QPR to Reduce Ticket Prices - or Club Shop Prices?

Yeah right

Also Crystal Palace

The VAT Cut Gives Fans Double Delight
Posted on: Thu 27 Nov 2008

Crystal Palace Football Club are revising their prices for both matchday and season tickets to reflect the new VAT ruling introduced by the government.

These changes will take effect from Monday December 1st . We are also delighted to confirm that the Club intend to double the impact on your pocket as they offer an even greater reduction on season ticket prices for the early part of December.

The VAT saving on a typical adult season ticket will be £6 , however for the two week period, 1st - 14th December, the Club are going to double that saving offering a £12 reduction on the prices published in the 2009/10 Brochure.
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Match tickets prices have also been reduced from 1st December by 50p per match ticket and £1 on those admission prices which are £40 or above.

Don't miss out on these savings and remember our offer will only be available until 14th December as Palace double your savings as we reach the end of the year

Add Charlton
www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=33319

[Brighton] Albion Cut Ticket Prices
www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1470726,00.html


TELEGRAPH

Pemier League fans tighten belts as tickets go unsold
It is the starkest illustration of recession biting even in the rarefied air of England's football elite – row upon row of empty seats at Premier League grounds up and down the country.

By Rory Smith
Last Updated: 9:26PM GMT 27 Nov 2008

Sign of the times: Empty spaces at Wigan's JJB Stadium for the recent match with Aston Villa Photo: PA WIRE
It is the starkest illustration of recession biting even in the rarefied air of England's football elite – row upon row of empty seats at Premier League grounds up and down the country.
With the credit crunch forcing fans to tighten their belts, attendances are falling, tickets going unsold. Not one of this weekend's top flight matches is, as yet, sold out.
Even at the high-profile clash between Chelsea and Arsenal, seats are still available. Ditto the City of Manchester Stadium, where United are fully booked for the Manchester derby, but City still have tickets to shift.
It is a problem the Premier League are determined to tackle and it was revealed that all 20 clubs have pledged to pass on the Government's drop in VAT to cash-strapped fans by cutting ticket prices across the board.Liverpool followed Everton by trimming £1 off their ticket prices.
High-level talks are also ongoing in an attempt to secure discounted fares for travelling supporters to bolster attendances in away ends. It is a move inspired by the booming German Bundesliga, where attendances outstrip even the Premier League.
But before such initiatives kick in, great swathes of seating will stand idle at most, if not all, of this weekend's games. From Villa Park to the Stadium of Light, the JJB to the Riverside, a fan with no plans for Saturday afternoon could easily wander down on the off chance and pick up a ticket.
It is the surest sign yet that the Premier League is not immune from the global financial downturn. The cost of entry, as well as the price of travel, is too much for fans already feeling the pinch to justify.
For the first time in years, the league's average gate has fallen this season, down almost a thousand a week from the last campaign's 50-year high of 36,076 to 35,156.
Champions Manchester United are yet to sell out Old Trafford this season, their highest attendance thus far some 1,000 short of the stadium's 76,180 capacity.

More than half the clubs in the top flight have seen the number of fans passing through the turnstiles fall, with Newcastle, Sunderland, Everton, West Ham, Blackburn and Wigan the hardest hit.

Although the 5,000 fewer at St James's Park could be attributed to the turmoil engulfing the club, the fact that 3,000 fans have stopped going to Sunderland and 2,000 to Wigan and Blackburn suggests the more general problem is symptomatic of the economic climate.
Only Bolton, thanks to a range of initiatives to attract fans to the Reebok Stadium, and Manchester City, where Arab oil billions and the arrival of Robinho have inspired dreams of glory in even the most hard-bitten cynic, have seen a significant increase.
It is a pattern reproduced throughout the professional game. The Championship's average attendance is up, but that is primarily because well-supported sides such as Nottingham Forest and Swansea have replaced relegated Colchester and Sc***horpe.
Average gates are down in League One and League Two, where clubs rely on gate receipts for their very livelihood. Without the artificial boost provided by Leeds' average gate of 24,000, League One's outlook would be even more bleak.
Yet in what may seem a depressing picture for chairmen and chief executives from all rungs of the game, there are notes of cautious optimism.
The Premier League insist the figures for this campaign are comparable with last year, with the slight drop explained by the 75,000 or so fans who would have attended Manchester United's postponed game with Fulham.
There is also the fact that, in losing Birmingham, Derby and, to a lesser extent, Reading to relegation last season, the league lost three high-capacity grounds that were almost always packed to the rafters.
The 'utilisation' rate – the amount of a stadium's capacity being used – at many grounds remains higher than anywhere else in Europe, and has fallen only marginally, from 92.2 per cent to 91.3.
Meanwhile, as many fans as ever are watching the league on television. Sky, Setanta and the BBC have all reported audience figures comparable with last campaign, when 4.8 billion viewers worldwide watched Premier League games.
That suggests that the all-important TV deal, due in 2010, will be just as lucrative as its predecessor, allowing the world's richest league to ride out the storm.

