Post by Dave on Nov 2, 2008 8:46:37 GMT
Some Of the talk On the forum at the moment, Is about the fact that our gates are 33% down On last season.The credit crunch Is seem by many to be a major factor, some just want the blame to lie fully on Buckles shoulders.
I also felt that failure to win promotion last season was also a key factor, as some fans were just about OK having to face one season In the BSP, but not a second and at the prices being charged.
Yet It seems a sneaky price increase may have taken place recently for those over 60 years old, judging by a debate that was taking place, before the start Of the match, by a group Of men On the popside.
It was interesting listening to them, some were even questioning If their memories were working properly, Its an age thing you know ;)As a result Of what they thought they had been paying so far this season, one man was saying he had to borrow a pound outside the gate to even get In.
All these men believed that they have only been charged £11 for all the games this season, but It seems the last home league game they were charged £12. They all paid the extra pound, believing It was just a one Off.
Yesterday they were all charged £12 again and as I said one man had put his £11 on his sideboard On Friday, put It in his pocket as he set out to make his way to Plainmoor. Only to find that strangely he was a pound short as It was £12 to get In.
So has the club sneaked up the price for our older supporters? well It does look that way, not sure If the price has been changed for the under 16's, sure someone will tell us on here.
I know I must have made a mistake for the Chipstead game, as I got It in my head It was £10, only to be asked for £11, I put It down to not checking the price Of the game and nothing more.
The problem with the prices at Plainmoor Is that It costs more to watch a BSP game, than It does to watch a Div2 game at St James Park. Not that we would want to go and watch football there, just because It Is cheaper, but you have to ask, If the prices being charged at Plainmoor are too high to watch BSP football.
Now I know that there may well be some other clubs In the BSP who charge even more to watch football at this level, but Torquay United play In South Devon, where wages are lower and the cost Of living can be higher.
I fully understand that to built a side that could win promotion, will cost money, players required to do the job, will come with bigger wage tags and the money to pay them all has to come from somewhere.The problem Is that fans are being asked to pay even more, to watch a lower level Of football.
In a way It seems fans are being asked to pay more for what really Is less, OK you still see your team play, but the games are hardly box Office are they. Get Man U In a FA Cup tie at Plainmoor and fans will pay £25 Or more, just to see Man U play, not that I think putting up prices to the proper fans, just to make extra money, Is the proper way to go, but you would understand some Increase, If only to pay for the extra police etc.
I found out yesterday that we have 30 stewards at a game and they get paid £10 an hour each and get three hours pay In total.Add that up and stick a big blob On top for the security company to get Its profit and you start to see, all the other extra costs In putting a game On.
Its no good the likes Of Merse blaming local people for not going to games, he often has said they should get their lazy asses to Plainmoor, but sadly It Is not that simple.We have all been over charged lately, for food petrol, gas and electric, prices that are now falling and will continue to fall, as demand reduces etc.
The problem Is a club who has worked out Its season budget on projected Income, based all the players wages On these figures, can hardly respond to market forces and reduce prices, because demand has dropped, for what they have to offer.
I'm sure Andygull, the man for figures could tell us, how many more fans per every £1 reduction, It would take just to brake even say On yesterdays gate Of 2200.Anyway just a £1 reduction, would not be enough to get the hundreds of more fans needed to maintain the same level Of Income, yet a way needs to be found to Increase the gates at Plainmoor.
One way I have always felt was a good way to go, was to Offer a real value family ticket, better to get Dad and mum paying at full price and let the kids go In for a £1 or so, because that way you already could be £30 up. The family could well look at the total price for them all to attend a game and feel that It Is simply too high and beyond their reach.
One thing the club should avoid, Is having a group Of older fans, unhappy as they feel they have been given a price increase, without any warning or reason, two Of those six men talking yesterday stated that they were very unhappy and this would be their last game.
So to get an extra £2 from those gents, you end up losing £20,that looks to me that someone seems to have got their sums wrong, or felt the older fans would not notice and anyway would be happy to pay more to watch a team In the BSP, sadly that was not the case for at least two gents at yesterdays game.
Out Of six gents, two will not be going again this season, well by my sums that works out that little group, will now suffer a 33% reduction.
