Season Tickets - 2011/12 - Page 12

Stanleymad · 14-04-2011, 15:13

Theres no budge on season tickets either deadlined for 30th april again decision defended as good value and need to keep the club viable.

Ghostbuster · 14-04-2011, 16:18

What a spectacular own goal by the club on the price of match day and season-ticket prices. For the first time in years I was starting to feel positive about the future following Mr Khan’s takeover.
In my opinion, we have somewhere in-between 1000 & 1200 hard core supporters. (Doubled in ten years which is an achievement sometimes overlooked) We are all aware of the need to attract the further 800 to 1000 required to sustain a football league club. I thought the club had started this by offering £5 deals and offers on the three remaining games in order to bring these people on board. Some season-tickets holders begrudge people paying these low prices, when they have committed a lump-sum up front for discount; however I tend to look at the bigger picture and can see the reason the club would need these people.
However the decision to increase the season-tickets by such a large % has disgusted me (and I don’t use that word lightly.)It has been a hard slog being a Stanley fan during the past 4/5 years and this is not the way to treat us, although I appreciate there would be some increase. I am fortunate enough to be able to pay the new price but these are tough times especially in a town like Accrington, but I will have to think long and hard on this as a matter of principle.
Ilyas, when you talk about Rob and his team making these decisions, it leaves me cold, given their track record and if I thought that every avenue for extra revenue had been exhausted such as attracting the extra fans we need, corporate hospitality, ground sponsorship, shirt sponsorship, advertising etc. I would pay £500 or more per season to keep this club going.
This is clearly not the case and it is the loyal few who are being targeted and if you then start with ticketing deals next season, you will then further alienate us.
We cannot escape the geography surrounding Accrington Stanley, the two major clubs we are sandwiched between and what they have to offer the consumer for less. You would not expect someone to pay the same price for a Ford Ka from a second hand dealer when you could buy a new Audi ten miles away, and then ask to pay another £50 for the privilege of signing up for it in the portacabin.
We can’t keep making these shocking decisions as a club, as they are nails in our coffin. Accrington’s clubs have died before. Let’s use some of the knowledge our supporters have. Learn the lessons from the past. One idea would be to have a fans forum/think tank to work with the club. A team of say five people whom the supporters could feed ideas into and kick it off with people such as Macca and Steve Lowe and we could take turns on serving on this committee.
We stand on the verge of a bright future-don’t miss the opportunity. This should have been a promotion to attract 1000 season-ticket holders –family deals etc. What a waste-the people making these decisions would not last two minutes in any other industry!

Pendle Red · 14-04-2011, 16:21

Good post Ghostbuster

So much sense in it but will the Club listen over to them

Pendle Red · 14-04-2011, 16:28

The other thing at the moment is it's almost like the football has taken a back seat with all the announcements over the last week as well maybe that's just me?

Outback Ozzy · 14-04-2011, 16:33

Ghostbuster, whilst I agree with your sentiments, are you suggesting that the prices of the tickets should be lowered so that Mr Khan can continue to bail us out, I don't think so. I do have sympathy with people who like to stand in the Sophia Khan terrace because they are the ones absorbing the biggest increase, but when all is said and done, £16 per match (walk on price) isn't that big a deal. I would love to be able to afford a season ticket, but I cannot justify forking out £230 in one lump sum, however, if there were to be payments made over say 5 months of initial payment of £70 and four further payments of £40, then I would be first/second in the queue. In the meantime, I will continue to pay at the gate until such time as it becomes truly unaffordable.
The problem of Rovers and Burnley either side of us is as old as the Football League. It is something we cannot escape from. Success will breed success both on the terraces and on the pitch.

Ghostbuster · 14-04-2011, 16:57

Outback Ossy, not suggesting at all that Mr Khan should bail us out again.

What I would like to see from the club are ideas which galvanise the support. To put the price up at the same time as offering £5 tickets is confusing to say the least.

I want a long-term strategy on pricing, not knee-jerk ideas (ie all ticket-not all ticket for Saturday and £50 for the pleasure of standing having a beer in a glorified wood hut!

If the facilities were up to sratch you could start squeezing a little more out of us for extras!

Redraine · 14-04-2011, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostbuster

It has been a hard slog being a Stanley fan during the past 4/5 years

No it hasn't! For Rovers fans, maybe! It's been a thrilling rollercoaster ride for us and we've had it ridiculously cheaply. Get real, mate.

Pendle Red · 14-04-2011, 17:18

There was a middle ground nobody is denying the tickets were cheap but the simple fact was in at points in the last two seasons we put money in for season tickets not even knowing if we would have a team to take to the field.

Okay things have changed now but the price increase is substantial it could have floated around the £200 mark with no vouchers most people would have been perhaps able to stretch to that.

The name dosn't sell itself or brand whatever you want to call it Stanley is a slow burn project in terms of numbers & markets we have been given the best free publicity since the Conference and what should have been a Golden Goose back then laid scrambled eggs.

Only the Club will know if it's a success in terms of numbers and the accounting side come April 30th.

Quality Football at an Affordable Price should be our by words but only the Club know where that sustainability lies.

smudgie · 14-04-2011, 17:23

Couldent agree more Pendle

bdc · 14-04-2011, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanleymad

Theres no budge on season tickets either deadlined for 30th april again decision defended as good value and need to keep the club viable.

The club has never been viable so putting it up a £100 is all well and good but if people don't renew then that is another revenue avenue decreasing. I do wonder where the logic comes from with these decisions

Disclaimer: I am not against a fair price increase

DaveinGermany · 14-04-2011, 18:55

Would it not be worthwhile asking for a breakdown ? It's understandable for a rise in pricing as so many things have risen in price over the past 6-8 months, if people could see exactly where the costs are incurred perhaps they'd be more sanguine about the hike, but as it stands it looks like someone's just plucking numbers for fun.

Incidentally does the VAT have any bearing on the price ?

Pendle Red · 14-04-2011, 18:59

I notice in the season ticket brochure there is a piece about life members

What is a life member and how does one become one?

lancsdave · 14-04-2011, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinGermany

Would it not be worthwhile asking for a breakdown ?

I would suggest you won't get one and to be honest I doubt any clubs share that information. Best thing is for people to air their views. At the beginning of May people will have made their choice. Somebody(s) will be proved right and somebody('s).

I still think it's a shame that having just turned the corner to unite the club and fans obstacles seem to be cropping up all over the place.

bdc · 14-04-2011, 19:38

Has anyone else not received their renewal pack yet?

stanleyhouse · 14-04-2011, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pendle Red

I notice in the season ticket brochure there is a piece about life members

What is a life member and how does one become one?

I am a life member. About 10-15 years ago I paid approx £1000 to have a season ticket for the rest of my life.
This offer ended when we were in the northern premier. I suppose I took a chance and was rewarded and I'm still alive.

I know I don't have to but I will buy a season ticket this year. Especially as they are still great value at less than what they were 5 years ago.