FAO Gartom

[SkellowRover]

Can you please get an urgent message to JR?

The problem isn't the increase in prices, i guess we all knew there would be a slight increase and that most don't mind paying that.

The problem and the reason most people are angry is the time the club have given us to get our st's at the early bird rate. Why are we only being given 1 month? surely it's in the clubs best interest to extend this until the end of may? this way people have more time to budget their income when times are hard in order to get the opportunity to renew at those prices, because this could backfire on the club in a bad way in regard to st sales for next season.

[MrFrost]

I think some of the increases are also not realisitc. Potentially 50% for current cat C season ticket holders. Not on i'm afriad.

[SkellowRover]

MrFrost wrote:

I think some of the increases are also not realisitc. Potentially 50% for current cat C season ticket holders. Not on i'm afriad.

But if you had until the end of may to get your st at early bird prices so that doesn't happen then you have no reason to moan.

[MrFrost]

Not so. They increase after March, then again after June, leading potentially to a 50% increase.

I'm sorry, but there is no justifiable reason for a 50% increase, whenever you buy your season ticket.

[SkellowRover]

MrFrost wrote:

Not so. They increase after March, then again after June, leading potentially to a 50% increase.

I'm sorry, but there is no justifiable reason for a 50% increase, whenever you buy your season ticket.

You're not reading what i'm saying. If you get the early bird prices for your ST until the end of may instead of the end of march then there is no problem because you have longer to get them at the cheaper rate and have 3  months to get them instead of 1. How much were cat c last season? because £320 isn't bad if you have until May for an adult ST.

[MrFrost]

Cat C were £250 for this season.
For next they will be:
£320 for March
£400 after march
After June -£420!!!

That is one hell of an increase compared to this season. An increase that cannot be justified i'm afraid.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

For CATC it should be 320 all in to be honest, though CAT C has been a bit of a bargain anyway, half of them sit in CAT A/B areas.  I'd be all for making the stadium one flat price.

[BobG]

I could make a very convincing case that the size of the increase has absolutely sod all to do with anything but JR and the Board being so generous to the supporters that they've had to stop - and so we now have to pay the going rate. That might not be true, but it's an argument that hasn't yet formed part of this discussion. I could also argue that JR and the Board did not appreciate the scale of what is needed to be a capable side at this level. After all, we've not had much experience have we?

Anyway, at bottom, the angst about the 'size' of any increase at all is irelevant. If it's value, people will still buy it and be grateful for getting it cheap before. What's much more important though is the vital question we should all have been thinking about: is the increase enough to allow us to be confident of surviving in this League?

And as an aside, I could make a pretty convincing case that JR and the Board have decided to bite the bullet and turn this club from a B2CDE supported club into a AB1B2 supported club. If you notice, that is what almost evey club that has been succesful for more than a couple of years, has done.

Just think! The Rovers might not want you, or you or you.

I know that sounds provocative. And I'm sorry. But the point is, no one who has contributed to this thread has any idea at all of what lies behind this move. To become vehement, and threatening, on the basis of imagination, fantasy and emotion is a totally pointless exercise. All it does is expose the attitudes and mind sets of those making the posts. And they're not all nice.

The debate about how all this seems to have been implemented is, though, a cause of real worry. No organisation can ever thrive with such persistent, consistent crap service.

BobG

[bobjimwilly]

MrFrost wrote:

Cat C were £250 for this season.
For next they will be:
£320 for March
£400 after march
After June -£420!!!

That is one hell of an increase compared to this season. An increase that cannot be justified i'm afraid.

I'm sure my Cat C was £280 at the \"early bird\" rate last year.

[bobjimwilly]

big fat yorkshire pudding wrote:

For CATC it should be 320 all in to be honest, though CAT C has been a bit of a bargain anyway, half of them sit in CAT A/B areas.  I'd be all for making the stadium one flat price.

What do you mean half of them sit in Cat A/B areas?

[ctay]

It was 280 last year.

[The Red Baron]

BobG wrote:

I could make a very convincing case that the size of the increase has absolutely sod all to do with anything but JR and the Board being so generous to the supporters that they've had to stop - and so we now have to pay the going rate. That might not be true, but it's an argument that hasn't yet formed part of this discussion. I could also argue that JR and the Board did not appreciate the scale of what is needed to be a capable side at this level. After all, we've not had much experience have we?

Anyway, at bottom, the angst about the 'size' of any increase at all is irelevant. If it's value, people will still buy it and be grateful for getting it cheap before. What's much more important though is the vital question we should all have been thinking about: is the increase enough to allow us to be confident of surviving in this League?

And as an aside, I could make a pretty convincing case that JR and the Board have decided to bite the bullet and turn this club from a B2CDE supported club into a AB1B2 supported club. If you notice, that is what almost evey club that has been succesful for more than a couple of years, has done.

