Well what I heard is that if you renew before end of April this year - before our fate is sealed - you get a discount. Then if we go down and come straight back up, you get first year back in Prem for free. Sort of a loyalty bonus.
LONDON soccer club Charlton could become the first in history to offer FREE season tickets to their fans.
The struggling Premiership side, who have paid tribute to the Sun’s campaign for cheaper tickets, will today announce the extraordinary plan.
The move will see supporters who buy season tickets for the 2007/08 campaign — possibly in the Championship — get freebies if the team get back to the Premiership for 2008/09.
In another bonus, the club is cutting the price of season tickets by £75.
Chairman Richard Murray said: “The Sun has been leading the campaign for cheaper tickets and we applaud them for that.
“Obviously, we hope we will not go down. But relegation is a possibility. The fans have been fantastic this season and we want to reward them.”
And manager Alan Pardew added: “Reduced prices and potentially a free season ticket is a fantastic gesture.”
not everyone is the same as you and I Medders. The die-hards will think the same as you, and I, but others won't. Also if we go straight back up they'll be guaranteed 30m for finishing bottom. Oh, just got a bullitin announcing this.
Well it's a gamble isn't it? If people go for it we could sell 90% of the season tickets we sold this year. If we go down how many would renew without this offer? 10k? People are not going to rush to but season tickets in the Championship because they know they can always get a ticket for any given match.
So we could guarantee ourselves some money next year, say £1m. That in the Champ buys a lot. So we lose out on £3m when we go back up but the money we get from the Prem upon our return will compensate.
It will be easier to get promoted with an almost full ground every week than a half empty one.
[cite]Posted By: DJ Davey Dave[/cite]Well it's a gamble isn't it? If people go for it we could sell 90% of the season tickets we sold this year. If we go down how many would renew without this offer? 10k? People are not going to rush to but season tickets in the Championship because they know they can always get a ticket for any given match.
So we could guarantee ourselves some money next year, say £1m. That in the Champ buys a lot. So we lose out on £3m when we go back up but the money we get from the Prem upon our return will compensate.
It will be easier to get promoted with an almost full ground every week than a half empty one.
I think it is a fantastic idea. The revenue for ST holders is a pittance compared to the money in the prem at the moment. The increased amount from next season makes it even more so.
Totally agree with you Medders. Discounting tickets if we do go down is OK, but a freebie coming back up? Not sure about this...I think a lot of fans would rather pay something - perhaps they could channel the money into the youth development system??? How about giving the ticket free, subject to a decent donation to Valley Gold (this should get things going on here!!).
[cite]Posted By: LargeAddick[/cite]not everyone is the same as you and I Medders. The die-hards will think the same as you, and I, but others won't. Also if we go straight back up they'll be guaranteed 30m for finishing bottom. Oh, just got a bullitin announcing this.
I'm a die hard and i don;t think the same as you to be honest.
I think its a great idea and i think you are overestimating the amount of money we would "lose".
These types are things are what make Charlton Athletic Football Club what it is and i'm proud.
[cite]Posted By: orpingtonaddick[/cite]Totally agree with you Medders. Discounting tickets if we do go down is OK, but a freebie coming back up? Not sure about this...I think a lot of fans would rather pay something - perhaps they could channel the money into the youth development system??? How about giving the ticket free, subject to a decent donation to Valley Gold (this should get things going on here!!).
After all 'You don't get owt for nowt'
Perhaps those not in VG will then subscribe repaying the loyalty shown by the Club to it's fans. It's a two-way street after all.
[cite]Posted By: DJ Davey Dave[/cite]Well it's a gamble isn't it? If people go for it we could sell 90% of the season tickets we sold this year. If we go down how many would renew without this offer? 10k? People are not going to rush to but season tickets in the Championship because they know they can always get a ticket for any given match.
So we could guarantee ourselves some money next year, say £1m. That in the Champ buys a lot. So we lose out on £3m when we go back up but the money we get from the Prem upon our return will compensate.
It will be easier to get promoted with an almost full ground every week than a half empty one.
