Priced out?

[blue b4 the moon]

I don’t think City admin are maximising income even though that’s their focus. For example, sell an average of 300 unsold single tickets per game at £30 and that’s £200k over the season. City don’t want the moaning off people who bought their tickets earlier at higher prices.

Throw in another 20 ticket points for anyone who buys 4 or more tickets for individual home champs group games at a time )like it used to be) and that could be another 1,000 tickets per game sold. Maybe another 150k in the kitty. No doubt a few would moan anout the fictitious integrity of the points system (for 20 points here and there).

Plus there are knock on benefits of more sales in the club shop and drinks / food in the ground.

Not massive amounts in the City scale of things but they could replace the annual inflationary uplift in season card costs.

Is it too simple for the club to 'shuffle' everyone with a season card up each row so the spare seats are at the end of each row and people can sit together.

I'm sure we'd happily move 4/5 seats along without much moaning.....maybe not ;)

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Is it too simple for the club to 'shuffle' everyone with a season card up each row so the spare seats are at the end of each row and people can sit together.

I'm sure we'd happily move 4/5 seats along without much moaning.....maybe not ;)

I agree mate.

City could also address the problem of a minority hoarding season cards just to attend the biggest games. Their seats could be used to help families sit together. That said, we will soon have another 7k or 8k of tickets to shift.

 

[asahartford1]

And it’s alright for fans like you and I who can afford it, who have tickets next to friends and family (I don’t as most of my family and mates have stopped going, but I do get on with those around me). And I’m one of those who’s alright with going to the pub on my own if none of my mates can afford to go to a game. So I also go to the games and have a piss up anyway.

But look at all those discarded and replaced over the years due to price rises (some years as high as 12% when inflation was 1%), look at the lad who I replied to who can’t get match day tickets next to his son any longer and a lad on here a few weeks ago who said he had to give up his season ticket he’d had for four decades due to ill health but is in a better position now yet the club won’t allow him to have a season ticket again despite them selling swathes upon swathes of the same seats on ticket tout sites.

I agree of course with alot of what you say. I can afford it but I'm far from flush.
City are a priority as far as my pennies go.

I had my first season ticket at 12, n the new North Stand ,my dad was ill and had to stop going, so I travelled every home match from Blackley to Moss Side on my own, doesn't seem possible nowadays.
Now it is a 120 mile round trip for us.

I hope the new seats can have some form of targeted tickets for kids And cheaper tickets for lesser games. The club should look at the long term future as well as now.

One last thing, some of our fans shoul dlook at the cost of tickets for lesser clubs, and even the Championship, a level of football many would turn their noses up at. They are not often cheap.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I agree of course with alot of what you say. I can afford it but I'm far from flush.
City are a priority as far as my pennies go.

I had my first season ticket at 12, n the new North Stand ,my dad was ill and had to stop going, so I travelled every home match from Blackley to Moss Side on my own, doesn't seem possible nowadays.
Now it is a 120 mile round trip for us.

I hope the new seats can have some form of targeted tickets for kids And cheaper tickets for lesser games. The club should look at the long term future as well as now.

One last thing, some of our fans shoul dlook at the cost of tickets for lesser clubs, and even the Championship, a level of football many would turn their noses up at. They are not often cheap.

There’s going to be a lot of value golds for City families after the ground expansion. They provide for much cheaper tickets for juniors but the annual set up charge is steep.

Adult membership at Leeds in the Championship is between £50 and £75. Match tickets are usually £40 odd quid. It isn’t cheap anywhere but Leeds do seem to attract relatively more late teens than we do. It might be to do with a noisier atmosphere that the youths enjoy.

 

[jrb]

So the question now is, how do we balance the ticket price issue and argument when Haaland has just signed a 9 year contract, which the club have to pay for, and every single City fan is delirious with that news.

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

So the question now is, how do we balance the ticket price issue and argument when Haaland has just signed a 9 year contract, which the club have to pay for, and every single City fan is delirious with that news.

Increases in sponsorship monies, everyone wants a piece of Haaland. I have seen Midea advertise in B2B press with Haaland in the ad. The creative is shit but everyone will recognise Haaland in the ad. His wages have probably increased by about £5-7 million per year, that shouldn't be loaded on to the average supporter. I can still remember having to renew and pay in March for the following season which would help the club through the next few months. We will have plenty of seats to fill in the expanded stadium if people want tickets for games as part of a deal (not away tickets though)

 

[Tim of the Oak]

So the question now is, how do we balance the ticket price issue and argument when Haaland has just signed a 9 year contract, which the club have to pay for, and every single City fan is delirious with that news.

