Breaking News Season card prices for next season announced!!!

[tottenham541]

I think the bottom line is about truthfulness. Had the fans not been fed on bull***t for so long, then they would be more prepared to accept that season ticket prices must increase in line with everything else. However to try and tell them that their money will result in a more successful team is just taking the **** after what has gone on for the last few seasons.
Ron, there comes a time when the actions of the past are re-visited upon you and no-one is going to listen to a word you say and find any comfort in it.

good post that and i think that is the how alot of people feel including myself.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Another error in the Official Site News Story states that prices will increase after the 22nd April by £20 to £45. How come then a CHILD ticket is £105 before 22nd April but goes up to a whopping £160 if you cant renew by then.

Well done the Official Site now states prices will increase between £20 & £55 and there was me thinking the £160 for a child season ticket was an error!

Now all the Official Site needs to do is sort out the error in the Direct Debit option, is it a £10 fee or is there interest charged?

 

[bucket&spade.f.c]

Doesn't have to be a mad one :winking:

yeah ok cafe then spread me thinks!!

Keeping on topic, even if the club them selfs asked half the season ticket holders we have now what they thought paying a extra £50 am sure we would all write back or answer not very happy!! but would that of changed business needs????? NO!!!!!

 

[CAPTAIN BIRDSEYE]

its fantastic isnt , the ones on here, that will support anything gypsy boy and martin do. Its quite clear as well, the lies in todays press, are starting to unravel.
so actually appears they didnt consult with the trust ,just said they would have to go up.!!!

Can you see how easy it is for people with no interest in a football club, to walk in ,and by degrees, generally take everyhting that the club had. With such a weak supprters club(or trust call it what you will). there is no voice of dissent, allowing them to pretty much do what they want.

the only thing to consider is that next season with the offers that happen throughout the season, when the crowds are low, you will probably get 5 games in at around a £10 or less if you use a kids ticket!!!!

 

[EastStandBlue]

I am doing a story on this in the Echo tomorrow.

Please email me on chris.phillips@nqe.com with your views.

Thanks.

Will there be extra 0s in this story too? I'd be devastated if season tickets were £3500 this year.

 

[Wise Head]

My gut feel is that the hike in season ticket prices will not generate more extra money pre season with the increase in prices being offset by a reduction in STHs from 3,300 to 2,500. If the average crowds next season stay at this season's average of just over 5,000, then overall gate revenue will then have increased by approx 15 - 20%. However if the season's average falls to around 4,500ish then we will be no better off in total gate turnover. If we are a mid table team next year then I fear the average will be nearer the 4,000 mark, which equates to a further reduction of £150 - £200,000 on gate receipts and added sales from this season.
It will be no good people imploring everyone to come along/renew now/if you love the club the time to support is now - with these prices people will vote with their feet. If we are pushing for promotion then I expect crowds of around 6,000+, whereas if we are playing mediocre mid table football then it will be a big turn off and fans will drift away fairly sharpish. Very, very high stakes for next season.

 

[Fish]

Lots of people brought there seasons early last year to get discount and with the recession getting heavier a good majority of those will have opted for the pay monthly option.

What is tosh is your stance that the club is skint therefore we should all pay more .

Utter nonsense

Tommy

Mate, it's you that's just cracked the funniest joke of the day - are you honestly claiming the club is not skint?!?! The recession is getting heavier for everyone - including the club and its employees!

Rather than just writing off someone's opinion as utter nonsense, why not enlighten us all as to where should the club get it's additional money from, if not from increasing revenue, given my previous post which pointed out we've cut staffing, cut wage levels, used external funding, award-winning marketing and award-winning community programmes and still needed a supermarket to underwrite us for £5m?

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

tough one this - the club are losing money hand over fist and we want them to sign players, so putting more money in the coffers should help (drop in the ocean I know). However with the recession none of us are getting richer so the hike in prices is tough to swallow.

Nevertheless I will be renewing (with my son) in the family stand because:

• we go to most home games, so it works out cheaper than pay on the day
• It's less hassle with a season ticket - you know where you're sitting, no queues when you arrive of faffing around with ticket office
• We live in Chelmsford so can't easily get to the ticket office in the week
• I love watching Southend United so (within reason) would come whatever the price
• £350 for 3 hours quality time with my 15-year old son every fortnight is well worth the money, in a few years I may regard as priceless

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Well done the Official Site now states prices will increase between £20 & £55 and there was me thinking the £160 for a child season ticket was an error!

Now all the Official Site needs to do is sort out the error in the Direct Debit option, is it a £10 fee or is there interest charged?

