merse
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Post by merse on Jul 2, 2008 3:19:34 GMT
If you really targeted SDL clubs, you might see a response. For example, sell a club a group ticket for £100 that lets in up to 20 people. If they get ten to come along it costs a tenner each, if they get a full entourage of 20 it only costs a fiver each. You might forge a habit, that evening games are seen as a club social night out, and a blank Saturday might be seen as a chance to go to Plainmoor instead.  I think that forms the embryo of a brilliant idea. I would structure it as offering "Sporting affiliation" to local clubs who would then be responsible for gathering their own party together pre-match (Why not in Boots?) and then gaining entry together. I think this would also be an excellent vessel for the re-establishment of links with the local football scene benefiting the club with a possible stream of local talent and extra periphery income (particularly for the less well supported midweek games) and in return giving something to the local players in the way of privileged entry. |
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Post by buster on Jul 2, 2008 22:24:18 GMT
Sean
Many thanks for passing on our ideas. It`s appreciated.
Only had to see the British speedway GP at the millenium to see what effect a good stadium "show" can have. ok its indoors but the fans and riders always comment on the excellent atmosphere.
Time for another wacky thought which combines the problem of the expense of watching with the buzz of an away fan- As has already been said finances may be tight for fans so how about providing coaches that could takes fans from places such as Brixham, Paignton, Newton etc. I think MB may have tried this but it never took off. But what if the coach was cheap or even free. Fans may even feel like it was an away game and hit the terraces buzzing.
The cost wouldn`t necesarily have to be met by Utd if sponsorship could be found.
buster
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Post by northyorkshiregull on Jul 4, 2008 18:48:25 GMT
I would also like to see some sort of bus or coach link sorted for newton and paignton as plainmoor is almost inpossible to reach by public transport from these areas
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Post by pikeygull on Jul 4, 2008 20:07:02 GMT
I would also like to see some sort of bus or coach link sorted for newton and paignton as plainmoor is almost impossible to reach by public transport from these areas I'm not so sure about that. No12 into Torquay harbour then the No34 to Plainmoor. Oh but then again we are talking about Stagecoach here aren't we, eh Merse ;D |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 4, 2008 20:26:40 GMT
I would also like to see some sort of bus or coach link sorted for newton and paignton as plainmoor is almost impossible to reach by public transport from these areas I'm not so sure about that. No12 into Torquay harbour then the No34 to Plainmoor. Oh but then again we are talking about Stagecoach here aren't we, eh Merse ;D Pickey Merse is now checking his time tables, he still thinks its Devon General here, well he's been away a long time ;D |
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Post by the92ndfish on Jul 5, 2008 16:42:06 GMT
Oh for the days of Bayline! and the tiny little rustbuckets they used to run. One of my earliest memories is being on one of them in Lisburne Square, where two drunk slappers argued with the bus driver about how far they'd paid to go, while I was bemused by the whole situation.
I know this is totally off on a tangent to the ideas of improving the matchday attendance, but has anything been mentioned to Sean about various season ticket ideas (i.e half season tickets/monthly direct debits etc), I reckon we'd see a substantial bump in the numbers sold if they were more than just the lump sum option, although with the likes of monthly direct debit tickets, it would probably require an electronic system, the financial cost of which might not make it viable.
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Dave
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Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Jul 5, 2008 16:49:01 GMT
Oh for the days of Bayline! and the tiny little rustbuckets they used to run. One of my earliest memories is being on one of them in Lisburne Square, where two drunk slappers argued with the bus driver about how far they'd paid to go, while I was bemused by the whole situation. I know this is totally off on a tangent to the ideas of improving the matchday attendance, but has anything been mentioned to Sean about various season ticket ideas (i.e half season tickets/monthly direct debits etc), I reckon we'd see a substantial bump in the numbers sold if they were more than just the lump sum option, although with the likes of monthly direct debit tickets, it would probably require an electronic system, the financial cost of which might not make it viable. They were the worse things ever to hit the streets of Torbay, smoky old ford diesels, that you could never get on, even more so when all the students were here. With the credit crunch now biting in for many, a month direct debit seems a good way to go. Not sure it would much to set up, as its the bank who just make the payments, or do I not know what I,m talking about. |
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Post by the92ndfish on Jul 5, 2008 16:55:59 GMT
The Direct Debit bit itself would probably be quite easy, I was thinking more along the lines of a system that would ensure that those paying by DD would only be given access to the matches they have paid for. No doubt you'd pay in advance, but how to actually gain access to the matches is another thing.
