Seat Counters - 2023/24

[jrb]

Part of what happens is that Roel de Vries and Danny Wilson come to the OSC Exec Meetings a couple of times per year and answer questions from people who run Supporters Club Branches. Questions are asked about prices and the cost of junior tickets is criticised. No doubt Kevin has other conversations behind the scenes.

I can’t get to many of the OSC Exec Meetings and it’s a shame that the notes that are shared are limited. This wasn’t always the case. IIRC, posters on here shares the notes in the past and tried to put a negative spin on anything to do
With the OSC.

Anyway, Sir Kevin secured the trophies coming round the Country and beyond at no cost to Branches. City charged us previously. This benefitted members and non members alike and helped to grow our fan base. We were overwhelmed with the turnout in North Yorkshire with approaching a 1,000 people attending our trophy night.

I have know doubt Kevin Parker does work behind the scenes for City fans. And does good things like the trophies going around the country. I’m sure the club were happy to do that. But on fundamental issues like ticket pricing, etc, there is little or nothing coming from Kevin Parker in public. Not even a statement on the matter on his social media pages. It would be good to know he has at least discussed the matter of ticket pricing with the club, as he is GS of the OSC, and as such he represents 1000’s of (match going) City fans. And City fans who have been priced out of the matches.

What are Kevin Parker’s thoughts on 2700 seats possibly remaining empty against Burnley when City fans are desperate to see the team play, but can’t afford the ticket prices?

 

[jrb]

The worry is Roel de Vries recently stated the Etihad hasn’t got the capacity to drive up match day revenue significantly, so other means will have to be found to drive up match day revenue. That normally only leaves one outcome. And we all know what that is.

 

[bluedave1894]

And in any case, match day revenue will rise considerably once the North Stand expansion is completed

Or there could be 9,000 empty seats!

 

[Tim of the Oak]

The worry is Roel de Vries recently stated the Etihad hasn’t got the capacity to drive up match day revenue significantly, so other means will have to be found to drive up match day revenue. That normally only leaves one outcome. And we all know what that is.

It’s the race to £100mil match day revenue. The expanded North Stand and inflation “boosted” ticket / season card prices are bringing that closer to reality.

The ticket prices are excessive, particularly for the Burnley game, and I’ve no real confidence in City Matters discussion about junior ticket pricing. £5 junior tickets were introduced for low profile games last season and they became £15/£20 tickets this season.

 

[Corky]

I have know doubt Kevin Parker does work behind the scenes for City fans. And does good things like the trophies going around the country. I’m sure the club were happy to do that. But on fundamental issues like ticket pricing, etc, there is little or nothing coming from Kevin Parker in public. Not even a statement on the matter on his social media pages. It would be good to know he has at least discussed the matter of ticket pricing with the club, as he is GS of the OSC, and as such he represents 1000’s of (match going) City fans. And City fans who have been priced out of the matches.

What are Kevin Parker’s thoughts on 2700 seats possibly remaining empty against Burnley when City fans are desperate to see the team play, but can’t afford the ticket prices?

City are aware and taken 1,000 off.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I have know doubt Kevin Parker does work behind the scenes for City fans. And does good things like the trophies going around the country. I’m sure the club were happy to do that. But on fundamental issues like ticket pricing, etc, there is little or nothing coming from Kevin Parker in public. Not even a statement on the matter on his social media pages. It would be good to know he has at least discussed the matter of ticket pricing with the club, as he is GS of the OSC, and as such he represents 1000’s of (match going) City fans. And City fans who have been priced out of the matches.

What are Kevin Parker’s thoughts on 2700 seats possibly remaining empty against Burnley when City fans are desperate to see the team play, but can’t afford the ticket prices?

I think Kevin spoke out before when we were faced with empty seats but he got slaughtered by a lot of fans who we worried that he had irritated Pep. I know this was a few years back but once bitten etc. Maybe he should call out ticket prices. I’m just not sure where it would get us.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The worry is Roel de Vries recently stated the Etihad hasn’t got the capacity to drive up match day revenue significantly, so other means will have to be found to drive up match day revenue. That normally only leaves one outcome. And we all know what that is.

We will see a huge upturn in food and drinks revenues when the North Stand is completed. It is virtually impossible to get food and drink at the stadium now (except corporate areas) but the new stadium will meet the demand from thousands of fans including some who will stay later to avoid transport chaos. The new arena will enable the cllub to sell joint corporate music/football packages and so will the new hotel. We will eventually see virtual season tickets to pull in more cash from overseas fans. I hope this will reduce the need to push match day prices up for ordinary fans. Football is not a spectacle without spectators as shown clearly on Friday night at Spurs. I remain an optimist.

 

[jrb]

It’s the race to £100mil match day revenue. The expanded North Stand and inflation “boosted” ticket / season card prices are bringing that closer to reality.

The ticket prices are excessive, particularly for the Burnley game, and I’ve no real confidence in City Matters discussion about junior ticket pricing. £5 junior tickets were introduced for low profile games last season and they became £15/£20 tickets this season.

City doing ticket price increases by stealth.

I’m sure it won’t happen, but when Soriano & Co take their seats on Wednesday before the Burnley and they see all the empty seats around the ground, I hope it hits home, and makes them think about their ticket pricing strategy, and their obsession at growing revenue over as many City fans as possible being able to afford tickets to watch the best team football team in the world.(atm) If there are 2700 empty seats now, how many empty seats will there be when the NS is expanded, Pep goes back to Barcelona, and the teams performances and wins start to tail off? For Soriano & Co that should be a worrying not just for the future, but for now.

 

[blue by birth]

It’s expensive, no doubt, but let’s not exaggerate.

An adult and junior members in the family stand is £84.

And that is still way too expensive..
The owner of City is mega rich but the vast majority of our local fans aren't particularly well off..
The club need to rethink the pricing of match day tickets

 

[jrb]

We will see a huge upturn in food and drinks revenues when the North Stand is completed. It is virtually impossible to get food and drink at the stadium now (except corporate areas) but the new stadium will meet the demand from thousands of fans including some who will stay later to avoid transport chaos. The new arena will enable the cllub to sell joint corporate music/football packages and so will the new hotel. We will eventually see virtual season tickets to pull in more cash from overseas fans. I hope this will reduce the need to push match day prices up for ordinary fans. Football is not a spectacle without spectators as shown clearly on Friday night at Spurs. I remain an optimist.

I accept all of that. There will be a large increase in match day revenue. But I don’t believe that will effect or lower match day ticket prices. It will just add more match day revenue on top of high ticket prices, which could be even higher in 2 years time when the NS opens. It’s possible that we could see a £100 match day ticket in the future.