Pre-deadline season-ticket prices
Adults
Lower west, upper west L/M/N/P, east C/D/E/F £375 to £425
Upper west J/K/Q/R & east A/B/G/H £350 to £400
Upper north, lower north & NWQ £240 to £290
Family stand £215 to £240
Concessions (over 60s/U21s)
Lower west, upper west L/M/N/P, east C/D/E/F £250 to £300
Upper west J/K/Q/R & east A/B/G/H £225 to £275
Upper north, lower north & NWQ £165 to £200
Family stand £165 to £200
U18s
All stands £75 to £99
U11s
All stands £49
Based on what I've written in the new VOTV, these are the prices I think the club should announce for next season - basically a return to the 2009/10 & 10/11 League One rates, and still very good value for Championship football (which I think has to be assumed in price setting). They are the rates charged after the deadline last year, and would still be cheaper than last time we were at this level (notwithstanding the offer of a free Premier League season ticket in 2007 and 2008). They also have the advantage that they start to address the VIP issue whereby most people who bought five-year tickets in 2009 are currently £100 worse off than if they'd bought year on year. In fact the club is going to dig itself into a deep hole on that one it doesn't start to redress that balance this year.
That's assuming that the club doesn't do any tinkering with the price structure, which is always possible. I can see an argument for raising the U11s to £75, although on balance I think that group is so important to the future that it's best left where it is.
The weakness of the club's position, of course, is the very poor home record to date, but even so the current ST pricing is not sustainable at this level and won't maximise the revenue in my opinion. In practice, the only price points that matter very much are the top adult price and the adult price in the north stand - they will contribute the majority of the revenue, so small movements here are much more important than elsewhere.
Providing we remain in the Championship I'd be considering going up again after any deadline to match the 2008 pricing and prepare the way for 2014 (so late purchasers last year and this would get the same level of increase as early purchasers in both years), but that should be looked at in the context of take-up and whether there is going to be investment in the team over the summer to help drive sales. Even that would still leave the VIPs short, though, and it would have consequences for match pricing that need to be thought through. I don't think there is great scope for match-by-match increases and that's where I'd be more concerned if there are changes.
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However we are not certain that we will be watching Championship football next season. Should the deadline come before that became a (virtual) certainty. I would be loath to pay more for my ticket. In fact i would probably revert to paying on a match by match basis.
The hardcore will renew at London clubs but others will stop or go elsewhere.
I paid £1450 for a 5yr S/T Upper Covered End.
I would have paid (if paid early with discount, which I do)
10/11 £290
11/12 £240
12/13 £240.
So if 13/14 is £290 as you suggest. That makes a total of £1060 after 4 years.
Unless 14/15 goes up another by £100 to £390, I will have lost out.
Whilst I bought the S/T to help ensure the club's survival, I don't really think it's fair to be penalised compared to others, for "putting my money in upfront".
I'd be more than happy for a discount in year 6, to ensure that I'm not worse off. Just as a matter of fairness, if nothing else. A company should look after their valued customers.
Steve Kavanagh did promise the club would correct any shortfall at the end of the scheme and I imagine that it will, although of course Steve isn't around to make good on that. There are still people around who will understand the issue, however, so I'd expect it to be sorted out.
On timing they will announce shortly because they need to have two pay days in the timetable to allow people to plan their finances, as the staff will know.