Will You Be Buying/Renewing A Season Ticket Next Season?

RG30 · by **RG30** » 01 Apr 2010 23:02

I too like the scenario of Number 5. In my case, I'm a uni student who is around Reading throughout the whole of August and the first couple of weeks in September, 3-4 weeks around Christmas and 3 weeks around Easter. Added to that, I purchased tickets for the original Newcastle game and Bristol City games and slowly you've got a at least 5-10 league games to show for the season. It adds a far better alternative that simply not bothering with the ST and picking and choosing when you feel like it.

weybridgewanderer · by **weybridgewanderer** » 02 Apr 2010 01:17

voyager1 wrote: Setting the price so that attending 60-70% of matches will make you break even compared with purchasing tickets individually - this equates to about 14-16 games. Most people will miss games through personal/work commitments or ill health.

is the club trying to sell seats or to make money? if this is the flexibility you want, don't buy a season ticket, use a member card.

If there is a match where there's going to be a huge demand for tickets, season ticket holders who know they can't make it could phone the club and release their seat for sale. In return, they would be credited with a free guest ticket to take a guest to a low category match. Not only does this give Reading the ability to sell more seats at high demand matches, they would get bums on seats for matches which would otherwise have a low turnout. (Adapted from Derby County's rain check scheme).

While a good idea, this only makes the club money if they sell out before the sell the season ticket holders seat. If its not going t make the club money, why would they be interested in doing it?

A special season ticket to cater for long distance fans - similar to Watford's 75 mile ticket but set at 50 miles. This would be set at 2/3 the price of a regular season ticket and allow you to pick 15 matches - has to be done in advance so the club can sell the seat otherwise. In addition, you can purchase additional matches at season ticket pricing if you wish to attend more than 15.

A number of season ticket holders will switch to this and the club will lose money against the current options of season ticket or pay per game

Sun Tzu · by **Sun Tzu** » 02 Apr 2010 10:03

The club may make money on some of the ideas though.

I agree some people would opt for the less expensive option but others who maybe currently come to a dozen games may decide a ST covering 15 games is worthwhile and end up doing a bit more.

Any offer risks losing money (a St in theory 'loses' the club money compared to making us buy match tickets for every game) and the club would need to do the maths. In fact i thought one of the big things about the current ticketing system was that it gave the club huge amounts of info about who buys tickets for which game so they could do much more tailoring of offers.

I don;t see anything wrong with trying new ways of selling tickets and seeing if there is a way they can offer fans more options whilst also bringing in more cash. Two people buying 16 match season tickets would be worth more than one person buying a 23 match one, and would obviously fill twice the number of seats !

But as you say, any deals would first and foremost need to be worth it financially for the club.

Dirk Gently · by **Dirk Gently** » 02 Apr 2010 16:38

weybridgewanderer wrote:
If there is a match where there's going to be a huge demand for tickets, season ticket holders who know they can't make it could phone the club and release their seat for sale. In return, they would be credited with a free guest ticket to take a guest to a low category match. Not only does this give Reading the ability to sell more seats at high demand matches, they would get bums on seats for matches which would otherwise have a low turnout. (Adapted from Derby County's rain check scheme).
While a good idea, this only makes the club money if they sell out before the sell the season ticket holders seat. If its not going t make the club money, why would they be interested in doing it?

And from the experience of the PL season when this was tried, it was so time-consuming to administer that it was an absolute nightmare - it tended to tie up TO staff for about 15 minutes on each transaction for no significant income, and that also significantly impacted the service to other customers who wanted to just buy tickets and not fanny around with buy-backs.

Anyway, according to the PL's own figures, 88% of tickets where the STH can't attend are passed onto friends or family, and only 9% not actually used (although more are probably not used outside the PL.

66DD · by **66DD** » 02 Apr 2010 17:11

voyager1 wrote: 5. A special season ticket to cater for long distance fans - similar to Watford's 75 mile ticket but set at 50 miles. This would be set at 2/3 the price of a regular season ticket and allow you to pick 15 matches - has to be done in advance so the club can sell the seat otherwise. In addition, you can purchase additional matches at season ticket pricing if you wish to attend more than 15.

