Are You Officially Priced Out Yet, Or Almost?

[RACHACE]

Would love to see some positive action on pricing from all fans. Staged walkout, or late arrival to show the suits and tv viewers what football is like without the supporters.

Too many people with an "I'm alright jack" attitude for it to work though.

I do believe the supporters play a huge role in the marketability and sponsorship of the league and its clubs. But we allow ourselves to be walked over.

So would I. But sadly what's likely to happen is that fans will eventually give way to fans that can afford the price. Likely rarely or never to be seen again even if this period of success ended and it became back within their price range.

 

[Questy]

Apologies in Advance for posting this in this Thread but being New too this Forum I am not yet able too post a New Topic...

I have followed City for 25 yrs and used to get too Maine Rd Regularly from Edinburgh, due to my work I have not been able too get to The Etihad but am now able too get the time away, I have placed my Deposit down for Season Ticket and have just purchased the Cityzens Card and will hopefully get tickets for a few home and away games this season.. With that can you advise which section at Etihad is best and what is the worst, obviously I'd take a ticket anywhere but if given a Choice I'd like to be in the area with the better atmosphere, I would appreciate your thoughts please.

Also I'd be travelling from Scotland and surmise I'd go too Manchester Piccadily Station, from there would I get a Bus and is there anywhere recommended near too station for overnight stays, Thanks in Advance for any help..

PS: Admin if you feel this would be better as a stand alone thread then please could you open one up.. Thanks

Dave.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

People blaming FFP or Sky don't get it. The blame lies with (mainly) the clubs and then us fans.

Ticket revenue only forms a small part of the revenue stream for the big clubs. Less than 15% in our case and that includes corporate & hospitality income. So a 10% increase in ticket prices represents just over a 1% increase in total revenue and even less than that in the case of the ordinary match going fan. So it's completely insignificant in the wider scheme of things.

But clubs now see it as a revenue stream that needs to be maximised and so they apply economic theory to it. The Glazers were the first to do this. There are two core economic principles that apply, which are supply-and-demand and price elasticity. Put together, these can be described as price optimisation.

The law of supply and demand says that the more scarce a commodity is, the higher the demand (and therefore the greater the price that the supplier can demand). Price elasticity measures how sensitive demand is to a change in price. A commodity described as 'price inelastic' is one where demand is not significantly impacted by price increases. Football is relatively price inelastic and the Glazers put up prices to the point where demand just started to fall below supply. Obviously supply in football terms is pretty fixed so one side of the equation is taken care of.

There are 47,000 seats at the Etihad currently (although that's going up soon) but we're already used to away fans not taking their full allocation and not even selling the one they do take.

But we're also to blame as unless we demonstrate that there is a price level at which we are not prepared to buy tickets then the club will never know when the tipping point has been reached. We've done that for away games but are we prepared to do it for home games?

Great post. Can I ask where you stand on the debate? Is it too pricey or should fans be grateful and dig deeper?

I said earlier that I think my season ticket, which averages out at £37 a game, isn't unreasonable but I would start to think about it if it went above £40 then I'd be tempted to jack it in.

I do not like this "dynamic pricing" that City have adopted and don't hold with any sort of differential pricing depending on who you are playing. Asking away fans to pay £57 or more is ridiculous in my opinion.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

People blaming FFP or Sky don't get it. The blame lies with (mainly) the clubs and then us fans.

Ticket revenue only forms a small part of the revenue stream for the big clubs. Less than 15% in our case and that includes corporate & hospitality income. So a 10% increase in ticket prices represents just over a 1% increase in total revenue and even less than that in the case of the ordinary match going fan. So it's completely insignificant in the wider scheme of things.

But clubs now see it as a revenue stream that needs to be maximised and so they apply economic theory to it. The Glazers were the first to do this. There are two core economic principles that apply, which are supply-and-demand and price elasticity. Put together, these can be described as price optimisation.

The law of supply and demand says that the more scarce a commodity is, the higher the demand (and therefore the greater the price that the supplier can demand). Price elasticity measures how sensitive demand is to a change in price. A commodity described as 'price inelastic' is one where demand is not significantly impacted by price increases. Football is relatively price inelastic and the Glazers put up prices to the point where demand just started to fall below supply. Obviously supply in football terms is pretty fixed so one side of the equation is taken care of.

There are 47,000 seats at the Etihad currently (although that's going up soon) but we're already used to away fans not taking their full allocation and not even selling the one they do take.

But we're also to blame as unless we demonstrate that there is a price level at which we are not prepared to buy tickets then the club will never know when the tipping point has been reached. We've done that for away games but are we prepared to do it for home games?

