Season ticket prices rise by 3%

[ali jenkins]

I think, at £82 per month, I might get myself one again.

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

Oh do give it a rest. The costs of running matches at Withdean are the same ( or higher ) so why the hell would the club reduce prices as a "reward". The directors have been covering the losses themselves out of their own pockets for the last ten years - how much have you personably put into the club in that time to help cover the losses ( above your season ticket price ) ? Hmmmm ..... my guess - f*** all !

3% seems quite reasonable to me and I'd rather they did that than get into financial trouble. You're just an ungrateful sod !!!!

Quite right, and where has Bloom said that just because he is rich enough to pay for our stadium (for which I am extremely grateful) that he wants to lose even more money by reducing prices in an economy when prices generally are rising and certainly the costs at Withdean won't be reducing.

 

[Keeping The Dream Alive.]

FFS when will people learn you can't compare our ST prices to PL ST prices!

The reason there's are cheaper is because something ridiculous like 90% of their revenue comes from TV income!

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

We'll have 22,000 seats to fill at Falmer. How can they NOT reduce prices for the first season?

We'll be going from a stadium holding just under 9,000 which has rarely been full (to its current capacity). Do the club think another 10,000 people in the Sussex area are just going to find over £400 spare and come running?

So much of the Withdean ticket cost, or so we're told, comes down to the exaggerated overheads caused by the restrictions of playing at Withdean. Therefore I can only assume that those won't apply to the same extent at Falmer, ergo ticket prices should be less.

Clubs like Huddersfield encourage good crowds by having cheeky offers on season ticket prices. Consequently they average 13,000-14,000 at home where previously they got 9,000 or so in. Likewise Bradford City- averaging 11,000 in the fourth division.

We need to do the same. It's simple supply and demand.

It's about the club covering its costs which, despite the ticket prices at Withdean, BHA does not and the annual shortfall (often in excess of £1M) has been made up by the directors. TB has said that the club must be self financing at Falmer.

I think the pricing at Huddersfield and Bradford, certainly the latter, has resulted in a drop in gate revenue.

 

[wigman]

It was on ATC a week or so back. I think it may also have been mentioned in the letter that accompanied the latest DVD, STH visits to the new stadium in the autumn certainly were. I think Falmer STs are due to go on sale about then too

Spoke to the nice chap in the ticket office this morning,he said Falmer season tickets go on sale in September.

 

[Djmiles]

What makes you think that the club are in any position atm to apply accurate costings to the Falmer stadium and therefore able to come up with ST prices that reflect these costs? A decent business does not run on the basis of guesswork and hope, that is how Simon Jordan operated at Crystal Palace.
Btw, how would you pick a seat now, I certainly wouldn't buy one "off plan"?

Of course I am in no position to question the business model, and I don't claim to be the world's best businessman. But what I do know is that the club have lost out on potentially 100's of thousands of pounds by not fully exploiting the feel good factor about the imminent move to Falmer.

With 13 years to think about it, you would have thought they could do slightly better than "Priority for Season Ticket Holders". Not exactly inspiring, and although it may rope a few more people to Withdean, I certainly think more could have been done to fill the Withdean this season AND Falmer next, rather than just filling Falmer. If I had years to think about it I'm sure I could think of SOMETHING which wouldn't involve commiting the club to certain ST prices for Falmer.

 

[Djmiles]

Not quite sure how you equate cutting prices at Withdean for the final season to that somehow increasing interest in Falmer. Its not like you need a season ticket at Withdean next year to realise there's a spectacular brand new stadium in the offing a couple of miles away ready for the following season.

Interest in Falmer is ALREADY building, because people can see those sweeping white arches going up. I've had friends and workmates asking me about the new stadium, when its going to be ready, and several (who have NEVER had an Albion season ticket in their lives) saying they're seriously considering getting one at Falmer.

These people don't need to have a cheapo £250 season ticket to Withdean to entice them to Falmer. We're building it - they will come.

Perhaps my wording wasn't brilliant, but my point was the club had a chance to fill Withdean this season by doing something exciting in terms of prices, Falmer incentives etc etc. Looks like I was being a bit too optimistic.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Of course I am in no position to question the business model, and I don't claim to be the world's best businessman. But what I do know is that the club have lost out on potentially 100's of thousands of pounds by not fully exploiting the feel good factor about the imminent move to Falmer.

