Post by QPR Report on Mar 5, 2009 13:57:37 GMT
Copy/Pasted from LSA
QPR Official Supporters Club
3 March 2009
Mr Amit Bhatia
Vice Chairman, QPR Holdings Limited
Mr Ali Russell
Deputy Managing Director
Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Club
Loftus Road Stadium
South Africa Road
London W12 7PA
Dear Amit and Ali,
This is a collective letter from the Official Supporters Club Committee to voice our concerns over the season ticket prices that are now offered to us.
As you will recall, the ticket prices for the 2008/09 season were increased substantially, in some cases for adults by as much as 50% and for some children and young people by a significantly higher percentage. As a result, season ticket holders at QPR now pay amongst the highest prices to watch Championship football and in some cases more than season ticket holders at a number of Premiership clubs.
The Board may well feel that they are now offering supporters a good deal by freezing prices but sadly, in our opinion and for the reasons that we explain below, this is not the case.
• We were originally heartened with the news that an “early bird” offer was to be reintroduced. Historically, the early bird offer, as we have always known it, has been a 10% discount on the price set for the season, provided we paid for our season ticket by 31 May. In the present financial climate, we feel it is unrealistic to ask supporters to pay by the earlier deadline of 17 April. In these tough times and, rather unexpectedly, fans now have a mere six weeks to find the money to renew. Please bear in mind that, for many, this time period may cover only one pay day and, as such, is not only unrealistic but unfair and will cause distress. This anxiety will be further compounded by the unease that many will feel regarding the uncertainty as to what will happen to “their” seats if they cannot meet your deadline.
We therefore request that the Early Bird deadline be extended to 31 May.
• The early bird offer seems to have been deliberately conflated with the suggestion of a “Price Freeze”. We feel that this is misleading to our members. We believe that it is entirely unreasonable for the Club to announce an early bird offer without providing any indication of the prices to be expected after 17 April. There is a strong possibility that some QPR supporters finding themselves with less disposable income, and in an effort to meet the new deadline, will use credit to make their Season Ticket purchase prior to the deadline. As a consequence, they might find themselves incurring interest and paying more than those who wait until after 17 April (as would be the case if Season Ticket prices did not increase subsequently). We believe that it is morally wrong for the club to apply this pressure to their loyal fan base by withholding the information necessary to make a sound financial judgement as to whether or not the early bird offer is beneficial.
We therefore request that the Club, as a matter of some urgency, clarifies the price of season tickets if purchased after 17 April.
• In these financially challenging times, we believe that easier payment options should have been offered to supporters as an alternative to the expensive Zebra Finance option. As a case in point and along with other benefits, Derby FC is offering its supporters a 10 instalment plan with 0% interest. With the threat of redundancies coupled with firms not being able to offer overtime to workers and the fear of financial hardship, the offer of a good instalment plan would have meant that many more fans could continue to come to Loftus Road. None of us want to see a half empty stadium next season.
We therefore request that the club considers providing a more sympathetic payment-by-instalment option, thus reflecting the current economic difficulties faced by many fans.
• QPR prides itself as a family club, yet many families are presently finding themselves priced out of renewing season tickets. Their young children are our future supporters and the future of the Club. Whilst we appreciate that the club is still providing an excellent offer of free season tickets for the Under 8s, we feel it is during the subsequent years as a young supporter that a true and lasting attachment to the Club is developed. We feel that there should be a special, reduced-rate, family season ticket to enable families with 8 -16 year olds to continue to support QPR as a family. In the past, some families have had to make sacrifices to enable them to continue their support of QPR. This loyalty should be recognised, encouraged and rewarded. We would also welcome additional support by way of concessions for students who remain in full time education, thereby ensuring future support within the generations to come.
We therefore request that the Club considers offering a special family season ticket and, additionally, providing discounts to students who remain in full time education.
In summary, we fully appreciate that the current economic recession affects both the Club and its supporters. The increased prices for 2008/09 were promoted to us with the promise of an exciting season and yet our gates have been disappointingly below those expected by all. To rekindle a wider enthusiasm among the fan base and in an attempt to fill our stadium next season, we had been expecting the club to reduce season ticket prices a little this year. However, it appears that not even the recent 2.5% reduction in VAT has been passed on to assist loyal supporters.
In an effort to attract back to QPR some of the supporters that were lost last year due to over inflated prices and to retain the ones that we are in danger of losing this year, we believe that the Club needs to adopt a more appropriate and attractive pricing strategy, and certainly one that is in touch with the adverse realities facing the loyal supporter. By way of assisting the Club achieve this aim and to demonstrate our ongoing mutual commitment to both the Club and the supporters, we would be happy to meet with you to discuss these issues, in order to share with you the concerns of our membership and our suggestions for change.
