Are You Officially Priced Out Yet, Or Almost?

[Why Always Ste]

Well after going since 1982, all but 4 of those years (in the 90s when i moved South but still went) as a season ticket holder I've finally given up.
Been brewing in the mind for a while but yesterday I phoned the club and asked to cancel my ticket in block 204. Just awaiting a refund now.
Reasoning - well quite a few:
- consistent price hikes year on year. Tv revenue has gone through the roof, yet the fans still get stung by another 5-10% rise each year
- no end in sight for these rises so might as well quit now before I'm truly priced out
- player power. The incident with yaya pre-world cup being a prime example. Greed greed greed. We're the richest league in the world with the most debt. A massive reality check is needed by way of a wage cap or something else fairly major/ radical
- Saturday afternoon football? What's that? I travel a round trip of 520 miles for each game. First home game...8pm on a Monday after a 3 day weekend. 2am bed at the start of a week is shit.
- Because of the above factors (and I could say more), every year there is an ever reducing gap between my enjoyment of watching City on the tv and actually going to the game.

My partner can't believe it...40 years old and haven't even told my season ticket holding parents yet either.. But that's the difficult part. When you're brought up into a blue household City is in my blood and it's hard to say no, but there just comes a time (for me now) when enough is enough and I can think of other ways of spending a massive part of my disposable income than on ever increasing tickets/parking/food/beer costs etc etc.

Obviously I now take a deep breathe and keep asking "have I made the right decision?". I think sadly that time will say "yes".

And I can almost guarantee the club weren't too bothered about trying to keep your business either?
They'll make more money off your seat, selling it for every home match to individuals rather than keeping it reserved for yourself.

They've got the airline, Expansion on it's way. all the business is missing now is the hotel. Once this is built near the stadium, they can start to throw the loyal blues out.

 

[Georgian Maestro]

but I think we're a typical middle class family and we're feeling the pinch. I'm sure others are too.

Blimey.. you're feeling the pinch? Spare a thought for us Working Class lot then..

Perhaps your amigo can help you out

 

[Deleted member 58678]

This is my last season in the seat I'm in. Next year I'll be looking for a move to a cheaper seat, if I can.

Probably only a few more years left altogether.

Been going since 1989, used to be home and away a lot in the 90s, then religiously from around 2003-2007 when I was a young adult and it was still fairly affordable. In the last seven years it's become a joke. It went from every home and away, to one away each month, and last season I went to five away games altogether.

The thing is, when I do give it up, City won't give a shit that they're losing the custom of a fairly long standing fan. They'll probably be happy as they can replace me with a middle class bloke who'd probably spend more at the ground than I do.

City are probably rubbing their hands every time someone like me gives up their ticket. "Nice one, that's another bit of deadwood out of the way, fuck him, let's fleece someone who can afford more!"
Typical English club attitude.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

It's worth noting that the new expansion introduces a couple of thousand seats priced at £299

Is that confirmed?

IIRC you could register for £299-499 tickets, I presume plenty of those will be at the £499 end. I would also imagine the cheap tickets in thenew stand will replace the cheap tickets scattered around the ground at present.

I've been wondering about this for a while.

On the map it shows a small area of light blue seating at between £299 and £449. It seems a very small area to have such a big difference in price.

I'm wondering if it means all of that area is going to be one price somewhere between the two figures?

And it will be only for one year. Year 2 prices will rocket. Then you'll be the same price as most others in that stand by Year 3.

It'd be good for a year though.

 

[Shirley]

This is my last season in the seat I'm in. Next year I'll be looking for a move to a cheaper seat, if I can.

Probably only a few more years left altogether.

Been going since 1989, used to be home and away a lot in the 90s, then religiously from around 2003-2007 when I was a young adult and it was still fairly affordable. In the last seven years it's become a joke. It went from every home and away, to one away each month, and last season I went to five away games altogether.

The thing is, when I do give it up, City won't give a shit that they're losing the custom of a fairly long standing fan. They'll probably be happy as they can replace me with a middle class bloke who'd probably spend more at the ground than I do.

City are probably rubbing their hands every time someone like me gives up their ticket. "Nice one, that's another bit of deadwood out of the way, fuck him, let's fleece someone who can afford more!"
Typical English club attitude.

I don't think we have the fan base for the club to adapt that attitude, as much as they need to maximize gate receipts especially with FFP hurting us, they can't afford to neglect our loyal fans.
If they do it is at their peril.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

This is my last season in the seat I'm in. Next year I'll be looking for a move to a cheaper seat, if I can.

Probably only a few more years left altogether.

Been going since 1989, used to be home and away a lot in the 90s, then religiously from around 2003-2007 when I was a young adult and it was still fairly affordable. In the last seven years it's become a joke. It went from every home and away, to one away each month, and last season I went to five away games altogether.

The thing is, when I do give it up, City won't give a shit that they're losing the custom of a fairly long standing fan. They'll probably be happy as they can replace me with a middle class bloke who'd probably spend more at the ground than I do.

City are probably rubbing their hands every time someone like me gives up their ticket. "Nice one, that's another bit of deadwood out of the way, fuck him, let's fleece someone who can afford more!"
Typical English club attitude.

I don't think we have the fan base for the club to adapt that attitude, as much as they need to maximize gate receipts especially with FFP hurting us, they can't afford to neglect our loyal fans.
If they do it is at their peril.

Shirley you can't believe that?

We're not a cash cow to the club.

