Open Letter on Season Tickets and Pricing | Club announce price freeze on "general admission season tickets & PL match tickets" for next season (p163)

[117 M34]

One thing in the letter that doesn't make sense is the request to remove the £150 payment for the flexi gold season ticket.

If the club did that, all they are doing is allowing fans access cheaper tickets with no commitment on their behalf.

Every fan in the world would sign up for one (including current season ticket holders) because there is no negative in not having one.

You would get to pick and choose games at pricing cheaper than matchday pricing with no requirement to spend a single penny if you didn't want to whilst getting the same benefits as season ticket holders do.

 

[Alex - Not City Matters]

Thank you, that was all I wanted to know. I can now ask my own OSC branch at the next branch meeting why they didn't and have the question asked at their monthly or whatever they are these days meeting.
Thank you. :-)

I’ll try and clarify on this.

Kevin signed the letter in his capacity as the OSC representative on City Matters.

Unfortunately, when I came to ask other groups to support the letter, I utilised the City Matters email for Kevin - which he doesn’t often view. That meant that it wasn’t until yesterday afternoon that Kevin put the draft to the OSC Committee. I wasn’t aware of this at the time, hence why we went ahead with the 10am launch today. I apologise for the technical hiccup on my part.

That said, Kevin and the OSC confirmed their support this morning and I am aware that he has shared it on social media.

 

[halfmist]

But it's not a business like any other. If I don't the cost of a train ticket I can take a different mode of transport. You wouldn't shrug your shoulders if they upped and moved the club abroad because it was more profitable for example.

Football clubs have a responsibility to the communities they claim to represent and if its getting to the stage that fans are beginning to find themselves priced out of attending, I don't think it's beyond the pale to point this out to the club.

But it is no just City, it is every Club. I notice the open letter says we are making good profits so why the increases. I think that is a bit naive. The only reason we are making those profits, let’s face it, is down to the Clubs sponsors who are linked to the owners. I moan like everyone else about the cost, £71 quid for a Liverpool ticket that is live on TV but when I then try to buy one I am told I am number 23400 in the queue. So yes the club may play a little bit of lip service to the Supporters but like any other successful business it knows it can sell its product to someone else for the price it is asking. A neutral would say as with any product , if you cannot afford it stay away. Harsh but that is reality.

 

[dannybcity]

One thing in the letter that doesn't make sense is the request to remove the £150 payment for the flexi gold season ticket.

If the club did that, all they are doing is allowing fans access cheaper tickets with no commitment on their behalf.

Every fan in the world would sign up for one (including current season ticket holders) because there is no negative in not having one.

You would get to pick and choose games at pricing cheaper than matchday pricing with no requirement to spend a single penny if you didn't want to whilst getting the same benefits as season ticket holders do.

I suppose that would be a reasonable argument to retain the £150 if you could also opt to buy a regular season ticket. But as things stand it's Flexigold (and the additional £150) or nothing.

 

[Eccles Blue]

I’ll try and clarify on this.

Kevin signed the letter in his capacity as the OSC representative on City Matters.

Unfortunately, when I came to ask other groups to support the letter, I utilised the City Matters email for Kevin - which he doesn’t often view. That meant that it wasn’t until yesterday afternoon that Kevin put the draft to the OSC Committee. I wasn’t aware of this at the time, hence why we went ahead with the 10am launch today. I apologise for the technical hiccup on my part.

That said, Kevin and the OSC confirmed their support this morning and I am aware that he has shared it on social media.

Thank you Alex for the clarity. I have already sent the question to our branch secretary so, as always, Eccles Blue's name will be mud. *rofl* (Sorry that is a sort of in joke in that I am always the one who asks the awkward questions. But when you get to my age you don't flinch the same at asking them!!!)

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

This is slightly off to

Whilst not 100% agreeing with you that they should be the main voice I do agree that they should be doing something and I have sent a message to my branch secretary asking him to ask the question at the next OSC main meeting.