I don't like this idea at all. Why should I have to pay for a full season ticket to attend all the matches when people who live the same distance from Reading as me get a discount for being part-time attendees?
If people do not support their local club they should not expect a subsidy for that privilege.

Schards#2 · by **Schards#2** » 02 Apr 2010 17:35

I think it's a bit mean not to offer the first Carling Cup match free for season ticket holders. It would be a gesture that might make STH's feel more appreciated and it wouldn't cost much.

How many STH's go to such a game anyway? 4,000 odd at about £10 each? The equivalent of the cost of less than 100 season tickets.

And you get the added bonus of the ground not being like a morgue.

RoyalBlue · by **RoyalBlue** » 02 Apr 2010 17:40

66DD wrote:
voyager1 wrote: 5. A special season ticket to cater for long distance fans - similar to Watford's 75 mile ticket but set at 50 miles. This would be set at 2/3 the price of a regular season ticket and allow you to pick 15 matches - has to be done in advance so the club can sell the seat otherwise. In addition, you can purchase additional matches at season ticket pricing if you wish to attend more than 15.
I don't like this idea at all. Why should I have to pay for a full season ticket to attend all the matches when people who live the same distance from Reading as me get a discount for being part-time attendees?
If people do not support their local club they should not expect a subsidy for that privilege.

Maybe they started off supporting their local club and then had to move away from the Reading area for various reasons. Whilst such an idea would give them a subsidy on admission prices, as an exile myself (albeit not beyond 50 miles) I can assure you that continuing to support Reading FC costs us considerably more than those who are supporting their local club!

66DD · by **66DD** » 02 Apr 2010 18:24

RoyalBlue wrote:
66DD wrote:
voyager1 wrote: 5. A special season ticket to cater for long distance fans - similar to Watford's 75 mile ticket but set at 50 miles. This would be set at 2/3 the price of a regular season ticket and allow you to pick 15 matches - has to be done in advance so the club can sell the seat otherwise. In addition, you can purchase additional matches at season ticket pricing if you wish to attend more than 15.
I don't like this idea at all. Why should I have to pay for a full season ticket to attend all the matches when people who live the same distance from Reading as me get a discount for being part-time attendees?
If people do not support their local club they should not expect a subsidy for that privilege.
Maybe they started off supporting their local club and then had to move away from the Reading area for various reasons. Whilst such an idea would give them a subsidy on admission prices, as an exile myself (albeit not beyond 50 miles) I can assure you that continuing to support Reading FC costs us considerably more than those who are supporting their local club!

But that is something that we choose to do after moving away from Reading. I could go and support my local club (in fact Reading is the 11th closest Football League club to where I live), but I do not believe that the fact that I choose to continue to support Reading gives me the right to expect a discount for so doing (particularly if I chose to attend matches on a part-time basis).

Maguire · by **Maguire** » 02 Apr 2010 19:51

I'll renew for sure. Won't go to every game but an ST is a cracking st8us symbol

weybridgewanderer · by **weybridgewanderer** » 03 Apr 2010 09:48

Sun Tzu wrote: I agree some people would opt for the less expensive option but others who maybe currently come to a dozen games may decide a ST covering 15 games is worthwhile and end up doing a bit more.

So get a member card and use the various promotions the club run

We have people complaining on here about discounts being offered to non season ticket holders, then we have a suggestion on here that the club provides a scheme to offer a discounted season ticket to people that can't make the majority of games.

if you don't want a season ticket get a member card. having a season ticket is not some "badge of honour". If you don't have one or can;t afford one, dont worry, it is not the end of the world.

It does not mean you are any less of a supporter!