Well done Official Site the brochure has now been updated with the Interest details. It still states up to 10 payments can be made, but the final payment must be by the 15th Nov, which is only 8 months time. I look forward to that error being corrected.
The club probably made up their minds on these increases 2 months ago & thats why the details state up to 10 payments may be made.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Tommy

Mate, it's you that's just cracked the funniest joke of the day - are you honestly claiming the club is not skint?!?! The recession is getting heavier for everyone - including the club and its employees!

Rather than just writing off someone's opinion as utter nonsense, why not enlighten us all as to where should the club get it's additional money from, if not from increasing revenue, given my previous post which pointed out we've cut staffing, cut wage levels, used external funding, award-winning marketing and award-winning community programmes and still needed a supermarket to underwrite us for £5m?

I thought work was starting on the new ground soon? What about all the additional revenue we are led to believe the new ground will bring in, not just when complete but from the moment construction starts.

 

[Cricko]

So the Trust concurred with this inappropriate increase? Who were the other "various supporters organisations"? Shareholders? I don't think so. Zone owners?

We were never consulted.

 

[Smiffy]

It is clearly a gamble by the club. IF we end up having a successful season, it will pay off. If we have a mediocre one, then it will backfire big time. I think it is as simple as that. Sturrock will be under real pressure to get us into the top 7 right from the off and stay there. The board need to back him in bringing in players of a decent quality though.

Nobody is happy with the rise. But unfortunately it is needed. But, if the club want to see the fans parting with some extra cash, then some positive things need to start happening off the pitch right now. Starting with the better players being tied to new deals. The **** being off loaded and visible movement at FF to co-incide with some positive news re: CPO's.

 

[GBJ]

Nobody is happy with the rise. But unfortunately it is needed. But, if the club want to see the fans parting with some extra cash, then some positive things need to start happening off the pitch right now. Starting with the better players being tied to new deals. The **** being off loaded and visible movement at FF to co-incide with some positive news re: CPO's.

Good point Smiffy.

 

[TTS]

As stated before, I will always renew on the basis that I can afford it and that I continue to live in the area - again, I am lucky enough to be able to tick these boxes. I get to see my Dad, and also my nephew now comes, but mainly because I have supported Southend United my entire life.

UTB's - whoever be in charge and whoever wears the shirt and badge !!

 

[ldnfatso]

Email just sent to Tara:

Tara,

I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of yourself! £350 to watch this standard of football is a Joke. Who were these Various Supporters Groups that were consulted on the price? There are Championship teams that don’t charge that kind of money for a season ticket and the standard of football is significantly better. In this league the standard of football is diabolical and we are no exception to that.

You mention that we are losing £100k a month, well isn’t this down to gross mismanagement by the Chairman over the last 5/6 years. He tried to be Billy Big Bollocks and spend beyond his means whilst in the Championship and we are still paying for his utter recklessness. This coupled with huge expensive legal wrangles with HMRC have left us in an utter mess. Yet, he still lives it large in a multi million pound house in Benfleet Road and has Mercedes Cars and the infamous Bentley on his Driveway. He’s not feeling the pinch at all!

For your information £350 is a 16.666% increase on the £300 paid last season, I notice you mention a 20% decrease (£380 to £300) last season but this was soley down to relegation we was told. This rise is almost above 3 times the rate of inflation and is disgraceful. We are in a time where fans are turning their back on football (especially inferior football that we play) because people know it is a luxury and not a necessity. People are tightening their money belts because of the rise in the cost of living (Petrol, Gas, Electricity, Food etc.) and you have the gall to come out with this. Even Councils are freezing their rates bills this year. This just makes me sick and I along with a group of friends are seriously considering not renewing my season ticket next season because supporters are constantly being taken for a ride. Given the amount of special deals offered throughout the season, a season ticket has not got the benefits it should. Would it not have been better to keep the prices lower and attract more Season Ticket supporters? I feel a fuller stadium adds to a better atmosphere in the stadium and therefore more encouragement for the team. Perhaps that is not the intention. Also, how about keeping the matchday price down so those who pay on the day will more easily get the football bug and potentially spend more on programmes, food, drink, merchandise whilst at games!

You also say in your spiel on the website that fans have the choice of paying up front or by 10 month direct debit with no set up fee (but a sneaky 9% interest charge). On closer inspection of the leaflet attached, it is only 8 months with a £10 Set up fee (like last season). Which is correct??? Are fans going to be screwed into having to pay a 9% interest charge, I bet we are (Supporters are just treated like dirt by this club)!!!

Many Thanks and Regards
Steven

 

[Smiffy]

IF this poll accurately reflects the entire fan base, then we are in BIG trouble.

I believe this season we have 3,300 Season Card holders, generating about £900,000...

