1901 Club

[Icy Gull]

Lucky the vote for CEO of the year wasn't conducted on NSC, not only would he have had no chance of winning, he'd probably have been sacked. Who has it wrong, the sages of NSC or the football industry?

We do seem to have gone from a fan base who were totally behind the club to one who love to criticise so much about the current setup. Whatever the niggles about becoming more corporate and business orientated I would rather be here than back at Withdean or the Priestfield. I really can't get too wound up about the food in the 1901 or any other shortcomings it has. As a football experience I LOVE it.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

With any business losing money you look at where you can cut costs first to protect your margin. In significance and goodwill what do you mean ?

Apologies. I meant to type "significance of customer goodwill." I have edited my post. Hopefully it's clearer now.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Lucky the vote for CEO of the year wasn't conducted on NSC, not only would he have had no chance of winning, he'd probably have been sacked. Who has it wrong, the sages of NSC or the football industry?

Azure won the football catering award last year.

 

[Icy Gull]

Azure won the football catering award last year.

How many clubs did they cater for?

Having looked it up, the answer is loads.

I found the food to be pretty good most of the time after the initial teething problems. It was the clueless service I found hard to comprehend, has anything changed on that front?

Maybe the expectations of Albion fans raised on shit facilities at a reasonable cost are different to those of established corporate clubs? Maybe the deal brokered by the Albion leaves very little room for many pricing options for the caterers? I don't know but I can't help feeling the whinging about the 1901 is often ott. I say this a 1901 member.

 

[Beach Hut]

Apologies. I meant to type "significance of customer goodwill." I have edited my post. Hopefully it's clearer now.

But the fact is the description as football fans are not really customers per se in my view.

If you buy something in a shop and it does not meet your expectation you would probably not go back where as a football fan does.

 

[Brighton Mod]

Lucky the vote for CEO of the year wasn't conducted on NSC, not only would he have had no chance of winning, he'd probably have been sacked. Who has it wrong, the sages of NSC or the football industry?

We do seem to have gone from a fan base who were totally behind the club to one who love to criticise so much about the current setup. Whatever the niggles about becoming more corporate and business orientated I would rather be here than back at Withdean or the Priestfield. I really can't get too wound up about the food in the 1901 or any other shortcomings it has. As a football experience I LOVE it.

Yes its a great experience at the Amex and not too many 1901 moaners on here as opposed to others. As for value, did you know that 1901ers enjoy free FA Cup ties, free friendlies, free programmes and free coffee at half time, plus the lounge is warm in the winter, carpeted and you get a great view. We have guests compares every match Alan Mullery, Kerry mayo, Andy Rollings, Gary Chivers etc and we meet with friends and have a drink, a bite to eat before and after the match, oh and we get complimentary parking at no cost. So I reckon that by the time all the costs are worked out, a 1901 ticket is very good value and possibly worked out across the season more cost effective that the price of a normal ticket+ parking + programme + coffee + league cup + friendlies + FA Cup and the added value of a super seat with magnificent views. Most of those around me are old Albion supporters who can genuinely remember Alex Dawson, Kenny Beamish, Peter Ward etc and value the opportunity that the chairman has now afforded us.

Oh and sing up the North Stand, because we can't hear you as opposed to the opposition!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Yes its a great experience at the Amex and not too many 1901 moaners on here as opposed to others. As for value, did you know that 1901ers enjoy free FA Cup ties, free friendlies, free programmes and free coffee at half time, plus the lounge is warm in the winter, carpeted and you get a great view. We have guests compares every match Alan Mullery, Kerry mayo, Andy Rollings, Gary Chivers etc and we meet with friends and have a drink, a bite to eat before and after the match, oh and we get complimentary parking at no cost. So I reckon that by the time all the costs are worked out, a 1901 ticket is very good value and possibly worked out across the season more cost effective that the price of a normal ticket+ parking + programme + coffee + league cup + friendlies + FA Cup and the added value of a super seat with magnificent views. Most of those around me are old Albion supporters who can genuinely remember Alex Dawson, Kenny Beamish, Peter Ward etc and value the opportunity that the chairman has now afforded us.

