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Post by phillistine on Jun 14, 2014 14:51:58 GMT
As of last week we had sold just over 2100 season tickets. We are 350 down on last season at this stage. Half season tickets will kick in later. Why do you think prices are structured around the fact that people like me bought our season tickets early? I bought mine because I love my club. It wouldn't make any difference to me who runs it. I support the club not a bunch of transient directors. How do you know that other conference sides base their season ticket prices on the number of seats they have? Forest Green don't for a fact. Wrexham? Grimsby? Aldershot? Who cares about Cardiff? Totally different. They have just had a year in the premiership. £90m + ? Plus parachute payts for years to come.They could afford to let people in for nowt this season, so perhaps we should pay people to come and watch, mind you with some of our performances last season I could well believe it. Why are we being taken for fools? We know exactly where we are and you have a right to choose. If you really feel like you sound, don't buy any. Go as and when you wish. I can understand if you said its a high cost at a time when money is tight. A lot of people are in that position, and that is understandable. But if you can afford it, you have a simple choice. Less than 50 people have moaned about the fact we got relegated after buying their season tickets. But again, they had a choice. I happen to believe if we keep on taking up people's money off advice in every way they suggest, we'd have so little income we wouldn't be able to recruit a team. So of course, the issue is choice. I, and many others have made ours, and now it's your turn. I hope you keep the faith, but whether you do or not, it's a simple choice based on economics. If we had sold next to none prices would come down. But we probably wouldn't survive either. It's strange. Apparently about 200 people are season ticket holders this season whilst they were not last season. I know in the case of a friend of mine and his brother, who are Stoke fans who live in Bristol, they have bought them in an act if solidarity. They love Rovers as well, and go when they can. But they understand that we are in danger, and want to help out by buying a season ticket each. For people (not you) be careful what you wish for. I just want a new board, and a team we can be proud of. That doesn't come cheap. But I never want to be in Herefords position. I can't imagine not seeing my club nearly every weekend. Can you? That's the rub isn't it. we can't moan about operating at a loss and then scream for a pricing structure that depletes revenue. "As of last week we had sold just over 2100 season tickets. We are 350 down on last season at this stage. Half season tickets will kick in later. Why do you think prices are structured around the fact that people like me bought our season tickets early? I bought mine because I love my club. It wouldn't make any difference to me who runs it. I support the club not a bunch of transient directors."
I accept that you know the figures better than I do I was merely going on a snapshot of the people that I know and have spoken to. I must admit that more have renewed than I expected but even so - if we assume that the 350 dont renew next year as well then that will be 700 over a 2 year period - which equates to a 14% drop in income over 2 years. A 20% discount for 1 year would equate to a 10% drop in income over the same 2 year period. How do you know that other conference sides base their season ticket prices on the number of seats they have? Forest Green don't for a fact. Wrexham? Grimsby? Aldershot?Because my brother is involved with a Midlands club. Wrexham's attendance last year was 15% down after they increased prices , Grimsbys was 6% down - despite getting to the play offs and Forest green was 1.3% up. Forest Greens average attendance was 1,195 and whilst I dont know how many are season ticket holders I dont see how we should be using a club of that size as a benchmark. I can understand if you said its a high cost at a time when money is tight. A lot of people are in that position, and that is understandable. But if you can afford it, you have a simple choice. Less than 50 people have moaned about the fact we got relegated after buying their season tickets. But again, they had a choice.
A lot of people purchased before we were relegated and thought they were buying league football. Do you know those statistics? I happen to believe if we keep on taking up people's money off advice in every way they suggest, we'd have so little income we wouldn't be able to recruit a team. So of course, the issue is choice. I, and many others have made ours, and now it's your turn. I hope you keep the faith, but whether you do or not, it's a simple choice based on economics. If we had sold next to none prices would come down. But we probably wouldn't survive either.
Which is why giving the discount of next seasons tickets would help as we would increase our income for this year as more people would renew. If ( heaven forebid) we have a poor season do you believe that people will still be happy to pay the same prices that we paid in the league? Do you still think your Stoke friends will renew if the feeling of " sticking together and backing the club" will continue if we dont go up? For people (not you) be careful what you wish for. I just want a new board, and a team we can be proud of. That doesn't come cheap. But I never want to be in Herefords position. I can't imagine not seeing my club nearly every weekend. Can you?
