Singha Beer Is Good! Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 This is my first post so bear with me.... I've been a City fan since the early 70s when my grandad used to take me to matches at Filbert Street and even though i've lived in the Middle East and various places in the UK I've always managed to get to a few matches each season and really love the whole match day experience. I'd love to go to more matches but simply can't afford to, the only matches i've been to in the past two seasons are a 1-0 win over Plymouth 09/10 and the 5-0 win over Donaster this season just finished because i was able to take advantage of special offers that were available for those games. Now i know the valid argument against regular 'cheap ticket' promotions is because it's unfair to the season ticket holders and i agree with this but with the club now in the ownership of people with deep pockets surely there must be a way of rewarding the season ticket holders while at the same time offer a wider range of incentives to get the 1-time a year fans, to become 2/3/4 times a season fans and increase the attendances? Here are a few ideas...give season ticket holders EVERY home match included in their ticket, even if City get a number of home cup matches in a campaign. When the fixture list is published, assign say six matches as £10 fans fixtures and/or buy 1 get 1 free ticket matches and encourage people to collect the ticket stubs. Depending on how many they get, they can get a reduction on a season ticket for the next campaign or a money off voucher to use in club shop. When there are £10 FF, season tickets can get extra for £5, or buy 1 get 1 free ticket offers, season ticket holders get the chance to buy 1 get 2 free? Consider making a certain amount of tickets for each match cheaper...say £5/£10 lower than the normal cheapest seats. With an average of 5,000 to 8,000 seats spare each game, the club's match ticket software must know where these seats are? If they are the same seats all the time then offer these seats cheaper than normal so they are filled. People could go on the website and see where these seats are and book accordingly. If the team is doing badly a la Sousa at the start of last season, reduce the prices en bloc to curtail the falling attendances...team in 13-17 position, knock £5 off, team in 18-22 make all tickets £15, then people might stick with the team instead of questioning paying £25+ of hard earned dosh to watch crap. What does everyone think?
Kitchandro Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 I really think it should be as simple as making the tickets cheaper for every game. It's all very well having these offers but they will only sell more tickets for those particular matches. If we want people to keep coming down regularly (and make them into lifelong City fans, more importantly, then they will be more likely to put up with things) then they need to be persuaded that every game will be value for money. If they know it's just an offer, the probably won't be thinking of going again (until the next offer) and even then it might be dependant on the entertainment in that one game. I actually think season tickets are quite good value, but people with season tickets don't need to be persuaded. The reason they bought them in the first place is probably because they are Leicester fans already. But to have 30,000 each week people need reasons to go. There are plenty of people, young people mainly, in this City who would rather watch Man U on TV and support them because they have Sky already paid for, and why should they be interested in seeing a worse team when they can't really afford it? Without being too much of a typical moaning fan, the prices for young people are unrealistic. The worst thing is turning up for a local derby and seeing there's only 25,000 who have turned up. This is simply disgraceful and it's because under-18s have to pay £18 for a ticket, and I think under 22s is £22. Now really and truly the most expensive ticket for an adult for any game should be around £22. If under 18s had to pay £12 and under 22s £15 I think you'd get a lot more people down. TBH, I find the whole 'Platinum Fixture' thing a joke. There are plenty of loyal fans who go to a lot of games but not quite enough to warrant a season ticket, then they are being taken to the cleaners for the biggest game of the season. The thing about lowering your prices is that young people might be persuaded to go once or twice (especially with this potential promotion season) and then maybe a few more times and then all of a sudden they can't be tempted away from going. Over a period of time I'm sure this would be more effective not only for the match atmosphere and attendances but for the Club finacially. Above all we want people to come down because they love Leicester, but they can't be persuaded to unless you give them a fair deal to start off with. It's in the interests of everyone to lower ticket prices a bit and get 30,000 in. I do agree with some of your ideas - I've been saying for ages that Cup games should come with the season tickets - I'm not even sure we got cheaper tickets for the Play-off game last year, certainly the ground wasn't full. I'm sure if we were in the Prem we'd fill the ground anyway but we should always be striving to make our support better. I also worry that when we extend the capacity (is it to 40,000?) we won't fill it if we are say in a relegation scrap in the Premier League. We need to get people interested in supporting the Club now, and especially now when the present and future is promising. Because football's a funny game and if we go through hard times again I want us to have support to be proud of.
Stevosevic Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Anyone saying we wouldn't fill the ground every week when we are in the prem, look at the attendances when we were last there, average of +30,000k.
Kitchandro Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Anyone saying we wouldn't fill the ground every week when we are in the prem, look at the attendances when we were last there, average of +30,000k. I'm saying if the capacity was extended though. I can't see us getting more than 35,000. And once the novelty of being in the Premier League has worn off attendances will drop again. Unless we are very successful and/or the prices are reasonable of course.
