Wolfie20 Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 4 hours ago, MackworthRamIsGod said: I do wonder if things aren't as financially sound as we would all think at the club? Zero summer signings is a strange one. A new manager normally likes to sign at least one player, someone he has worked with before perhaps and we were all aware that we needed to freshen up the squad, but nothing happened. Now these crazy ticket prices. Maybe last seasons disaster of not getting promoted, Clement being sacked and having to pay Harry's Redknapps dogs vetenary fees cost us dearly. Too much conjecture I think. If the increased match ticket prices affect let's say 6000 fans (visiting supporters and non season ticket holders) and an extra tenner a match has been added, that equates approximately to £1.4m over the season. If half of those decide to boycott the club or simply can't afford to attend no matter how much they would want to, then at an average £30 a head, the best part of £2m revenue will be lost. If just a third of the 6k don't turn up, it still virtually wipes out the gain the club will make from these hideous increases. These are back of a fag packet figures but you can be sure that the powers that be at Derby will have gone into a lot more detail on the pros and cons of the ticket price hike which makes it even more baffling why such a move has been implemented! The financial benefit in annual turnover terms is negligible but the damage to the clubs' image of being a family club is huge and it's dubious as to whether even an about turn (highly unlikely) will repair the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Harford Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Tony Le Mesmer I grew up with York fans, a couple of brothers that loved their club. So I'm 100% behind you mate. I knew a few 'smaller' teams as I grew up, and I remember when we were 'smaller' so sod the Premier mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverurie Ram Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Tony Le Mesmer Fantastic post. I was born in Hull and brought up in Cottingham, and spent a lot of my time with my brothers and my dad and sometimes my mother (she was more at Craven Park for Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League) for mid week games and Saturday afternoons on the terraces at Boothferry Park, Hull City, and watched Hull City play against York City, Grimsby Town, Doncaster Rovers etc, sometimes I'd have a pocket radio listening to the half time scores to see how the Rams were getting on etc. But the fading memories I have of the late 70's and early 80's football when either at Hull City and on the lucky occasions I got to go to the BBG or when Derby were playing away at either Hull City or one of the Yorkshire clubs, was the atmosphere and how it was created by fans of all ages and the banter and laughs that were generated by young men, middle aged men, OAP's and how young children would laugh and joke and mix with other children on the terraces, sometimes even kicking a can about and having a bit of a game or playing tig and just been free to express one selfs and all of this fun which included getting close to the pitch side to cheer on, or to jeer the opposing players or to have a laugh with the ball boys, move from terracing to seats, move from stand to another stand. Whatever it was, it was a time that you felt part of your community within the football ground and it's surroundings and the price was affordable to most folk because most folk were happy to spend the money they had earned, on doing this and looking back there are many on this forum that were fortunate to feel loved, and to feel part of their football club and that is what made the "price" of the "product" worth every penny, and as a child you were never that bothered about who'd signed for the club or how much he was worth etc and as you grew up you admired the players that were local players or players that you felt were also part of the community that you felt you belonged too, and I think that's why so many Rams fans thought the world of Super Jake Buxton. He did his best and his best was enough for many fans including myself, I suppose the question here that maybe needs asking is our football club doing it's best with the current ticket prices and is it the best price to benefit everyone short term and long term for us all, as we are all doing our best for Derby County Football Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philmycock Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Seeing as though Mel reads this forum, maybe he can let us know his thoughts on Matchday families being priced out of attending? Or is the club trying to force more season ticket sales. Just hope the prices of those don't go through the roof or I'll have to find a new hobby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Le Mesmer Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 1 hour ago, Mick Harford said: Tony Le Mesmer I grew up with York fans, a couple of brothers that loved their club. So I'm 100% behind you mate. I knew a few 'smaller' teams as I grew up, and I remember when we were 'smaller' so sod the Premier mate. For me MH it's not about upsizing from a small struggling club to a big shiny new one with grand ambitions of the Premier League riches. I'm perfectly happy to support a small unsuccessful club. It's about first of all being alienated and ignored by the small struggling club over the course of many seasons. I went to games paying over the odds for tickets, I travelled the country, I paid for childcare so I could get to games, I bought programmes, I spent in the club shop, I joined the trust to help the club survive, I offered to work there for nothing helping out wherever it was needed, I contributed to the matchday programme, I sponsored a players kit, i'd buy 50/50 draw tickets, i'd support the family fun days they had down at Bootham Crescent which were akin to watching my kid have a bounce on Sammy snake at the Phoenix club - they were that poorly staged. I could go on but