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Following the announcement this week that Season Ticket prices have been frozen for the 2012/13 campaign, in line with the revised prices from this term, Amit Bhatia has revealed why he felt so passionately about getting the pricing right.
Bhatia momentarily stepped down from his role as Vice-Chairman at the start of the 2011/12 season, citing the original pricing structure as a major reason for his decision, and he told www.qpr.co.uk: "I am very pleased with the prices we have announced.
"Having seen our progression over the last few years I am thrilled that we can reward our fans by keeping prices frozen and allowing them the opportunity to come back and continue supporting their team.
"I am so pleased to have such a supportive partner as Tony (Fernandes) where this is not just my decision but a combined view where we wanted to not raise the prices going into the new season."
With the demand for season tickets escalating owing to the Club's Premier League status, there can be a temptation to raise their cost but the Board were keen to avoid this in order to retain QPR's passionate supporters.
"I can't explain the importance of it," he added. "There are fans who tell me they have been coming for 40 years with their dads, and their granddads.
"They have supported QPR through all the lower levels.
"What's the point in supporting the Club for all these years if then you can't have the joy of watching your side when you are playing in the Premier League?
"That's something that I just don't want to happen to us. We need to always try and be fair to our fans.
"A couple of times this season I heard commentators saying they had never heard a noise in football like they did at Loftus Road.
"And there's a reason.
"It's because we have long-serving, loyal fans that genuinely love this Football Club. It's what makes Loftus Road this fantastic environment. It's what drove us to five home wins in a row at the end of the season and, in my opinion, it is what kept us up.
"It is very important that we are always conscious that our fans are sensitive to prices and so we must always do the best that we can. To try and be fair and reasonable is all that they ask of us."
Current Season Ticket holders have until 5.00pm on Saturday 30th June to renew their seats.
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Bhatia momentarily stepped down from his role as Vice-Chairman at the start of the 2011/12 season, citing the original pricing structure as a major reason for his decision, and he told www.qpr.co.uk: "I am very pleased with the prices we have announced.
"Having seen our progression over the last few years I am thrilled that we can reward our fans by keeping prices frozen and allowing them the opportunity to come back and continue supporting their team.
"I am so pleased to have such a supportive partner as Tony (Fernandes) where this is not just my decision but a combined view where we wanted to not raise the prices going into the new season."
With the demand for season tickets escalating owing to the Club's Premier League status, there can be a temptation to raise their cost but the Board were keen to avoid this in order to retain QPR's passionate supporters.
"I can't explain the importance of it," he added. "There are fans who tell me they have been coming for 40 years with their dads, and their granddads.
"They have supported QPR through all the lower levels.
"What's the point in supporting the Club for all these years if then you can't have the joy of watching your side when you are playing in the Premier League?
"That's something that I just don't want to happen to us. We need to always try and be fair to our fans.
"A couple of times this season I heard commentators saying they had never heard a noise in football like they did at Loftus Road.
"And there's a reason.
"It's because we have long-serving, loyal fans that genuinely love this Football Club. It's what makes Loftus Road this fantastic environment. It's what drove us to five home wins in a row at the end of the season and, in my opinion, it is what kept us up.
"It is very important that we are always conscious that our fans are sensitive to prices and so we must always do the best that we can. To try and be fair and reasonable is all that they ask of us."
Current Season Ticket holders have until 5.00pm on Saturday 30th June to renew their seats.
More...
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