Admission Prices

Ashley wrote:I assume there isn't a benefit for existing season ticket holders this season to renew early? Last year before 31/5 it was under £200 (can't remember the exact figure).

I am pretty sure that there was an 'earlybird' offer in that if you bought a season ticket before the end of May you only paid £198. I think that applied whether you were renewing or buying for the first time.

In view of some of the comments on here the Board must wish they had waited until after tomorrow to announce the new prices, as it seems to have taken some of the gloss off of the non-relegation 'celebrations'.

No, just simply explain the reasons.

maybe the supporters club should find the reasons from the board. after all they're the representatives of the supporters......

Elmore James wrote:maybe the supporters club should find the reasons from the board. after all they're the representatives of the supporters......

In my experience there is almost zero interaction between the board and the supporters. I am not aware of any consultation or dialogue but happy to be proved wrong. I certainly am not aware of any outcome of any interaction but again, happy to be told otherwise. Indeed its not clear to me how the board view the supporters. In some clubs the culture is that supporters are customers and the source of income / revenue. In others, a more collaborative approach exists in which supporters are more involved. We seem to have a complete void - neither viewed as customers or part of the club. Almost a nuisance, it feels to me.

The announcement of a pricing policy without any reference to the 1000BC initiative or any other supporter input (that I am aware of) is a symptom of this.

Elmore James wrote:maybe the supporters club should find the reasons from the board. after all they're the representatives of the supporters......

I could argue that the SC represents its members' interests, but the fact that all are welcome on the coaches to away matches, fundraising events and benefit from the tea bar does mean that it aims to speak up for all supporters. However, it has no representative on the board (not for the want of trying), so there is no official line of communication.

I have no strong feelings either way on this matter - I'm simply bemused that the only communication I'm aware of offered to supporters on this has been via the newsletter, which of course is organised by supporters. I'm sure social media has carried it as well. Perhaps these releases were premature and the club intended to break the news on its website at a later date.

In fairness Mike I was asked informally by one of the directors for input on potential pricing changes from the perspective of 1000BC, which I gave.

The newsletter is indeed organised by 1000BC but signed off by the club, so I don't think it's a case of an announcement being made prematurely.

My tongue was firmly in my cheek when I typed my final sentence above!

The thing about this is that there is an opportunity to look at progressive and innovative ways of restructuring the admission prices in a way that could, firstly, provide funds for the manager, secondly, look to addressing our debts and, thirdly, prove more enticing to occasional and new attendees at Twerton Park. Instead, £1 or £2 has just been plonked on top of the existing fees.

For instance, why on earth has the standing ticket come up a £1 so that it is exactly the same as the seated ticket which remains the same? There is no business on earth that charges exactly the same for better facilities i.e covered seating and, arguably a better view. The seeming discontinuance of the early bird season ticket is also baffling. As has been mentioned, at a time when students and U-16s seem to be showing interest and we are trying to attract more, we are putting prices up for them. There appears to be no plans for a half-season ticket or 10 game ticket anywhere.

Marc Monitor wrote:The seeming discontinuance of the early bird season ticket is also baffling.

I agree, and not just from the point of view of those supporters hoping to get a better deal by paying early. I thought the club's reasoning was that it provided income over the summer months. Presumably those who buy a season ticket will leave it until pre-season as there's no incentive to do so earlier.

Probably too late to do it for next season but I'd be interested to know what people think about a monthly membership direct debit scheme like Barnet's. A season ticket is £220, divided by 9 months of football that's £24.44 a month, so maybe a £25/month?

I'd personally be more inclined to pay by the month - I've never bought a season ticket and probably won't buy one this year as I don't have £220 lying around.

You could roll in benefits like merch discounts, Romans on Demand highlights etc

The downside is you don't necessarily get the upfront money, although that said Barnet I think insist on a three-month minimum period, and a month's notice to cancel, which mitigates it a little bit.

These days we seem to pay for everything by monthly direct debit (Netflix, Spotify, household bills) so maybe football should follow suit?

It is particularly irritating that there is no way to pay online (or is there?).

I don't think the change to one price for all the areas of the ground is unreasonable. It is something you see a lot at our level (although mainly clubs who have crap stands).

Given that the majority of supporters choose to stand on the terraces it would suggest that this is in fact the better option to watch a game, so you could argue that it should be more expensive. And, now that the prices are the same, it doesn't punish supporters who cannot stand for a whole game, also giving them (and anyone else) the option to switch between the two areas during a game.

Overall, the increase to £13 is the first rise since we've been back in the Conference South and also means the adult terrace price is now the same as it was in 10/11 (albeit we were in the Premier division then).

I do agree though that is it odd the early bird offers have been stopped.

And there is an online payment method on the application form.

I have had this argument from many that only two teams in our division are paying more for stands. This doesn't mean that it is good business, it means that 20 teams are completely wrong in their pricing policy which isn't a unbelievable claim at our level. It is just ridiculous to charge the same for more comfort.