I mean you could go up to Plainmoor once a month and pick up a little mini booklet of tickets for the coming month, but thats awkward and rather a lot of micromanagement. Easier would be an electronic swipe card, where they could activate matches you are allowed entry for, based on whether you had made the right payments (I believe they do this at Coventry and Shrewsbury now, where all season ticket sales are done via this way and most other things in the stadium such as food/drinks etc, they have top up machines and you've got to top up the card like a mobile phone to spend money in the stadium, sounds to me like an overuse of technology really) but such a system would be no doubt costly.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 5, 2008 17:02:57 GMT
I see what you mean now, but we should make more use of technology really. You take the Tamar bridge now, I have a small box thing stuck up on the inside of the wind screen. Simply drive to wards the barrier and it opens, well as long as there is credit on there.
So a system like that would allow you in, if the card was in credit, would surly work, but as you say, these things cost. The club would feel that If you could not afford a season ticket, they would still get your money a game at a time, so doing it monthly would make no difference, just cost more to get it.
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Post by the92ndfish on Jul 5, 2008 17:30:45 GMT
Indeed exactly my point, the cost of it could outweigh any benefits the club could get from it, I mean of course it'd be much easier for us fans such as myself that can't afford the lump sum payment but the club is a business and has to think about the bottom line, thats why I cast doubt on whether monthly payments would be an achievable project. Paper based schemes also have their problems, I mean I live about 10 mins away from Plainmoor, so picking up tickets monthly would be a doddle, but for those that live in the likes of Newton or Paignton, it'd be a right pain in the arse. I agree we should make more use of technology, even if it's just for season tickets, I mean replacing and cancelling swipe cards is a hell of a lot more easy and secure than the current booklet of tickets you get, and is a lot easier for people to carry around but it's all about the expense, unless the club wanted to make one of those oh so cliched, 'We're going paper free to save the environment' social responsiblity drives  |
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Post by mickyflash on Jul 5, 2008 22:57:51 GMT
Having watched England games at Man City's Ground a few years ago, I loved how easy the swipe card ticket system was, but as has already been said, it just isn't feasible for a club like ours.
I cant help but think that there must be a more financially viable option to get this idea off the ground. What if when you register fr DD payments you are given a card with a code on it, Then Details of who has paid for what games stored on access database. That way all that is needed is a PC on one of the gates, you show your card, they type in your code and can see that payment has been made
I'm aware this idea probably has flaws I'm just suggesting that expensive swipe card gates are not the only way to go
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jerry
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Post by jerry on Jul 6, 2008 16:14:52 GMT
Whilst I would agree that monthly payments might help those who can't afford a lump sum up front, isn't the whole point of season tickets to get money in during the summer when there are no games? Can't see how getting the money monthly throughout the season is any good for the club at all.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 6, 2008 16:25:47 GMT
That is a good point and would be the main reason to help with the cash flow etc.
its just some fans want the benefit of having a season ticket(and it sounds better) but simply don't have the spare cash to pay it all upfront. Paying monthly will probably never happen, so its pay all at once, or keeping paying on the gate.
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Post by the92ndfish on Jul 6, 2008 16:33:29 GMT
Whilst I would agree that monthly payments might help those who can't afford a lump sum up front, isn't the whole point of season tickets to get money in during the summer when there are no games? Can't see how getting the money monthly throughout the season is any good for the club at all. Monthly, slightly smaller payments but payments for every match vs Payments every match, picking and choosing what matches to go to and not going to 100% of matches. The first wins out, even if not by a long distance. I mean no matter how much I love going to Plainmoor, it'll take a lot for me to organise time off work and drag myself up there to watch them play Barrow in a worthless game in the middle of January in the freezing cold on a Tuesday night at 12 midnight after a Setanta move (ok maybe a little exaggeration but you get the point). Whereas in a pay monthly scheme, I'm tied in to paying for that match anyways and after paying for the match I'm much more likely to make the effort to go to 100% of matches, so they'll still get the revenue from less glamorous matches and they'll also reap extra revenue from ancillary revenue streams such as catering, programmes, Laces and the like from having more people in the stadium on a more regular basis. We're on the edge of a large economic downturn (some would say we're already in it depending on definitions) and the club is situated in a hugely economically deprived area, any kind of scheme that boosts it's revenue streams over a prolonged and steady period, rather than one off spikes such as the Aldershot and Exeter games, whilst simultaneously making watching matches easier for those that money is tight for, has to be worth investgating. Other teams offer half season tickets and direct debit payments for season tickets, so there has to be some positives to the idea. |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jul 6, 2008 16:41:45 GMT
92nd, that is a very good point, not only maybe on a wet and windy January night, but also on how the team is playing. Lets say bottom of the table after Xmas, there will be some who just say, no thanks, I'll stay in by the telly.
If they had already paid for the game in their monthly payment arrangements, it could well make the difference, to get up and go to the game. As you say, that would then create move revenue for the club by way of programs etc.
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I think that forms the embryo of a brilliant idea.