Sun Tzu · by **Sun Tzu** » 03 Apr 2010 11:49

weybridgewanderer wrote:
Sun Tzu wrote: I agree some people would opt for the less expensive option but others who maybe currently come to a dozen games may decide a ST covering 15 games is worthwhile and end up doing a bit more.
So get a member card and use the various promotions the club run

We have people complaining on here about discounts being offered to non season ticket holders, then we have a suggestion on here that the club provides a scheme to offer a discounted season ticket to people that can't make the majority of games.

if you don't want a season ticket get a member card. having a season ticket is not some "badge of honour". If you don't have one or can;t afford one, dont worry, it is not the end of the world.

It does not mean you are any less of a supporter!

I don't think the suggestion offers any more of a discount. It is effectively a 'half season ticket' but the 'half' is spread across the season rather than from midway onwards.

And I suspect if you make 15 games or more you are actually attending the 'majority' of games....

As for your 'badge of honour' comment that seems utterly misplaced and actually suggests you think because you are able to buy a full STH no one else should be considered. This isn't about fake kudos, it's about having some creative ways to boost numbers ! Other clubs have all sorts of good ways of increasing attendances. Blackburn had 20,000 STH last season becasue they thought differently about how to price things.
And just FYI I've already mentioned I'll be renewing (again !) so there's no personal issue here. I'm happy to take my full STH with the benefits that suit me and I'm also happy if there are other schemes that benefit others. If I'd get a better deal not having a STH then I wouldn;t get one, but as things stand it's a deal that suits me.

weybridgewanderer · by **weybridgewanderer** » 04 Apr 2010 00:25

who cares if we have 8000 season ticket holders and 20000 member card holders compared with having 8000 full season ticket holders, 4000 partial seaosn ticket holders and 16000 member card holders? what difference does it make? What numbers have we boosted?

Some extra revenue atthe beginning of the season and a whole load of headache managing the scheme.

Will people pick their 15 games before season starts? what happens if they then can't make a game, they will want to change it, would they be allowed to? or do they just load up money on the card and then "burn it off" as the season progresses? What happen if they then find they can;t go to all the games they planned, do they get money back?

Its simple, we have a "partial season ticket" its called "member card".

if they renamed member cards to "flexible season tickets" would that suffice?

Forbury Lion · by **Forbury Lion** » 04 Apr 2010 15:16

I'm enjoying home games again for the first time in 2 years, So my decision to renew all hinges on the price.

Sun Tzu · by **Sun Tzu** » 04 Apr 2010 18:05

weybridgewanderer wrote:who cares if we have 8000 season ticket holders and 20000 member card holders compared with having 8000 full season ticket holders, 4000 partial seaosn ticket holders and 16000 member card holders? what difference does it make? What numbers have we boosted?

Some extra revenue atthe beginning of the season and a whole load of headache managing the scheme.

Will people pick their 15 games before season starts? what happens if they then can't make a game, they will want to change it, would they be allowed to? or do they just load up money on the card and then "burn it off" as the season progresses? What happen if they then find they can;t go to all the games they planned, do they get money back?

Its simple, we have a "partial season ticket" its called "member card".

if they renamed member cards to "flexible season tickets" would that suffice?

Obviously not as they are totally different !

It's pretty easy to be honest. We have something like 25,000 membercard holders who come to some permutation of games. If allowing them to buy a half season ticket then some of them came to more games then it's a winner. The key number is attendances at games, not who holds what card. As has been pointed out by many if you have a season ticket you tend to make more effort to go to games. A membercard costs nothing, commits to nothing.
Details - I have no idea but if games are picked before hand then it's easy. Some up front work to do to load the correct games on each card (but offset by not having to sell the individual match tickets). Otherwise same rules as full ST - no refunds, can't change games etc.
It's worth looking at, not really any downsides (other than short sighted STH wanting to protect their perceived exalted status !!)

Finch · by **Finch** » 04 Apr 2010 19:02

Sun Tzu wrote:
weybridgewanderer wrote:who cares if we have 8000 season ticket holders and 20000 member card holders compared with having 8000 full season ticket holders, 4000 partial seaosn ticket holders and 16000 member card holders? what difference does it make? What numbers have we boosted?

