Exactly!
£11M on what turnover? Do the math! They’re not printing money at our expense, but they are creating the best football CLUB and football any of us has seen in our lifetimes.
I think it would be BRILLIANT PR if they gave every season card holder a surprise one year and said, “As long as you don’t move seats, next season your season card is FREE for all the years of loyalty you have given the club!” That would include Juniors who have to transition to adult tickets and adults who qualify for OAP concessions, etc. If your name is on the list, same seat is FREE!
Thereafter, as espoused before, a more simplified ticketing scheme, announcement of a new three tiered “Kop” to complete the stadium, a “rebid” of seats based on longevity, and pricing to fill the place!
At 62,000, maybe a season card allotment of 48,000, with upto 6,200 (or whatever is required by the Premier League, with offsets like United has, of course!)for away support, and almost 4,000 match day tickets for day-trippers and 4,000 inexpensive “walk up with Cityzen Card” tickets available as a “Call Ahead, Will Call Window/Smartphone” tickets with a £20 City-issued Cityzen ID and the £20 being deducted from first ticket sale.
These are simple, easy to enact, steps that could help revolutionize the City experience, and transform and offset the spiraling cost of the game day experience.
Another one is a £25 Carabao/FA Cup “Ticket, Pie & Pint” and £15 “Ticket, Pie or Chips or Candy and a Pop” for the kids promotions.
Another one is “Bring 3 Kids Cup Promo tickets to the City Store for a £15 discount on a Youth Team Jersey” promo.
All of these things bring people, goodwill, and still shift merchandise at a profit, yet you’re treating your fans to very attractive, cost/effective, tie-ins that help further galvanize support!
Another one that I think would be huge is an early bird discount on team jerseys to get them out on the streets. There could be 3 separate windows, 1 for each jersey, for 2 weeks prior to official launch. Only good on pre-orders within the 2 week window, etc, etc, etc...
A Christmas “Buy 2, get 1 free on same sized Home, Away, and Third jerseys Sale” In December, but need Cityzen Picture ID or Seasoncard.
The permutations and promotional things that can be done, to both help offset what some see as exorbitant pricing and a lack of understanding of the profile of the City fan base, is almost limitless. However, all of the above are loyalty-driven, many are kid-centric, and all of them help move promotional merchandise from the warehouse to the streets.
