Possible 'Focus Group' Season Ticket Article

[Yorkfox]

A few weeks ago I ran a thread about season tickets and peoples views on what price they should be pitched at in 2008-09. My survey about what the adult admission prices should be showed support for £10, £12 & 13, so it was not conclusive.

 

I am going to do an article on the MYFC site about Season Ticket pricing. However, I thought I might just use your quotes from the thread, so they are accurate.

 

Can you tell me what you think, anything else that should be added ?

 

Keith H.

 

======

Season Ticket 2008/09 Views by The Focus Group.

 

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been getting the views of regular Ebbsfleet United fans about where season ticket prices should be pitched at in 2008-09. My survey about what the adult admission prices should be showed support for £10, £12 & 13, so it was not conclusive.

So as a basis of discussion, here are some views of the members of the Focus Forum. Many thanks to the people that supplied views on this important subject.

 

The Views of the Focus Group.

 

My opinion is that the club has to look at the whole package the occasional supporter gets. £13 to get in , £2.50 Programme , £3 Burger , A pint at £3 (don’t drink in bar so may be wrong). And its easy to spend over £20

 

Might also be worth looking at the cost of the Main Stand season ticket prices, the 'end' nearer the away fans always seems to be more empty than full. Is this reserved for away fans? Maybe it could be (at a premium?)

 

Personally, I would like that type of ticket for say 8 league games in a season for say £90 ish ?

 

I would like to see different contractors bought in personally, who can serve hot food at a decent price. I would think I'm not the only one with this opinion!

 

Rob Abdul from Cafe Taj should be approached about doing the catering - or at least offering one part of it.

 

Have purchased tickets in blocks of 5@£11 ea..10@ £10 ea from the club offices...that was last season, are they not doing that this season?

 

There should be a discount or may be a freeze on prices if bought before April.

 

Also the age of the concession ticket needs sorting as no one at the Club seems to know what it is! The website does not state an age. It says OAPs that provide a bus pass as evidence. Well you get a bus pass at 60. However the concession price for normal entry on the gate sign is now 65! . I know of a number of people that have concessionary season tickets all under 65. When they applied they all supplied birth certificates. I propose we set it at 60 and avoid any further confusion.

 

Perhaps giving people the opportunity to buy full season tickets with different payment plans i.e. via direct debit over 6 months or something would encourage more people to partake? £200 may be too much for some to fork out in 1 go.

 

I like the option of 30-foot bar exclusively for season ticket holders to order their drinks away from the rest of you queuing rabble and waitress service...

 

Maybe work some son/dad combo out with local schools. Give them a special ticket which means that they get looked after while in the ground. A special bit of the main stand maybe?

 

Overseas supporters can buy tickets for the tickets to be available for distribution to local kids, adults etc at a way to be worked out. Maybe a group of local fans can work out ways to get tickets to people who may have missed out in the past. Any overseas supporter who buy a ticket and donates, can receive 2 free tickets for a game if they attend a game. Once per season. Anybody who donates ST Tickets and then flies in, deserves a small reward.

 

At Kent County Cricket club, all members (season ticket holders) get a 5% discount on everything in the club shop. may be we could nick that idea?

 

If admission price was dropped to £10, increase programme to £3.

 

Is there currently a discount in entry prices for University students? I know many are away most of the season but for when they come back during their breaks. I'd also extend this to anyone in full time education post sixteen. A lot of my friends have said they'd love to come to a few matches but just don't have the money.

 

I don't get it, when the club is losing money you want to consider lowering the prices. If you want to lower the adult gate price by £3 then you've got to attract another 200-400 through the gate to break even every game, saying you can make it up in other ways is not the point, its unlikely to attract that kind of increase. Nor imo is considering the match day experience as a whole a valid argument until the catering and loos at least are improved. Creative, cost-neutral, ticketing by all means but dropping the price straight off the bat wouldn't seem to me to be the first priority.....if you want to effectively reduce them just leave them be for a few years (after all you are in it for the long term........)

 

==

 

I did some figures based on £10 per adult to get it. Its very debatable if that figure should be £10, £12 or £13. These figures to be adjusted accordingly dependant on the revenue needed and what the club chooses to charge.

 

Adult Admission £10

Junior ( over 8 , under 16 at time of purchase ) £5

Student in full time education. £7

Senior ( Over 60 at Time of purchase ) £5

Under 8's when with an adult . £1

Main Stand Transfer to seats, £2 Per Game.

 

FA Trophy, all pay at 10-5-1

Setanta & Kent Cup. 5-3-0

 

Visually and disabled with a local authority parking permit, or something similar. £5

 

Visually or disabled Carer with a disabled Person. Free.

 

Adult Season ticket ( £10 x 23 , less a bit ) £200

Junior. £100

Under 8. Free if purchased with an adult ST.

