Post by QPR Report on May 20, 2009 7:29:08 GMT
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This time last year...
The Official Site reported that: "Season Ticket sales continue to flourish." QPR Official
A couple of days previously: The club spoke of "the unprecedented demand for Season Tickets..."
The day before that the club reported: "Season Tickets continue to sell at a growing rate." -
And of course on the very day the new season ticket prices were announced, the club announced: "RECORD SALES - Season Tickets for the forthcoming 2008/09 campaign went on sale this morning - and already the Queens Park Rangers Box Office is reporting unprecedented demand as Rangers fans embrace the new era in W12...
Deputy Managing Director, Ali Russell. "We're ecstatic with the response," he told http://www.qpr.co.uk...the reaction from the supporters has been exceptional." QPR -- Original Unveiling/Announcement of Season Ticket Prices
Dave McIntyre/Kilburn Times May 21, 2008 Rangers defend price hike
QPR say they will not back down over the huge increase in season ticket prices that has left many fans furious.
Prices have rocketed by up to 50 per cent and concessionary rates in some areas of Loftus Road have been scrapped.
But Ali Russell, QPR's deputy managing director, insisted the prices were fair given the club's ambitions and money spent on improvements to the squad.
Russell said: "We are spending more on players' wages. Going forward, it was necessary to maximise income from season tickets.
"We kept prices as low as possible, but I understand that for part of the fan base, finances are an issue."
As well as steep increases, supporters have less time to stump up the cash.
The traditional 'early bird' rate, which gave a significant discount to fans renewing before the end of May, has been abolished.
A huge hike in prices for the Upper Loft was justified, Russell claimed, because of the superior view of the pitch from that section of the ground.
The view from some parts of the stand is far from ideal, yet a blanket £599 price has been applied for the entire area.
Russell said: "The reason fans congregate there is the atmosphere, which is spectacular, and because of the view. That has been taken into account as well."
Despite angst among many fans, the club reported 'record sales' on its official website hours after the prices were announced.
Russell stated: "There is a huge amount of interest in QPR and expectation for next season. So many people wanted to be the first to get their season ticket.
"We need the fan base behind us, and I can assure fans that 100 per cent of season ticket money will be spent on the team." Kilburn Times
Gareth Ainsworth: QPR Official Site IT'S THE PLACE TO BE'
Newly appointed Player / Coach Gareth Ainsworth is adamant Loftus Road is the place to be next season - and is encouraging R's fans to snap up their Season Tickets early for the start of the new era in W12.
As Season Ticket sales continue to flourish, Ainsworth - who will be embarking on his sixth season as a QPR player - believes the current feel-good factor surrounding the start of the 2008/09 campaign surpasses anything he has previously encountered during his playing days.
"QPR is definitely the place to be," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"I'm aware that the prices have gone up in certain areas of the ground, and that was to be expected. We've had massive investment and facilities will be drastically improved next season, but ultimately we want to make it worthwhile for the fans coming down.
"I appreciate it can be an expensive hobby following your team, home and away, but the players and staff want to make sure the fans come here and enjoy it.
"We'll be playing an exciting brand of football and hopefully scoring plenty of goals - and accumulating plenty of points in the process.
"We appreciate the support of the fans - and hopefully we can do the business for them next season."
This time last year...
The Official Site reported that: "Season Ticket sales continue to flourish." QPR Official
A couple of days previously: The club spoke of "the unprecedented demand for Season Tickets..."
The day before that the club reported: "Season Tickets continue to sell at a growing rate." -
And of course on the very day the new season ticket prices were announced, the club announced: "RECORD SALES - Season Tickets for the forthcoming 2008/09 campaign went on sale this morning - and already the Queens Park Rangers Box Office is reporting unprecedented demand as Rangers fans embrace the new era in W12...
Deputy Managing Director, Ali Russell. "We're ecstatic with the response," he told http://www.qpr.co.uk...the reaction from the supporters has been exceptional." QPR -- Original Unveiling/Announcement of Season Ticket Prices
Dave McIntyre/Kilburn Times May 21, 2008 Rangers defend price hike
QPR say they will not back down over the huge increase in season ticket prices that has left many fans furious.
Prices have rocketed by up to 50 per cent and concessionary rates in some areas of Loftus Road have been scrapped.
But Ali Russell, QPR's deputy managing director, insisted the prices were fair given the club's ambitions and money spent on improvements to the squad.
Russell said: "We are spending more on players' wages. Going forward, it was necessary to maximise income from season tickets.
"We kept prices as low as possible, but I understand that for part of the fan base, finances are an issue."
As well as steep increases, supporters have less time to stump up the cash.
The traditional 'early bird' rate, which gave a significant discount to fans renewing before the end of May, has been abolished.
A huge hike in prices for the Upper Loft was justified, Russell claimed, because of the superior view of the pitch from that section of the ground.
The view from some parts of the stand is far from ideal, yet a blanket £599 price has been applied for the entire area.
Russell said: "The reason fans congregate there is the atmosphere, which is spectacular, and because of the view. That has been taken into account as well."
Despite angst among many fans, the club reported 'record sales' on its official website hours after the prices were announced.
Russell stated: "There is a huge amount of interest in QPR and expectation for next season. So many people wanted to be the first to get their season ticket.
"We need the fan base behind us, and I can assure fans that 100 per cent of season ticket money will be spent on the team." Kilburn Times
Gareth Ainsworth: QPR Official Site IT'S THE PLACE TO BE'
Newly appointed Player / Coach Gareth Ainsworth is adamant Loftus Road is the place to be next season - and is encouraging R's fans to snap up their Season Tickets early for the start of the new era in W12.
As Season Ticket sales continue to flourish, Ainsworth - who will be embarking on his sixth season as a QPR player - believes the current feel-good factor surrounding the start of the 2008/09 campaign surpasses anything he has previously encountered during his playing days.
"QPR is definitely the place to be," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"I'm aware that the prices have gone up in certain areas of the ground, and that was to be expected. We've had massive investment and facilities will be drastically improved next season, but ultimately we want to make it worthwhile for the fans coming down.
"I appreciate it can be an expensive hobby following your team, home and away, but the players and staff want to make sure the fans come here and enjoy it.
"We'll be playing an exciting brand of football and hopefully scoring plenty of goals - and accumulating plenty of points in the process.
"We appreciate the support of the fans - and hopefully we can do the business for them next season."