I believe that Rovers will be better off doing as I suggest both in terms of income generated and goodwill. That's the rub isn't it.
we can't moan about operating at a loss and then scream for a pricing structure that depletes revenue.I believe that Rovers will be better off doing as I suggest both in terms of income generated and goodwill.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2014 15:03:18 GMT
I just read the sh*t are charging for league 1 football, £23 for children under 8 and £52 for under 19's How much are we charging kids for non-league? I paid £485 to renew my season tickets that is for 2 adults and 2 twelve year old kids.
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Post by swissgas on Jun 14, 2014 15:24:36 GMT
It's a debate which has raged for years phillistine.
If we thought the club had done their research, put the work in, looked at all possibilities and made a conscious decision on their pricing policy then it wouldn't be so bad. But we all know the club do not put the work in and their policy is "how much can we get away with"
I know toteend is an absolutely committed Gashead and wants what is best for the club but my argument with him is this. For years we have used the approach he advocates and it has maintained crowds at a very acceptable level considering the team performance. But despite this and despite our revenue being much higher than other league clubs we have lurched from crisis to crisis. Isn't it time we at least considered something new ?
The link between success and crowd numbers is not as obvious as it may seem. We have had good crowd numbers despite no success whereas many league clubs have had success but still cannot raise their attendances to anywhere near our level. But to rely on the concepts of "loyalty" and "keep the faith" is a very lazy way of doing business and it is also very dangerous. If people think Rovers crowds will never drop off a cliff and hit the 3000 level they are IMO living in cloud cuckoo land. We saw it happen after the move to Twerton and it could easily happen again if we carry on in the Conference where we left off in league 2.
The time to do something about it is now while we still have the chance not wait for it to happen. That's why IMO an imaginative and properly worked out pricing policy, together with other innovative initiatives, is essential to keep the club together and positively focused during what (this time really )is a period of "transition".
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2014 15:32:04 GMT
Well Henbury, I wasn't going to go again, but you've persuaded me. I'm such a dullard I would never have thought of that as a strap line to entice customers who were thinking of not returning. I'm sure your life would be a lot better without the stress of following the rovers So you agree that they don't have a clue about marketing and running a football club. Yes, life would be happier if it wasn't so stressful, and at the moment embarrasing, following a team that has a support base to maintain Championship football but finds itself playing in a division with part time clubs in it.
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toteend
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Post by toteend on Jun 14, 2014 15:39:39 GMT
My grandsons season ticket cost me £11 including young pirates membership. Not that I will ever forgive them for making him mascot at the Torquay game.
For season ticket numbers I just asked in the shop. They know exactly how many have been sold.
As for savings, you seem to assume those who have not renewed will not go again. Why? They may just pick and choose their games as a friend of mine is doing. As for the 20% discount! presumably that would be off everyone who will renew. But what increase in numbers would be expected? None of us know.
The only reason I used any of them as a benchmark is because you generalised our opposition. But I don't care about our opposition. Our club seems to be an exception to normal rules. Look at our ability to travel en masse to away games? As for Wrexham, perhaps another reason for poor attendances was the crap they played. Look how low down the table they are. As for the stats, I was told they had received about a dozen letters moaning about it, and about 20 phone calls and 'several' callers at the shop.
I'm one if those who bought early, and it wasn't because I was buying league football, it was because I was buying admission to the ground to watch the team I have loved all my life.
You are making an incredible assumption of increased sales. If we do poorly this season I agree we will probably lose more s/t holders but that's the nature of football. But you would be making a hairy decision to reduce income next season and we are still in the conference. A business cannot run like that. When you are budgeting hopefully for a return to league football, as unlikely as that is first time out, you need certainty. That certainty is how many we have sold to date.
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toteend
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Post by toteend on Jun 14, 2014 15:47:37 GMT
Sorry Swissgas, you posted while I was trying to get my fingers to work a keypad. I agree it is time we tried something new. Get rid of this bloody board apart from NH and get some new ideas and innovations on board. Like utilising the strengths of of our fan base for a start.
We don't have to go down the route of cutting our income whilst the demand is there. That would be total stupidity. What business doesn't try to maximise its income?
You say together with other innovative initiatives what?
This club just needs a new board of directors and the will to succeed and we can go from strength to strength. But as you say, it better happen quickly because the goodwill will not last forever.
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Peter Parker
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Richard Walker
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Post by Peter Parker on Jun 14, 2014 15:51:19 GMT
What i never understand is why the club dont publicise the ST sales. Not sure why we have to put up with vague up or down slightly on x time last year type stories
As for the 20%, why not offer ot for next season if you purchase for this.
