Season Ticket Prices

[Don Rogers Shop]

Reg, stats showed us that you could not guarantee to double attendances by simply halving prices. Getting a one off increase is relatively easy, and often price-led. Sustaining it, without any guarantee that the team are going to able to play Brazil- like football and win most of their matches, is more difficult. Secondary sales were always a challenge at the CG. Programme sales were lower than at comparable clubs, which I put mainly down to anti Dunwoody feelings, but I always thought the media team produced a decent read, and they were always open to ideas on improving format and content. Club shop offering was always more limited than we would have liked it to be, because there were so few companies who would trade with the club because of being hit financially in two administrations or slow payment caused by our continual cash flow problems (which I guess is much changed now). We always knew there was scope to improve the catering offered, but again finance and investment were hard to find, when wages and rent needed paying (again I assume that has changed now). The catering units needed major refurbishment so that you could offer a wider range of products to more customers in a short space of time. One option was to contract out the catering, which many clubs do- you get guaranteed up front fees and the business is handled by specialists, but the main downside is you give up the opportunity to maximise profits yourselves, as that goes to the contract caterer, and you lose control of the service quality.  I think having mobile sellers is a great idea, but in the UK,  the Health & Safety police are not always easily convinced. In the States, food and beverage 'hawking' is the norm and is profitable and keeps the fans happy. Aplologies for rambling.

I can confirm that we cant produce this type of football.

[RobertT]

Going back a bit, I wasn't being defensive, I thought BTW means by the way, as in I;ve just had a gander at something and found a little tit bit that seemed relevant.  Now I'm being defensive I think

Nev, Bradford increased turnover and went from £1m loss 2 seasons prior, to break even this season if not better.  Last season they lost around £500k.  The fact that others are gradually following suggests there is certainly something in the model.

I also agree that price decreases on matchdays have less impact.  They are not long term, are often seen as gimmicks for shit games and generally don't get the same publicity bandwagon behind them.  I am also not suggesting we should do this without having the infrastructure behind it to support the ideal of increasing overall revenue.  It's a weird place to grab an example from, but Disney are the market leaders in getting people to make ancillary spend.  The cost of getting into their parks is no more than Alton Towers, or Chessington etc, or not much different.  However, the actual spend per visitor is probably way higher than any Uk theme park could hope to acheive because they gear up for it.  The entrance price is actually all part of overall package, low (only about £5 more than sitting in the Don Rogers Stand for 90 mins of turgid football) to entice you in in droves, then set-up the inside to milk every last penny you have on you.

The Town End is the best example. If full, around 2000 people in it, ye one little hut that can serve about 2 people per 30 secs.  No pre match facilities, limited range of caterig on offer etc.  And Reg, they have people walking around serving beer at rugby games with those back pack style things.  Why not have that inside the concourse in areas designated for alcohol consumption?

We probably barely scratch the surface of getting money off people, because we charge too much (so people feel reluctant to spend more) and when they do want to spend we don;t make it easy or enticing to do so.

[Don Rogers Shop]

Sell alcohol in the town end that would help.

[neville w]

The only time I've ever partaken of the catering on offer at the CG, was in the early 60's, when old  men with tea urns strapped to their back would walk around  the pitch edge.

   oh my life would that not be slightly dangerous - like a full blown big silver urn?  

I love the olden days before health and safety!

 Only it wasn't tubular, more rectangular, like a large silver rucksack.

With a bit of imagination it could have been a jet pack - now there's a thought.

[ronnie21]

With the exception of breaking my boycott to buy a Forest Green programme (it was a once in a lifetime game) I can't remember the last time I spent any money at the County Ground. I've been conditioned into thinking there will be nothing worth buying in the shop, that I'll have to miss 10 minutes of the match if I want to buy a snack in the Town End, and that money made on programme sales is swiftly diverted away from the club.

What could change my attitude?
1) A good online presence for the club shop would be a way of persuading me that it stocked items of worth... I turn up at the ground just in time to get in for kick-off so I am never going to browse on the off chance.
2) I don't know how it can be done in the Town End but access to catering needs to improve. On the odd occasion I go to watch Bath City I always treat myself to a cup of tea (from an urn, not scolding water poured on a tea bag that won't be drinkable until midway through the second half) and a Mars bar. I'd never bother at the County Ground. Maybe they should bring back Reg's mobile tea sellers (there were some a few years ago) and give them a tray of chocolate bars, etc, leaving the snack bar area for people who actually want burgers/chips/etc.
3) I think I'm lost to the programme cause now. I got priced out at £2.50 (is it £3 now?) and realised I didn't miss them on the day or years later when they fill every available storage space in the house. But from what I see the programme is okay... keep it good quality, make it £2.50, don't let Dunwoody print it and I think you'll always sell a decent number.

This just about sums up my feelings also, I stopped buying programmes when I realised that Dunwoody appeared to be making the profits and not the club.  As for food and drink, well it's just a rip-off and time-consuming exercise!  However, if the price of season tickets does drop by a considerable amount I will get one for the first time in several years!!