The reasons why I said they should be the main voice are they are the closest and longest association to the club plus their members numbers dwarf most of the other parties that have put their name on the letter

 

[dannybcity]

But it is no just City, it is every Club. I notice the open letter says we are making good profits so why the increases. I think that is a bit naive. The only reason we are making those profits, let’s face it, is down to the Clubs sponsors who are linked to the owners. I moan like everyone else about the cost, £71 quid for a Liverpool ticket that is live on TV but when I then try to buy one I am told I am number 23400 in the queue. So yes the club may play a little bit of lip service to the Supporters but like any other successful business it knows it can sell its product to someone else for the price it is asking. A neutral would say as with any product , if you cannot afford it stay away. Harsh but that is reality.

Well I'd thank that neutral for their opinion but be left thinking that they didn't really understand what supporting a football club means to people.

 

[Eccles Blue]

May I just say that, and I appreciate that I am in the minority of 1 here, everyone at Manchester City Football club has been so good and kind to me always but especially over the past 2 years while my health has deteriorated.
Every single member of staff I have had contact with has been kind, supportive and done everything possible to make my match going experience as easy as possible.
Our club is still a family club whatever anyone thinks. Like most families there are hiccups. As I said I am probably in the minority of one but I can't fault them.

(I haven't had contact with Khaldoon though. *cheeky grin*)

 

[Craig]

But it is no just City, it is every Club. I notice the open letter says we are making good profits so why the increases. I think that is a bit naive. The only reason we are making those profits, let’s face it, is down to the Clubs sponsors who are linked to the owners. I moan like everyone else about the cost, £71 quid for a Liverpool ticket that is live on TV but when I then try to buy one I am told I am number 23400 in the queue. So yes the club may play a little bit of lip service to the Supporters but like any other successful business it knows it can sell its product to someone else for the price it is asking. A neutral would say as with any product , if you cannot afford it stay away. Harsh but that is reality.

So what would you suggest just say nothing and let more and more of the hardcore get priced out? Is it i’m alright Jack or are you not arsed about one day being priced out yourself?

 

[Zabbasbeard]

Thank you. I hope the powers that be listen.

 

[NickyWeaverTheMagician]

May I just say that, and I appreciate that I am in the minority of 1 here, everyone at Manchester City Football club has been so good and kind to me always but especially over the past 2 years while my health has deteriorated.
Every single member of staff I have had contact with has been kind, supportive and done everything possible to make my match going experience as easy as possible.
Our club is still a family club whatever anyone thinks. Like most families there are hiccups. As I said I am probably in the minority of one but I can't fault them.

(I haven't had contact with Khaldoon though. *cheeky grin*)

It is great to hear of your positive experience with those who have assisted you at the game etc and I am sure you are not alone in that sentiment but I'd say that is separate to the points raised in the letter. It is possible to have frustrations/strive for change on the likes of Season ticket prices whilst spreading the good word of the matchday staff and those staff who keep the club running day to day.

At the end of the day it isn't them making the decisions referred to in the letter it is way above their pay grade. It is the money men like Soriano with no care in the world about football itself.

 

[dannybcity]

May I just say that, and I appreciate that I am in the minority of 1 here, everyone at Manchester City Football club has been so good and kind to me always but especially over the past 2 years while my health has deteriorated.
Every single member of staff I have had contact with has been kind, supportive and done everything possible to make my match going experience as easy as possible.
Our club is still a family club whatever anyone thinks. Like most families there are hiccups. As I said I am probably in the minority of one but I can't fault them.

(I haven't had contact with Khaldoon though. *cheeky grin*)

There's plenty of genuinely lovely people that work for the club who care deeply about the fans. The letter isn't meant to be adversarial but I do think its important these views are highlighted so they are not overlooked.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

I think it’s obvious that those within the club believe there is a never ending stream of well off tourist fans prepared to stay in the hotel, visit the club shop and spend in there and visit the concession food outlets. They also need to be active across social media. That’s their ideal fan profiled.

 

[Donmcfc]

Tickets for the Madrid play off game are over priced in my opinion. The only reason this game is taking place is because of the incompetence of the team in the eight matches played in the qualifying round. The fans are being punished due to the poor performances of the players and the management. The club should be paying us to attend as a means of apologising for the mess we are in. I will be putting this point of view in writing to the club.