With 13 years to think about it, you would have thought they could do slightly better than "Priority for Season Ticket Holders". Not exactly inspiring, and although it may rope a few more people to Withdean, I certainly think more could have been done to fill the Withdean this season AND Falmer next, rather than just filling Falmer. If I had years to think about it I'm sure I could think of SOMETHING which wouldn't involve commiting the club to certain ST prices for Falmer.

You've had as long to think about it as the club so why haven't you come up with some earth shattering idea ?

 

[Djmiles]

You've had as long to think about it as the club so why haven't you come up with some earth shattering idea ?

I have plenty of ideas, but it'll cost 'em

 

[drew]

You are assuming that NSC rumours of massive player budgets are true. This may not be the case. Our reward for putting up with Withdean has been three promotions, barely any seasons of midtable mediocrity and the hope of a bright future under Gus, not a few quid off the price of a season ticket.

I did somewhere in a previous post describe it as alleged millions. Sorry for not repeating it every time.

What makes you think that the club are in any position atm to apply accurate costings to the Falmer stadium and therefore able to come up with ST prices that reflect these costs? A decent business does not run on the basis of guesswork and hope, that is how Simon Jordan operated at Crystal Palace.
Btw, how would you pick a seat now, I certainly wouldn't buy one "off plan"?

Sorry but no business operates on a 12 month plan. The club will already have an idea as to what they are likely to charge. If they didn't, how are they giving a price for the boxes, platinum tickets etc.

Not sure the idea of a two year special deal would work though.

 

[SICKASAGULL]

The board are pushing their luck with any increase considering the dismal home record this season, I would imagine there must be more than a few are not sure they will renew their seasons.
Falmer with its 22,000 seats means there is no need to buy a season,there will be ample room so attendance at matches can be decided on results and standard of play,this will keep the manager and directors on their toes.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Oh do give it a rest. The costs of running matches at Withdean are the same ( or higher ) so why the hell would the club reduce prices as a "reward". The directors have been covering the losses themselves out of their own pockets for the last ten years - how much have you personably put into the club in that time to help cover the losses ( above your season ticket price ) ? Hmmmm ..... my guess - f*** all !

3% seems quite reasonable to me and I'd rather they did that than get into financial trouble. You're just an ungrateful sod !!!!

After having time to think about it, perhaps I am an 'ungrateful sod', but I was clearly setting my hopes too high.

I don't buy a season ticket (or buy home tickets from the club) because they are too expensive. Therefore I certainly wasn't expecting a reward, but I know many that were hoping for one.

Anyway, if they didn't price the fans out then maybe they wouldn't have such great losses, and perhaps Withdean wouldn't be the souless/half empty place that it is (no co-incidence that the recent game against Southampton saw a virtual sell out in the South Stand and a good atmosphere).

But obviously I was being unrealistic in my hopes for a) attempts to fill the ground for the first time in over half a decade by setting prices that were reasonable for League 1 football b) the club to recognise that current prices were far too high for League 1 football, for the worst ground in the league, and for the team with the worst home record in the league, and c) the club to offer some strong incentives with regard to getting season tickets at Falmer.

I don't think we're a charity, but I do find it a little disappointing that we've got a club who are prepared to price out supporters for the sake of making a smaller loss, and yet who are prepared to spunk money on the likes of Jake Wright, Craig Davies and Liam Dickinson.

As for us making losses at Withdean, why exactly is that? Is it because, if it wasn't for a couple of thousand kids in on a freebie each week, the crowds would be frankly EMBARRASSING? Surely it would be more desirable to fill the ground each week with paying customers.....

Oh well, not my problem really, nothing is going to change for me - but if the club can't get the marketing right to fill 8500 seats (without giving them away) then I can't see us getting good crowds at falmer after the initial hype has gone. Certainly not if they are going to continue with the extortionate prices, and definitely not if they expect season ticket holders to start buying in September, just weeks after buying their season ticket for 2010/2011....

 

[wigman]

The board are pushing their luck with any increase considering the dismal home record this season, I would imagine there must be more than a few are not sure they will renew their seasons.


