by Clyde1998 »
19 May 2023 12:52
RG30 Not sure who from the STAR board thought this statement was a good idea but have to say feels a bit misjudged. Of the ST holders I've spoken to no one was in disagreement with prices rising, especially with the reasons outlined reasonably;
https://star-reading.org/news/statement-season-ticket-pricing
I get the feeling a lot of the statements put out are influenced heavily by the view of those on social media. The club's last end of year survey we've got figures for (2015-16; I don't know if there's still a survey like this each season) showed less than half of supporters use any specific social media platform (in any context) -
link (page 20).
Those figures may have increased since then, but I'd still guess under 60% use social media and significantly fewer actually comment on a regular basis in regards to the football club. As with all things, people mistake those who shout the loudest or most regularly for the position of everyone rather than trying to identity who is making the comments and how representative they are of the wider group they are apart of; those who are generally content aren't likely to make a comment.
I understand people aren't going to be happy with a price rise for season tickets, but within the context of price freezes for the past decade it's entirely understandable the prices would go up at some point. I think most on here understand that and most reasonable people will understand that.
Also the prices are very acceptable within the context of what other clubs charge at this level: a season ticket in the East Stand is £425 (£400 for renewals) for an adult. The cheapest comparable prices at Portsmouth this season is £424 (£414 renewals) for 'early bird' prices (before mid-June), £450 (£420) at Oxford, £481 (£409) at Cheltenham, £509 (£469) at Bristol Rovers, £425 at Charlton, £468 (£405.60 minimum) at Derby (renewal price based on consecutive years with season ticket). Other stands broadly follow the same pattern.
Our new season ticket prices are cheaper than every side I checked (with the exception of Charlton and Portsmouth - the same and £1 cheaper respectively). Renewal prices were cheaper than anywhere else I checked (with the possible exception of Charlton, where the renewal deadline has already passed - season ticket went of sale in March).
I could understand outrage if season ticket prices increased by £100 (for example), but a £25 increase after a decade of frozen prices is not something anyone should be up in arms about.