Jay Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 i've paid for my season ticket in March!!! if they start to reduce prices throughout the season because of league position etc, I would not be amused!!! I do believe that match by match tickets are to expensive though
Foxybeaver Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Don't Derby charge around £10 for a ticket every game and they fill the ground every time near enough
MATLCFC Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 The only way to get more thorugh the door is to simply cut prices or have sucess on the pitch. A combination of both wont happen. Teams should look to take a leaf from Derby, who give loads more promotions and offers than we do. (although every Derby fan will deny it) 4/5 years ago they averaged nothing at all - and over the last 10 years Leicester have averaged more - but the reason Derby regularly get 27000+ is because there are some great offers on season tickets making them fantastic value - there isn't a chance Derby have a 'bigger' supporter base, simply better value - However, I think its great to see if I'm honest and credit to them for doing it.
Father Ted Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 If they want to increase the capacity to 40k they will have to do something!
Guest Mee-9 Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 If you want a crowd of 30k + win games, get premier league and all the part timers come out.
Iwan is a Welshman Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Considering the club now has a bit of wealth at boardroom level I don't think a price reduction to get people in would be the worst idea. Can't see them doing it though. Ultimately though there's one thing that makes a difference and that's results. Off the top of my head attendances improved after we won League One as compared to the Championship seasons before we went down. Derby fans have seen Premiership football more recently as well. I think even as bad a season up there as they had can do a lot for attendances. It attracts a lot of plastic supporters, to see the big sides, then some of 'em enjoy it and stick around.
leicesterseddon Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Bigger average attendances are best achieved by selling lots of season tickets. In order to make season ticket good value, the club have to actually STOP all the offers that come out mid-season. I mean what's the point stumping up the money for every match upfront when you know a month or two in they're going to start the 'Bring a mate for free' deals and the 'Half price if you work for the NHS' deals that no one hears about, meaning the person sitting next to you will have probably paid half what you have to be there?
acooling08 Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Seeing as we only get 20k a game, I'd put all tickets to £5 a person on Friday's.
fleckneymike Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Seeing as we only get 20k a game, I'd put all tickets to £5 a person on Friday's. I do love the complete lack of business sense that comes out in these threads. Bums on seats isn't as important as money in the bank. Ultimately nothing gets people through the gate like success. 80,000 people don't rock up at Old Trafford, the Bernabau or Camp Nou because of a pie and a pint or £10 ticket prices, they go because those teams play attractive, successful football. If you want 30,000 through the gate, get in the Prem, play decent football and win.
broughtonblue Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 Not sure what constitutes a 'plastic' fan? I went to 11 home games this season taking my 'under 18' lad as well. Ok I took advantage of the various offers but I still think I spent between £350 & £400. Coventry have just knocked off a whopping £110 off the price of an adult season ticket, my mate at works new price is £268. If leicesters prices were similar even for the cheapest seats I could probably afford a season ticket for me and my lad. There must be many in the same situation as myself. I would love to be able to afford to go to every match.
Donut Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 A succesful team puts bums on seats, its that simple theres no amount of offers available to pull in punters if the team is playing mediocre football, against mediocre opposition, in a league that is not the premier league.
docho66 Posted 22 May 2011 Posted 22 May 2011 I think it's a very complicated process and unfortunately this is what we have been lumbered with! The fans/ club ambitions have increased the out goings and of course market trends and economic forces have a great influence. I am a marketer and i understand what can influence price. It''s also about risk control. - even if the club reduced its rate to just £15 a ticket for every game then there is no guarantee that the demand for the tickets will increase, therefore making more profit for the club (remember that FCs are also businesses). Example If the ticket price is £18 / match (approx the current figure) and we get an average of 23,666 (http://www.emfootball.co.uk/attend.html) = £425,988 Now, if at the start of the season they changed the price to £15 / match and we achieved an average attendance of 28,666 = £429,990 This is an increase of just £4002 x 23 home games = £92,046 increase in ticket revenue. The fact is, the extra demand is not a sure thing and achieving an extra 5,000 fans per match just because of a £3 reduction in price. The main reason a lot of people are not attending football games (www.skysports.com) is due to the current economic climate and the first luxuries that get cut when times are hard is for leisure. So in conclusion, an increase in attendances because of a price decrease involves too much risk; this could affect their incomings. If they only achieved an extra 1,000 on average after they have decreased the price they would make £15 x 24,666= £369,990 a decrease of £55,998 in revenues - this could be 3 or 4 players weekly wage (or more!). Ultimately, in a season they could lose £55,998 x 23 = £1,287,954 per season!!! Sorry to get a little technical on you guys but i thought i would make sense if you saw some numbers!
