ooohTerryHurlock Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 Primarily the quote ..... we need to be more inventive as a club, thats my personal view, its not something we've discussed internally yet... So attendance's are way down on last season, we are in a financial mess, and no one has a stratergy on the way forward with regard to pricing the games for either the rest of this season or next season - how can Barclays have any confidence in this bunch of clowns? Even the experiment of reducing the prices for the forest game was fu+ked up by tying it into the Man utd cup game? Do any of them have a clue what they are doing. We needed to find out how many people would purely come to a championship game at that price - but how many of the extra tickets sold were people trying to get one for Man united? So far the only inventive thing done by messers and lowe and Wilde is the famous corner shutting episode! WE NEED HELP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexstar Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 I think Luker said that they intended to try the forest prices out at another championship game this season to see what number came due to the united game and what number came because of the prices. Sounded to me as though he was hinting that if a large number turned out prices for next season may be lowered for an increased attendance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooohTerryHurlock Posted 15 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 15 January, 2009 I think Luker said that they intended to try the forest prices out at another championship game this season to see what number came due to the united game and what number came because of the prices. Sounded to me as though he was hinting that if a large number turned out prices for next season may be lowered for an increased attendance. All a bit haphazard though - would n't you agree? All very wishy washy. They are expecting to send out season ticket renewals in march? So there are not that many games at home between now and then - guessing that forms must be with printers what a few weeks before? Its just like everything no real plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 I think Luker said that they intended to try the forest prices out at another championship game this season to see what number came due to the united game and what number came because of the prices. Sounded to me as though he was hinting that if a large number turned out prices for next season may be lowered for an increased attendance. They'll have to reduce the prices in Division 3 anyway won't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexstar Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 They'll have to reduce the prices in Division 3 anyway won't they? May have to check, but not totally sure we've been relegated yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 May have to check, but not totally sure we've been relegated yet? Match your quote above to your avaitar and you get close to the answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rover Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 Primarily the quote ..... we need to be more inventive as a club, thats my personal view, its not something we've discussed internally yet... So attendance's are way down on last season, we are in a financial mess, and no one has a stratergy on the way forward with regard to pricing the games for either the rest of this season or next season - how can Barclays have any confidence in this bunch of clowns? Even the experiment of reducing the prices for the forest game was fu+ked up by tying it into the Man utd cup game? Do any of them have a clue what they are doing. We needed to find out how many people would purely come to a championship game at that price - but how many of the extra tickets sold were people trying to get one for Man united? So far the only inventive thing done by messers and lowe and Wilde is the famous corner shutting episode! WE NEED HELP! Totally agree - I said much the same as you on GM's 'You Don't Know What You're Doing... ' thread earlier today. If the idiots running the club into the ground haven't even got together to discuss how to get more bums on seats they have no right to be Directors of any company, far less our football team. I had this discussion via email with Luker last year, when I argued that they should be offering the Early Bird prices to all comers (not just renewing ST holders) to boost attendances. His answer? 'I think we've pitched it about right'. Sorry mate you didn't. God help us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 I've said this before and i will say it again, that bloke is a liability!!!! I have had sooooo many problems with the ticket office it's unreal! To name one, any one remember norwich away?! April 2007, our last away game prior to the play-offs? and this muppet sent back 700 tickets!!!!!! what a tool! And now, he hasn't even got a plan in place to get people through the gates! our only "regular" form of income! clueless!!! LUKER OUT!