I don't think you can discount the entities that control the game, though. The PL and UEFA want a profitable game and their farcical fair play rules are impacting owners' thoughts in how to guarantee they pass these rules. If the penalties weren't so ridiculously punitive, then our owners may possibly have taken a more leisurely route in increasing match ticket prices, because as much as we all want cheap tickets, they were not comparative with similar clubs in the league (or even Fulham for that matter) and increases were inevitable. FFP has given the club an excuse to make the move now and to deflect some of the blame.

When Sheikh Mansour took over, he stated his aim that he wanted us to become self-sufficient and profitable and we all applauded that, but to do that means you have to be ruthless. Once the matchday ticket level is found, and the stadium expansion is completed, they'll turn to season ticket holders and do a similar exercise (some are already affected) - or maybe they'll take the policy that regular matchday goers are too important and live with having the STs at the cheaper end when compared to the other leading PL teams, I live in hope.

The argument about keeping match day tickets low is interesting. If they're too low that everyone can afford them, then they'll sell out too quickly and City will reckon they've missed an opportunity. Too high and they'll not sell out at all. Personally I think we'll still have sellouts for all our games, but there'll be plenty of empty seats - we'll just have to wonder WHO bought those seats?

The biggest disappointment for me is the lack of options for our ever-growing diverse fan-base and the kids prices (I don't have kids in that price range anymore so not being selfish). How about a season ticket that covers just weekend games (with mandatory FA Cup home games) for those with youngsters who can't make night games or "buy one get one free" for kids tickets. Where's the ST for weekday night games (with mandatory home cup games) for those with weekend jobs. Finally, some sort of increasing discount scheme over a season - £57 might be expensive for one, but if your next CAT A ticket is £52, then £47, then £42 we can cater for the occasional one-off tourists AND those who only want to buy whenever - still high but rewards loyalty properly. C'mon City - be creative! Just adding another loyalty scheme for twattering means nothing to most of us.

Personally I'll always find a way. This year my son went from U16 to 17/18, so I compensated by dropping from platinum to gold. Next year I'll find something to cut - who needs THREE meals a day when you can have two?

 

[cheddar404]

People blaming FFP or Sky don't get it. The blame lies with (mainly) the clubs and then us fans.

Ticket revenue only forms a small part of the revenue stream for the big clubs. Less than 15% in our case and that includes corporate & hospitality income. So a 10% increase in ticket prices represents just over a 1% increase in total revenue and even less than that in the case of the ordinary match going fan. So it's completely insignificant in the wider scheme of things.

But clubs now see it as a revenue stream that needs to be maximised and so they apply economic theory to it. The Glazers were the first to do this. There are two core economic principles that apply, which are supply-and-demand and price elasticity. Put together, these can be described as price optimisation.

The law of supply and demand says that the more scarce a commodity is, the higher the demand (and therefore the greater the price that the supplier can demand). Price elasticity measures how sensitive demand is to a change in price. A commodity described as 'price inelastic' is one where demand is not significantly impacted by price increases. Football is relatively price inelastic and the Glazers put up prices to the point where demand just started to fall below supply. Obviously supply in football terms is pretty fixed so one side of the equation is taken care of.

There are 47,000 seats at the Etihad currently (although that's going up soon) but we're already used to away fans not taking their full allocation and not even selling the one they do take.

But we're also to blame as unless we demonstrate that there is a price level at which we are not prepared to buy tickets then the club will never know when the tipping point has been reached. We've done that for away games but are we prepared to do it for home games?

Great post. Can I ask where you stand on the debate? Is it too pricey or should fans be grateful and dig deeper?

I said earlier that I think my season ticket, which averages out at £37 a game, isn't unreasonable but I would start to think about it if it went above £40 then I'd be tempted to jack it in.

I do not like this "dynamic pricing" that City have adopted and don't hold with any sort of differential pricing depending on who you are playing. Asking away fans to pay £57 or more is ridiculous in my opinion.

"Dynamic Pricing" when translated means "Screw as much as we can out of our fans depending on the situation".

 

[Blue Hefner]

When I start to feel more like a customer than a fan will be the day I stop going.

I'm not the sort of person the club want. I buy me ticket and the odd drinking the ground. The club(and the rest if the PL) want fans to buy shirts, food etc and make a full day of it. Unfortunately it's too bloody expensive to go to City square at midday for lunch and drinks

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Been away so not seen the other 40 odd pages but I do not blame City for the prices. I blame Sky and the so called FFP rules we have in europe and the premier league.

.

Really, ?? Why do people never seem to blame the club for anything. City set the prices, no one else, we don't have to charge these prices at all. It's just another excuse. As has been said and I keep repeating we could let everyone in for free and it would make no difference to our revenue. Bayern are the best example they charge 110 quid for season tickets and cheap match day tickets. Making 2 m is nothing to them, they see football as a game for everyone to watch not just the few who can now afford it. Yet somehow they manage to win. Everything, offer high wages, have the best players. The club are greedy and it's no one
Else's fault.

