26-27 Season Tickets

[tidus_mi2]

Renewed mine last week but there must be a lot of people thinking "what's the point" when you watch the guff we turned out under Richaedson. Surely the owners must see that if STs drop in sales this can't go on.

Ultimately it's a short term pain, if it continues on, he'll get the sack and hopefully it will improve.

[katweslowski]

That all said, I suspect we'll be looking at 7,500 ST and One Royal combined by the time 26/27 season kicks off.

It still shocks and depresses me a bit just how shit our attendances are, and our general support. I look at the likes of Bradford, Bolton, Derby, Cardiff, Ipswich, even Huddersfield and they're all massively larger than ours.

Why are you shocked?
The clubs been in decline for several years and the standard of football over the last season has hardly encouraged people to want to attend regularly even with a season ticket.
The clubs you mentioned all obviously produce a reasonable style of entertainment.

Because the size of the town, catchment area, stature of the club, fairly recent history all would point towards higher attendances than we are getting. Yes it's been a period of decline, but so have other clubs but they've retained higher numbers. I am shocked moreso when I see a random attendance figure, like 8000 for a league game on a Tuesday night.

[Marcel]

It still shocks and depresses me a bit just how shit our attendances are, and our general support. I look at the likes of Bradford, Bolton, Derby, Cardiff, Ipswich, even Huddersfield and they're all massively larger than ours.

Why are you shocked?
The clubs been in decline for several years and the standard of football over the last season has hardly encouraged people to want to attend regularly even with a season ticket.
The clubs you mentioned all obviously produce a reasonable style of entertainment.

Because the size of the town, catchment area, stature of the club, fairly recent history all would point towards higher attendances than we are getting. Yes it's been a period of decline, but so have other clubs but they've retained higher numbers. I am shocked moreso when I see a random attendance figure, like 8000 for a league game on a Tuesday night.

Many if not most Reading fans live outside the town in places like Basingstoke, Newbury and further afield.
This means leaving home around 6-6.30 to travel and get parked and not getting home until 11 and later.
When you consider the dross that has been served up over recent times you must surely understand why people don’t bother.

[Dulwich Royal]

More televised games on Sky may affect attendances as well eg Luton at home was moved to a Thursday night from a Sat pm when more home and away fans would probably have attended.
Presumably the TV money covers lower attendances ?

[Clyde1998]

Why are you shocked?
The clubs been in decline for several years and the standard of football over the last season has hardly encouraged people to want to attend regularly even with a season ticket.
The clubs you mentioned all obviously produce a reasonable style of entertainment.

Because the size of the town, catchment area, stature of the club, fairly recent history all would point towards higher attendances than we are getting. Yes it's been a period of decline, but so have other clubs but they've retained higher numbers. I am shocked moreso when I see a random attendance figure, like 8000 for a league game on a Tuesday night.

Many if not most Reading fans live outside the town in places like Basingstoke, Newbury and further afield.
This means leaving home around 6-6.30 to travel and get parked and not getting home until 11 and later.
When you consider the dross that has been served up over recent times you must surely understand why people don’t bother.

You have to add in that a lot of people in the Reading area aren't originally from the area either.

36% of Reading Borough Council's residents weren't born in England. There will also be a decent percentage from elsewhere in England, so it could well be at least half of RBC's residents being from outside the Reading area. Many of these people will support another club already or have no interest in football at all.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

It still shocks and depresses me a bit just how shit our attendances are, and our general support. I look at the likes of Bradford, Bolton, Derby, Cardiff, Ipswich, even Huddersfield and they're all massively larger than ours.

Why are you shocked?
The clubs been in decline for several years and the standard of football over the last season has hardly encouraged people to want to attend regularly even with a season ticket.
The clubs you mentioned all obviously produce a reasonable style of entertainment.

Because the size of the town, catchment area, stature of the club, fairly recent history all would point towards higher attendances than we are getting. Yes it's been a period of decline, but so have other clubs but they've retained higher numbers. I am shocked moreso when I see a random attendance figure, like 8000 for a league game on a Tuesday night.

Me too, I’m surprised it’s so high.

[PieEater]

Renewed mine, does anyone know if the old mobile eticket still works or do you have to renew that? The card will work but I wondering whether the eticket rolls over too.