I also felt that failure to win promotion last season was also a key factor, as some fans were just about OK having to face one season In the BSP, but not a second and at the prices being charged.
Yet It seems a sneaky price increase may have taken place recently for those over 60 years old, judging by a debate that was taking place, before the start Of the match, by a group Of men On the popside.
It was interesting listening to them, some were even questioning If their memories were working properly, Its an age thing you know ;)As a result Of what they thought they had been paying so far this season, one man was saying he had to borrow a pound outside the gate to even get In.
All these men believed that they have only been charged £11 for all the games this season, but It seems the last home league game they were charged £12. They all paid the extra pound, believing It was just a one Off.
Yesterday they were all charged £12 again and as I said one man had put his £11 on his sideboard On Friday, put It in his pocket as he set out to make his way to Plainmoor. Only to find that strangely he was a pound short as It was £12 to get In.
So has the club sneaked up the price for our older supporters? well It does look that way, not sure If the price has been changed for the under 16's, sure someone will tell us on here.
I know I must have made a mistake for the Chipstead game, as I got It in my head It was £10, only to be asked for £11, I put It down to not checking the price Of the game and nothing more.
The problem with the prices at Plainmoor Is that It costs more to watch a BSP game, than It does to watch a Div2 game at St James Park. Not that we would want to go and watch football there, just because It Is cheaper, but you have to ask, If the prices being charged at Plainmoor are too high to watch BSP football.
Now I know that there may well be some other clubs In the BSP who charge even more to watch football at this level, but Torquay United play In South Devon, where wages are lower and the cost Of living can be higher.
I fully understand that to built a side that could win promotion, will cost money, players required to do the job, will come with bigger wage tags and the money to pay them all has to come from somewhere.The problem Is that fans are being asked to pay even more, to watch a lower level Of football.
In a way It seems fans are being asked to pay more for what really Is less, OK you still see your team play, but the games are hardly box Office are they. Get Man U In a FA Cup tie at Plainmoor and fans will pay £25 Or more, just to see Man U play, not that I think putting up prices to the proper fans, just to make extra money, Is the proper way to go, but you would understand some Increase, If only to pay for the extra police etc.
I found out yesterday that we have 30 stewards at a game and they get paid £10 an hour each and get three hours pay In total.Add that up and stick a big blob On top for the security company to get Its profit and you start to see, all the other extra costs In putting a game On.
Its no good the likes Of Merse blaming local people for not going to games, he often has said they should get their lazy asses to Plainmoor, but sadly It Is not that simple.We have all been over charged lately, for food petrol, gas and electric, prices that are now falling and will continue to fall, as demand reduces etc.
The problem Is a club who has worked out Its season budget on projected Income, based all the players wages On these figures, can hardly respond to market forces and reduce prices, because demand has dropped, for what they have to offer.
I'm sure Andygull, the man for figures could tell us, how many more fans per every £1 reduction, It would take just to brake even say On yesterdays gate Of 2200.Anyway just a £1 reduction, would not be enough to get the hundreds of more fans needed to maintain the same level Of Income, yet a way needs to be found to Increase the gates at Plainmoor.
One way I have always felt was a good way to go, was to Offer a real value family ticket, better to get Dad and mum paying at full price and let the kids go In for a £1 or so, because that way you already could be £30 up. The family could well look at the total price for them all to attend a game and feel that It Is simply too high and beyond their reach.
One thing the club should avoid, Is having a group Of older fans, unhappy as they feel they have been given a price increase, without any warning or reason, two Of those six men talking yesterday stated that they were very unhappy and this would be their last game.
So to get an extra £2 from those gents, you end up losing £20,that looks to me that someone seems to have got their sums wrong, or felt the older fans would not notice and anyway would be happy to pay more to watch a team In the BSP, sadly that was not the case for at least two gents at yesterdays game.
Out Of six gents, two will not be going again this season, well by my sums that works out that little group, will now suffer a 33% reduction.
Great point Dave, the best way to attract families is to have a "Family Package" likewise the best way to attract Senior Citizens is to offer a special deal for them too.
but I think these men must all be just suffering from old age