Main Stand Seats ST. £300 ? to be worked out.

New Flexible 8 game Season Ticket ( 8 x £10 ) £70 / £75

[Yorkfox]

Addition to the article,

 

"One suggestion made by one of our group on Tuesday, which I thought particularly meritous, would be easy to implement by the club and would be fair to all, was have a Fleet loyalty card, stamped at the turnstiles on matchday (or next to Kenny's hut) - get 10 stamps, get a match free. It works very well in most major Coffee shop franchises, could be worth exploring here? "

 

from CG

[Cardomon]

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Might also be worth looking at the cost of the Main Stand season ticket prices, the 'end' nearer the away fans always seems to be more empty than full. Is this reserved for away fans? Maybe it could be (at a premium?)

Reading this it sounds like you want to charge away fans more to sit in a the same accomodation as home fans ?

[Cardomon]

also

If you ask anybody at AFC Bournemouth about their regrets, very near the top of the list will be the income they lost by franchising out the Matchday Catering.

 

We got a 5% discount at Pompey with season tickets, I don't buy more but it did make me happy though.

 

I work in catering/bars ect. One of our problems when we have a concert is a very short interval period to sell drinks. Many places Theatres, concert venues run a pre order scheme where you order and pre purchase your interval refreshments. Could this be applied at half time ?

[PatMan]

Originally Posted By: Cardomon

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Might also be worth looking at the cost of the Main Stand season ticket prices, the 'end' nearer the away fans always seems to be more empty than full. Is this reserved for away fans? Maybe it could be (at a premium?)

Reading this it sounds like you want to charge away fans more to sit in a the same accomodation as home fans ?

And the problem with that would be?

But no, that wasn't what I was saying at all. I asked IF it was reserved for away fans - then I asked If maybe it should be promoted to away fans.

[Cardomon]

I'm pretty certain that under FA rules your not allowed to charge away fans more for using similar accomodation.

One the (very few) consessions made to the FSF.

 

But it doesn't matter anyway if thats not whats proposed.

[chris blanc]

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Adult Season ticket ( £10 x 23 , less a bit ) £200
Junior. £100
Under 8. Free if purchased with an adult ST.
Main Stand Seats ST. £300 ? to be worked out.
New Flexible 8 game Season Ticket ( 8 x £10 ) £70 / £75

I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but don't the kids already get in for £25 a season?

[Yorkfox]

Originally Posted By: chris blanc

I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but don't the kids already get in for £25 a season?

I think it was, maybe missed that bit last night, it was getting late. For the £25, does an adult have to be with them, or could a 14 year old see all season on their own for £25 ?

If they can be on their own, it begs the question that at £7 a time, why would any local under 16 pay on the gate ?, unless they cant get the £25 together. You would think the ground would have hundreds of under 16's in.

To adapt the idea of getting a card stamped after 10 games to get a free one, should the kids have something similar, maybe 6 games at £7, get the rest of the season free ?

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Originally Posted By: chris blanc

I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but don't the kids already get in for £25 a season?

I think it was, maybe missed that bit last night, it was getting late. For the £25, does an adult have to be with them, or could a 14 year old see all season on their own for £25 ?

If they can be on their own, it begs the question that at £7 a time, why would any local under 16 pay on the gate ?, unless they cant get the £25 together. You would think the ground would have hundreds of under 16's in.

To adapt the idea of getting a card stamped after 10 games to get a free one, should the kids have something similar, maybe 6 games at £7, get the rest of the season free ?

No they don't need to be accompanied by an adult, yes it really is as good as it sounds, yes you would think that at £25 for a season ticket we would be swamped with under 16s but unfortunately YF you haven't yet grasped one very simple concept regarding the Fleet.

The local population, by and large, don't give a feck. It isn't because of the price, it isn't because of the facilities, it isn't because of the standard of football, it isn't because of all the alternative football in easy travelling distance it is much much more simple.

They don't support the Fleet, they never have and never will. You can try whatever gimmick you like, cheaper prices, better food, better players and it will please those of us who where going to the matches anyway but it won't attract Alan Apathetic who doesn't support the Fleet.

[Yorkfox]

Originally Posted By: Slartibartfast

The local population, by and large, don't give a feck.

I am glad you said that, I would get strung up ! :-)

When you read so many times of things that have been tried and havent worked to get people in, and now your comment, where does the future lie ?

Do you skip a generation of youngsters and start with kids from primary school and try to get the connection there ? . It sounds a hell of a battle. I keep reading on the other forum of well intentioned ideas to get more local support, but from your words, that sounds a tough ask.

Plan B, get more in from outside of the area ?, Doms coaches etc ?

It worries me that if we say the average now is 1,000 and we do brilliantly and get that to 2,000 , its still tiny in League terms If we did get up. I presume league away followings might help a little.