Next Up: Watford and Carlisle

WATFORD PASS ON VAT REDUCTION Fri 28 Nov 2008
WATFORD FC are today pleased to announce that they will pass on the Value Added Tax reduction announced this week to you, our valued customers.
From next Monday, December 1, the rate of VAT will be reduced from 17.5% to 15%, and we are passing these savings on to you by reducing our VAT inclusive prices.
Any ticket purchased on, or after, Monday, December 1, for games at Vicarage Road will reflect the VAT decrease.
The Club's retail stores, online at www.watfordfcmegastore.com and all catering kiosks will adjust the rate of VAT across all products, although you will notice that the latest increase in beer prices has not been charged to you.
Due to the huge task and cost involved in re-labelling all products, the club will continue to display prices showing VAT at 17.5% throughout the period, but the amount paid at the point of sale will reflect the decrease. All children's clothing is zero-rated from a VAT perspective so will be unaffected.
To ensure that all Ticketing and Retail systems reflect these changes as of December 1, the on-line ticketing system will be out of use from 6pm on Sunday 30 November until 11am on Monday 1 December and www.watfordfcmegastore.com will be out of use from 6pm until 12.01am. www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1469112,00.html


Carlisle are considering re the VAT "VAT'S A FACT"
Carlisle United are to consider cutting all admission prices by £5 at a one-off chosen league fixture later this season as the club's way of handing on savings to fans from the government's reduction in VAT.
Managing director John Nixon says he plans to ask the Football League for guidance at its next meeting on December 18 on how clubs should react to the forthcoming cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15%, which comes into effect on December 1.
Admission prices at all football clubs include 17.5% VAT, which means the cost to Carlisle fans attending games at Brunton Park should drop by an average of 35p per match under the new lower tax. The biggest saving would be 50p on a seat ticket bought on the day of the match, with just a few coppers on kids' admission.
With Carlisle still having 14 League One fixtures to come, that works out at a total saving on average of £4.90 for fans who went to every game for the rest of the season.
But Mr Nixon points out that Carlisle United, like all football clubs, have already received money from season ticket holders in advance, including the full 17.5% VAT payment, which has duly been paid to the taxman. United have more than 2,700 season ticket holders.
There is also the logistical problem on match days of knocking 35p off admission prices, especially for fans paying cash at the turnstiles.
So his proposal is to introduce a one-off reduction of £5 at a designated League One game at Brunton Park as a way of giving the savings to fans at a stroke.
He said: "The reduction in VAT is taking football clubs into unchartered territory as far as changing admission prices are concerned. No one I have spoken to so far at any club has really known how to react to it. It is a real dilemma, which hopefully the Football League will have something to say about.
"My own view is that we should make a reduction of £5 on all admission prices for one particular game. From our point of view we might consider this for the game against Hereford on Tuesday February 3. We are at home to Colchester on the previous Saturday and we know it is not easy for fans to afford two home games in four days, especially in the current economic climate."
www.carlisleunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10361~1469584,00.html

Am I right here.

You would get 25p on each tenner spent bck, is that right?

If that is correct, it's not worth worryng about.

This is what some bloke said on the news last night.

And this is how Stoke are using the money saved. OK not going back to the customers. But being used in a non-Stoke profit way....

BBC - VAT cut helps fund football kits
At least 100 football teams in local leagues in the Stoke-on-Trent area are set to get new kit courtesy of the government's VAT cut.

Stoke City Football Club announced the savings it would make on tax would be used to buy kits for sides in the area.

The club's chief executive, Tony Scholes, said it was doing something a "bit different" in difficult times.

"Buying a football kit (for) lads' football teams - it's their major cost for the year," he said.

"So by doing this hopefully we'll be able to be a great help to a great number of junior teams."
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/staffordshire/7757285.stm

Barnsley - Ticket price reduced by one pound a ticket
www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~1472615,00.html



Derby County Price Reduction
www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~1473333,00.html

I think Stoke's way is a good idea.
Rangers should use the money for the community and to show goodwill the club/Mitalls could match it.

Free cup game (Local derby), £10 in the club shop and a free ticket to another league game is very generous indeed.