If we go up, we get league monies back and if we stay down there is no garauntee they will renew anyway. Hell even ask for people to waive the 20% on next years renewal, saying it will boost the playing budget
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Post by gasheadnaboo on Jun 14, 2014 15:57:37 GMT
My grandsons season ticket cost me £11 including young pirates membership. Not that I will ever forgive them for making him mascot at the Torquay game. For season ticket numbers I just asked in the shop. They know exactly how many have been sold. As for savings, you seem to assume those who have not renewed will not go again. Why? They may just pick and choose their games as a friend of mine is doing. As for the 20% discount! presumably that would be off everyone who will renew. But what increase in numbers would be expected? None of us know. The only reason I used any of them as a benchmark is because you generalised our opposition. But I don't care about our opposition. Our club seems to be an exception to normal rules. Look at our ability to travel en masse to away games? As for Wrexham, perhaps another reason for poor attendances was the crap they played. Look how low down the table they are. As for the stats, I was told they had received about a dozen letters moaning about it, and about 20 phone calls and 'several' callers at the shop. I'm one if those who bought early, and it wasn't because I was buying league football, it was because I was buying admission to the ground to watch the team I have loved all my life. You are making an incredible assumption of increased sales. If we do poorly this season I agree we will probably lose more s/t holders but that's the nature of football. But you would be making a hairy decision to reduce income next season and we are still in the conference. A business cannot run like that. When you are budgeting hopefully for a return to league football, as unlikely as that is first time out, you need certainty. That certainty is how many we have sold to date. Lets hope Rovers are promoted pretty darn quick then, because if they continue with the current approach, which you clearly are an advocate of after 2 or 3 years of non-league football the club will probably go the same way as Hereford.
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GasHeadGaz
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Post by GasHeadGaz on Jun 14, 2014 16:29:20 GMT
Fair enough, but asking customers to pay the same price as when they were watching L1 football exposes again the moronic mindset of thinking you will get away with squeezing more out of fewer customers for a product of poorer quality. Is marketing the club to increase attendances too difficult a concept for Watola? It would take all of 5 minutes to draft a letter to send to every name and address they hold, thanking those who have bought a season ticket and begging those who haven't to help the club when it's on its knees. Have they done it, you know the answer. Following the last promotion prices went up, that was justified by an increase in operating costs at a higher level. Here are are 2 relegations later and no reductions. Hard to think that there's a worse run football club in the country.Again Bamber, its down to personnel choice, like any business if you don't enjoy what you have paid for you don't go again and let the club know your feelings about it Oh i think BCFC come close before 1982 ! "like any business if you don't enjoy what you have paid for you don't go again and let the club know your feelings about it" Exactly, it's not that hard to comprehend is it?
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Peter Parker
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Post by Peter Parker on Jun 14, 2014 16:35:27 GMT
But it only works like that to a point with football clubs, as at whatver club, there are probably x amount of fans that will go whatever.
I havent enjoyed much of the football the past few seasons, who has? Ut i am a Rovers fan and suffer, but enjoy the company around whereI am.
If it was based purely on quality of football i would have stopped ages ago
Of course then you get these forum and some people will be quick to say you dont deserve to say anything if you dont go
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Post by swissgas on Jun 14, 2014 16:39:29 GMT
Sorry Swissgas, you posted while I was trying to get my fingers to work a keypad. I agree it is time we tried something new. Get rid of this bloody board apart from NH and get some new ideas and innovations on board. Like utilising the strengths of of our fan base for a start. We don't have to go down the route of cutting our income whilst the demand is there. That would be total stupidity. What business doesn't try to maximise its income? You say together with other innovative initiatives what?This club just needs a new board of directors and the will to succeed and we can go from strength to strength. But as you say, it better happen quickly because the goodwill will not last forever. I could write for hours on that subject but the clue is in the word initiative, we need to take the initiative not wait for things (good or bad)to happen. My concern has always been that Nick "hopes" too much rather than probes and experiments and finds things out. In my experience if you just hope it rarely turns out right but if you are adventurous you do often get disappointments yet you learn from them, you try again and eventually you get there. It may not be where you thought you would be but through that learning process you improve your abilities you modify your aims and you reach point where you are satisfied. As an example of initiateves at Rovers I've never been happy with the sponsors draw idea because to me it's a kop out and it wastes the potential we have through business contacts on a one off promotion rather than harnessing their potential 52 weeks of the year. I think the businesses who