26-27 Season Tickets

[Clyde1998]

Been told Rob is very unhappy with season ticket sales.

If this is true, its very naive...

They literally changed the way in which Fans are incentivised to pay early....

For the subscription model, there's a benefit to subscribing on the last day of the discount as your subscription lasts longer...unless I am missing something.

ST no longer do the 4 payments option, so its not attractive to do that....

Whoever built the assumptions into their forecast needs to rethink (if true)

It's also a more complex system. People are having to work out whether they want the 'perks' of the Elite or Plus category (which are only available on a monthly basis) or stick with effectively a traditional season ticket paid either annually or monthly.

It's no longer as simple as just renewing (perhaps with a choice of single payment; quarterly payment; monthly payment).

The subscription requires people to pay during the three months there's no football. Someone can correct me here (as I never looked into it), but I think the old monthly finance model was nine monthly payments (ie. when there's actually matches).

People will typically want to align any subscription with their pay day (or the day most of their direct debits are paid) too for cash flow reasons. I assume most people get paid towards the end of the month (final work day; final Friday; etc.).

They also sold a lot of season tickets last season on the promise of positivity following Dai leaving the club. That positivity has evaporated unfortunately.

[RoyalBlue]

Problem is, how many people want to go earlier and stay later?
Loads of fans can't get out of the ground quick enough, many leaving before the final whistle and I'd say the majority turn up from about 30 mins before KO.
The average fan isn't interested in fireworks, fanzones etc, they just want to see a decent game of football.

A few things though - no one wants to stay later or go earlier because there is no proper fanzone or reason to. Which is why (I'm guessing) they're trying to improve that. So my thoughts, whether deluded or not would be:

Covered area, bands playing later, proper installation of TVs, food, an actual "settlement" of some kind

The fireworks - this is surely for kids and families, to make it a novelty. I don't really care for them but can imagine kids love them.

I'd imagine Rob and others want to make it a place for more than just a 90 minute game. So other events there, conferences, bands, tournaments, other sports even, people going to the ground on a random Friday night for some reason or other - not just turning up at 2:45pm.

Completely get where you're coming from, but not sure Rob takes into account out culture, football fans in this country traditionally just turn up for the football, the things you mention may be the norm at sports events in the states (don't know because I've never been) but would be difficult to implement them here, especially with attendances as low as they are.

I’ve been to quite a lot of MLS games in the states so do feel able to comment on what happens.

Tailgates, organised by the different supporters groups, are popular and run for several hours before a game. However, popular as they are, only a small percentage of the overall crowd for any game actually attend them.

Clubs tend to try to encourage early entry to the stadiums with limited numbers of free giveaways - hats, bags, T shirts, Bobble Heads etc.

Pyrotechnics etc. as teams enter and after the National Anthem(s) are fairly common. Atlanta Utd fire off rockets during the national anthem! (‘The rockets’ red glare, the bomb bursting in the air’).

Pre-match and half-time entertainment in the stadiums is usually pretty good.

I don’t recall much post-match entertainment. Just like us in the UK the US crowds like to get away quite promptly after games.

[MR. CYNICAL]

A few things though - no one wants to stay later or go earlier because there is no proper fanzone or reason to. Which is why (I'm guessing) they're trying to improve that. So my thoughts, whether deluded or not would be:

Covered area, bands playing later, proper installation of TVs, food, an actual "settlement" of some kind

The fireworks - this is surely for kids and families, to make it a novelty. I don't really care for them but can imagine kids love them.

I'd imagine Rob and others want to make it a place for more than just a 90 minute game. So other events there, conferences, bands, tournaments, other sports even, people going to the ground on a random Friday night for some reason or other - not just turning up at 2:45pm.

Completely get where you're coming from, but not sure Rob takes into account out culture, football fans in this country traditionally just turn up for the football, the things you mention may be the norm at sports events in the states (don't know because I've never been) but would be difficult to implement them here, especially with attendances as low as they are.

I’ve been to quite a lot of MLS games in the states so do feel able to comment on what happens.

Tailgates, organised by the different supporters groups, are popular and run for several hours before a game. However, popular as they are, only a small percentage of the overall crowd for any game actually attend them.

Clubs tend to try to encourage early entry to the stadiums with limited numbers of free giveaways - hats, bags, T shirts, Bobble Heads etc.

Pyrotechnics etc. as teams enter and after the National Anthem(s) are fairly common. Atlanta Utd fire off rockets during the national anthem! (‘The rockets’ red glare, the bomb bursting in the air’).

Pre-match and half-time entertainment in the stadiums is usually pretty good.

I don’t recall much post-match entertainment. Just like us in the UK the US crowds like to get away quite promptly after games.

Don't get me wrong and obviously I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm just not interested in that stuff, just the football. In fact, personally, any attempt to impose an 'American' type of product here will likey drive me away.

[Clyde1998]

Completely get where you're coming from, but not sure Rob takes into account out culture, football fans in this country traditionally just turn up for the football, the things you mention may be the norm at sports events in the states (don't know because I've never been) but would be difficult to implement them here, especially with attendances as low as they are.