I doubt we would lose that many season tickets. Some people like me haven't got one this season but will be getting one next season! Didn't we have 18k season ticket holders last time we went down?
Very clever IMO. Our income from season tickets is nothing like Westham and Spurs etc. The money we get if we go straight back up will outweigh this loss 10 X.
How many ST's we got this season? 16k? Average £250 each accounting for all the kids/consessions = £4m
I think it's a fabulous idea - such a strong incentive to keep everyone on board whatever next season brings. The only negative I see is the very bad scenario that we go down, most S/Ts are renewed on promise of promotion and a freebie, but we don't get promoted - dread to think what happens then - S/Ts would drop down to the hardcore, but then by Y2 in Championship that would be likely to happen anyway.
Effectively it's a huge statement of intent that we are a Prem club. And the way to offer our support if we do get free tickets, yet feel that money should still go to the club, is simply to spend more in other ways on the club - VG as suggested above, buying stuff in the shop, or taking hospitality at a match or two. (Or supporting the team by going to more away games - though the money doesn't go directly to our club then.)
Genius piece of marketing - well done to all involved (Henry?).
I appreciate it's a generous offer and one I would have no problem taking up. However, based on Stone's analysis, can we really afford to give away £4m?? A drop in the ocean it may be , but it's still £4m.
Until the last few games, the away support has not been that good (I admit to not being a good traveller and pay a massive amount of respect to those that do go away week in, week out) - perhaps the club should look at ways to discount / incentivise away travel?? IF we did go down, picking up points away from home will be vitally important on the road back...
Anyway none of it matters - we are staying up!! C'Mon you Reds!!!
Does this strike anyone as odd. IF the club go down then get promoted at the first attempt everyone will be on a feely good high and season tickets will take care of themselves. Would have thought it would be smarter to say IF we go down and DON'T come up at the first time of asking which will be round and about when all the glory-hounds commence deserion procedures. That would be when I started giving away freebies to keep interest going. What have I missed????
Personally I'd rather pay for tickets too, but I guess there's nothing stopping you making a donation to the club or buying an equivalent value in shares if you want to show your support financially, if this does come to pass.
[cite]Posted By: Mortimerician[/cite]Does this strike anyone as odd. IF the club go down then get promoted at the first attempt everyone will be on a feely good high and season tickets will take care of themselves. Would have thought it would be smarter to say IF we go down and DON'T come up at the first time of asking which will be round and about when all the glory-hounds commence deserion procedures. That would be when I started giving away freebies to keep interest going.
Make you right there. Whilst it's a great offer and one i'll be taking them up on, it doesn't make sense financially.
I dunno. How much have we pissed away in wages on some of our more useless signings this season? If we're paying Big Fat Jimmy £2m/year (at a guess) then £4m to secure a decent crowd at The Valley seems like a snip.
[cite]Posted By: Mortimerician[/cite]Does this strike anyone as odd. IF the club go down then get promoted at the first attempt everyone will be on a feely good high and season tickets will take care of themselves. Would have thought it would be smarter to say IF we go down and DON'T come up at the first time of asking which will be round and about when all the glory-hounds commence deserion procedures. That would be when I started giving away freebies to keep interest going.
Make you right there. Whilst it's a great offer and one i'll be taking them up on, it doesn't make sense financially.
but if we go down and stay down, the club won't have enough money to subsidise our season tickets. they'll have to hope for a loyal fan base, and probably reduce the price to encourage new applicants.
this is a massive incentive to fans to renew early, thus guaranteeing charlton a big crowd next season whatever happens.
the club can afford to take the hit if we come back up because of the sky money.
i think its a great marketing move by the club, and completely irrelevant, as WE'RE STAYING UP!!!!!!
Very good initiative! Personally I don't care if we play Chelsea or Hull, I go to The Valley to see Charlton so I would buy a season ticket anyway.
But if a lot of people buy or renew their season ticket early, it also gives the club some financial security at an early stage.
It also shows some creativity from the board. We could have done the same as Leeds: go down, increase the ticket prices to 35 quid and end up with a half empty ground. And probably end up in League One...