Oh and sing up the North Stand, because we can't hear you as opposed to the opposition!

Yes, but ...

If the Club is budgeting for 1901 Club members spending extra money on the day (and the catering arrangements suggest that this is the plan) and that bit of extra income fails to materialise, while the costs of attracting that income (staff, equipment, food, etc) are still having to be met, then the enterprise is failing.

Putting the prices up isn't the solution. Nor is cutting the quality of the food offer. Delivering what the customers want, rather than what the accountants would like, is the only way forward.

And, as a North Stand ticket holder, this matters to me. It's my Club that is losing money.

 

[sparkie]

Lucky the vote for CEO of the year wasn't conducted on NSC, not only would he have had no chance of winning, he'd probably have been sacked. Who has it wrong, the sages of NSC or the football industry?

We do seem to have gone from a fan base who were totally behind the club to one who love to criticise so much about the current setup. Whatever the niggles about becoming more corporate and business orientated I would rather be here than back at Withdean or the Priestfield. I really can't get too wound up about the food in the 1901 or any other shortcomings it has. As a football experience I LOVE it.

Agree 100%. Far to much sniping from the sidelines on NSC about Paul Barber, and the club in general.

The good times have started, and we are on the edge of even better.

 

[Beach Hut]

Yes, but ...

If the Club is budgeting for 1901 Club members spending extra money on the day (and the catering arrangements suggest that this is the plan) and that bit of extra income fails to materialise, while the costs of attracting that income (staff, equipment, food, etc) are still having to be met, then the enterprise is failing.

Putting the prices up isn't the solution. Nor is cutting the quality of the food offer. Delivering what the customers want, rather than what the accountants would like, is the only way forward.

And, as a North Stand ticket holder, this matters to me. It's my Club that is losing money.

That is I suspect the biggest issue as projected revenue clearly is not happening.

 

[Brighton Mod]

Yes, but ...

If the Club is budgeting for 1901 Club members spending extra money on the day (and the catering arrangements suggest that this is the plan) and that bit of extra income fails to materialise, while the costs of attracting that income (staff, equipment, food, etc) are still having to be met, then the enterprise is failing.

Putting the prices up isn't the solution. Nor is cutting the quality of the food offer. Delivering what the customers want, rather than what the accountants would like, is the only way forward.

And, as a North Stand ticket holder, this matters to me. It's my Club that is losing money.

Off course the club is very important, but so is value for money for those who are paying. I was a north stand man back in the late 70s and experienced the current north stand against Reading the other year. The language and encouragement of 10 year old children be just as abusive, such as , cutting Jason Roberts throat was something totally alien to me and I was no angel back in the 70s either. There appears to be a problem with some here who are somewhat pretentious in trying to be 'hard' and who really are not, loitering in the north stand and trying to bask in some reflected glory of that. We are all Albion supporters and should accept that we all want the same thing, that some choose to follow the team in the north stand or the 1901 club is just down to personal preference, the Directors have a great view and lovely seats and have dinner before the match and after match drinks, theres no complaint about that.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

But the fact is the description as football fans are not really customers per se in my view.

If you buy something in a shop and it does not meet your expectation you would probably not go back where as a football fan does.

I agree with your point in respect of the former Withdean punters. I'm not certain Barber will be able to continually squeeze the new supporters; they do not have the same level of loyalty.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Yes its a great experience at the Amex and not too many 1901 moaners on here as opposed to others. As for value, did you know that 1901ers enjoy free FA Cup ties, free friendlies, free programmes and free coffee at half time, plus the lounge is warm in the winter, carpeted and you get a great view. We have guests compares every match Alan Mullery, Kerry mayo, Andy Rollings, Gary Chivers etc and we meet with friends and have a drink, a bite to eat before and after the match, oh and we get complimentary parking at no cost. So I reckon that by the time all the costs are worked out, a 1901 ticket is very good value and possibly worked out across the season more cost effective that the price of a normal ticket+ parking + programme + coffee + league cup + friendlies + FA Cup and the added value of a super seat with magnificent views. Most of those around me are old Albion supporters who can genuinely remember Alex Dawson, Kenny Beamish, Peter Ward etc and value the opportunity that the chairman has now afforded us.