The board of directors are expecting an influx of new applications for this season.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

The board are pushing their luck with any increase considering the dismal home record this season, I would imagine there must be more than a few are not sure they will renew their seasons.
Falmer with its 22,000 seats means there is no need to buy a season,there will be ample room so attendance at matches can be decided on results and standard of play,this will keep the manager and directors on their toes.

I find it strange that people equate buying a season ticket with results. I support the Albion through thick and thin and results have no bearing on my purchases of a season ticket. If I wanted to follow a successful team I would buy a season ticket for Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea. Following the Albion is far more than a results based hobby !

 

[Westdene Seagull]

After having time to think about it, perhaps I am an 'ungrateful sod', but I was clearly setting my hopes too high.

I don't buy a season ticket (or buy home tickets from the club) because they are too expensive. Therefore I certainly wasn't expecting a reward, but I know many that were hoping for one.

Anyway, if they didn't price the fans out then maybe they wouldn't have such great losses, and perhaps Withdean wouldn't be the souless/half empty place that it is (no co-incidence that the recent game against Southampton saw a virtual sell out in the South Stand and a good atmosphere).

But obviously I was being unrealistic in my hopes for a) attempts to fill the ground for the first time in over half a decade by setting prices that were reasonable for League 1 football b) the club to recognise that current prices were far too high for League 1 football, for the worst ground in the league, and for the team with the worst home record in the league, and c) the club to offer some strong incentives with regard to getting season tickets at Falmer.

I don't think we're a charity, but I do find it a little disappointing that we've got a club who are prepared to price out supporters for the sake of making a smaller loss, and yet who are prepared to spunk money on the likes of Jake Wright, Craig Davies and Liam Dickinson.

As for us making losses at Withdean, why exactly is that? Is it because, if it wasn't for a couple of thousand kids in on a freebie each week, the crowds would be frankly EMBARRASSING? Surely it would be more desirable to fill the ground each week with paying customers.....

Oh well, not my problem really, nothing is going to change for me - but if the club can't get the marketing right to fill 8500 seats (without giving them away) then I can't see us getting good crowds at falmer after the initial hype has gone. Certainly not if they are going to continue with the extortionate prices, and definitely not if they expect season ticket holders to start buying in September, just weeks after buying their season ticket for 2010/2011....

You clearly live on a different planet. Firstly you complain about a 3% increase when you don't even go to matches !!!!

If you actually bothered to get off your fat arse and go to the matches then you'd see that the ground is crap - hence why it's not full. We're moving to a state of the art stadium where we will stay dry - it will make a HUGE difference to crowd numbers.

They don't make a loss because they give away tickets ( that would only be the case if most matches were a sell out ) - they make a loss due to the costs of Withdean.

Like the way you contridict yourself about the Southampton game !!! So despite the prices being the same for that match the south stand was a near sell out ?

On buying duff players - that's football for you - and we will continue to buy duff players once we are in Falmer. It's a gamble buying players, some will be diamonds while others will be crap.

I really don't get why you're such a negative twat on EVERYTHING Albion - you're clearly a Crystal Palace fan because it's obvious you don't support the stripes.

Oh, as an extra to highlight what a c**t you are, you don't have a season ticket nor do you buy individual tickets yet you think the directors should finance yet more losses ! You clearly haven't put a penny into the club so your all mouth and no action !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wigman]

You clearly live on a different planet. Firstly you complain about a 3% increase when you don't even go to matches !!!!

If you actually bothered to get off your fat arse and go to the matches then you'd see that the ground is crap - hence why it's not full. We're moving to a state of the art stadium where we will stay dry - it will make a HUGE difference to crowd numbers.

They don't make a loss because they give away tickets ( that would only be the case if most matches were a sell out ) - they make a loss due to the costs of Withdean.

Like the way you contridict yourself about the Southampton game !!! So despite the prices being the same for that match the south stand was a near sell out ?

On buying duff players - that's football for you - and we will continue to buy duff players once we are in Falmer. It's a gamble buying players, some will be diamonds while others will be crap.

I really don't get why you're such a negative twat on EVERYTHING Albion - you're clearly a Crystal Palace fan because it's obvious you don't support the stripes.