In the 'old days' season ticket money was really important to the clubs and most certainly City. They would build their budget around it and in some clubs cases it would be the biggest chunk of income they got. These days as others have said my £590 or whatever it is doesn't matter.

I was home and away for years and now this season have dropped the CL and gone Gold. I spend maybe 50/60 notes in the store a season and have 3/4 pints inside the ground and perhaps the same in City Square EACH season. It must have worked out about £800-£850 per season including all home cup ties/Wembley tickets.

As individual tickets cost into the £50's+ and bear in mind an individual may well spend the same in the store in their one match I spend in a season added to food/drink as it's a 'treat' or they have no idea how much we charge inside they will also probably match my beer spend every time a newbie attends.

Make no mistake the quicker City can get rid of me the better for them, some of the off the pitch stuff we're doing is out of this world but longterm customer consideration/care pfft and what makes it worse id they hid it behind FFP where a ticket increase makes no real difference (how much are QUEST or whatever they're called paying us? That would probably cover all rises this season).

 

[Bill]

the first thing is to look at travel costs, i wouldn't use it but had the club put on coaches last sunday many more would have gone. we dont need that incentive for normal away games as we will always sell out but it wouldn't half help some blues out.

 

[ChichesterBlue]

Well after going since 1982, all but 4 of those years (in the 90s when i moved South but still went) as a season ticket holder I've finally given up.
Been brewing in the mind for a while but yesterday I phoned the club and asked to cancel my ticket in block 204. Just awaiting a refund now.
Reasoning - well quite a few:
- consistent price hikes year on year. Tv revenue has gone through the roof, yet the fans still get stung by another 5-10% rise each year
- no end in sight for these rises so might as well quit now before I'm truly priced out
- player power. The incident with yaya pre-world cup being a prime example. Greed greed greed. We're the richest league in the world with the most debt. A massive reality check is needed by way of a wage cap or something else fairly major/ radical
- Saturday afternoon football? What's that? I travel a round trip of 520 miles for each game. First home game...8pm on a Monday after a 3 day weekend. 2am bed at the start of a week is shit.
- Because of the above factors (and I could say more), every year there is an ever reducing gap between my enjoyment of watching City on the tv and actually going to the game.

My partner can't believe it...40 years old and haven't even told my season ticket holding parents yet either.. But that's the difficult part. When you're brought up into a blue household City is in my blood and it's hard to say no, but there just comes a time (for me now) when enough is enough and I can think of other ways of spending a massive part of my disposable income than on ever increasing tickets/parking/food/beer costs etc etc.

Obviously I now take a deep breathe and keep asking "have I made the right decision?". I think sadly that time will say "yes".

And I can almost guarantee the club weren't too bothered about trying to keep your business either?
They'll make more money off your seat, selling it for every home match to individuals rather than keeping it reserved for yourself.

They've got the airline, Expansion on it's way. all the business is missing now is the hotel. Once this is built near the stadium, they can start to throw the loyal blues out.

The guy did say I'd receive a call...but not heard anything as yet, nor do I expect to!

 

[stonerblue]

Heard an interesting angle on this the other day that stated we should either get in for nowt, or even be paid to go.

We, the supporters, are an integral part of the 'product' when it comes to TV rights. Rights that earn the club a great deal of money. As a spectacle, football would be un-sellable without the crowd. No tv money, no sponsorship money and very little CL money. Without us the clubs would go bust very quickly.

 

[cheddar404]

Well after going since 1982, all but 4 of those years (in the 90s when i moved South but still went) as a season ticket holder I've finally given up.
Been brewing in the mind for a while but yesterday I phoned the club and asked to cancel my ticket in block 204. Just awaiting a refund now.
Reasoning - well quite a few:
- consistent price hikes year on year. Tv revenue has gone through the roof, yet the fans still get stung by another 5-10% rise each year
- no end in sight for these rises so might as well quit now before I'm truly priced out
- player power. The incident with yaya pre-world cup being a prime example. Greed greed greed. We're the richest league in the world with the most debt. A massive reality check is needed by way of a wage cap or something else fairly major/ radical
- Saturday afternoon football? What's that? I travel a round trip of 520 miles for each game. First home game...8pm on a Monday after a 3 day weekend. 2am bed at the start of a week is shit.
- Because of the above factors (and I could say more), every year there is an ever reducing gap between my enjoyment of watching City on the tv and actually going to the game.

My partner can't believe it...40 years old and haven't even told my season ticket holding parents yet either.. But that's the difficult part. When you're brought up into a blue household City is in my blood and it's hard to say no, but there just comes a time (for me now) when enough is enough and I can think of other ways of spending a massive part of my disposable income than on ever increasing tickets/parking/food/beer costs etc etc.

Obviously I now take a deep breathe and keep asking "have I made the right decision?". I think sadly that time will say "yes".

And I can almost guarantee the club weren't too bothered about trying to keep your business either?
They'll make more money off your seat, selling it for every home match to individuals rather than keeping it reserved for yourself.

They've got the airline, Expansion on it's way. all the business is missing now is the hotel. Once this is built near the stadium, they can start to throw the loyal blues out.

The guy did say I'd receive a call...but not heard anything as yet, nor do I expect to!

It's a sad story and one that I'm sure a lot of us are going to have to face if the prices keep going up. I'm sure you will get plenty of unsympathetic responses on here anyway; the usual "price of success" bollocks that people spout. Aside from the fantastic stuff that we play and the success, I've never been more disillusioned with football as I am now. Season on season it feels like it's slowly being wrestled away from me. The tipping point will come sooner or later and I'll find something else to do with my life.