IF we were to lose around 30% of those then:

2200 @ £300 (Avg) = £660,000

IF this turns out to be the case and we also have a crap season, resulting in poor matchday sales. Then I only see more visits to the courts unfortunately. Not to mention what a hugely difficult job Sturrock will have building a team to challenge at the top, with pretty much zero in the transfer kitty...

It's a tough one for us fans. A vast majority feel they have been treated badly the last couple of seasons and have had enough. But a decision has to be made. We either part with our hard earned and help keep the club afloat and perhaps help towards bringing in some decent players. Which in turn hopefully results in a top 7 challenge. Or we refuse to renew, which will probably result in more financial difficulties and could jeapordise any hope we have for a proper push towards League One.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Tommy

Mate, it's you that's just cracked the funniest joke of the day - are you honestly claiming the club is not skint?!?! The recession is getting heavier for everyone - including the club and its employees!

Rather than just writing off someone's opinion as utter nonsense, why not enlighten us all as to where should the club get it's additional money from, if not from increasing revenue, given my previous post which pointed out we've cut staffing, cut wage levels, used external funding, award-winning marketing and award-winning community programmes and still needed a supermarket to underwrite us for £5m?

I think in a way you have answered your own question .

We have cut staff both off and on field

Cut the wage bill

Used external funding ( on what i dont know. do you ?)

All of the above mean a lesser team and ultimately a lesser experience for us the fans.

Asking us to pay more for a poorer service on the grounds that we are loyal and to not to do so would make us a lesser supporter is what rangles me most.

Personally i think that its financial suicide to up the prices especially after showing such little support to the management team when they needed the support most and when we had a chance of gaining promotion.

I would never write off someone elses opinion , but saying that people should back the club regardless of price increase is just a silly statement.

I wont be renewing my season card at those prices and i have missed maybe 5 games this season anyway due to work comittments, but would have still got another card regardless if the prices had stayed the same.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Hopefully the ones that moan non stop for 90mins are the ones that don't renew.

You can bet that they'll be the first!

 

[ian_the_girth]

Email just sent to Tara:

Tara,

I hope you are thoroughly ashamed of yourself! £350 to watch this standard of football is a Joke. Who were these Various Supporters Groups that were consulted on the price? There are Championship teams that don’t charge that kind of money for a season ticket and the standard of football is significantly better. In this league the standard of football is diabolical and we are no exception to that.

You mention that we are losing £100k a month, well isn’t this down to gross mismanagement by the Chairman over the last 5/6 years. He tried to be Billy Big Bollocks and spend beyond his means whilst in the Championship and we are still paying for his utter recklessness. This coupled with huge expensive legal wrangles with HMRC have left us in an utter mess. Yet, he still lives it large in a multi million pound house in Benfleet Road and has Mercedes Cars and the infamous Bentley on his Driveway. He’s not feeling the pinch at all!

For your information £350 is a 16.666% increase on the £300 paid last season, I notice you mention a 20% decrease (£380 to £300) last season but this was soley down to relegation we was told. This rise is almost above 3 times the rate of inflation and is disgraceful. We are in a time where fans are turning their back on football (especially inferior football that we play) because people know it is a luxury and not a necessity. People are tightening their money belts because of the rise in the cost of living (Petrol, Gas, Electricity, Food etc.) and you have the gall to come out with this. Even Councils are freezing their rates bills this year. This just makes me sick and I along with a group of friends are seriously considering not renewing my season ticket next season because supporters are constantly being taken for a ride. Given the amount of special deals offered throughout the season, a season ticket has not got the benefits it should. Would it not have been better to keep the prices lower and attract more Season Ticket supporters? I feel a fuller stadium adds to a better atmosphere in the stadium and therefore more encouragement for the team. Perhaps that is not the intention. Also, how about keeping the matchday price down so those who pay on the day will more easily get the football bug and potentially spend more on programmes, food, drink, merchandise whilst at games!

You also say in your spiel on the website that fans have the choice of paying up front or by 10 month direct debit with no set up fee (but a sneaky 9% interest charge). On closer inspection of the leaflet attached, it is only 8 months with a £10 Set up fee (like last season). Which is correct??? Are fans going to be screwed into having to pay a 9% interest charge, I bet we are (Supporters are just treated like dirt by this club)!!!

Many Thanks and Regards
Steven

Great email Steven, let us know if you get a reply

 

[TravellingBlue]

A poor decision made by financially destitue and worried men.

An increase of this proportion will imho mean a reduction to the number of season tickets which will result in even less money being available for PS - if it is ever destined for PS in the first place.

Will chose the games I go to next season. Just do not feel the same affinity to the club that I have supported all my life anymore.