Oh, as an extra to highlight what a c**t you are, you don't have a season ticket nor do you buy individual tickets yet you think the directors should finance yet more losses ! You clearly haven't put a penny into the club so your all mouth and no action !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Top post.

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

You clearly live on a different planet. Firstly you complain about a 3% increase when you don't even go to matches !!!!

If you actually bothered to get off your fat arse and go to the matches then you'd see that the ground is crap - hence why it's not full. We're moving to a state of the art stadium where we will stay dry - it will make a HUGE difference to crowd numbers.

They don't make a loss because they give away tickets ( that would only be the case if most matches were a sell out ) - they make a loss due to the costs of Withdean.

Like the way you contridict yourself about the Southampton game !!! So despite the prices being the same for that match the south stand was a near sell out ?

On buying duff players - that's football for you - and we will continue to buy duff players once we are in Falmer. It's a gamble buying players, some will be diamonds while others will be crap.

I really don't get why you're such a negative twat on EVERYTHING Albion - you're clearly a Crystal Palace fan because it's obvious you don't support the stripes.

Oh, as an extra to highlight what a c**t you are, you don't have a season ticket nor do you buy individual tickets yet you think the directors should finance yet more losses ! You clearly haven't put a penny into the club so your all mouth and no action !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well said. If anyone has a right to complain about season ticket prices it is the people that buy them, and as I am one I can definately state that I don't need WW to complain on my behalf.

I support the Albion because they are my club through thick and thin and as I have been supporting them since 1974 there has been plenty of thin. Price obviously does enter into it, but I luckily have a very supportive wife and a 14 year old son who is Albion mad despite never having lived in Brighton, and at this moment am just glad we have survived and have a fantastic new stadium to go to.

See you all at MK Dons on Saturday.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

You clearly live on a different planet. Firstly you complain about a 3% increase when you don't even go to matches !!!!

If you actually bothered to get off your fat arse and go to the matches then you'd see that the ground is crap - hence why it's not full. We're moving to a state of the art stadium where we will stay dry - it will make a HUGE difference to crowd numbers.

They don't make a loss because they give away tickets ( that would only be the case if most matches were a sell out ) - they make a loss due to the costs of Withdean.

Like the way you contridict yourself about the Southampton game !!! So despite the prices being the same for that match the south stand was a near sell out ?

On buying duff players - that's football for you - and we will continue to buy duff players once we are in Falmer. It's a gamble buying players, some will be diamonds while others will be crap.

I really don't get why you're such a negative twat on EVERYTHING Albion - you're clearly a Crystal Palace fan because it's obvious you don't support the stripes.

Oh, as an extra to highlight what a c**t you are, you don't have a season ticket nor do you buy individual tickets yet you think the directors should finance yet more losses ! You clearly haven't put a penny into the club so your all mouth and no action !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday will be my 36th Albion game of the season so clearly I can be bothered to get my big arse to matches. I also went to Withdean when the ground was massively oversubscribed each week. Now, we often struggle to hit the 6000 mark. The ground has IMPROVED since then, so I don't think empty seats are because the ground is shit, there's a lot more factors involved than that, one of which is quite clearly price.

I dont put money into the club because the prices they charge are too high for this league - the South Stand has only been full against Leeds and Southampton, but even then the ground wasn't sold out.

The club could try and sell some tickets at Withdean, but they'd rather worry about Falmer, while forgetting about the fans that are around at the moment forking out each week. I think they could do a lot more to get Withdean full without raising prices, giving away freebies or making bigger losses.

If me having these views makes me a tosser then so be it.

 

[getreal1]

Firstly, we are not a premiership club and there is no guarantee that we will be a championship club when we open at Falmer. Secondly, are you saying the £1400 includes food and drink? My understanding was that you got access to the lounges but had to buy the food and drink yourself. Hardly corporate hospitality.

Worth it to avoid queuing with the ne'er do wells.

 

[e77]

Will I renew my season ticket at Withdean at those prices? Yes

Will I renew my season ticket at Falmer for those prices or a bit higher? Yes

Will I being able to persuade casual supporters or fans of other clubs to come along at £25-£30 a ticket? Probably not.

We have a big new stadium to fill and the pricing needs to be thought through.