We can’t balance the more extreme side of the argument. Namely anyone and their family who ever dreamt of having a City season card can have theirs for peanuts.

Maybe a middle ground balance can be found. Especially, if memberships continue to grow including the “virtual memberships / stadium” for Blues who can’t get to games.

 

[Beaker]

We can’t balance the more extreme side of the argument. Namely anyone and their family who ever dreamt of having a City season card can have theirs for peanuts.

Maybe a middle ground balance can be found. Especially, if memberships continue to grow including the “virtual memberships / stadium” for Blues who can’t get to games.

There is a middle ground to be found. You yourself have stated some good ideas for finding it. There is a place for corporate’s, tourists who will spend more on the day than the likes of me and you.
There also needs to be a place for people like me and you who might spend less on the day but will be there week in week out come what may.

The first priority should be to get more kids and young people in the stadium, as we will need them ten years down the line when we’re still paying Haaland’s contract. There are signs (soft signals if you like) that the club are thinking about that.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

So the question now is, how do we balance the ticket price issue and argument when Haaland has just signed a 9 year contract, which the club have to pay for, and every single City fan is delirious with that news.

New & extended sponsorships.

Old Haarland is goina be the New Erling !!

The kids will love him & he's got a 'big kid' kind of personallity.

Hopefully the club will become more appreciative and sensitive towards our local,loyal fan base and develop a more benevolent approach particularly when we win the 115 cup !!

Great oportunities at every turn.

 

[ArdwickBlue_M12]

As much as everyone is buzzing about Haalands mega contract we have to admit things like this are the reason why the club will justify high ticket prices and try to milk fans for every last penny they can get. It's also another reason we won't see proper season tickets for the foreseeable future. Lastly forget about any season ticket freezes. its only going to get worse. luckily I don't go anymore so it doesn't affect me too much but feel sorry for match going blues who love this club.

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

As much as everyone is buzzing about Haalands mega contract we have to admit things like this are the reason why the club will justify high ticket prices and try to milk fans for every last penny they can get. It's also another reason we won't see proper season tickets for the foreseeable future. Lastly forget about any season ticket freezes. its only going to get worse. luckily I don't go anymore so it doesn't affect me too much but feel sorry for match going blues who love this club.

That's the first thing I thought after I heard about this.
Its brilliant he's signed.
But the money he's on is insane when the club just keep ripping fans off.
I don't think be going much anymore

 

[Tim of the Oak]

As much as everyone is buzzing about Haalands mega contract we have to admit things like this are the reason why the club will justify high ticket prices and try to milk fans for every last penny they can get. It's also another reason we won't see proper season tickets for the foreseeable future. Lastly forget about any season ticket freezes. its only going to get worse. luckily I don't go anymore so it doesn't affect me too much but feel sorry for match going blues who love this club.

It doesn’t get worse mate. We support our team. When we can’t afford to go any more I will listen on the radio or watch on the TV. I would rather have Haaland playing for us than me being able to go to games. Being from Stretford supporting the Blues was often a daily battle. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

That's the first thing I thought after I heard about this.
Its brilliant he's signed.
But the money he's on is insane when the club just keep ripping fans off.
I don't think be going much anymore

Fair enough but there will be other Blues willing to take your place. It’s sad for anyone to be priced out. FWIW I don’t think Halland will be on any more more money this easin be use his financial package was heavily incentivised towards trophy wins.

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

It doesn’t get worse mate. We support our team. When we can’t afford to go any more I will listen on the radio or watch on the TV. I would rather have Haaland playing for us than me being able to go to games. Being from Stretford supporting the Blues was often a daily battle. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

As much as I hate how much it costs now.
After half a season of not going i can honestly say I don't miss it.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

As much as I hate how much it costs now.
After half a season of not going i can honestly say I don't miss it.

Good for you. I no longer go as many away games as I used to it and don’t miss it.

I still think signing Haaland up for the next decade is brilliant news. Whether I go or not, I will always be a Blue whose desperate for us to succeed.

 

[Blue Maverick]

As much as I hate how much it costs now.
After half a season of not going i can honestly say I don't miss it.

I tend to not go to midweek matches as it’s a pain the arse especially the chumps league, like you I don’t miss it I watch and scream at the tv just as much, maybe it’s football fatigue, the last 10 years or so after the shit of the previous years has been draining emotionally and financially, I do love my weekend day games and hope to go as long as possible but just looking at the ridiculous times in the last few weeks for all games I can only see it getting worse.

 

[jrb]

This really is my last season in all the cup schemes. I said that at the start of this season, but I buckled and signed up again for all 3 cup schemes. I’m doing less away games. Looking to the future, I will just be happy with PL home games, the odd PL away game, cup home games I want to watch, and finals.