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooohTerryHurlock Posted 15 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 15 January, 2009 I've said this before and i will say it again, that bloke is a liability!!!! I have had sooooo many problems with the ticket office it's unreal! To name one, any one remember norwich away?! April 2007, our last away game prior to the play-offs? and this muppet sent back 700 tickets!!!!!! what a tool! And now, he hasn't even got a plan in place to get people through the gates! our only "regular" form of income! clueless!!! LUKER OUT!!!!! I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt as some on here think he is ok but to me he is totally inept - no drive - no vision! listened to 909 the other day while driving to poole for some dog racing and they were talking about how the marketing guy at Norwich had been brilliant and done such a good job for them. He's now at MK Dons and I think he is doing quite well there. I would have liked to have read how Luker had knocked Lowe and wildes doors down to get the incentives and next years season tickets details sorted. He had a whole page of the echo to say what exactly - we need to get more people into the stadium - It would have been good if he had actually said here is the plan!!! It did n't take long to trot out the old we don't want to upset the season ticket holders - well I'm a STH and have been for donkeys years and there is ways to appease us. Free cup tickets (how it used to be in the old days) - vouchers for the shop, events, loyalty points... etc. But all we get is the same dull retoric. I think he should either get his finger out of his hole or go. I know little about marketing but I know they are making a complete cluster **** of it. GIVE ME STRENGTH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Totton Red Posted 15 January, 2009 Share Posted 15 January, 2009 The guy is typical of the SFC approach....totally reactive rather than proactive. Interesting to see the early bird offer in a couple of months. Will take a braver man than Luker to announce prices slashed though if they don't they will be in the 'protect the season ticket holder' mode next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 Well if Luker classes "Pre-registration" as inventive god help us for Saints next air brained initiative. Having to write to the club to say you want a ticket - what a thoroughly stupid idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourno Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 I've said this before and i will say it again, that bloke is a liability!!!! I have had sooooo many problems with the ticket office it's unreal! To name one, any one remember norwich away?! April 2007, our last away game prior to the play-offs? and this muppet sent back 700 tickets!!!!!! what a tool! And now, he hasn't even got a plan in place to get people through the gates! our only "regular" form of income! clueless!!! LUKER OUT!!!!! I disagree, David Luker has always been very helpful to me, responding to emails promptly and has always solved my problems. Luker to stay ...... Lowe Out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheff Saint Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 Well if Luker classes "Pre-registration" as inventive god help us for Saints next air brained initiative. Having to write to the club to say you want a ticket - what a thoroughly stupid idea. I'm not sure the prices or incentives are right but, with the exception of Norwich mentioned above, i think the club have always got the distribution and allocation of tickets spot on for the big games for as long as i can remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooohTerryHurlock Posted 16 January, 2009 Author Share Posted 16 January, 2009 I disagree, David Luker has always been very helpful to me, responding to emails promptly and has always solved my problems. Luker to stay ...... Lowe Out I'm affraid that responding to your emails quickly and sorting out your in dividual problems is n't really where he should be at. He is head of ticketing/marketing. Perhaps this is the guys problem (as demonstrated in the echo) .... just absolutely no grasp of the bigger picture. Going back to one of RLs famous quotes - this is a results driven industry. Luker must be judge on how many ticket he shifts so therefore he is hitting about 50% - is that really good enough? Answer NO. He should go - get fresh blood in - drive , vision and enthusiasm is needed, and it is needed NOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 I've said this before and i will say it again, that bloke is a liability!!!! I have had sooooo many problems with the ticket office it's unreal! To name one, any one remember norwich away?! April 2007, our last away game prior to the play-offs? and this muppet sent back 700 tickets!!!!!! what a tool! And now, he hasn't even got a plan in place to get people through the gates! our only "regular" form of income! clueless!!! LUKER OUT!!!!! Sorry, I disagree! I think he is very much 'on the ball' and cares for the club's supporters. I'm sure that he is working within a tight budget and needs to get revenue in. Not an easy job, imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 