With kind regards,
The QPR Official Supporters Club Committee
qprosc@yahoo.co.uk
www.qprlsa.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7522&sid=ad280769dcff53ffb3859f7e73e880cf
QPR Official Supporters Club
3 March 2009
Mr Amit Bhatia
Vice Chairman, QPR Holdings Limited
Mr Ali Russell
Deputy Managing Director
Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Club
Loftus Road Stadium
South Africa Road
London W12 7PA
Dear Amit and Ali,
This is a collective letter from the Official Supporters Club Committee to voice our concerns over the season ticket prices that are now offered to us.
As you will recall, the ticket prices for the 2008/09 season were increased substantially, in some cases for adults by as much as 50% and for some children and young people by a significantly higher percentage. As a result, season ticket holders at QPR now pay amongst the highest prices to watch Championship football and in some cases more than season ticket holders at a number of Premiership clubs.
The Board may well feel that they are now offering supporters a good deal by freezing prices but sadly, in our opinion and for the reasons that we explain below, this is not the case.
• We were originally heartened with the news that an “early bird” offer was to be reintroduced. Historically, the early bird offer, as we have always known it, has been a 10% discount on the price set for the season, provided we paid for our season ticket by 31 May. In the present financial climate, we feel it is unrealistic to ask supporters to pay by the earlier deadline of 17 April. In these tough times and, rather unexpectedly, fans now have a mere six weeks to find the money to renew. Please bear in mind that, for many, this time period may cover only one pay day and, as such, is not only unrealistic but unfair and will cause distress. This anxiety will be further compounded by the unease that many will feel regarding the uncertainty as to what will happen to “their” seats if they cannot meet your deadline.
We therefore request that the Early Bird deadline be extended to 31 May.
• The early bird offer seems to have been deliberately conflated with the suggestion of a “Price Freeze”. We feel that this is misleading to our members. We believe that it is entirely unreasonable for the Club to announce an early bird offer without providing any indication of the prices to be expected after 17 April. There is a strong possibility that some QPR supporters finding themselves with less disposable income, and in an effort to meet the new deadline, will use credit to make their Season Ticket purchase prior to the deadline. As a consequence, they might find themselves incurring interest and paying more than those who wait until after 17 April (as would be the case if Season Ticket prices did not increase subsequently). We believe that it is morally wrong for the club to apply this pressure to their loyal fan base by withholding the information necessary to make a sound financial judgement as to whether or not the early bird offer is beneficial.
We therefore request that the Club, as a matter of some urgency, clarifies the price of season tickets if purchased after 17 April.
• In these financially challenging times, we believe that easier payment options should have been offered to supporters as an alternative to the expensive Zebra Finance option. As a case in point and along with other benefits, Derby FC is offering its supporters a 10 instalment plan with 0% interest. With the threat of redundancies coupled with firms not being able to offer overtime to workers and the fear of financial hardship, the offer of a good instalment plan would have meant that many more fans could continue to come to Loftus Road. None of us want to see a half empty stadium next season.
We therefore request that the club considers providing a more sympathetic payment-by-instalment option, thus reflecting the current economic difficulties faced by many fans.
• QPR prides itself as a family club, yet many families are presently finding themselves priced out of renewing season tickets. Their young children are our future supporters and the future of the Club. Whilst we appreciate that the club is still providing an excellent offer of free season tickets for the Under 8s, we feel it is during the subsequent years as a young supporter that a true and lasting attachment to the Club is developed. We feel that there should be a special, reduced-rate, family season ticket to enable families with 8 -16 year olds to continue to support QPR as a family. In the past, some families have had to make sacrifices to enable them to continue their support of QPR. This loyalty should be recognised, encouraged and rewarded. We would also welcome additional support by way of concessions for students who remain in full time education, thereby ensuring future support within the generations to come.
We therefore request that the Club considers offering a special family season ticket and, additionally, providing discounts to students who remain in full time education.
In summary, we fully appreciate that the current economic recession affects both the Club and its supporters. The increased prices for 2008/09 were promoted to us with the promise of an exciting season and yet our gates have been disappointingly below those expected by all. To rekindle a wider enthusiasm among the fan base and in an attempt to fill our stadium next season, we had been expecting the club to reduce season ticket prices a little this year. However, it appears that not even the recent 2.5% reduction in VAT has been passed on to assist loyal supporters.
In an effort to attract back to QPR some of the supporters that were lost last year due to over inflated prices and to retain the ones that we are in danger of losing this year, we believe that the Club needs to adopt a more appropriate and attractive pricing strategy, and certainly one that is in touch with the adverse realities facing the loyal supporter. By way of assisting the Club achieve this aim and to demonstrate our ongoing mutual commitment to both the Club and the supporters, we would be happy to meet with you to discuss these issues, in order to share with you the concerns of our membership and our suggestions for change.
With kind regards,
The QPR Official Supporters Club Committee
qprosc@yahoo.co.uk
www.qprlsa.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7522&sid=ad280769dcff53ffb3859f7e73e880cf