I doubt they would be able to do this if it wasn't for the parachute payments.

Add Walsall
www.saddlers.co.uk/page/News/0,,10428~1473379,00.html

"..Elsewhere, there is coverage of United's decision to pass on the reduction in VAT to the club's 57,000 season-ticket-holders, while Patrice Evra is due to appear before an FA hearing into events that occurred after last season’s clash at Chelsea...."

Manchester United Official Site
/12/2008 18:29, Report by Communications Dept.Fans benefit from lower VATFollowing the announcement of a 13-month reduction in VAT by the Chancellor last week, the Club will pass on the full reduction to fans.

This includes match tickets for games played after 1 December 2008 and VAT standard rated items bought at kiosks for the period of the reduction in VAT.

The reduction has presented many logistical difficulties, including the requirement for all paper tickets sold after 1 December but printed beforehand for away fans for matches at Old Trafford needing to be recalled, destroyed and re-issued with the new prices on.

In addition, the Club has taken the decision not to change price lists at matchday kiosks or on promotional literature, but to erect notices informing customers that, despite the displayed price, they will be charged the new lower prices at the point of sale, except for alcohol, where the increase in duty wipes out the VAT saving.

The Club is currently seeking permission to treat matches from 1 December, bought last summer by Season Ticket holders, as eligible for a refund, but has yet to receive authorisation from HM Revenue and Customs to make a refund. As soon as we have any update on that matter, Season Ticket holders will be told directly and via the Club website.

Every penny of the reduction that the Club receives will be passed onto supporters and customers.

Updated Tuesday 2 December 21:40
www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B23A882F1%2D4E52%2D4C1A%2D816E%2DFB505E82E076%7D&newsid=6623412

Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City and Bristol Rovers rule out wholesale price cuts

Bristol City and Rovers have ruled out across-the-board cuts in ticket prices in the wake of the recent reduction in VAT.
Instead, both clubs have said they will offer supporters other reductions as a way of helping them through the economic downturn.

Several football clubs across the country have already responded to the Government's announcement to reduce VAT from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent.

Sheffield United have reduced gate prices at Bramall Lane by £1, Derby have knocked 50p off all adult tickets and 25p off concession prices while Bolton have cut prices by £1.

However, the two Bristol clubs have decided against bringing in a blanket reduction on all ticket prices.

Instead, Bristol Rovers are offering a three-for-two ticket offer in January and VAT savings on season tickets, while City are considering dropping their prices for selected games.
A spokeswoman for Rovers said fans could watch three games at the Memorial Stadium for as little as £30.

If supporters buy a ticket for the Yeovil Town game on January 10 and the Colchester United clash on January 24, they will get a free ticket for the Cheltenham Town game on January 27. The offer only applies to early bird tickets, and all three must be purchased at the same time before 5pm on January 9.
Bristol Rovers director Barry Bradshaw said: "As a board we wanted to do something to help our fans through this difficult financial time.

"January is going to be a tough time for people as they pay off their credit cards after Christmas, and we appreciate things are going to be tight."

Rovers say the VAT reduction will be used to fund the ticket offer. The board has also pledged to sell next year's season tickets based on the VAT rate of 15 per cent regardless of the VAT change in January 2010.

A spokesman for Bristol City said the club had also responded to the drop in VAT. He said: "We will consider a reduction in ticket prices for certain games as a way of passing back any VAT saving to our supporters. In addition we will consider holding special VAT sales days in the club shop."

Lifelong City fan Ken Day, 66, who lives in Eastville, has criticised the Robins' decision not to pass on the VAT reduction on all tickets.

He was expecting cheaper prices when he purchased tickets for himself and his son Mark for the Burnley match on December 20, which cost a total of £48.

He said "I don't think the club is treating us correctly – it's a matter of principle. I expect the club will only be offering reductions for the games where they are expecting lower attendances."

A spokesman for Bristol Rugby said a decision over whether to pass on the VAT cut on match tickets and merchandise would be made at a forthcoming board meeting.

The Government's announcement to cut VAT by 2.5 per cent came in last month's pre-budget report and was introduced last Monday.
The move was to designed to boost consumer spending and help businesses suffering from the economic slowdown but it is not compulsory for organisations to cut their prices in line with the VAT reduction.
A spokesman for HM Revenue & Customs said: "We are not forcing organisations to pass the cut on."

www.thisisbristol.co.uk/sport/Bristol-City-Bristol-Rovers-rule-wholesale-price-cuts/article-527951-detail/article.html

And Leeds - VAT SAVINGS PASSED ON TO FANS
www.leedsunited.com/page/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10273~1468025,00.html