Post by QPR Report on Jan 12, 2009 0:53:43 GMT
Good idea (Of course there is still the VAT mattter)
Times January 12, 2009
Clubs slash ticket prices to fill grounds
Kevin Eason
Clubs are being forced to mount the biggest sales campaign in the history of the Premier League to prevent the credit crunch leaving thousands of empty seats at grounds. The same sort of cut-price deals and offers that have invaded a nervous high street are being posted by clubs desperate to fill their grounds for the rest of the season.
Ticket prices are being slashed or offered in group packages with substantial savings. West Ham United have launched their “kids for a quid” offer and Fulham are selling family deals that allow two adults and two juniors into a game for £50. Even Manchester United have tickets on public sale for some matches, proving that the biggest clubs are not immune.
Some of the best deals are in the hospitality areas once dominated by the corporate suits. As their entertaining budgets come under scrutiny or dry up in the global economic crisis, fans are able to get cheap deals for a day out, complete with lunch and wine, at bargain prices.
The deals come in the wake of the disclosure that only five Barclays Premier League clubs this season have registered an increase in attendances. Middlesbrough were aiming to top 30,000 for the fourth time this season in Saturday’s derby against Sunderland, but narrowly missed out, with 29,310 through the turnstiles. But Middlesbrough remain one of the few success stories of this campaign, along with Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Fulham and Chelsea, the other clubs getting crowds above last season’s figures.
Premier League executives believe that things could be far worse. Dan Johnson, the League’s chief spokesman, said: “Clubs have done pretty well to keep figures as buoyant as they have been. So far, total attendances are less than a percentage point off last year and clubs have been doing everything they could to make sure fans are still coming through the doors.
“It is not an easy time but there is reason for optimism. In times of recession, people look for some light relief from the daily grind, such as going to the cinema and finding other forms of entertainment. We just hope football falls into that category and the fans keep coming.”
Fulham and Portsmouth missed out on Saturday, with their fixtures called off because of the icy weather, because the other six games played in the Premier League boasted attendances that backed the belief that supporters are being encouraged back into grounds. Anecdotal evidence is that supporters are being forced into a period in which they will have to make critical choices on where they spend their money. With the numbers of unemployed set to soar and millions fearful of what will happen to their mortgage payments, fans are counting the pennies carefully.
One source said yesterday: “It is coming down to whether they spend £1,000 on their golf club membership or £1,000 on a season ticket to Wolverhampton Wanderers. It will be a question of where they think they get the best value.”
Middlesbrough have been one of the most innovative clubs, not allowing their lowly league position to mean an empty Riverside Stadium, with cheap season tickets and deals for the under18 age group. Neil Bausor, the club’s chief operating officer, said: “We are now consulting fans on how we can further improve our match-day experience, with the aim of not only retaining our existing fans but attracting fans in increasing numbers.”
An Arab fortune has clearly jet-propelled expectations at the City of Manchester Stadium. However, nothing succeeds like success: Aston Villa started the season with attendances down on last year, averaging short of 39,000, but drew a crowd of 41,757 for their win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday that took them to third in the Premier League; troubled Newcastle United, though, pulled in 47,571 for the game against West Ham, well below the 2007-08 average of 51,548.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article5496879.ece
Times January 12, 2009
Clubs slash ticket prices to fill grounds
Kevin Eason
Clubs are being forced to mount the biggest sales campaign in the history of the Premier League to prevent the credit crunch leaving thousands of empty seats at grounds. The same sort of cut-price deals and offers that have invaded a nervous high street are being posted by clubs desperate to fill their grounds for the rest of the season.
Ticket prices are being slashed or offered in group packages with substantial savings. West Ham United have launched their “kids for a quid” offer and Fulham are selling family deals that allow two adults and two juniors into a game for £50. Even Manchester United have tickets on public sale for some matches, proving that the biggest clubs are not immune.
Some of the best deals are in the hospitality areas once dominated by the corporate suits. As their entertaining budgets come under scrutiny or dry up in the global economic crisis, fans are able to get cheap deals for a day out, complete with lunch and wine, at bargain prices.
The deals come in the wake of the disclosure that only five Barclays Premier League clubs this season have registered an increase in attendances. Middlesbrough were aiming to top 30,000 for the fourth time this season in Saturday’s derby against Sunderland, but narrowly missed out, with 29,310 through the turnstiles. But Middlesbrough remain one of the few success stories of this campaign, along with Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City, Fulham and Chelsea, the other clubs getting crowds above last season’s figures.
Premier League executives believe that things could be far worse. Dan Johnson, the League’s chief spokesman, said: “Clubs have done pretty well to keep figures as buoyant as they have been. So far, total attendances are less than a percentage point off last year and clubs have been doing everything they could to make sure fans are still coming through the doors.
“It is not an easy time but there is reason for optimism. In times of recession, people look for some light relief from the daily grind, such as going to the cinema and finding other forms of entertainment. We just hope football falls into that category and the fans keep coming.”
Fulham and Portsmouth missed out on Saturday, with their fixtures called off because of the icy weather, because the other six games played in the Premier League boasted attendances that backed the belief that supporters are being encouraged back into grounds. Anecdotal evidence is that supporters are being forced into a period in which they will have to make critical choices on where they spend their money. With the numbers of unemployed set to soar and millions fearful of what will happen to their mortgage payments, fans are counting the pennies carefully.
One source said yesterday: “It is coming down to whether they spend £1,000 on their golf club membership or £1,000 on a season ticket to Wolverhampton Wanderers. It will be a question of where they think they get the best value.”
Middlesbrough have been one of the most innovative clubs, not allowing their lowly league position to mean an empty Riverside Stadium, with cheap season tickets and deals for the under18 age group. Neil Bausor, the club’s chief operating officer, said: “We are now consulting fans on how we can further improve our match-day experience, with the aim of not only retaining our existing fans but attracting fans in increasing numbers.”
An Arab fortune has clearly jet-propelled expectations at the City of Manchester Stadium. However, nothing succeeds like success: Aston Villa started the season with attendances down on last year, averaging short of 39,000, but drew a crowd of 41,757 for their win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday that took them to third in the Premier League; troubled Newcastle United, though, pulled in 47,571 for the game against West Ham, well below the 2007-08 average of 51,548.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article5496879.ece