I am not so much bothered about the £13 as other pricing changes in the new system. I would prefer to see the stand prices go up by a quid and other more progressive pricing strategies.
For instance, I would rather see the U-16s and students' prices frozen, the retention of the early bird price, the raising of seated season tickets, the phasing out of free U-16 season tickets with adult tickets, the introduction of half-season tickets at Christmas time, the 10 game ticket, the monthly debit system that has been mentioned and even the Cup run pledges that were mentioned a while ago.

I say I would rather see them, what I mean is I would like to see them, at least, investigated rather than just the blanket approach of sticking £1 or £2 on every ticket and getting rid of a few categories.

Cheers for the info regarding the online payment. I either missed it last season or forgot. I will be one of those idiots renewing their season ticket in the season regardless of how they are fleecing me but I think that there are many that will think twice.

I have purchased a season ticket even though I may have been better off by paying on a match by match basis. To me it was simply a way of providing some small financial assistance to MY club.
It now seems that what I thought was just being a supporter has in fact bought me membership of the idiot society at the same time.

What this thread has shown is that, amongst supporters, there is a large bank of different ideas and viewpoints that aren't being considered presently. The Barnet membership idea - one of the most innovative mentioned and already successfully being implemented by a club - came from a Barnet supporter who regularly attends Twerton, for example. Obviously, once Community Ownership is underway, such ideas, enthusiasm and expertise can be fully capitalised on. In the meantime, as Oliver mentions, 1000BC is discussing ideas and forming strategies to improve attendances and welcome contributions and, indeed, help.

I look at it this way. I do not choose to watch Bath City instead of Chippenham, Arsenal, Bristol City, Cheltenham Town, Newcastle United or Aston Vill because of price comparison. I watch Bath City, not because I enjoy the quality of football above all others., but because they are my home town team. The hard up working people of Liverpool have to pay much more than we do to watch their local team. I would pay Arsenal prices to watch my team - Bath City. So, until we are in the Premier League, just enjoy the massive savings on watching Bath City instead of QPR, Birmingham City etc. If I was only looking for entertainment value for money then I would not be at TP.

That is fine if you don't want to attract more supporters or, worse still, put off the supporters we already thereby reducing revenue more, increasing debt and steering the club towards possibly dire circumstances.

Personally, unlike others, I can more than afford the extra £1 on a ticket or £20 a season ticket but that isn't the point. I want to see more affordable prices for those who are less able to afford such hikes especially the kids and students who are the future supporters of the club. We can't afford to take a "I'm alright, Jack" attitude

Major Icewater wrote:I have purchased a season ticket  even though I may have been better off by paying on a match by match basis.

Out of interest, why is this the case? Is it because you won't be able to make it to every home game?

From today's Chronicle:

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-City-Rise-ticket-prices-result-increased/story-29211862-detail/story.html

Having missed 6 games this season, every tue eve game + 3 B/H games due to work commitments or family i think my season ticket has worked out at over £13 per game this season.

To me the purchase of a season ticket is a way of showing support to those managing the club.  Whether that has been the previous or current set-up ( or even any new structure) is not relevant.
I have always missed a few games but the cost effectiveness of a season ticket has never been a factor in my purchasing decision.
Any price increase that impacts on me is unwelcome but that is the way of the world. I certainly do not feel the level of increase in the admission price equates to being fleeced.

LB wrote:From today's Chronicle:

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-City-Rise-ticket-prices-result-increased/story-29211862-detail/story.html

This is gratifying.

Paul Williams wrote:City have launched an online highlights service and a weekly newsletter during the campaign, with Williams delighted the club's band of volunteers has been able to help boost publicity.

"Because we are a club that is under-resourced, it is about volunteers to a large extent," he said.

"If we've had more people coming in and actually saying we can take this on, we can do it, and they've done it well, I think it has helped raise the profile."

The standing/seating thing doesn't bother me, like a lot of fans I chose to stand because I prefer it, not because of the price. Your view is usually somewhat restricted when you sit, and I find the seats a little cramped anyway. Also on some level it seems right that those who genuinely can't stand comfortably for 90mins don't have to pay more.

And to echo what Marc has said, fair play to Paul Williams for explaining the increases and giving credit to the work of volunteers in raising the club's profile.

OliverH wrote:The standing/seating thing doesn't bother me, like a lot of fans I chose to stand because I prefer it, not because of the price. Your view is usually somewhat restricted when you sit, and I find the seats a little cramped anyway. Also on some level it seems right that those who genuinely can't stand comfortably for 90mins don't have to pay more.

I also stand because I prefer it (although, if they are the same price, I will buy a seated season ticket, stand away but have a seat if I need it). However, I think that reasonable pricing for OAPs/disabled supporters should cover those that have to sit. As someone who does suffer from back pain, I appreciate that these two concessions don't cover everyone who may want to sit for health reasons but perhaps there would be room to charge less for the family stand (which has a less central view) and more for the Grandstand. Again, much that could be and could have been looked into.