Do you think they could insure themselves against promotion like the cricket clubs do against rain. So if they go straight back up they will get most of the revenue anyway??
[cite]Posted By: pickwick[/cite]Do you think they could insure themselves against promotion like the cricket clubs do against rain. So if they go straight back up they will get most of the revenue anyway??
Yes I suspect you could, it's called Contingency Insurance. Alternatively you'd probably get reasonably long odds now, bearing in mind we are still in with a good chance of staying up so they could put a bet on.
Comments
for a season
By CHARLIE WYETT
LONDON soccer club Charlton could become the first in history to offer FREE season tickets to their fans.
The struggling Premiership side, who have paid tribute to the Sun’s campaign for cheaper tickets, will today announce the extraordinary plan.
The move will see supporters who buy season tickets for the 2007/08 campaign — possibly in the Championship — get freebies if the team get back to the Premiership for 2008/09.
In another bonus, the club is cutting the price of season tickets by £75.
Chairman Richard Murray said: “The Sun has been leading the campaign for cheaper tickets and we applaud them for that.
“Obviously, we hope we will not go down. But relegation is a possibility. The fans have been fantastic this season and we want to reward them.”
And manager Alan Pardew added: “Reduced prices and potentially a free season ticket is a fantastic gesture.”
So we could guarantee ourselves some money next year, say £1m. That in the Champ buys a lot. So we lose out on £3m when we go back up but the money we get from the Prem upon our return will compensate.
It will be easier to get promoted with an almost full ground every week than a half empty one.
yup
well done the club.
After all 'You don't get owt for nowt'
I think its a great idea and i think you are overestimating the amount of money we would "lose".
These types are things are what make Charlton Athletic Football Club what it is and i'm proud.
Well done everyone concerned.
Perhaps those not in VG will then subscribe repaying the loyalty shown by the Club to it's fans. It's a two-way street after all.
They make enough money from SKY to be able to lose money on ST's.
Whatever division we are in if we can get 25k+ crowds and generate the same atmosphere as we have had since xmas it will help the team.
How many ST's we got this season? 16k? Average £250 each accounting for all the kids/consessions = £4m
Effectively it's a huge statement of intent that we are a Prem club. And the way to offer our support if we do get free tickets, yet feel that money should still go to the club, is simply to spend more in other ways on the club - VG as suggested above, buying stuff in the shop, or taking hospitality at a match or two. (Or supporting the team by going to more away games - though the money doesn't go directly to our club then.)
Genius piece of marketing - well done to all involved (Henry?).
Until the last few games, the away support has not been that good (I admit to not being a good traveller and pay a massive amount of respect to those that do go away week in, week out) - perhaps the club should look at ways to discount / incentivise away travel?? IF we did go down, picking up points away from home will be vitally important on the road back...
Anyway none of it matters - we are staying up!! C'Mon you Reds!!!
Personally I'd rather pay for tickets too, but I guess there's nothing stopping you making a donation to the club or buying an equivalent value in shares if you want to show your support financially, if this does come to pass.
Make you right there. Whilst it's a great offer and one i'll be taking them up on, it doesn't make sense financially.
but if we go down and stay down, the club won't have enough money to subsidise our season tickets. they'll have to hope for a loyal fan base, and probably reduce the price to encourage new applicants.
this is a massive incentive to fans to renew early, thus guaranteeing charlton a big crowd next season whatever happens.
the club can afford to take the hit if we come back up because of the sky money.
i think its a great marketing move by the club, and completely irrelevant, as WE'RE STAYING UP!!!!!!
Valley Gold Membership will go through the roof :)
But if a lot of people buy or renew their season ticket early, it also gives the club some financial security at an early stage.
It also shows some creativity from the board. We could have done the same as Leeds: go down, increase the ticket prices to 35 quid and end up with a half empty ground. And probably end up in League One...
Yes I suspect you could, it's called Contingency Insurance. Alternatively you'd probably get reasonably long odds now, bearing in mind we are still in with a good chance of staying up so they could put a bet on.