Does the small ground high prices argument stack up?

[IsleworthRanger]

It has been widely accepted I think and certainly mentioned that because we have such a small ground then it must follow that we as fans have to pay a premion on our season tickets to make up any shortfall in the potential budget the club make each year

However in yesterdays Standard there was a big advert for West Ham advertising the fact that their season Tickets were on sale and that prices started at £600 so considering that their capacity is just about double what ours is does this make our tickets fairly good value afterall?

[winalotto]

Its why we need a bigger/ newer ground asap, because we could charge a thousand pound a season ticket and still not cover our wage bill. West Hams wage bill will go through the roof as all promoted clubs do, they haven't got a Mittal sitting in the boardroom though.

[Betty Swollocks]

Imo it's nothing to do with shortfalls in budget. It's all to do (as most things) with supply and demand. If LR is full every week then (unfortunately for us) the prices are too low. Any business want's to generate as much money as possible but if prices are set too high to address some supposed shortfall, the reallity is that less is generated because people are priced out. I would add that the size of ground does have a bearing on this - It's easier to get 19000 to pay £40 than get 35000 to pay £30. Very simplified I know but the point is made

[CroydonCaptainJack]

It has been widely accepted I think and certainly mentioned that because we have such a small ground then it must follow that we as fans have to pay a premion on our season tickets to make up any shortfall in the potential budget the club make each year

However in yesterdays Standard there was a big advert for West Ham advertising the fact that their season Tickets were on sale and that prices started at £600 so considering that their capacity is just about double what ours is does this make our tickets fairly good value afterall?

I pay £46 a game in X block for me and my two lads. I think that is a bargain to be honest.
I think the situation in terms of Income has changed a lot post Sky. If you took an average off say £20 a seat. That is approx £7m a year in Income over a season. This is dwarfed by the £40m plus TV money. Then there would be merchandising etc. Would be fascinated to see a Business plan where this lot stacks up though given our Wage comittments and overheads.

[stanistheman]

I pay £46 a game in X block for me and my two lads. I think that is a bargain to be honest.
I think the situation in terms of Income has changed a lot post Sky. If you took an average off say £20 a seat. That is approx £7m a year in Income over a season. This is dwarfed by the £40m plus TV money. Then there would be merchandising etc. Would be fascinated to see a Business plan where this lot stacks up though given our Wage comittments and overheads.

That's a good argument.

Also in the Standard last week the new Russian owner of Reading was saying something about the TV income of clubs.

It went on to talk about how the new TV deal was £3B and the overseas deal was worth less than £1B. Yet the number of overseas viewing figures dwarfs the UK one. So he thought the next deal will be worth a lot more money.

Now if this is true, clubs can easily afford to lower their prices. They dont have to give all their money to the players. It's high time fans got a better deal because without us football wil die out.

[CroydonCaptainJack]

That's a good argument.

Also in the Standard last week the new Russian owner of Reading was saying something about the TV income of clubs.

It went on to talk about how the new TV deal was £3B and the overseas deal was worth less than £1B. Yet the number of overseas viewing figures dwarfs the UK one. So he thought the next deal will be worth a lot more money.

Now if this is true, clubs can easily afford to lower their prices. They dont have to give all their money to the players. It's high time fans got a better deal because without us football wil die out.

Yes, the 3billion deal is allready a significant increase on the current one (even in this double-dip environment!). It makes it even more important to stay up next year as our share is likely to be nearer £60m the season after this. The irony is this additional money could be used to make the clubs sustainable businesses but will more than likely end up in the sky rockets of players and agents. Sad but true.

[Pal]

TBH the base ticket price isn't the only consideration, there's transport, eating, drinking, program and shop purchases as well.

The whole package needs to be presented as good value to attract more punters, or else the perception of the package needs to change.

At the moment going to the game is viewed as something to do on a staurday for a couple of hours, so spending £40 an hour is not deemed good value. If there was entertainment for a longer period and people percieve this as an all day function, like an NFL game in the States, then £80 for a day out may be percieved as better value, this is what needs to be addressed if we move to a bigger ground. Shops and resteruants bars etc that can be enjoyed before and after the game, more things going on in the stadium before the match, all these things would have bring people into the ground and put money in the clubs bin.