[blythspartan]

Been told Rob is very unhappy with season ticket sales. He knows Storch at Sheff Weds and he’s envious of him.

I’ll get one, but I don’t know anyone else in my group who will renew with Leam in charge. I mainly go to meet up with mates/family so I probably won’t go to many games.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

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)

[MR. CYNICAL]

Renewed mine, does anyone know if the old mobile eticket still works or do you have to renew that? The card will work but I wondering whether the eticket rolls over too.

If you mean the ticket loaded into your phone wallet, then yes.
Renewed earlier in the week and a template pass was automatically loaded onto my phone later on.

[Marcel]

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)

Don’t think it’s just the new purchasing arrangements.
After having to sit through the terrible style of football last season I expect many fans are expecting
more of the same next season.
Many supporters rightfully expect at least a little bit of entertainment, something that was sadly missing recently.

[traff]

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)

If he is disappointed, he needs to look no further than his own decisions.
It has become clear that he will do things his way and focus on what he feels is important. The fact there has been little or no attempt to take into account the mood and wishes of the fans, along with the lack of discussion or consultation with supporter groups, is evidence of this.

He likes fireworks, fine. He thinks dull football is acceptable, fine. He thinks employing an inexperienced CEO and not having a Director of Football is fine.

Don’t get me wrong, Dai nearly killed this club, but the similarities in the lack of listening to fans are quite striking.

The transparency is there in terms of visibility, but only in the form of lots of words backing up his vision. So is it really any surprise that, like the manager, a disconnect is beginning to appear in the enthusiasm for the “project”?

[katweslowski]

Don’t get me wrong, Dai nearly killed this club, but the similarities in the lack of listening to fans are quite striking.

The transparency is there in terms of visibility, but only in the form of lots of words backing up his vision. So is it really any surprise that, like the manager, a disconnect is beginning to appear in the enthusiasm for the “project”?

That's incredibly unfair in my view. He's not even owned the club a full year. Since then there has been constant communication, a fans forum, safe standing planned, bars around the ground where the old ticket booths used to be, plans for a proper "fanzone" up there to try to get more of an atmosphere and reason to go early or stay later.

He's all over twitter (or was - haven't logged on for ages as it's full of hate these days).

To even mention Dai as being similar in anyway is just like comparing Hitler to your Aunty because they both are sometimes late for appointments.

[traff]

Don’t get me wrong, Dai nearly killed this club, but the similarities in the lack of listening to fans are quite striking.

The transparency is there in terms of visibility, but only in the form of lots of words backing up his vision. So is it really any surprise that, like the manager, a disconnect is beginning to appear in the enthusiasm for the “project”?

That's incredibly unfair in my view. He's not even owned the club a full year. Since then there has been constant communication, a fans forum, safe standing planned, bars around the ground where the old ticket booths used to be, plans for a proper "fanzone" up there to try to get more of an atmosphere and reason to go early or stay later.

He's all over twitter (or was - haven't logged on for ages as it's full of hate these days).

To even mention Dai as being similar in anyway is just like comparing Hitler to your Aunty because they both are sometimes late for appointments.

HEY!..............

Which Aunty?

[katweslowski]

HEY!..............

Which Aunty?

The hot milfy one with the huge norks - Brenda isn't it?

[MR. CYNICAL]

Don’t get me wrong, Dai nearly killed this club, but the similarities in the lack of listening to fans are quite striking.

The transparency is there in terms of visibility, but only in the form of lots of words backing up his vision. So is it really any surprise that, like the manager, a disconnect is beginning to appear in the enthusiasm for the “project”?

That's incredibly unfair in my view. He's not even owned the club a full year. Since then there has been constant communication, a fans forum, safe standing planned, bars around the ground where the old ticket booths used to be, plans for a proper "fanzone" up there to try to get more of an atmosphere and reason to go early or stay later.

He's all over twitter (or was - haven't logged on for ages as it's full of hate these days).

To even mention Dai as being similar in anyway is just like comparing Hitler to your Aunty because they both are sometimes late for appointments.

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.

[katweslowski]

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.

[traff]

HEY!..............

Which Aunty?

The hot milfy one with the huge norks - Brenda isn't it?

No, thats Audrey and shes 97.

[MR. CYNICAL]

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.

[MR. CYNICAL]

And it certainly wouldn't work on a cold January Tuesday night against Wigan!