Sorry, I disagree! I think he is very much 'on the ball' and cares for the club's supporters. I'm sure that he is working within a tight budget and needs to get revenue in. Not an easy job, imho. LOL... "on the ball".... yeah, if you say so mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 (edited) I don't actually understand Luker when he says that Season ticket holders didn't lose out when Forrest ticket prices were reduced by £9. That is simply not true. The wholepoint of buying a ST is that you get a discount by buying in bulk. If the price of a single match day ticket is then reduced (half way through a season) the saving ST holders end up making is also reduced. Obviously a one off is OK but Lukers's already talking about another game and perhaps even the last few homes games are being considered. In the sales brochure it actually publishes the fact that X savings are made when you buy a ST (I can't remember the exact amount). If the club then lowers match day prices then this is savings figure becomes inaccurate. £380 ST, match day ticket 23 x £24 = £552 Saving £172 If ticket prices are reduced to £15 (as with the Forest game) then this savings figure goes down by £9 each time. Yes it doesn't cost season ticket holders any extra money when prices are reduced, but if lets say for arguements sake that another 4 games are reduced on top of the forest game, that will be a toal of £45 removed from my overall £172 saving. Still a saving I agree, but this is a lot less attractive than was originally advertised. If you chuck in a couple of games missed due to weddings/illness or whatever then before you know it the ST hardly looks worth it. IMO the club needs to be very careful indeed about possibly upsetting the 10,000 ST holders in an effort to get some of the 15,000 more `casual' attendees (no offence intended to any non season ticket holders) back to SMS. I would love to see the ground full with reduced prices but these prices need to be set out clearly at the start of the season, otherwise ST holders are going to feel they have been conned, simply will not bother to renew and in the end that WILL lower attendances in the long run. ST holders are the lifeblood of the club make no mistake about it. Treat them like idiots at your peril. Edited 16 January, 2009 by Chez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 jesus christ...of course season ticket holders are still better off with these offers... ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 jesus christ...of course season ticket holders are still better off with these offers... ffs When I held an ST - before Lowe's return - I said frequently that I didnt give a **** whether people were given cheap tickets on the door, as long as it filled the ground thus providing support and atmosphere. Lowe has never grasped the intangibles of football club management. It is more akin to watching a London Show in the West End... you're happy to pay full price early to secure a decent seat but if the theatre is empty the show has less atmosphere and is less entertaining. When you add the need to support a team on top of that, to act like a 12th man for a result, it becomes even more important. So even as a ST holder I used to say DROP THE PRICE ON THE DAY TO FILL THE GROUND. But, as many people are either boycotting because of the crap team we have, crap manager, crap boardroom with the perception that we are destined for relegation, it may not make as much of an impact until there is a change in leadership in the club anyway. Ticketting policy changes may make a small impact. Its a results driven business, isnt it Mr Lowe ,and under Lowe results at home are shockingly poor. Get rid of him and introduce a ticketting policy - you then have the chance of significant success in bringing in support and making some money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 2009 Prices - If I was setting them> ST £350 (£15.10 a match) - Standard price but range between £320-£370 depending on which part of ground. ST Child U16 £185 ST Adult + child U16 £400 ST Family (two adult, two child U16 -Linked must be family members - ID required) £600 + add extra child for £69 Single adult £19 Adult + child under 16 £22 Two adult, two child U16 (Family) £35 (add extra U16 for £3) U16 Unaccompanied £12 OAPs/Concessions £12 et we would get 28000 average on that (provided we are CCC and playing OK that is...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 2009 Prices - If I was setting them> ST £350 (£15.10 a match) - Standard price but range between £320-£370 depending on which part of ground. ST Child U16 £185 ST Adult + child U16 £400 ST Family (two adult, two child U16 -Linked must be family members - ID required) £600 + add extra child for £69 Single adult £19 Adult + child under 16 £22 Two adult, two child U16 (Family) £35 (add extra U16 for £3) U16 Unaccompanied £12 OAPs/Concessions £12 et we would get 28000 average on that (provided we are CCC and playing OK that is...) Sounds pretty reasonable but I'd have the under 16 prices slighty less at a tenner and a 16-19 year old at £15. I'd also make 1000 tickets available in the Chapel End every game, for Tyro/Junior League teams @ £2 on a first come, first served basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 Sounds pretty reasonable but I'd have the under 16 prices slighty less at a tenner and a 16-19 year old at £15. I'd also make 1000 tickets available in the Chapel End every game, for Tyro/Junior League teams @ £2 on a first come, first served basis. Another inovation might be say put up membership to £35 , but give a £1 reduction on every ticket a member buys to a max of £23? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labibs Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 I don't actually understand Luker when he says that Season ticket holders didn't lose out when Forrest ticket prices were reduced by £9. That is simply not true. The wholepoint of buying a ST is that you get a discount by buying in bulk. If the price of a single match day ticket is then reduced (half way through a season) the saving ST holders end up making is also reduced. Obviously a one off is OK but Lukers's already talking about another game and perhaps even the last few homes games are being considered. In the sales brochure it actually publishes the fact that X savings are made when you buy a ST (I can't remember the exact amount). If the club then lowers match day prices then this is savings figure becomes inaccurate. £380 ST, match day ticket 23 x £24 = £552 Saving £172 If ticket prices are reduced to £15 (as with the Forest game) then this savings figure goes down by £9 each time. Yes it doesn't cost season ticket holders any extra money when prices are reduced, but if lets say for arguements sake that another 4 games are reduced on top of the forest game, that will be a toal of £45 removed from my overall £172 saving. Still a saving I agree, but this is a lot less attractive than was originally advertised. If you chuck in a couple of games missed due to weddings/illness or whatever then before you know it the ST hardly looks worth it. IMO the club needs to be very careful indeed about possibly upsetting the 10,000 ST holders in an effort to get some of the 15,000 more `casual' attendees (no offence intended to any non season ticket holders) back to SMS. I would love to see the ground full with reduced prices but these prices need to be set out clearly at the start of the season, otherwise ST holders are going to feel they have been conned, simply will not bother to renew and in the end that WILL lower attendances in the long run. ST holders are the lifeblood of the club make no mistake about it. Treat them like idiots at your peril. Fully agree with what you're saying, you start cutting prices of home games and the effective saving on an ST is reduced. However, I think that Luker's point is that despite cutting the cost of the Forest game, it was still cheaper for someone to buy an ST rather than buy tickets for every home game on an individual basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labibs Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 2009 Prices - If I was setting them> ST £350 (£15.10 a match) - Standard price but range between £320-£370 depending on which part of ground. ST Child U16 £185 ST Adult + child U16 £400 ST Family (two adult, two child U16 -Linked must be family members - ID required) £600 + add extra child for £69 Single adult £19 Adult + child under 16 £22 Two adult, two child U16 (Family) £35 (add extra U16 for £3) U16 Unaccompanied £12 OAPs/Concessions £12 et we would get 28000 average on that (provided we are CCC and playing OK that is...) That's not bad at all. I guess the issue for the club comes down to money. If they set the prices at this level, would any increase in attendance balance out the loss of revenue from existing attendances? I'm not sure that even this reduction would get 28,000 in for every home game, if we're battling relegation and/or Lowe is still in charge. I like the idea of tickets being under £20, it's a psychological barrier for some I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 If he wants to get attendances up the club needs to mae provision for smokers. Even if they just do it for 1 stand. The pub trade has nosedived since the smoking ban so only a fool would argue the ban hasn't had a negative impact on ticket sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 That's not bad at all. I guess the issue for the club comes down to money. If they set the prices at this level, would any increase in attendance balance out the loss of revenue from existing attendances? I'm not sure that even this reduction would get 28,000 in for every home game, if we're battling relegation and/or Lowe is still in charge. I like the idea of tickets being under £20, it's a psychological barrier for some I think. Assuming an average of 10000 st holders + 20000 paying an average of £14 (if you factor in concessions, this yields about 10.5 mil gate receipts over the year IF we packed it out. 2007 match day revenue receipts - £10.5 but think this includes from match day catering? 