|
Post by Jem on Apr 2, 2015 12:35:20 GMT
Hi all
We have a meeting next week with Mark Ashton and his new Commercial Team. One of the topics for the session is for us to better understand the strategy behind the free ticket offers and any other commercial initiatives that the club are planning/considering.
There have been a number of posts on this forum discussing the 'pro's and cons' of the large numbers of free tickets being issued and it would be very helpful, if you have any views (positive or otherwise!) regarding the subject, that you use this thread to pop down your thoughts and we'll try and build your comments into the meeting!
Many thanks!
Cheers!
Jem
|
|
|
Post by backonthecoupon on Apr 2, 2015 12:57:11 GMT
As a season ticket holder I have no problem with the concept of giving free tickets to worthy causes.
I also have no problem with free ticketing as a promotional tactic, especially in a difficult season when the product itself isn't enough to get people out to the stadium. It does have to be managed and controlled, and some of the rumours doing the rounds suggest this isn't happening. The value of a promotion such as free ticketing is that you are trying to move people up the "frequency escalator". To do that you need control over who the tickets are going to and marketing information about them so you can understand your market, contact them with news, promotions etc. Is this happening?
Most paying customers will understand the benefit of targeted, well managed promotions to fill the ground when the on field product is poor. They cant be expected to like indiscriminate permanent freebies that devalue their own investment in their tickets. If its overused you run the risk of developing a "them and us" feeling in the ground with the regulars making the freebies feel unwelcome.
|
|
|
Post by petechilton on Apr 2, 2015 13:12:44 GMT
One observation I would make is that whilst we have seen an obvious increase in the crowd size when the ticket offers are in force, the "visiting for free" fans don't seem willing to dip into their pockets to buy a 50:50 ticket which, given they are on a freebie, is somewhat disappointing. The stats below confirm this pretty well:-
Plymouth 8057 £941.50 (23%) Cheltenham 5,360 £1,058 (39%) Tranmere 4,748 £912 (38%)
Recognise you can't make people buy a ticket but maybe at least publicise the 50:50 scheme via whoever the contacts are within the communities targeted. It would act as a little gesture of thanks in return for the ticket.
|
|
|
Post by oufcyellows on Apr 2, 2015 14:39:08 GMT
Not got a problem with it, but maybe limit them to under 16 tickets, attract a new generation and stop the system being abused, by a mate of a mate who got some through his kids football team, but has no intention of ever paying in the future. Balance out some of the negativity by giving season ticket holders £1 off for each years consecutive season ticket, since being at the kassam, and a free first round cup game as part of the season ticket package. It's a great idea to try and attract new customers, but with crowds already down don't shot yourself in the foot by annoying some season ticket holders. As a side note could pass on to Keep up the good work behind the scenes. Get a better manger for August and hurry up with the stadium. Cheers
|
|
|
Post by Paul Cannell on Apr 2, 2015 14:43:27 GMT
Has the club built up a database of (any of) the people who use the free tickets, as opposed to the institutions to which they're given? If not please will they consider doing that in future offers.
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Apr 2, 2015 15:11:03 GMT
FROM THE BOARDROOM 26 MARCH EMAIL... Season ticket holders are vitally important to us, and as a thank you for continued support, we would like to offer all season ticket holders the opportunity again to bring a friend, free of charge to the York game. You will I’m sure be aware that we have already started to increase our community outreach work this season, and for a number of games we have distributed sponsored tickets into schools, youth clubs and junior leagues in Oxfordshire.
I understand that some season ticket holders may be concerned that we are simply giving away free tickets despite the fact they are paying, and whilst I can understand those concerns I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify that the tickets we have distributed have been part of our Community Season Ticket initiative, which has seen the tickets paid for, by both sponsors and individuals.
The distribution of Community Season Tickets has worked well for us and I’d like to thank all of those who have backed this initiative throughout the season, as it has supported our delivery of wide-ranging activities to children in Oxfordshire.
This is vitally important to us as we build for the future and encourage our next generation of supporters, whilst ensuring we continue to value and enhance benefits for our existing season ticket holders.
Over the coming weeks we will be announcing season ticket packages that encourage affordable family football at the Kassam Stadium for the 15/16 season. -----
I don't care that someone has paid for the "free tickets", what irks me is that some other fans are getting regular freebies and sometimes even selling them on. My season ticket is:- 1 - supporting the club financially even though I may not go to all the games 2 - guaranteeing my seat / priority for away tickets 3 - getting a better average price than if i just bought match day tickets.
2 is almost irrelevant with low crowds you can almost sit where you want, and we haven't sold out an away game just to season ticket holders for years. 3 seems to be getting closer to not being worthwhile.
Where are the 'rewards' for season ticket holders? Non-ST holder from previous years get given free tickets, friends of ST holders get given a free ticket (twice this season?). I get a miserable £5 off a replica shirt, and get charged through the nose for daring to book an away ticket online for posting to me.
The schools and kids club offers are fine, it should be targeted a few clubs each week as special guests, with enough included for the adults / coaches to look after them, not dished out willy nilly with no accountability.
Four discounted ticket offers per year is the rule, for instance the adult £1 you sometimes see elsewhere, the armed forces day, etc. That's fine.
|
|
|
Post by MJB on Apr 2, 2015 15:15:42 GMT
I'm an OxVox member and I'm happy for my view to be represented.
I'm a proud season ticket holder and happy for the club to do whatever it likes in terms of free tickets. It fills the ground, attracts future or returning fans and creates a decent buzz at games.
|
|
|
Post by CheltenhamYellow on Apr 2, 2015 15:20:46 GMT
I've no problem with seeing the North Stand full on occasions, even if they're mostly free tickets. However, to ensure my season ticket isn't devalued, I'd be happy to know that no one person has had SEVERAL visits to the Kassam and paid nothing during a single season. If fans think this is going to happen every season, then they'll not buy a ST and hang around for the frequent freebies.
|
|
|
Post by My Manor on Apr 2, 2015 15:46:29 GMT
Hi Jem,
I'm more than happy for free tickets being sensibly distributed. The ground looks far better with the north stand being used for this purpose. My only concern is one that you mentioned recently, the handing out of tickets in a local boozer.
I don't think this is what DE & MA planned!.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2015 18:38:24 GMT
The club needs to establish a database of the usage of these freebie tickets.
Potentially quite labour-intensive, but the only way the benefit (or otherwise) can be assessed.
Each freebie ticket needs to be marked as such. It also needs to be stated clearly on each ticket that a condition of entry into the ground will be to give email addresses. (I always see plenty of youngsters in yellow jackets around the ground without apparent roles - perhaps they could do this?)
The club could then a) contact each recipient in future, and b) monitor anyone booking tickets online against the database to see if there is a correlation.
I'm sure there are holes in this, and others could think of more efficient ways of establishing such a database, but this is key. Otherwise, the club has no idea who is getting the tickets or whether it leads to a future relationship or not.
|
|
|
Post by Maurice Earp on Apr 2, 2015 20:45:21 GMT
I wonder what the poster "Old" thinks of trhe free tickets?
|
|
|
Post by yuriyeller on Apr 2, 2015 21:57:47 GMT
I'm one of the freeloaders.
To receive complimentary tickets, I was asked to email the club my name, my postcode and the name of the institution the club had provided the offer to.
|
|
|
Post by oufcyellows on Apr 3, 2015 7:06:07 GMT
I'm one of the freeloaders. To receive complimentary tickets, I was asked to email the club my name, my postcode and the name of the institution the club had provided the offer to. You bastard, please supply us ur real name and a picture so we can burn u at the steak on Monday outside the new bar. Burn the freeloaders !!
|
|