Are You Officially Priced Out Yet, Or Almost?

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Kiam,

What do you think about the fella who wants to take his lads to Stoke at home? It's their first game and the dad is having to fork out a fortune just for the right to buy a ticket? He then has to pay silly money for his ticket and even sillier money for his two kids. His day out with everything else is costing close on £200.

Do you think that represents good value?

I personally think it's exploitation.

I don't think many are saying that they can't afford their ST. I can but I empathise with the bloke who can't watch us, can't bring his kids to watch us, can't give his own lads what his dad gave him.

Do you have no empathy for that?

Is it all ok for you as long as city beat FFP even if it means screwing fans into the bargain?

What would be your limit? Everyone has a limit surely?

Giving up your car and turning your heating off to save your £12 a week is admirable but should people really have to do that to watch a game of football?

What we are doing as a club is a worrying development, prices are rising year on year, fans are being moved out of seats they have had since 2003 to accommodate day trippers with money, we are having to pay to keep up the loyalty point ladder. These are all traits that we loved to slag the rags off for yet when we do it, some, you included, seem to think it's a price to pay for success.

Our opinions clearly differ!

 

[kiam06]

Kiam,

What do you think about the fella who wants to take his lads to Stoke at home? It's their first game and the dad is having to fork out a fortune just for the right to buy a ticket? He then has to pay silly money for his ticket and even sillier money for his two kids. His day out with everything else is costing close on £200.

Do you think that represents good value?

I personally think it's exploitation.

I don't think many are saying that they can't afford their ST. I can but I empathise with the bloke who can't watch us, can't bring his kids to watch us, can't give his own lads what his dad gave him.

Do you have no empathy for that?

Is it all ok for you as long as city beat FFP even if it means screwing fans into the bargain?

What would be your limit? Everyone has a limit surely?

Giving up your car and turning your heating off to save your £12 a week is admirable but should people really have to do that to watch a game of football?

What we are doing as a club is a worrying development, prices are rising year on year, fans are being moved out of seats they have had since 2003 to accommodate day trippers with money, we are having to pay to keep up the loyalty point ladder. These are all traits that we loved to slag the rags off for yet when we do it, some, you included, seem to think it's a price to pay for success.

Our opinions clearly differ!

I also empathise but would say to you why didn't the dad start putting a bit away over the last couple of years and get a couple of season tickets rather than being ripped off £200 for one game?

The club will charge over the odds for one off tickets that's the nature of the beast but the season tickets are affordable with planning.

What we are doing as a club is fantastic in my opinion if we want success it comes at a price that's football and that's business.

 

[herrock]

Kiam,

What do you think about the fella who wants to take his lads to Stoke at home? It's their first game and the dad is having to fork out a fortune just for the right to buy a ticket? He then has to pay silly money for his ticket and even sillier money for his two kids. His day out with everything else is costing close on £200.

Do you think that represents good value?

I personally think it's exploitation.

I don't think many are saying that they can't afford their ST. I can but I empathise with the bloke who can't watch us, can't bring his kids to watch us, can't give his own lads what his dad gave him.

Do you have no empathy for that?

Is it all ok for you as long as city beat FFP even if it means screwing fans into the bargain?

What would be your limit? Everyone has a limit surely?

Giving up your car and turning your heating off to save your £12 a week is admirable but should people really have to do that to watch a game of football?

What we are doing as a club is a worrying development, prices are rising year on year, fans are being moved out of seats they have had since 2003 to accommodate day trippers with money, we are having to pay to keep up the loyalty point ladder. These are all traits that we loved to slag the rags off for yet when we do it, some, you included, seem to think it's a price to pay for success.

Our opinions clearly differ!

Says it all really.

 

[moomba]

Yes why not?

Budget. It's not hard but people want everything. Ps4, wide screen telly, I phone , Sky etc etc

All bleeding hypocrites.

Enjoy your debate.

Honestly, you are full of shit Kiam. People don't want everything, if you had a bit of experience of the real world you would know that.

Why is it that every person that makes an argument in favour of the price rises feels the need to make up stories about those that arent in favour?

What are you typing on at the moment? Smart phone? Laptop? There's £500 to start with.

Do you have a car? What make shoes are you wearing at the moment? Do you have a games console?

At least try and think about what I'm saying if you disagree then fair enough that's up to you but I know I'd rather budget without stress than struggle with stress.

I do disagree. Because its a simplistic and naive point of view. You lack a basic understanding of real life, and the financial situations people can find themselves in. And as I've stated several times that for me that affordability is not an issue but value for money under the current pricing policy is a real concern to me, then I'm not sure what relevance the price of my tablet has to anything. But from memory around £200.