Just think! The Rovers might not want you, or you or you.

I know that sounds provocative. And I'm sorry. But the point is, no one who has contributed to this thread has any idea at all of what lies behind this move. To become vehement, and threatening, on the basis of imagination, fantasy and emotion is a totally pointless exercise. All it does is expose the attitudes and mind sets of those making the posts. And they're not all nice.

The debate about how all this seems to have been implemented is, though, a cause of real worry. No organisation can ever thrive with such persistent, consistent crap service.

BobG

Do you really think that there are enough AB1B2s around to move the club forward? This is Doncaster, not the stockbroker belt!

I just think it is (as usual) a decision which has been taken without sufficient forethought and without the necessary PR and communications. I very much doubt it is about shifting the demographic of the supporter base. They'd be well and truly p*ssing in the wind if they tried to do that.

[gartom]

hi guys,
Its all news to me too. I feel let down that we have nt had some idea about new prices, about discount opportunities etc.
I will call JR & Dave today - altho JR is in South Africa !.....its poor PR - as usual - but lets see. I'm not happy! Cheers, Gareth

[DaveDRFC]

big fat yorkshire pudding wrote:

For CATC it should be 320 all in to be honest, though CAT C has been a bit of a bargain anyway, half of them sit in CAT A/B areas.  I'd be all for making the stadium one flat price.

I'd agree with that mate, in my view, having sat in a few different places around the ground, it's how high up you are in the stands that make the difference to the view, not your position in the stadium. For example, back few rows in the corners gives a far better view of the action than front couple of rows on the halfway line.

They should just have one price and let you sit where you want, as we very rarely come close to selling out they should only insist on allocated seating for the games where a crowd of 13k upwards is expected.

[wing commander]

Gartom that the vsc problem in a nutshell,when the club wants something like selling there mobile phones etc you can bet Jr is straight on the phone wanting your help.
  Yet when it comes to the fans season tickets the fans vsc director not only hasnt had any input he hasnt even got a clue its happening until someone on here tells him.
  In my opinion the club has shown both Gartom and the fans total disrespect.

[bpoolrover]

wing commander wrote:

Gartom that the vsc problem in a nutshell,when the club wants something like selling there mobile phones etc you can bet Jr is straight on the phone wanting your help.
  Yet when it comes to the fans season tickets the fans vsc director not only hasnt had any input he hasnt even got a clue its happening until someone on here tells him.
  In my opinion the club has shown both Gartom and the fans total disrespect.

its on official site now,he is offering free season tickets if we go up next year

[Wellred]

gartom wrote:

hi guys,
Its all news to me too. I feel let down that we have nt had some idea about new prices, about discount opportunities etc.
I will call JR & Dave today - altho JR is in South Africa !.....its poor PR - as usual - but lets see. I'm not happy! Cheers, Gareth

Save the money on the phone call to Dangerous Dave. The man is a liability.

[jucyberry]

How would that work I wonder? that would be a hell of a lot of cash to give away, or would there be conditions, i.e you have to have had  ten years worth of unbroken season ticket ownership under your belt to qualify.... Or will it be a free for all...

cynical gimmic or what???

[DonnyNoel]

jucyberry wrote:

How would that work I wonder? that would be a hell of a lot of cash to give away, or would there be conditions, i.e you have to have had  ten years worth of unbroken season ticket ownership under your belt to qualify.... Or will it be a free for all...

cynical gimmic or what???

I think for one season the massive increase in TV money (upwards of £20m) would cover the loss of ST income.

Even with a bigger fan base, it was rumoured strongly (and I think Andy mentioned it too) when Sheff Utd went up they worked out afterwards that the profits they made would have comfortably allowed them do to free STs that year? (That could well be an urban myth though).

[BobG]

The Red Baron wrote:

Do you really think that there are enough AB1B2s around to move the club forward? This is Doncaster, not the stockbroker belt!

Personally, John, I don't think that's the answer. But you've missed the point a bit. I have briefly described three alternative reasons why this price rise has happened. None of us knmow the reality of the reasoning. Therefore all this shouting and screaming is pissing in the wind.

BobG

[fudgepacker]

After reading the brochure I notice that the CAT C tickets are only available for existing CAT C season ticket holders who want to stay in the same seat.

This to me shows that CAT C tickets are being phased out and new ST holders have to buy CAT B ST's. The early bird discount is £60 more expensive than the CAT C ST but the April and June prices are identical.

I think the categorizing idea is a good idea. It might bring extra money in from the day trippers who turn out to watch the big games.

[Filo]

gartom wrote:

hi guys,
Its all news to me too. I feel let down that we have nt had some idea about new prices, about discount opportunities etc.
I will call JR & Dave today - altho JR is in South Africa !.....its poor PR - as usual - but lets see. I'm not happy! Cheers, Gareth

That says it all!