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 make the shitty games cheaper to go to, like F****t for example
Alexikokopops Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I think it's a very complicated process and unfortunately this is what we have been lumbered with! The fans/ club ambitions have increased the out goings and of course market trends and economic forces have a great influence. I am a marketer and i understand what can influence price. It''s also about risk control. - even if the club reduced its rate to just £15 a ticket for every game then there is no guarantee that the demand for the tickets will increase, therefore making more profit for the club (remember that FCs are also businesses). Example If the ticket price is £18 / match (approx the current figure) and we get an average of 23,666 (http://www.emfootball.co.uk/attend.html) = £425,988 Now, if at the start of the season they changed the price to £15 / match and we achieved an average attendance of 28,666 = £429,990 This is an increase of just £4002 x 23 home games = £92,046 increase in ticket revenue. The fact is, the extra demand is not a sure thing and achieving an extra 5,000 fans per match just because of a £3 reduction in price. The main reason a lot of people are not attending football games (www.skysports.com) is due to the current economic climate and the first luxuries that get cut when times are hard is for leisure. So in conclusion, an increase in attendances because of a price decrease involves too much risk; this could affect their incomings. If they only achieved an extra 1,000 on average after they have decreased the price they would make £15 x 24,666= £369,990 a decrease of £55,998 in revenues - this could be 3 or 4 players weekly wage (or more!). Ultimately, in a season they could lose £55,998 x 23 = £1,287,954 per season!!! Sorry to get a little technical on you guys but i thought i would make sense if you saw some numbers! Plus the cost of additional stewards/police (with no extra income from food/drink because we contract that out. I agree with the point, and came in to say the same thing (that lowering prices isn't necessarily going to increase demand enough to cover that price change). However, it's not necessarily the most long term view. An alternative argument is that it could be worth taking a possible hit on match day revenue (not a huge one, but a hit nonetheless) to encourage a few more thousand to come in, hopefully creating the benefit of a long term increase in the customer base. I'm just throwing points out there. I, too, work in marketing
Corky Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Being successful doesn't necessarily equate to large crowds. In 2009/10 we had a good season and were in and around the top six all year. How many crowds over 30,000 did we have? It is very difficult to get 30,000+ crowds in the second tier every week, plus the club has to counter-balance reducing ticket prices with costs such as security and maintenance. It's not as easy as just reduce the prices.
lcfc"weasel" Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Pretty sure there'd be no more stewards in the West Stand or Family Stand if they were sold out compared to when they're at 50% capacity.
foxaholic Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 This is my first post so bear with me.... I've been a City fan since the early 70s when my grandad used to take me to matches at Filbert Street and even though i've lived in the Middle East and various places in the UK I've always managed to get to a few matches each season and really love the whole match day experience. I'd love to go to more matches but simply can't afford to, the only matches i've been to in the past two seasons are a 1-0 win over Plymouth 09/10 and the 5-0 win over Donaster this season just finished because i was able to take advantage of special offers that were available for those games. Now i know the valid argument against regular 'cheap ticket' promotions is because it's unfair to the season ticket holders and i agree with this but with the club now in the ownership of people with deep pockets surely there must be a way of rewarding the season ticket holders while at the same time offer a wider range of incentives to get the 1-time a year fans, to become 2/3/4 times a season fans and increase the attendances? Here are a few ideas...give season ticket holders EVERY home match included in their ticket, even if City get a number of home cup matches in a campaign. When the fixture list is published, assign say six matches as £10 fans fixtures and/or buy 1 get 1 free ticket matches and encourage people to collect the ticket stubs. Depending on how many they get, they can get a reduction on a season ticket for the next campaign or a money off voucher to use in club shop. When there are £10 FF, season tickets can get extra for £5, or buy 1 get 1 free ticket offers, season ticket holders get the chance to buy 1 get 2 free? Consider making a certain amount of tickets for each match cheaper...say £5/£10 lower than the normal cheapest seats. With an average of 5,000 to 8,000 seats spare each game, the club's match ticket software must know where these seats are? If they are the same seats all the time then offer these seats cheaper than normal so they are filled. People could go on the website and see where these seats are and book accordingly. If the team is doing badly a la Sousa at the start of last season, reduce the prices en bloc to curtail the falling attendances...team in 13-17 position, knock £5 off, team in 18-22 make all tickets £15, then people might stick with the team instead of questioning paying £25+ of hard earned dosh to watch crap. What does everyone think? The year they got promotion under Micky Adams they averaged 30000 so it is possible if they win nearly every week
B52 Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 Interesting thread... I believe it's marketing together with how the team perform that will get people to matches. Sven has embraced the possibility of being favourites the coming season. The stakes get higher and people get more excited. If then the players meet with expectasions it will be a younger, more healthier, fan base rising in a couple of years. Voila, get a 40+ stadium....
acooling08 Posted 23 May 2011 Posted 23 May 2011 I do love the complete lack of business sense that comes out in these threads. Bums on seats isn't as important as money in the bank. Ultimately nothing gets people through the gate like success. 80,000 people don't rock up at Old Trafford, the Bernabau or Camp Nou because of a pie and a pint or £10 ticket prices, they go because those teams play attractive, successful football. If you want 30,000 through the gate, get in the Prem, play decent football and win. A cheap ticket sale is better than no ticket sale! So 20k paying normal price = £X amount 20k normal price plus 10k at £5 is £X + £50,000 Whats wrong with that??
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