contribute a thousand pounds to the sponsors draw could be persuaded to contribute far greater amounts through subtle encouragement and more than that I think their employees and the employees of their customers and suppliers could also contribute. It's a two way street so you have to give something in return but I think we have that. Whether we like it or not "celebrity" is big business and (laugh if you like) professional footballers and the entourage associated with them (stand up Noel Edmonds I can't see you) are celebrities and people gain a great deal of enjoyment through associating with them. So by using the club facilities, it's employees and it's "pulling power" we could actually get a ball rolling where a limited number of business contacts lead to a multiplyer effect with many hundreds of new people getting experience of the club, enjoying it, paying for it and wanting more. OK, I know this idea will be subject to ridicule given the general air of shabbiness and amateurism which surrounds Rovers, but it's an example of giving more but then getting more out of the assets you've got rather than constantly hoping and searching for panaceas. It goes completely against the philosophy which many have that only on-field success will bring the crowds in but, as I said before, we get crowds but no success whereas other clubs get success but no crowds. IMO there is far more to this than just a football team and while IrishRover talks about "community assets" and I talk about "business or celebrity assets" we both mean the same thing. Rovers could be so much more than it is now if the people with the power took the time and effort to build an inclusive, living, breathing and desirable social institution rather than the dying private members club it has been for so long.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2014 16:57:08 GMT
Again Bamber, its down to personnel choice, like any business if you don't enjoy what you have paid for you don't go again and let the club know your feelings about it Oh i think BCFC come close before 1982 ! "like any business if you don't enjoy what you have paid for you don't go again and let the club know your feelings about it" Exactly, it's not that hard to comprehend is it? You are in very dangerous territory here Gaz, even Rovers' board wouldn't be mad enough to say ''Only come if you are enjoying what's on offer''. What do you think the average attendance would be if everyone who thought that the football was rubbish stayed away? But that's not the point, and never was. The issue on this thread is around marketing and communication, at Rovers both are stuck in a time warp from 20+ years ago. Progressive clubs adapt and modernise, Rovers slip ever further backwards both on and off the pitch, and nobody inside of the club seems to even be aware that it's happening
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harrybuckle
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Post by harrybuckle on Jun 14, 2014 17:29:23 GMT
now with the stadium inevitable delay we will have two seasons left at the Mem with no rugby Club. Suggest Rovers organise more development games on an evening with local sides to give our youngsters and fringe players plenty of match practise and allow FREE ENTRY FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS.
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basel
Joined: May 2014
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Post by basel on Jun 14, 2014 17:33:34 GMT
now with the stadium inevitable delay we will have two seasons left at the Mem with no rugby Club. Suggest Rovers organise more development games on an evening with local sides to give our youngsters and fringe players plenty of match practise and allow FREE ENTRY FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS. No way i'll be paying to watch any 'freindlies'. Harry,you think the UWE will happen then.
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Post by mancgas has left the building on Jun 14, 2014 17:55:13 GMT
To my mind it isn't about season tickets, they represent a decent discount vs paying per game and fans wishing to attend every game will go down that route
(I think it's always been ridiculous we charge more than WBA but hey oh we are where we are and nothing any fan says will change that)
From my viewpoint it's more about how we fill the 8000 spaces in the ground for every home game, offers like buy 4 get one free, by one bring a friend free (which can also be offered to season ticket holders)
Getting a full stadium without dropping income is a challenge but not impossible if we get off to a good start , and play football people want to watch (which was an issue under Ward, I know people who took up a ticket offer, and after watching said they wouldn't be paid to come in!)
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Rex
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Post by Rex on Jun 14, 2014 18:20:36 GMT
I renewed before relegation. I think they are well priced for a days- ahem- entertainment. I think the football has been awful for a while, and I am not overly impressed by how the club is run, but neither of those things is a factor in why I go to watch Rovers.
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Post by togoodtobetrue on Jun 15, 2014 19:30:42 GMT
I bought two stand tickets instead of the Blackthorn End for this year. Been a season ticket holder for 20 yrs, could not miss Saturday football -you either support or you don't - crap football may be - whats the option for a Saturday in the winter/spring? - shopping , stay at home, down the pub, watch league football at the sh**s!?
I'm looking forward to see a fresh challenge and approach and may be we can play with some freedom without to high an expectation.
UTG
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Post by gas4life on Jun 15, 2014 22:02:54 GMT
Wrong title
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