 

[daztrueblue91]

Kiam,

What do you think about the fella who wants to take his lads to Stoke at home? It's their first game and the dad is having to fork out a fortune just for the right to buy a ticket? He then has to pay silly money for his ticket and even sillier money for his two kids. His day out with everything else is costing close on £200.

Do you think that represents good value?

I personally think it's exploitation.

I don't think many are saying that they can't afford their ST. I can but I empathise with the bloke who can't watch us, can't bring his kids to watch us, can't give his own lads what his dad gave him.

Do you have no empathy for that?

Is it all ok for you as long as city beat FFP even if it means screwing fans into the bargain?

What would be your limit? Everyone has a limit surely?

Giving up your car and turning your heating off to save your £12 a week is admirable but should people really have to do that to watch a game of football?

What we are doing as a club is a worrying development, prices are rising year on year, fans are being moved out of seats they have had since 2003 to accommodate day trippers with money, we are having to pay to keep up the loyalty point ladder. These are all traits that we loved to slag the rags off for yet when we do it, some, you included, seem to think it's a price to pay for success.

Our opinions clearly differ!

Bang on the money!!

Football should be a luxury that a person on the minimum wage working 40 hours a week should be able to afford, not scrimp and save to afford.

When the cost is taking such an amount out an a person's income that they cannot afford simple other luxuries such as the odd pint or takeaway then the simple answer is that they have been priced out of football.

 

[Blue Hefner]

I've got a season ticket in the SS(cheapest one) but at this rate I reckon ie only got one season after this left before it becomes unjustifyable.

What happens when you need to save £15 a week then £20? I could sell the house, not buy any new close and walk to work(it would take about 3hrs) if I wanted to save up but there is absolutley no chance of me doing any of that in the name of a season ticket! I'd suggest that anyone who has to go to extreme lengths is fucking potty and need to get their priorities in order. Money isn't easy to earn and keep hold of these days(not sure if it ever has been) so £600+ for 19games is a lot and people should not be expected to give up on heating their homes and eating takeaways to afford a football match.

 

[Don Davido de la Manchesta]

Interesting topic...

It's also interesting to notice the rise in prices coincides with FFP regulations.... But I can't see how doubling match day income would really help. How much does the club currently raise from tickets? Match day revenue is rather small compared to the amount of commercial sponsorship deals these days. I sometimes wonder why can't there be limits to prices - like in Germany.

Basically football used to be a game most could afford without thinking about it. Now money is tight for most and more have to budget for it. Season-tickets (cards) are great if you've got one. But the days of queueing for match day tickets have gone. Maybe that's a good thing considering how great the team and the football is that we watch. However football prices have increased far greater than most other spectator sports, or leisure activities in general. It feels like our loyalty, our quasi-religious devotion to the blues, (and others elsewhere with 'their teams') is there to be exploited. To make a stand would signal you're not a proper blue, rather than one who's not seen their wages keep up with ticket prices. So we keep our heads down, pay in instalments and budget or just get into debt.

It's the fans of clubs like Southampton, Villa, Cardiff and many others who pay increasing amounts, but for what? At least we're having a great time at the moment. They pay loads and for what?

Still good to see the lads win the other day.... Fitness and lack of injures, as others have said is key this year.

 

[danebanksheik]

Nice one jrb. Kicking off another blue on blue battle on bluemoon.
There are some precious fuckers on here, no one has the same circumstances as each other, just respect each others position.

When a poster who says he religiously saves his money at £12 pw from one July to the next gets slagged off cos he isnt being fair on those who dont have £12 a week we really have reached a ridiculous point that can only end up with everyone living in boxes in the middle of the road.

The modern world of top flight sport is expensive so whichever sport you follow you have to make the decision as to whether you as an individual can afford it and commit to it on a regular basis and i applaud someone committed enough to save every week to allow them to support the club.

Like so many of us I have waited 40 years for what we have now and my season ticket remains my number 1 outlay each year and I have two lads over 17 to cover as well so yes it is pushing me to my limit. I wont miss a game at home league or cup so the success and Champions League pushes even further for all 3 of us. Last season was probably the most expensive I can remember and I cant see this year being any cheaper.

I have no time for any rag twat but you have to say that supporting them home and away over all the years they were successful in all the domestic and European cups must have been a serious drain on their pockets, yeah I know it is significantly dearer now just as we get a piece of the action but even so reaching the latter stages of the cups on a regular basis at Cat A prices over a long period must have pushed many into their armchairs.