[IsleworthRanger]

TBH the base ticket price isn't the only consideration, there's transport, eating, drinking, program and shop purchases as well.

The whole package needs to be presented as good value to attract more punters, or else the perception of the package needs to change.

At the moment going to the game is viewed as something to do on a staurday for a couple of hours, so spending £40 an hour is not deemed good value. If there was entertainment for a longer period and people percieve this as an all day function, like an NFL game in the States, then £80 for a day out may be percieved as better value, this is what needs to be addressed if we move to a bigger ground. Shops and resteruants bars etc that can be enjoyed before and after the game, more things going on in the stadium before the match, all these things would have bring people into the ground and put money in the clubs bin.

Thats an excellent point as for example I went to the Oval last night to watch Surrey v Kent in the 20/20 and for £20 a ticket it is great vale considering there is at least 3 hours entertainment on the pitch and numerous bars around the ground selling cold beers and cider etc which you can sit in your seat with

Add to the fact that there are about three or four shops in the ground selling decent merchandise including shirts etc and plenty of outlets to get food including Indian,Fish and Chips,Pasties or what ever you fancy and you have to wonder why football clubs do not follow suit

Perhaps its simply because we put up with it week after week

[CroydonCaptainJack]

Thats an excellent point as for example I went to the Oval last night to watch Surrey v Kent in the 20/20 and for £20 a ticket it is great vale considering there is at least 3 hours entertainment on the pitch and numerous bars around the ground selling cold beers and cider etc which you can sit in your seat with

Add to the fact that there are about three or four shops in the ground selling decent merchandise including shirts etc and plenty of outlets to get food including Indian,Fish and Chips,Pasties or what ever you fancy and you have to wonder why football clubs do not follow suit

Perhaps its simply because we put up with it week after week

Isleworth I am going to the Oval tonight for my first ever live 20-20 game. Long overdue!
Just hope it stops bloody raining!

[IsleworthRanger]

Isleworth I am going to the Oval tonight for my first ever live 20-20 game. Long overdue!
Just hope it stops bloody raining!

Tempted to go along again myself this evening as its a cracking night out though Surrey were absolutely woeful last night

[Bluehoop]

Thats an excellent point as for example I went to the Oval last night to watch Surrey v Kent in the 20/20 and for £20 a ticket it is great vale considering there is at least 3 hours entertainment on the pitch and numerous bars around the ground selling cold beers and cider etc which you can sit in your seat with

Add to the fact that there are about three or four shops in the ground selling decent merchandise including shirts etc and plenty of outlets to get food including Indian,Fish and Chips,Pasties or what ever you fancy and you have to wonder why football clubs do not follow suit

Perhaps its simply because we put up with it week after week

Twas a decent game for us Kent fans too
The £20 price Surrey are charging now is reasonable and it showed with the size of the crowd. I was told last night that earlier in the T20 round of games they were charging more - between £28 and £35 depending on the opposition. Also kids prices were high too whereas last night they were slashed. The early season prices were based on assumptions that 1) Surrey have a decent team so would do well in the competition, 2) the weather would be good for watching cricket and 3) the T20 is so popular that they can get away with charging top dollar.
In each respect their approach was similar to Kent's, and they too have had a struggle to sell out these matches.
The big difference of course is Surrey need to sell 25k + to sell out whereas Kent need only 15k - I think that is why tonight's game is dearer than Surrey's one against Middlesex.
Interestingly enough though, Kent's is sold out and I understand Surrey too are expecting about 15k.
With football it's different as the hard core fans (of which there are more) will go whether the team is winning or not and the weather doesn't put many people off because they don't stop for rain and bad light.
The similarity however is where QPR charged top dollar for last season's FA Cup match with the fraggles (presumed to be a big and popular competition like the T20 in cricket) with a net result of about 4,000 empty seats.
It seems both sports have a lot to learn about putting bum's on seats in a recession

[CroydonCaptainJack]

Tempted to go along again myself this evening as its a cracking night out though Surrey were absolutely woeful last night

Yes someone told me that is six in a row they have lost!