Some extra revenue atthe beginning of the season and a whole load of headache managing the scheme.

Will people pick their 15 games before season starts? what happens if they then can't make a game, they will want to change it, would they be allowed to? or do they just load up money on the card and then "burn it off" as the season progresses? What happen if they then find they can;t go to all the games they planned, do they get money back?

Its simple, we have a "partial season ticket" its called "member card".

if they renamed member cards to "flexible season tickets" would that suffice?
Obviously not as they are totally different !

It's pretty easy to be honest. We have something like 25,000 membercard holders who come to some permutation of games. If allowing them to buy a half season ticket then some of them came to more games then it's a winner. The key number is attendances at games, not who holds what card. As has been pointed out by many if you have a season ticket you tend to make more effort to go to games. A membercard costs nothing, commits to nothing.
Details - I have no idea but if games are picked before hand then it's easy. Some up front work to do to load the correct games on each card (but offset by not having to sell the individual match tickets). Otherwise same rules as full ST - no refunds, can't change games etc.
It's worth looking at, not really any downsides (other than short sighted STH wanting to protect their perceived exalted status !!)

I am one of the 25,000 members, but I never intend to buy another ticket to watch RFC as long as i live.

You're welcome to buy my points if you wish; I probably have a lot more than you....... even though i know nothing!

Sun Tzu · by **Sun Tzu** » 04 Apr 2010 19:34

Finch wrote:
Sun Tzu wrote:
weybridgewanderer wrote:who cares if we have 8000 season ticket holders and 20000 member card holders compared with having 8000 full season ticket holders, 4000 partial seaosn ticket holders and 16000 member card holders? what difference does it make? What numbers have we boosted?

Some extra revenue atthe beginning of the season and a whole load of headache managing the scheme.

Will people pick their 15 games before season starts? what happens if they then can't make a game, they will want to change it, would they be allowed to? or do they just load up money on the card and then "burn it off" as the season progresses? What happen if they then find they can;t go to all the games they planned, do they get money back?

Its simple, we have a "partial season ticket" its called "member card".

if they renamed member cards to "flexible season tickets" would that suffice?
Obviously not as they are totally different !

It's pretty easy to be honest. We have something like 25,000 membercard holders who come to some permutation of games. If allowing them to buy a half season ticket then some of them came to more games then it's a winner. The key number is attendances at games, not who holds what card. As has been pointed out by many if you have a season ticket you tend to make more effort to go to games. A membercard costs nothing, commits to nothing.
Details - I have no idea but if games are picked before hand then it's easy. Some up front work to do to load the correct games on each card (but offset by not having to sell the individual match tickets). Otherwise same rules as full ST - no refunds, can't change games etc.
It's worth looking at, not really any downsides (other than short sighted STH wanting to protect their perceived exalted status !!)
I am one of the 25,000 members, but I never intend to buy another ticket to watch RFC as long as i live.

You're welcome to buy my points if you wish; I probably have a lot more than you....... even though i know nothing!

Sorry, you need to put a worm on that hook...

Marks for persistance if not quality.

Finch · by **Finch** » 04 Apr 2010 21:58

You clearly do not know who I am.

Sun Tzu · by **Sun Tzu** » 05 Apr 2010 11:27

Finch wrote:You clearly do not know who I am.

Why would I ?

And why would I want to ?

Dirk Gently · by **Dirk Gently** » 05 Apr 2010 12:29

I'm now less likely to renew since the free Waitrose chocolate Easter Bunny for STHs wasn't forthcoming this year.

Sun Tzu · by **Sun Tzu** » 05 Apr 2010 12:33

Dirk Gently wrote:I'm now less likely to renew since the free Waitrose chocolate Easter Bunny for STHs wasn't forthcoming this year.

It wasn't ?

I picked up a chocolate bunny from Waitrose on Saturday and didn't pay - I assumed we were allowed to collect them like we did last year !!