The Botwell Warren

Well that's a coincidence, I'm just getting the necessary bits and bobs together for my eldest 2. What an excellent scheme in getting the youngsters through the turnstyles at such affordable prices for their parents, which leaves a few bob left for other purchases once inside the ground. A scheme that works both ways for club (future adult support) and parents (cost on matchday).
It's a shame the same can't be said for the matchday and season ticket prices. I was genuinely surprised at the hike from last seasons prices. When the board had their meeting on this matter, I'd love to know how they'd thought a 20% increase for a luxury item in today's financial climate was a fair price.
I did my best last season in getting as many dads and kids in to sample the "Church Road Experience" as I could. It's a shame and bad luck that most times I had guests we were on the recieving end of the goal count. That aside, it was often mentioned that 12 quid was a tad high for our level and standard of footie for the newbie. I would now be embarrased to ask anyone along with the entrance fee of 14quid. It just aint going to happen, what with the 8 pounds asking fee for their kids aswell.
As for me, I was genuinely going to buy my first ever H and Y season ticket this season, as for the past 4 years, I've hardly missed a home game (6 I think). But 240 quid is unfair in my book. Brentford and QPR froze their season ticket prices, why do we raise ours by such a percentage?
And as mentioned before earlier in this thread, why offer a discount to existing season ticket holders so as to put off prospective new ones like me?
200 pounds for a season ticket would seem ridiculously cheap at first glance, but surely more money would be generated by fans cashing in at the bargain price.
Maybe season ticket holders could bring a friend or kids at reduced prices for 3 games to generate extra support and income we wouldn't have got in the first place.
I understand that the club has to survive and work to a budget, but not much thought seems to have been passed onto the small loyal fanbase the club has.
I'd like to think that I have put a few bob into the club over the last 5 years, food, shirts, programmes, 50/50 etc, and everything has been very fair in general, I may just be getting grumpy with each passing year, but I am now at a stage where I will be missing a few games at home just to keep the cost down, which guts me but needs must!!

Good post Mr Mission, you should contribute more often.

Indeed an excellent post IOAM.

No one does more to try and get young boys into football (unlike Unit who is always trying to get into... ). Your effort should be applauded .

Trouble is this fell on deaf ears a month ago, and nothing has changed since. Sad, but true.

This isn't the best place to communicate with the decision makers at the club. It's an unofficial forum and therefore the football club are unlikely to respond to views that are only put on here.

Last time I emailed the club, regarding the Luton game, I didn't even get the courtesy of a response. So that avenue's a waste of time.

And if you're saying that the club doesn't read what is said here by the small, but vital, "hardcore", then they're even more out of touch than previously seemed possible.

Haylock and the Club directors are always on here. They know whats going on . I'm just hoping that they are noticing how many of the loyal supporters are having to be a bit more picky about what matches they will be attending next season, due to massive price increases. I believe many fans are now feeling very distant from the old club we love.
No doubt I will be shot down in flames again.

Presumably, therefore, there's an official forum where the thoughts of fans may be posted and read?

If that is the case, maybe they should visit this facility and provide input.

Mr R I will forgive you for your ealier outburst aimed at me. Normally I would threaten violence in some manner towards you, but due to the fact you have givin up smoking. I will forgive you ..........you tosser.

Just a thought and i could well be wrong here,but i'm sure the club(as Hayes)reduced their origanal season ticket asking price about 3 or 4 seasons back.
Anyone remember that or am i talking rubbish?

Firstly you cannot charge different amounts for home and away fans. The only way that you can possibly get away with this, is if you force away fans into something like seating, however the authorities do not like it.

Secondly £10.50 per game with a season ticket sounds good, however as I cannot make the first game as I am on holiday, and will almost certainly miss at least 1 other game, then I will end up paying more.
Also note that I prefer to walk to the ground (although don't always) and also refuse to sit on the grounds that I am a strong believer in standing at football, which you cannot do in almost any other league stadium now.

Finally - as the other bloke says, we may lose a few fans, but we will gain much more money from away fans - so the club will almost certainly gain...

If we are relying on away fans to keep the club afloat, then the business model is fatally flawed. No Oxford this season will prove the point.

To survive at this level the club needs to increase its home support base. We've had numerous threads about this over the past months, and many good ideas and suggestions have been, and continue to be put forward. Sadly not one of them has seemingly even been contemplated by the club.

Looked at the season ticket application put in the programme. As I understood it, the ticket also includes free car parking and free transfer to the grandstand yet that isn't mentioned on the form at all. Looking through the programme I saw it noted in page four of News and Views. Maybe it's me, but if you put ALL the perks on the form you might entice more people to sign up....?