I don't know how it works now for season ticket holders as I haven't had one at Barnsley since 2007, but after they won promotion at the end of 2015, back into the championship, they started with that Cat. a,b,c, mullarky, which we'd never had before, which all adds up and makes it quite expensive for non ST holders, hope it never creeps into our game.
Category a,b,c, matches were on the go at Oakwell long before the 2015 play off final chissitt
Category a,b,c, matches were on the go at Oakwell long before the 2015 play off final chissitt
Ah! didn't know that, as I said my last season was the 2007/8 and was a ST till then so I wouldn't really have known, lost all interest in the game and apart from the odd reds game on telly never watch football at all now, our young un went last week against Sunderland and it was £27 as a non ST holder.
Yes, following more than one sport can be costly, especially if it is the whole family that follow it like we do. I too am a Barnsley fan, but have had to curb my finances, so as RL is my number one sport, I have a Trinity season ticket, and watch Barnsley every so often.
Consistent success and a new stadium would increase the crowds steadily, as that is human nature, but dont think the increase would be huge.
I have said before, and will say again, a lot of it is about marketing the club and giving the fans incentives on memberships, to increase crowd numbers.
Thursday and Friday games causing people to miss and costs of season tickets put fans off. Mini season tickets could remedy this. Other SL clubs do it successfully.
Another is a packages to incorporate replica shirts. I know some on here will moan that I am constantly bigging up.my wifes team, but they have done this, and have an average crowd this year, of around 7000. Not bad for a relegated club. They also, like us have a big rivalry with a bigger neighbouring club. There is also in Hull a professional football team.
One bit of marketing that could be done, is taking down members post codes, to see if there are any areas in the district that seem to be staying away and any that are, do some marketing in that area with extra incentives.
I don't know how it works now for season ticket holders as I haven't had one at Barnsley since 2007, but after they won promotion at the end of 2015, back into the championship, they started with that Cat. a,b,c, mullarky, which we'd never had before, which all adds up and makes it quite expensive for non ST holders, hope it never creeps into our game.
Fortunately at Huddersfield this season it's all season tickets for obvious reasons, mine cost £94 . Works out at roughly £4.50 a game so I'm fortunate to have the luxury of both season tickets, again like someone posted earlier, success goes a long way to encourage bums on seats, oh , not forgetting the £200,000,000 bonus which helps. Here's hoping our success will encourage a few more to BV.
Cas tried the "membership scheme" and scrapped it after 1 season. Basically where you could either get a full session ticket, half, or two games. It's really risky. Hence it being scrapped
Yes, you do get folk buying the 2 game one who might have stayed away.
But on the other hand you get fans who have committed to season tickets for years then starting to pick and choose games. Well within their rights but it does cost the club.
Not only that, the few who buy the "2 game" one would probably have gone to those two games and paid full price anyway.
I stopped getting a cas season ticket 3 years ago, as I can't make half the games.... but I still go to 5/6 games at home every year when I can, and I would do that regardless of the introduction of a "half season" ticket.
For me, I'd look at really chopping the "pay on the gate" price for kids.
Growing up I never got bought a season ticket cause my dad doesn't go much any more so I wouldn't have anyone to take me. He treated me to games even less when you're looking at the casual fan, as I was as a kid, having to pay about 50 quid to get a parent and two kids into a rugby game.
Families will just take their kids bowling or to the cinema instead.
It's the spontaneous "kids, you fancy going to watch the rugby" scenario that I think clubs could do more for.
It's the spontaneous "kids, you fancy going to watch the rugby" scenario that I think clubs could do more for.
Or even better - give out the cheaper tickets - kids ones - for nowt - and encourage the "dad, take me to the rugby" response; so Dad has to pay full price on the gate - the hope being that a) the kid becomes a fan for life and b) dad buys a season ticket, so taking the kids is cheaper for him. I know some clubs do good work in schools and jr clubs, but I'm sure a more coordinated and systematic approach could yield results. I was involved in something along these lines with Trinity through the jr club I used to be involved with, and it was popular with the players, albeit on a relatively small scale.
Back to the main topic - one can only assume that the long term aim is for a North American SL, which can only be a good thing; I'm interested to see how these organisations influence the RFL in terms of how to properly manage and promote a sporting event.
Or even better - give out the cheaper tickets - kids ones - for nowt - and encourage the "dad, take me to the rugby" response; so Dad has to pay full price on the gate - the hope being that a) the kid becomes a fan for life and b) dad buys a season ticket, so taking the kids is cheaper for him. I know some clubs do good work in schools and jr clubs, but I'm sure a more coordinated and systematic approach could yield results. I was involved in something along these lines with Trinity through the jr club I used to be involved with, and it was popular with the players, albeit on a relatively small scale.
Back to the main topic - one can only assume that the long term aim is for a North American SL, which can only be a good thing; I'm interested to see how these organisations influence the RFL in terms of how to properly manage and promote a sporting event.
RL played professionally in Canada and the US would be huge for RL. The key question is just how to get it moving and IF we are to add a number of clubs from this area, who foots the bill and what happens to the domestic competition while the "expansion" clubs get going and afterwards, if/when they have their own comp.
Under the current format and assuming that the new clubs qualify for the middle 8's and perhaps the super 8's in a couple of seasons, the logistics of flying to Canada one week and maybe France (possibly twice) could be extremely difficult, especially as Sky like to move the fixtures around at short notice.
It looks like the Championship will be the "trial run" for travel next season, with Catalan, Toulouse and Toronto all strong contenders to make next season's middle 8.
You do feel like we are walking blindly into a new situation, with little of no thought as to how it will work and that just isnt right.
RL played professionally in Canada and the US would be huge for RL. The key question is just how to get it moving and IF we are to add a number of clubs from this area, who foots the bill and what happens to the domestic competition while the "expansion" clubs get going and afterwards, if/when they have their own comp.
Under the current format and assuming that the new clubs qualify for the middle 8's and perhaps the super 8's in a couple of seasons, the logistics of flying to Canada one week and maybe France (possibly twice) could be extremely difficult, especially as Sky like to move the fixtures around at short notice.
It looks like the Championship will be the "trial run" for travel next season, with Catalan, Toulouse and Toronto all strong contenders to make next season's middle 8.
You do feel like we are walking blindly into a new situation, with little of no thought as to how it will work and that just isnt right.
Didn't Toronto fund the travel of visiting clubs this season? I'm sure I read that somewhere.
Your last sentence is probably the most telling; there could well be a time when these new organisations far surpass the RFL in terms of financial clout and expertise - and may well grow frustrated with having to deal with the amateur committee man who is currently in charge; interesting times.