Oh and sing up the North Stand, because we can't hear you as opposed to the opposition!

Free? It's included in the price; it isn't free.

 

[Brighton Mod]

Free? It's included in the price; it isn't free.

No, FA cup games for which season ticket holders and others have to pay, comes at no cost. Parking which costs £10 - £15 on match days, ie Bridge car park comes at no cost. Start adding these things up and suddenly yes it is free. For an FA Cup match or a friendly, theres no parking charge, no extra money to be paid for the seat as others will have to do, so its free isn't it?

 

[clippedgull]

No, FA cup games for which season ticket holders and others have to pay, comes at no cost. Parking which costs £10 - £15 on match days, ie Bridge car park comes at no cost. Start adding these things up and suddenly yes it is free. For an FA Cup match or a friendly, theres no parking charge, no extra money to be paid for the seat as others will have to do, so its free isn't it?

A fair few 1901 members have to pay for parking. I understand it's only if you buy multiple 1901 memberships that parking is included in your membership.

 

[stripeyshark]

Racist.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No, FA cup games for which season ticket holders and others have to pay, comes at no cost. Parking which costs £10 - £15 on match days, ie Bridge car park comes at no cost. Start adding these things up and suddenly yes it is free. For an FA Cup match or a friendly, theres no parking charge, no extra money to be paid for the seat as others will have to do, so its free isn't it?

No. It's not free, it's factored into the price.

 

[Creaky]

No. It's not free, it's factored into the price.

Irrelevant whether it's 'free' or not - the prices charged and fixed for 1901 seats was patently set too low - expect a BIG increase in a couple of years!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Irrelevant whether it's 'free' or not - the prices charged and fixed for 1901 seats was patently set too low - expect a BIG increase in a couple of years!

It's not irrelevant to Brighton Mod's and my chat.

Your second point is interesting. Clearly the prices were too low as the club were over-subscribed. But the club dealt with this by increasing supply until it pretty much met the demand. With this in mind a "big price increase" will probably result in a significant drop off renewals; due to the club increasing the supply there isn't a huge queue of supporters for the 1901 at current prices let alone increased.

 

[sparkie]

It's not irrelevant to Brighton Mod's and my chat.

Your second point is interesting. Clearly the prices were too low as the club were over-subscribed. But the club dealt with this by increasing supply until it pretty much met the demand. With this in mind a "big price increase" will probably result in a significant drop off renewals; due to the club increasing the supply there isn't a huge queue of supporters for the 1901 at current prices let alone increased.

Wouldn't be surprised if there are different price rises depending on location in 1901, with any areas they want to make more corporate having the largest increases. Perhaps though this will depend on which league we are in.

Also, maybe they'll have a shorter period than 5 years before the prices are assessed again after the rise in 2.5 years time.

 

[timbha]

Yes its a great experience at the Amex and not too many 1901 moaners on here as opposed to others. As for value, did you know that 1901ers enjoy free FA Cup ties, free friendlies, free programmes and free coffee at half time, plus the lounge is warm in the winter, carpeted and you get a great view. We have guests compares every match Alan Mullery, Kerry mayo, Andy Rollings, Gary Chivers etc and we meet with friends and have a drink, a bite to eat before and after the match, oh and we get complimentary parking at no cost. So I reckon that by the time all the costs are worked out, a 1901 ticket is very good value and possibly worked out across the season more cost effective that the price of a normal ticket+ parking + programme + coffee + league cup + friendlies + FA Cup and the added value of a super seat with magnificent views. Most of those around me are old Albion supporters who can genuinely remember Alex Dawson, Kenny Beamish, Peter Ward etc and value the opportunity that the chairman has now afforded us.

Oh and sing up the North Stand, because we can't hear you as opposed to the opposition!

please can you substantiate this with some figures (including VAT) with say 2 home FA Cup matches and 1 friendly? To help I think car parking value is about 50% of £270.