This club is being run by incompetents! that haven`t got a clue about customer service and care!

[MrFrost]

Strikes me that JR has very little say in how the club is being run. He's in South Africa, which leads me think his input on this has been zero.

[irishcontingent]

That simply is untrue, its a DRFC board decision, Ryan will have known all about it , if not he should not hold Chairmans position any longer.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Just spent some time absorbing all this new ST price information and let's start on a positive note.

Good that they have introduced a 'youth' band to bridge the gap between Junior and adult prices.

I am broadly in favour of a rise for Cat A seating, although I do think there are some areas in Cat A that do no warrant top price (particularly in the lower rows)

However, let's look at JR's statement. \" We need to improve our fan base particularly on season ticket sales\"

I'm sure we would all agree with that statement.

Then we have the new price structure. Now I may sound a bit cynical here but assuming the club hasn't just had a stab in the dark, they must have calculated the projections and come up with a target figure for ST sales.

Gartom, is it possible that those in the know at the club could let you have their projections based on the new pricing structure ?

I and many others I'm sure, feel given the time limits, climate and price increases that we will do well to maintain our current ST level and, more likely, see yet another fall in sales.

Does JR really mean he wants to see an increase in ST revenue, or does he really want to increase numbers ?

Either way I think we are struggling. Given the short time span for the 'Early, early bird' price and the price for after 1 June the result will be the opposite of what JR and the rest of us want to achieve.i.e. Decrease in revenue and a decrease in number of sales.

I'm tempted to have a guess that sales of adult tickets after 1 June will amount to a number you could it in to the referees changing room !

That mean that the majority of folk who intend buying a ST will do their upmost to find a way to pay in less than 30 days.

As some people have already quoted Sheffield Wednesday communicated their offers much earlier and with 'an interest free credit' option, giving them much more time.

So Gartom, it is good to know the club have done their upmost to gauge your valued opinion on this, and you are fully briefed and ready to face all the questions on this forum.

I'm all for maximising revenue but I think the club is losing touch with those that matter.

Do I feel like a valued ST holder ? No.

Do I think we will improve our fanbase, particularlt ST numbers ? No

Does anyone think we will ?

[Snods Shinpad 2]

DonnyBazR0ver wrote:

Just spent some time absorbing all this new ST price information...

The point you make about the majority renewing early is probably right, which got me thinking about the the situation we face with all those out of contract players and loanees we may or may not sign.

I'm just speculating here, but maybe this early bird deadline being so tight could be to do with the fact we're going to have to make some pretty rapid decisions about who we keep or release. We can't wait until the end of the season before offering contracts, as by then a player may have been tempted elsewhere.

Plus, the club should know by then what division we are in.

If the money is in the coffers early, the club can have a decent idea as to income and cut their cloth accordingly.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this early bird deadline extended as we get close to the deadline (as Sheffield Wednesday did), with the club 'having listened to supporters opinion', or some other excuse. In the meantime, the club have a decent percentage of Season Ticket money in the bank already, to offer new contracts or not as the case may be.

Not saying this is right, but it may be an explanation.

As for your question:

Do I think we will improve our fanbase, particularly ST numbers ?

Simple economics suggest we will get more 17-20 year old season ticket holders and less adult Cat C and under 16 ticket holders.

As for numbers I wouldn't have a clue, but increasing prices on the cheapest seats during a recession which may have only just started, is a risky decision.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Simple economics suggest we will get more 17-20 year old season ticket holders and less adult Cat C and under 16 ticket holders.

I hope the club now do something to promote this offer to those out there in this age bracket that spend their time wandering around Frenchgate and a Satdi afternoon.

[Snods Shinpad 2]

DonnyBazR0ver wrote:

Simple economics suggest we will get more 17-20 year old season ticket holders and less adult Cat C and under 16 ticket holders.

I hope the club now do something to promote this offer to those out there in this age bracket that spend their time wandering around Frenchgate and a Satdi afternoon.

I'm sure the clubs rapier-like direct marketing crack squad are already organising mailshots of social networking sites as we speak.  

[The Mighty Brian Rowe]

I can understand the club needing to know where they stand in regards to season ticket holders as early as possible; but I think we all know the effect what the current policy will have.

Wouldn't it make sense to do something along the following lines:

- People wanting renew their ST's renew before 31st March by giving a (non-refundable) £100 deposit. Therefore the club will have a fair idea of numbers by this stage,as it is very unlikely that people will be willing to kiss goodbye to 100 notes.

- They then have to to pay 2 more deposits of half the remainder each before the end of May to secure their tickets.

Simple as.

Problem solved.

JR happy.

Supporters happy(ish).

New players signed and important ones retained.

...and if this can be twinned with a coherent marketing strategy to entice new fans in, even better.

[NigelJ]

Excellent idea. The club will introduce this in time for the 2040/41 season.