 

[jrb]

This is what City are up against.

Levy is a tight ****, hence why Spurs haven’t won any trophies.

Via a Facebook, Spurs add.

Spurs v United, 16th Feb.

Premium seating.

£849.

Against City there is a £549 hospitality package.

Not sure of the game, normal seats are £149. (£2,999,00)

 

[NPBlue]

......but the stadiums are NOT full

......and NOT full of contented fans who feel valued and appreciated by their club.

There is a rising mood of apathy,frustration and anger towards a club who is alienating, and failing to attract local fans, in equal measure.

Any organisation who CHOSES to disregard and alienate its CORE customers is treading a dangerous path littered with corpses.

The current executives responsible for such a policy of short term gain will be long gone when Manchester is dropped from our name because the club no long represents Manchester or Mancunians.

A tipping point is approaching which may arrive much quicker than expected if we have a couple of transitional seasons or if (say) Pep & Harland leave.

Our victory in the 115 case will create a huge out pouring of relief and which the club should ride and use to CHOSE a different,more caring,reasonable realistic and benevolent

Well, the grounds are generally well attended in the PL. Watch Match of the Day, and the overall impression is one of full stadiums.

Maybe I didn't explain my point very well, so apologies if that's the case.

I fully agree with you that football for many is reaching a tipping point with regard to affordability. I'm retired, on a modest pension, and if the club scrap the concession for us oldies, I'm off. I have other interests and hobbies that, frankly, bring me more personal pleasure than watching City, and those activities will take priority.

It's the clubs call, and if, like Terry, who sat in the seat next to me for many years until this season and had to give it up due to the increasing cost he could no longer justify, and I follow the same path, my seat, like his, will be taken by a tourist paying much more than the £23 a game I pay as a concessionary seasoncard holder in a location that commands prices far in excess of that.

I am not in any doubt the grubby money grabbers now in charge of our club would prefer me to be replaced by someone who spends a few hundred quid in the club shop, which is often the case when a new face appears and sits next to me wearing their new scarf, hat, programme in hand and clutching their City bag full of other stuff they have bought, and wanders off at half time to buy some food.

Myself, like all the rest of my neighbours that have been going to the games for decades, don't spend a penny on anything other than the seat, and most around me are old enough to receive the same concession I do.

I stand by my point, though, that teenagers want to watch football in the same way we did when we were their age. They can't afford premier league prices, so they turn up in their numbers at grounds, like Moss Lane, where they can have as much fun as we did. It's a contrast that is very stark when you watch a video of football fans in the 70's compared to today, and I'm in total agreement with you the core element of future local support is being priced out for nothing more than a short term gain.

It's a sad state of affairs which I'm not proud of, but I increasingly dislike the club, yet I'll always support the team.

Once a blue, always a blue, and I'll always be a City fan, but loyalty has its limits when exploitation is the prime mover of those running the place.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Well, the grounds are generally well attended in the PL. Watch Match of the Day, and the overall impression is one of full stadiums.

Maybe I didn't explain my point very well, so apologies if that's the case.

I fully agree with you that football for many is reaching a tipping point with regard to affordability. I'm retired, on a modest pension, and if the club scrap the concession for us oldies, I'm off. I have other interests and hobbies that, frankly, bring me more personal pleasure than watching City, and those activities will take priority.

It's the clubs call, and if, like Terry, who sat in the seat next to me for many years until this season and had to give it up due to the increasing cost he could no longer justify, and I follow the same path, my seat, like his, will be taken by a tourist paying much more than the £23 a game I pay as a concessionary seasoncard holder in a location that commands prices far in excess of that.

I am not in any doubt the grubby money grabbers now in charge of our club would prefer me to be replaced by someone who spends a few hundred quid in the club shop, which is often the case when a new face appears and sits next to me wearing their new scarf, hat, programme in hand and clutching their City bag full of other stuff they have bought, and wanders off at half time to buy some food.

Myself, like all the rest of my neighbours that have been going to the games for decades, don't spend a penny on anything other than the seat, and most around me are old enough to receive the same concession I do.

I stand by my point, though, that teenagers want to watch football in the same way we did when we were their age. They can't afford premier league prices, so they turn up in their numbers at grounds, like Moss Lane, where they can have as much fun as we did. It's a contrast that is very stark when you watch a video of football fans in the 70's compared to today, and I'm in total agreement with you the core element of future local support is being priced out for nothing more than a short term gain.

It's a sad state of affairs which I'm not proud of, but I increasingly dislike the club, yet I'll always support the team.

Once a blue, always a blue, and I'll always be a City fan, but loyalty has its limits when exploitation is the prime mover of those running the place.

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