The £10, £12, £13 debate seems a little academic without the local goodwill being there.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

It has been said many times, by many people, Non League Football is a very low(if at all)priority, when people have many choices on what to spend their money on!

As to Bussing people in, that smacks of hypocrisy, after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth(done by certain people), when Charlton started doing the same in the Fleet catchment area.

How do you think other Clubs will feel about Myfc doing the same in their area?

The writing has been on the wall for many years now, just look at the number of Clubs that have gone out of business!

[Yorkfox]

Do kids still want to be footballers , or is that old fashioned ?

 

When I was a kid, the thought of going to a match was magic. I think thats why I love the away games so much now, mind you, every game is an away game ! :-)

 

If what you 2 say about local support is true, and I have no reason to think not, then the financial support of the new fans spread all over will be more vital than I thought.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

No direspect to you, but you were steamrollered into buying Ebbsfleet, without knowing anything of the history of the Club.

It has gone through times of boom and bust several times in my memory. Saviours have come and gone, some leaving the club in a no better,if not a worst state than when they took over, hence peoples scepticism of the new Saviours!

[Fleet Jordy]

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

It worries me that if we say the average now is 1,000 and we do brilliantly and get that to 2,000 , its still tiny in League terms If we did get up.

If we did manage promotion I am sure our attendances would be ok compared to clubs at our level.

It's amazing how your average Joe or Alan Apathetic deems the word 'Non', as if we were a league club then locals in the towns and surrounding area become more interested, as do the media, and it's amazing that your average Joe/Alan will think that a home game v Bury/Mansfield/Hereford/Dagenham in League 2, is a much better proposition than a home game v Cambridge/Exeter/Oxford/Rushden/Torquay/Stevenage/York, simply because it's league football as opposed to Non League football, even though the Conference is effectively the Premier League of the non-league game.

Very fickle I know, but it's the same scenario for all non-league clubs.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Do kids still want to be footballers , or is that old fashioned ?

When I was a kid, the thought of going to a match was magic. I think thats why I love the away games so much now, mind you, every game is an away game ! :-)

If what you 2 say about local support is true, and I have no reason to think not, then the financial support of the new fans spread all over will be more vital than I thought.

I was taken to the Fleet by my father, and I took both my sons, neither of them go, or take their sons. I don't know why, but one did tell me he thought it a waste of money.......Compared to what, I have no idea!

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted By: Fleet Jordy

If we did manage promotion I am sure our attendances would be ok compared to clubs at our level.

What on earth leads you to say that? Do you believe that our current attendances are ok compared to clubs at our level?

If we got promoted our attendances would be slightly better than they are now but they would most definately not be ok compared to other clubs at our level. We would be the worst, or one of the worst, supported clubs in the league.

[Cardomon]

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Do kids still want to be footballers , or is that old fashioned ?

So could a youth team set up be done. My son has played from under 8's right through to under 16's. Some years have an A and B team. We pay over £100 per season in subs and fee's
I'm not certain how leagues for kids work in the area, but if you count through you can have 100's of kids involved at all ages girls teams as well, and it would make them part of the club. You never know there may be the odd player discovered.

[David Holden]

Originally Posted By: EUFC Website

One of only 12 FA Community Clubs in Kent, Ebbsfleet United's youth teams are at the heart of the local community, providing excellent playing, training and social opportunities for all ages.

The club has achieved the FA's Community Club Charter Standard reflecting EUFC's high-quality, well-organised and above all safe environment for nurturing young players, boys and girls.

 

What that saying about poor research?

[BustaGut]

Originally Posted By: American FLEET FAN No1

Originally Posted By: Yorkfox

Do kids still want to be footballers , or is that old fashioned ?

When I was a kid, the thought of going to a match was magic. I think thats why I love the away games so much now, mind you, every game is an away game ! :-)

If what you 2 say about local support is true, and I have no reason to think not, then the financial support of the new fans spread all over will be more vital than I thought.

I was taken to the Fleet by my father, and I took both my sons, neither of them go, or take their sons. I don't know why, but one did tell me he thought it a waste of money.......Compared to what, I have no idea!

No Idea,FC Manager 2008 £24 for a year, your guess is a good as anyones.
Plus there was only two matches a week on TV, where as there are two or more everyday now days.

[Cardomon]

Originally Posted By: David Holden

Originally Posted By: EUFC Website

One of only 12 FA Community Clubs in Kent, Ebbsfleet United's youth teams are at the heart of the local community, providing excellent playing, training and social opportunities for all ages.
The club has achieved the FA's Community Club Charter Standard reflecting EUFC's high-quality, well-organised and above all safe environment for nurturing young players, boys and girls.

What that saying about poor research?

Or no research at all. Sometimes I just spout whatever appears in my head.

Sorry