2008 match day revenue receipts - £7.9 mil key is getting fans through the door....and as we know its not just about price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsSaint Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 Why not offer ST holders other benefits - i.e free away shirt. This would help alleviate any concerns when reducing prices for one off games as ST holders have had some other non-price benefit. At the end of the day, its just not good value for money at Saints. For most of this season we have been playing the youth team, but charging first team ticket prices. The club need to realise how price-elastic football tickets are. The Forest game shows that. It had nothing to do with Man U tickets. In terms of overall revenue I'd rather annual ticket sales were £9m with average gate of 26,000 than £9m with an average gate of 17-18,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 They'll have to reduce the prices in Division 3 anyway won't they? As I mentioned in another thread, Brighton and Hove Albion charge a gob-smackingly staggering £30 for an adult ticket to watch div three footie in the cruddy Withdean ground. No beer either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 In terms of overall revenue I'd rather annual ticket sales were £9m with average gate of 26,000 than £9m with an average gate of 17-18,000. Definately agree and the overall matchday turnover would increase due to extra bar, catering, programme and instore sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amesbury Saint Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 The club needs to get far smarter with its marketing and ticket sales. the fans are still there but just need encouragement. So my ideas - give every season ticket holder an extra ticket for them to take their brother, sister, Dad etc and do this for the next 5 home matches - make the chapel corner £5 a ticket but only sold on the online shop. - make all childrens replica shirts cost price - anybody who buys 4 full price tickets gets a free one. - anyone who buys next years season ticket before 31/1/09 - £200 for an adult one. - child season ticket comes with replica shirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 2009 Prices - If I was setting them> ST £350 (£15.10 a match) - Standard price but range between £320-£370 depending on which part of ground. ST Child U16 £185 ST Adult + child U16 £400 ST Family (two adult, two child U16 -Linked must be family members - ID required) £600 + add extra child for £69 Single adult £19 Adult + child under 16 £22 Two adult, two child U16 (Family) £35 (add extra U16 for £3) U16 Unaccompanied £12 OAPs/Concessions £12 et we would get 28000 average on that (provided we are CCC and playing OK that is...) So standard match day tickets are reduced by 26%, but season ticket prices are only reduced by 15%. Using your prices buying a ST will therefore effectively get me 6 free games - compared to if I was going to go to every game paying on the gate. Using your figures I wouold seriously consider not bothering getting a ST next season and I got my first back in 1984. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 16 January, 2009 Share Posted 16 January, 2009 how about a lifetime season ticket for £5k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensfcno1 Posted 17 January, 2009 Share Posted 17 January, 2009 As I mentioned in another thread, Brighton and Hove Albion charge a gob-smackingly staggering £30 for an adult ticket to watch div three footie in the cruddy Withdean ground. No beer either. Demand outways supply at the Withdean! It would be like Saints playing in a 12-14k stadium! Then they could charge what they wanted and still have unhappy fans without tickets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amesbury Saint Posted 17 January, 2009 Share Posted 17 January, 2009 how about - Saturday only seasom ticket - once the fixture list comes out committ to say 15 home matches at a dscounted price but pick those 15 matches by 31st July - must be possible with the online ticket shop. I have always found Mr Luker very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted 17 January, 2009 Share Posted 17 January, 2009 Good to see that Luker has finally woken up to what fans have been telling him for years! Actions speak louder than words though. I don't think that STs should be paying any more than £15 per game on average next season if they attend all games (i.e. max £345). Maybe pay on the gate next season could be £18? Or is that asking too much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP Saint Posted 17 January, 2009 Share Posted 17 January, 2009 If he wants to get attendances up the club needs to mae provision for smokers. Even if they just do it for 1 stand. The pub trade has nosedived since the smoking ban so only a fool would argue the ban hasn't had a negative impact on ticket sales. I'd make all potential purchasers pre-register by post. This would include signing a statement that they haven't smoked for 5 years, don't live in a caravan and agree that Enoch Powell was a fascist winker. The club is in dire straits but we don't need riff-raff at SMS do we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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