4 years in to our world domination and loads of us are flagging already. For me the first to go will be my occasional away trips and then probably the champions league at home. I still cant get excited about the home CL games but love the aways so have to be in cup schemes & platinum to get away tickets. I hope we get many more aways in the competition but will have to be choosier than I already am.

City are one of few that allow season payments to be made in installments let alone interest free so in order to bring our prices more in line at least they recognise that they have to do something to help.

I really wish that we could keep this level of success at Stuart Pearce prices but we all know it wont happen sadly

 

[BlueRob01]

the sly gentrification of the South Stand for example.

Hardly. The last time I was in there it was full of ruffians who stood up for most of the game.

That's what you get when they keep the ticket price down. ;-)

And should ruffians who want to stand up not have the right to go too? Ok, the standing up bit is a different issue granted.
The point is that is how it is for now - but that will go along with many other things.
I hear the argument it's the price to be paid, but why does it? Surely there is a middle ground?
As a % the SS has seen the biggest price rises. Only £40 difference I think now on average to top tier for example. Not too long ago it was around £100.
Hence my move towards gentrification argument, across the whole ground but the SS probably has the furthest to go. Hence the steepest rises.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Nice one jrb. Kicking off another blue on blue battle on bluemoon.
There are some precious fuckers on here, no one has the same circumstances as each other, just respect each others position.

When a poster who says he religiously saves his money at £12 pw from one July to the next gets slagged off cos he isnt being fair on those who dont have £12 a week we really have reached a ridiculous point that can only end up with everyone living in boxes in the middle of the road.

The modern world of top flight sport is expensive so whichever sport you follow you have to make the decision as to whether you as an individual can afford it and commit to it on a regular basis and i applaud someone committed enough to save every week to allow them to support the club.

Like so many of us I have waited 40 years for what we have now and my season ticket remains my number 1 outlay each year and I have two lads over 17 to cover as well so yes it is pushing me to my limit. I wont miss a game at home league or cup so the success and Champions League pushes even further for all 3 of us. Last season was probably the most expensive I can remember and I cant see this year being any cheaper.

I have no time for any rag twat but you have to say that supporting them home and away over all the years they were successful in all the domestic and European cups must have been a serious drain on their pockets, yeah I know it is significantly dearer now just as we get a piece of the action but even so reaching the latter stages of the cups on a regular basis at Cat A prices over a long period must have pushed many into their armchairs.

4 years in to our world domination and loads of us are flagging already. For me the first to go will be my occasional away trips and then probably the champions league at home. I still cant get excited about the home CL games but love the aways so have to be in cup schemes & platinum to get away tickets. I hope we get many more aways in the competition but will have to be choosier than I already am.

City are one of few that allow season payments to be made in installments let alone interest free so in order to bring our prices more in line at least they recognise that they have to do something to help.

I really wish that we could keep this level of success at Stuart Pearce prices but we all know it wont happen sadly

Brilliant post!

I have to be considerate here, because I came from nowt but have a few quid now, so I may not be the regular poster or even similar to most City fans on here.

So, with that caveat, I think Kiam hit the nail on the head when he said he tries to PRIORITIZE the money he spends on City. When he gets to the point where he can no longer do that, I assume he will do what EVERY PERSON HAS TO DO...spend his hard earned money somewhere else, where it is more needed.

The problem we are ALL talking past is that we have the entire spectrum of means on this forum...from the fella who is out of work to the fella who owns his own work and has more than a few quid in the bank to the millionaire who still loves to participate in banter with the lads he grew up with. I'm on another forum which has essentially the same spectrum, and "money issues" quickly separate the factions.

Accordingly, I think we should try hard NOT to denigrate those for whom the reach for a ticket is too far, while understanding that English football has, sadly, turned into a global business and "the product" is getting more expensive.

Given that, there remains questions:

What SHOULD a single "game day family ticket" cost?
How much is too much?
Are we alienating the family tradition of taking your kids to the game and them becoming lifelong fans?
How much revenue do tickets bring in to the club?
Could the club still thrive with less, and if so, how much less?
If ticket prices are lowered, how SHOULD the club distribute tickets, given demand will far outstrip supply.
Should there be a ticket price freeze or even reduction, given the increasingly lucrative sponsorship deals that far outweighs ticket revenues?
How low do prices have to go to stop everyone from complaining they cannot afford to see a game?
Is there such a threshold? If not, what next? How to price? For 99%? 95%? 80%?

In short, how much is too much for a fan base that encompasses some of the most economically depressed areas of Europe? And, SHOULD the Club be forced to mould their business plan around that reality, or follow the supply and demand model that drives most businesses forward?

I have my own thoughts, and some of them are in this thread, but the questions will remain while City move forward with the current revenue capture model.

Good luck to us all.