[Phil_S]

I accept the above Mark (nice to hear from you again),  particularly that halving the price will not double the gate, but I do think that lower prices need to be low enough to get the reaction that it is good value. ie has an impact. As for sustainability, I'm not so sure that "one offs" as in the past work. I wonder how many people in Swindon let alone the surrounding area are aware of the price cuts on Saturday. At least with a cut price season ticket / season long lower prices word has time to spread. It also mean sthat the cost of advertising these reductions is minimised as most awareness would be created by the media.
As regards the catering, I can see the soup/ coffee on someones back being  a victim of the Health & safety Gestapo, but what about setting up smallish kiosks like those used for promotions in & at the entrance of supermarkets.
I saw an example outside my local Sainsburys where they were giving out a new range of Soups. If the club were to invest in a few kiosks about twice the size of the new progarmme ones they could be dotted about selling "chunky" type soup with a roll for £1-50. These could be served up at the rate of say 5 per minute giving potential takings of about £250-£300 per match per kiosk.  The initial investment could no doubt be funded/ subsidised by the company providing the soup.
Similar Kiosks could sell a good quality pasty etc etc

[Phil_S]

With the exception of breaking my boycott to buy a Forest Green programme (it was a once in a lifetime game) I can't remember the last time I spent any money at the County Ground. I've been conditioned into thinking there will be nothing worth buying in the shop, that I'll have to miss 10 minutes of the match if I want to buy a snack in the Town End, and that money made on programme sales is swiftly diverted away from the club.

What could change my attitude?
1) A good online presence for the club shop would be a way of persuading me that it stocked items of worth... I turn up at the ground just in time to get in for kick-off so I am never going to browse on the off chance.
2) I don't know how it can be done in the Town End but access to catering needs to improve. On the odd occasion I go to watch Bath City I always treat myself to a cup of tea (from an urn, not scolding water poured on a tea bag that won't be drinkable until midway through the second half) and a Mars bar. I'd never bother at the County Ground. Maybe they should bring back Reg's mobile tea sellers (there were some a few years ago) and give them a tray of chocolate bars, etc, leaving the snack bar area for people who actually want burgers/chips/etc.
3) I think I'm lost to the programme cause now. I got priced out at £2.50 (is it £3 now?) and realised I didn't miss them on the day or years later when they fill every available storage space in the house. But from what I see the programme is okay... keep it good quality, make it £2.50, don't let Dunwoody print it and I think you'll always sell a decent number.

This just about sums up my feelings also, I stopped buying programmes when I realised that Dunwoody appeared to be making the profits and not the club.  As for food and drink, well it's just a rip-off and time-consuming exercise!  However, if the price of season tickets does drop by a considerable amount I will get one for the first time in several years!!

No doubt a lot of people feel the same. I myself stopped buying programmes as I was reluctant to fund the Diamandis lifestyle. However if you look at the catering at the CG, in most areas the queue for food & drinks is such that most times it is impossible to get any at half time without missing some of the match. I would suggest a lot of people who may buy don't simply because of the time it takes & the poor value for money.
This would become even more of an issue should we get bigger gates, as a higher % of those  "newer" supporters are likely to be the age where they DEMAND a coke & chips (Two of the items with the highest profit margin)
If the gates increase the newer punters are more likely

[pauld]

I think having mobile sellers is a great idea, but in the UK,  the Health & Safety police are not always easily convinced. In the States, food and beverage 'hawking' is the norm and is profitable and keeps the fans happy

http://www.channel4.com/4laughs/media/images/caption/2006/november/wk_46/C0021_wk46_brian_L.jpg

Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely

<adver style>Could scenes like this be commonplace for Town fans at the County Ground next season?</adver style>

[Luci]

Paul you've made my day I absolutely LOVE Monty Python.  Life of Brian that one isn't it?

[pauld]

Paul you've made my day I absolutely LOVE Monty Python.  Life of Brian that one isn't it?

Spot on. Not often I get told I've made someone's day   Bag of otters' noses, Lady?

[Luci]

I'd prefer the Wolf nipple chips!  hehe just reminded me how funny this is.

Ive been watching Jason and the Argonauts on youtube at the moment.  I love that film too!

[Batch]

Paul you've made my day I absolutely LOVE Monty Python.  Life of Brian that one isn't it?

Yes. Peoples Front of Judea.

Not the Judean People's Front, splitters.

[pauld]

Paul you've made my day I absolutely LOVE Monty Python.  Life of Brian that one isn't it?

Yes. Peoples Front of Judea.

Not the Judean People's Front, splitters.

And the Judean Popular People's Front. Wankers

[Luci]

[reeves4england]

"Are you the Judean People's Front?"
"FUCK OFFFFF!"

I watched it yesterday, never get bored of it! "Crucifixion? Through the door, line on the left, one cross each"