http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130215-season-ticket-prices-201314-658596.aspxFans who buy before deadline on April 8th will benefit from substantial savings. Season tickets set to go on sale on Monday. Matt Wright reports
Charlton supporters can make substantial savings on the price of their season ticket if they purchase their place at The Valley next season by April 8th, the club announced on Friday.
As indicated 12 months ago, the price of a season ticket to watch Chris Powell’s men is set to rise in 2013/14.
However, the increase has been limited to ensure that tickets remain affordable and provide value for money in conjunction with the club’s desire to remain sustainable and compete in the Championship.
Adult fans who purchase their seat in the initial period will pay just £300 in the north stand and north-west quadrant – that’s just over £13 per game.
In line with continued efforts to encourage the next generation of Charlton supporters, the U18 and U11 rate will rise by just £1 from the price at the start of last season, to £50 and £100 respectively. An adult and U18 will be able to pay just £350 (or £15.22 per match) to watch all 23 fixtures in 2013/14.
What’s more, all 2013/14 season-ticket holders will be invited to an exclusive pre-season training event in SE7 featuring manager Powell and the first-team squad.
The new rates are part of plans to ensure that the club is as competitive as possible in the Championship, said club chairman Michael Slater.
“The role played by supporters this season has been tremendous, never more so than against top-of-the-table Cardiff City in November when the fans did just as much as the players to haul us to victory,” he said.
“After an incredible League One title-winning campaign, we froze the price of most seats for the current campaign because we were conscious that the club had spent three long years in the third tier, and we were grateful for the backing the club had received and the loyalty shown by fans.
“But we also made clear at that time that our prices were around £100 below what they were when we last competed in the Championship, and that, over time, ticket revenue would need to be increased in order for the club to compete at the higher level.
“Nevertheless, the board also remains determined to offer rates that are affordable and value for money, as demonstrated by the fact adults can watch 23 games for just £13 a match, and U18s for just £4.35 per match and U11s for just £2.17 per game.”
The discounted ‘early bird’ rate applies until April 8th, and a full list of prices for each category and areas of the stadium can be found in the table below.
Disabled fans who renew by the deadline benefit from a standard rate anywhere in the stadium, with adults £250, over 60s and U21s £160, U18s £100 and U11s £50.
Charlton have around 450 VIPs who purchased a five-year season ticket in 2010, and the club remains committed to ensuring that those fans get value for money over the full term of their season tickets.
In addition to the opportunity to see an exclusive pre-season training session at The Valley, benefits of a season ticket include greater priority when booking tickets for in-demand away and cup matches, savings on the cost of purchasing match-by-match tickets and selected discounts on other matchday tickets and room hire at The Valley.
Season tickets are set to go on sale on Monday, with new applicants as well as the club’s 11,250 existing holders able to apply. Personalised application forms will be sent out next week, and fans will be able to renew their tickets online as well as over the phone from the commercial centre. The club hopes to enable new applicants to buy online as well.
As usual, Zebra Finance will provide the ability for fans to pay for their season ticket in instalments, and this season, existing season-ticket holders will also be able to apply to pay in instalments online.
The seats of existing season-ticket holders will be reserved until Wednesday, June 26th. Fans wishing to change the location of their seat at The Valley should renew their existing place and then take advantage of swap week, which is due to begin at the end of June.
Valley Express will continue to operate in 2013/14, which will be its 10th season. There are no changes to current routes and pick-ups, but the fare will rise for the first time in four years to £8.50. Season passes will be £165.
Comments
Prices had to rise to honour the promise to the VIP holders, but these still seem pretty good value on a cost-per-game basis. Some horror stories on prices in the Prem and even the Champ this season.
Agree, it is still cheap compared to other clubs but as someone will point out they don't want a ST for another club.
Not sure I see the value in increasing the children's tickets by £1. I would have thought the £99 price point was part of the attraction and would outweigh the extra income but I guess another £3k (at a guess) is still another £3k.
It was always the plan to gradually increase the ST prices so haven't got a problem with the suggested prices so far but would like to see the post-deadline prices as well.
Shame that Airman Brown won't come on here and do a full analysis for us : - )
I'll have a bet that less season tickets will be sold next season as a result of this, meaning that the amount of revenue brought in by these rises is less than expected.
Tin helmet on, I await the abuse!
To be honest I'd pay whatever they asked, so am well happy with the new prices.
Roll on August 4th!!!
As a fellow VIP I agree and would prefer the 6th year option.
I just didn't want people blaming us for the price rise : - )
No abuse but I think the £375 was the early bird price. I can't remember what the post deadline price was but I think it was £425. From that standpoint (and if I'm right which I'm not sure of) the increase is £15. But I can see where you are coming from.
The Club might argue that the £375 was a league 1 price and this is a Championship price but that doesn't make it any cheaper when you have to pay it.
The club's statement is carefully worded around U18 prices. In fact they have increased the U18 price by £25 from the pre-deadline rate last year. I don't disagree with that, it was too cheap at £75, based on the £10 match ticket price, but neither do I see any reason to conceal it behind a comparison that isn't like for like. The £1 increase for U11s is pretty pointless. After VAT it will probably yield less than £1,000.
I'd have increased Valley Express to £8. But it's more important that they don't interfere with the routes and pick-ups.
In line with continued efforts to encourage the next generation of Charlton supporters, the U18 and U11 rate will rise by just £1 from the price at the start of last season, to £50 and £100 respectively. An adult and U18 will be able to pay just £350 (or £15.22 per match) to watch all 23 fixtures in 2013/14."
I'm glad they did the maths for me. I would never have been able to work out what £300 plus £50 came to.
Rather condescending remark.
The headline they are hoping the media and fans pick up on is "You and your child can come to Charlton all season for only £350" so they emphasise that.
Thus an adult and U18 would add up to £400, but you can get it for £350 as part of a deal
The rise plus the Valley Express rise will cost me an extra £100.
Voice of the Valley will run a story on the prices I'm sure.
News shopper, SLP, Financial Times, Charlton Life
Will be interesting to see what the post deadline price is for next year as that no doubt will be a forerunner of what is to come in 2014.