference :o

http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/SeasonTicket ... 09,00.html

Redsnapper wrote:Noticed this other day whilst doing photos for Coventry v Sheffield Utd the programme notes on new season ticket prices were quoted.

How can a Championship club be cheaper than the Conference :o

http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/SeasonTicket ... 09,00.html

They even say on there that these would have been the prices had they made it to the Premiership (I guess they produced this when it was less likely they'd leave the Championship in the opposite direction).

How can a Championship club be cheaper than the Conference

Its called TV Money and FL Sponsorship funds.

The L2 Sponsorship fund given to individual Clubs is as much as our playing budget for the season.

The Sponsorship and TV Money in the Conference is a pittance compared.

I really hope the optimistic views aired on here about season ticket sales not falling are right. However to piss off some of the most loyal fans with an increase of over 3 pounds per match does not make any sense at all to me. I doubt if I am the only one unable to justify the price of football anymore with so much pressure on families budgets.

Sid wrote: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.

Steve Beasant told the Trust AGM that the discounts it enjoyed were losing the club around £68k per season, there's the reason for that going in a nutshell. Season ticket holders are still getting a discount from the club.

PigmanRDFC wrote: 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.

We complained about the matchday prices going up to £17 cos it was driving them away, so they've reduced them to make them fairer BUT this club must have parity. Absolutely spot on about promoting the place, it's a MUST.
We cannot have it all ways, they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. The best scenario is that the non-footy related income must pay for the footy side WITHOUT gate incomes but that takes time to build.