'Letting everyone in for free would make no difference to our revenue ' is just about the most ridiculous thing I've seen on here.

Errm how ?? I was talking in a sense of what's 2 m for us. It's nothing, our revenue is huge from lots of different factors. Read the rest of my post aswell. Ticket revenue is nothing to us. Scott Sinclair makes more in a week than ticket sales would

 

[RACHACE]

People blaming FFP or Sky don't get it. The blame lies with (mainly) the clubs and then us fans.

Ticket revenue only forms a small part of the revenue stream for the big clubs. Less than 15% in our case and that includes corporate & hospitality income. So a 10% increase in ticket prices represents just over a 1% increase in total revenue and even less than that in the case of the ordinary match going fan. So it's completely insignificant in the wider scheme of things.

But clubs now see it as a revenue stream that needs to be maximised and so they apply economic theory to it. The Glazers were the first to do this. There are two core economic principles that apply, which are supply-and-demand and price elasticity. Put together, these can be described as price optimisation.

The law of supply and demand says that the more scarce a commodity is, the higher the demand (and therefore the greater the price that the supplier can demand). Price elasticity measures how sensitive demand is to a change in price. A commodity described as 'price inelastic' is one where demand is not significantly impacted by price increases. Football is relatively price inelastic and the Glazers put up prices to the point where demand just started to fall below supply. Obviously supply in football terms is pretty fixed so one side of the equation is taken care of.

There are 47,000 seats at the Etihad currently (although that's going up soon) but we're already used to away fans not taking their full allocation and not even selling the one they do take.

But we're also to blame as unless we demonstrate that there is a price level at which we are not prepared to buy tickets then the club will never know when the tipping point has been reached. We've done that for away games but are we prepared to do it for home games?

Great post. Can I ask where you stand on the debate? Is it too pricey or should fans be grateful and dig deeper?

I said earlier that I think my season ticket, which averages out at £37 a game, isn't unreasonable but I would start to think about it if it went above £40 then I'd be tempted to jack it in.

I do not like this "dynamic pricing" that City have adopted and don't hold with any sort of differential pricing depending on who you are playing. Asking away fans to pay £57 or more is ridiculous in my opinion.

Did you? Sorry mate missed it.

Good to hear a view from a few posters that have a grasp of the economic side of the arguement from the clubs perspective. Seems that the extra they're getting off the fans doesn't really impact that much overall. I think clubs need to really think about the impact on their average fan but thats really unlikely.

Each to their own but football will end up a very exclusive sport to follow if it carrys on and that something that most supporters surely don't want.

The fans that will constantly find something else to sacrifice will find the cash and that's up to them but they'll be in the minority long term and I'm speaking as a fan who has been exactly that but now won't go any further in sacrifices.

 

[JGL07]

Apologies in Advance for posting this in this Thread but being New too this Forum I am not yet able too post a New Topic...

I have followed City for 25 yrs and used to get too Maine Rd Regularly from Edinburgh, due to my work I have not been able too get to The Etihad but am now able too get the time away, I have placed my Deposit down for Season Ticket and have just purchased the Cityzens Card and will hopefully get tickets for a few home and away games this season.. With that can you advise which section at Etihad is best and what is the worst, obviously I'd take a ticket anywhere but if given a Choice I'd like to be in the area with the better atmosphere, I would appreciate your thoughts please.

Also I'd be travelling from Scotland and surmise I'd go too Manchester Piccadily Station, from there would I get a Bus and is there anywhere recommended near too station for overnight stays, Thanks in Advance for any help..

PS: Admin if you feel this would be better as a stand alone thread then please could you open one up.. Thanks

Dave.

I travel from Edinburgh and generally use Piccadilly. It is possible to get a tram to the Etihad. If the train stops at Deansgate it may be worth getting off there. It is much easier to get a on a tram to the Etihad from Deansgate on match days.

There are direct Transpennine Express services from Edinburgh to Piccadilly, alternatively get a Virgin train to London and change at Preston. It is also possible to use East Coast and change at York but this is much more expensive and I only use it when the west coast line is disrupted by engineering works.

For overnight stays I generally use the Ibis Budget hotel near New Islington tram stop. It is basic but clean. It generally costs between £22 and £32 per night depending on how busy they are and how early you book. It is five to ten minutes walk from Piccadilly Station (or one stop on the tram) and a similar distance from the stadium (two tram stops).

 

[Colins Bellend]

Can't believe we had a banner at Arsenal two seasons ago moaning about prices. Now City are charging their own fans the same. Last season for me I think, totally disillusioned with the club and how we are turning into Utd.