 

[gazinho]

Tickets for the Madrid play off game are over priced in my opinion. The only reason this game is taking place is because of the incompetence of the team in the eight matches played in the qualifying round. The fans are being punished due to the poor performances of the players and the management. The club should be paying us to attend as a means of apologising for the mess we are in. I will be putting this point of view in writing to the club.

Hope you can afford a first class stamp after shelling out for Madrid seen as the game is in 5 days :)

For what its worth though I completely agree they are overpriced, they've had 5 group stage games off us this season, if it were the old format and we went as far as the final we could only possibly play 1 more home game which would have been a semi final

 

[ninjamonkey]

Fair play to all involved. Needed to happen and that's as much as they can do. I doubt very much it will be taken into account when they announce the next price increase but at least it's out there. it's been heard, they cannot act oblivious to our feelings on it and when City inevitably ignore it, there should be lots of hard questions put to them as to why.

 

[halfmist]

Well I'd thank that neutral for their opinion but be left thinking that they didn't really understand what supporting a football club means to people.

Nobody doubts that, you can see it from the points raised in the letter. The question is will the letter make much of a difference from the Clubs prospective.

 

[halfmist]

So what would you suggest just say nothing and let more and more of the hardcore get priced out? Is it i’m alright Jack or are you not arsed about one day being priced out yourself?

It is the way the industry has gone. It is all about the £££. My opinions or anybody else’s for that matter will probably make no difference as they are aware there are a further 20 behind you or me who will buy the ticket. They would argue they are not a charity and of course,use the we need to do all that is possible to comply with PSR. The owner of the Club is not shelling out his billions for his love of Manchester and its surrounding area, his ultimate goal is to make money from his investment. What the fans get to see is some fantastic entertainment as we are taken along for the ride. That obviously comes at a cost.

 

[M18CTID]

One thing in the letter that doesn't make sense is the request to remove the £150 payment for the flexi gold season ticket.

If the club did that, all they are doing is allowing fans access cheaper tickets with no commitment on their behalf.

Every fan in the world would sign up for one (including current season ticket holders) because there is no negative in not having one.

You would get to pick and choose games at pricing cheaper than matchday pricing with no requirement to spend a single penny if you didn't want to whilst getting the same benefits as season ticket holders do.

I'm not sure Flexi Gold holders get the same rights as season ticket holders when purchasing tickets for, say, cup finals or when away games go on sale so to say it would be better for a season ticket holder to have Flexi Gold if the £150/£75 tax was removed isn't really correct. Also, as a Flexi Gold holder you have to manually go in and buy your ticket for each game and the deadline for doing this is (I think) 3 weeks before said match. Forget the deadline by a single day and it's too late because, as I understand it, the club sells your seat to someone else. And what happens if your plans change after buying your ticket for a particular match? Are you allowed to transfer your ticket to family/friends as season ticket holders do? If not, are you allowed to stick it back on the exchange and get the money refunded if it sells as season ticket holders do?

In short, there's not a fucking chance I'd swap my season ticket for a Flexi Gold ticket if the £150 tax was removed, and I bet that's the same for the vast majority of season ticket holders.

 

[BertM19]

I’ll try and clarify on this.

Kevin signed the letter in his capacity as the OSC representative on City Matters.

Unfortunately, when I came to ask other groups to support the letter, I utilised the City Matters email for Kevin - which he doesn’t often view. That meant that it wasn’t until yesterday afternoon that Kevin put the draft to the OSC Committee. I wasn’t aware of this at the time, hence why we went ahead with the 10am launch today. I apologise for the technical hiccup on my part.

That said, Kevin and the OSC confirmed their support this morning and I am aware that he has shared it on social media.

Is it fair to ask why did Kevin not bring it to the attention of the OSC Committee when he was asked to sign as the City Matters OSC Rep a week ago ?

You shouldn't have to apologise for anything given he'd seen it.