I’ve been to quite a lot of MLS games in the states so do feel able to comment on what happens.

Tailgates, organised by the different supporters groups, are popular and run for several hours before a game. However, popular as they are, only a small percentage of the overall crowd for any game actually attend them.

Clubs tend to try to encourage early entry to the stadiums with limited numbers of free giveaways - hats, bags, T shirts, Bobble Heads etc.

Pyrotechnics etc. as teams enter and after the National Anthem(s) are fairly common. Atlanta Utd fire off rockets during the national anthem! (‘The rockets’ red glare, the bomb bursting in the air’).

Pre-match and half-time entertainment in the stadiums is usually pretty good.

I don’t recall much post-match entertainment. Just like us in the UK the US crowds like to get away quite promptly after games.

Don't get me wrong and obviously I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm just not interested in that stuff, just the football. In fact, personally, any attempt to impose an 'American' type of product here will likey drive me away.

I'm going to games to watch the football too. I think at the point you're having to regularly offer additional things to get people to go to games, you're admitting the product on offer isn't very good.

[RG30]

My new plastic season ticket card has arrived. Quickest it's ever been sent out.

[MR. CYNICAL]

My new plastic season ticket card has arrived. Quickest it's ever been sent out.

You don't need it, just get it downloaded on your phone.

[Silver Fox]

Does everyone get a new card this year?

[RG30]

No, unless you move seat and choose to pay an extra tenner otherwise it's digital.

[Silver Fox]

So it doesn't go on my existing card if I renew the same seat?

[windermereROYAL]

Can`t quite understand why my seat is available for anyone to select on the stadium map. we`ve got until the 15th.

[Clyde1998]

Can`t quite understand why my seat is available for anyone to select on the stadium map. we`ve got until the 15th.

I don't think it will let you buy any seat with a red background, even if you can select them.

[MR. CYNICAL]

So it doesn't go on my existing card if I renew the same seat?

If you renew your same seat, your existing card will still be valid.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Completely get where you're coming from, but not sure Rob takes into account out culture, football fans in this country traditionally just turn up for the football, the things you mention may be the norm at sports events in the states (don't know because I've never been) but would be difficult to implement them here, especially with attendances as low as they are.

I’ve been to quite a lot of MLS games in the states so do feel able to comment on what happens.

Tailgates, organised by the different supporters groups, are popular and run for several hours before a game. However, popular as they are, only a small percentage of the overall crowd for any game actually attend them.

Clubs tend to try to encourage early entry to the stadiums with limited numbers of free giveaways - hats, bags, T shirts, Bobble Heads etc.

Pyrotechnics etc. as teams enter and after the National Anthem(s) are fairly common. Atlanta Utd fire off rockets during the national anthem! (‘The rockets’ red glare, the bomb bursting in the air’).

Pre-match and half-time entertainment in the stadiums is usually pretty good.

I don’t recall much post-match entertainment. Just like us in the UK the US crowds like to get away quite promptly after games.

Don't get me wrong and obviously I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm just not interested in that stuff, just the football. In fact, personally, any attempt to impose an 'American' type of product here will likey drive me away.

This. Not interested in all the mumbo jumbo, just the football.

Maybe it’s good to engage the youf of today? But as above, not for me

[Clyde1998]

Despite now being past payday for most, my estimate for sales is still only 2,360.

Clearly some desperate advertising pushes going on at the moment.

Early next week will be interesting, as anyone wanting their subscription to line up with the start of the month will be buying.

[Zammo]

Renewed. What else we gonna do on a Saturday afternoon, eh.

[Silver Fox]

Indeed, that's me renewed. Like most fans I'm not waiting for the club to honour my demands before committing, just the 23 guaranteed home game tickets is all I ask for

[tidus_mi2]

I'm holding off until closer to the early bird renewal date in case we get more positive news, like that would actually change my decision if nothing has happened by then.

[Sutekh]

I'm holding off until closer to the early bird renewal date in case we get more positive news, like that would actually change my decision if nothing has happened by then.

You’d certainly expect early transfer news as both players and clubs want to be sorted for next season asap, then there’s the World Cup to consider and while Reading won’t be too worried about the players involved there’s always the likely domino effects as other clubs make moves for players catching the eye and so there maybe deals to be done for some PL youngsters.

Would help to have a pre-season schedule, I’ve never known it as late as this esp. as players are presumably back in for training in a month or so.

[John Smith]

Can`t quite understand why my seat is available for anyone to select on the stadium map. we`ve got until the 15th.

I don't think it will let you buy any seat with a red background, even if you can select them.

Yeah, I tried to pick a new seat and it wouldn't let me.

I assume the best way is for me to renew my current seat then call up and move it separately?

[Clyde1998]

Can`t quite understand why my seat is available for anyone to select on the stadium map. we`ve got until the 15th.

I don't think it will let you buy any seat with a red background, even if you can select them.

Yeah, I tried to pick a new seat and it wouldn't let me.

I assume the best way is for me to renew my current seat then call up and move it separately?

I think that's what you need to do. IIRC, the 'moving period' starts on the 16th.