I won't. You've already endured a long one! Many fans across the land do these things so i'm in no way special but it's when clubs fail to acknowledge the value fans have to them and offer gratitude and rewards despite many many years of take take , take that you can get a little bit fed up of it all. If I had a missus (or patner - i'm all for equality) who was just coming to me for money and going out spending and generally treating me like a doormat / cash cow then first of all i'd try and get it sorted out through communication (as I did with York to no avail) and over time if that failed and she/he still wasn't able to see that there was a problem and sort it then i'd get a divorce (or a dissolution of the civil partnership of course). Essentially that is what I've done rightly or wrongly. The last straw came in the last home game York had last season when they were already relegated to the conference finishing bottom. The home game was against Bristol Rovers who could have gone up automatically on that day and who brought 2000 fans with them. For York to get 2000 visiting fans to Bootham Crescent for a home game is unheard of and IMO it would have been a nice gesture from the club to massively reduce prices for home fans across the board or even let fans in free considering the last 3 awful seasons. With the ticket money from the 2000 Rovers fans pretty much making up much of the deficit they wouldn't have made much of a loss anyway but football club chairman don't think like this sadly. Then the club proudly declare that season ticket prices have been frozen as if they are doing York fans a favour! So now you can watch teams like North Ferriby United in non league and pay the same as league 2. Value! I think traditionally, disillusioned fans of big clubs in the Prem or even Championship looked to lower down the league pyramid to get cheaper football and a more authentic, value for money real football experience. I don't think such a thing exists any more at least in the football league. I see Alfreton Town are now charging £14 which is ok probably for conference north but when they were in the conference i could be wrong but i'm sure it was around £20 because i was going to go to the odd game but the price put me off. I'm most definitely not a glory hunter. My football journey from here on is mostly for the benefit of my kid rather than me. I'm not sure if i'll feel the same passion for a Derbyshire club than a Yorkshire club but i'll be giving it a bloody good try. Besides, if i don't then i know my kid will because she's local. Sound like bloody League of Gentlemen now! I've even been to support Derbyshire AGAINST Yorkshire before at Queens Park Chesterfield in the cricket and plan to get my kid into 20/20 Derbyshire cricket too. Inverurie Ram. Thanks for the kind comments man. I know Hull really well. Used to play for them on YTS in the early 90's and used to go on the train from Donny. Spent many times watching on the terrace of Boothferry Park. Handy supermarket too! They were the days, cleaning boots, sweeping terraces and getting involved. I didn't end up getting a full time contract in the end and i ended up playing around the Doncaster and District Leagues. My mates also went to Hull Uni, one at Cottingham campus and i stayed with them many times for nights out and stuff. Used to spend the day boozing up Anlaby Road on the way to BP. Great days. Agree about the sense of camaraderie and community. Just brief posts from now on. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverurie Ram Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Nothing wrong with a long one Tony Le Mesmer, Rave On!.....Sammy the Snake!.....Brilliant! We were brought up watching my Dad and my older brother play for BR North at Cricket along or near the Anlaby Road in Hull, and I once spotted a Derby County (Hull City) player Roy Greenwood walking his Labradore dog around the pitch. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Greenwood_(footballer,_born_1952) Spent great weekends away at Scarborough, watching the battleships and cheering on Yorkshire at the cricket. Saw The Housemartins have a kick about in Queens Gardens near the Hull City Hall, in their early socialist days in the early 80's, before playing their set. Happy Days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariotofmyown Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Tony, Great name, terrible knife-throwing act. Loving your insights on lower league football and your comparisons to Derby. As a sort-of outsider, your unbiased opinions seem to almost count for more. There are some great posters on this forum. Keep on contributing. But preferably with an Inverurie music link included. Everyone thinks he looks daft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayram Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 As someone who travels up from Oxford to watch the Rams fairly regularly with a mate and his 18 year old son during the season and is attending the Brighton game this Saturday I have to say that we were all stunned at the ticket price increase. For me personally when I'm driving it's a 230 mile round trip plus the cost of parking, food & drink, and at these current price I'll be left with little change from £100 every trip. I'm in a relatively well paid job but that kind of cost every few weeks is simply unsustainable, so unless the pricing structure changes I'll be watching the Rams on Sky or listening to RD for the rest of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derby blood Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I am surprised at Derby putting there prices up like this, next time any of the chosen few get invited, to speak to Mel again, mention why this has happened, can see our gates falling by a few thousand with our new prices, does not affect me as I am a season ticket holder, but for your walk up fans, the prices are getting out of hand.Come on Mel you are A Rams fan, so please look after all Derby fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 He's priced out our own, He's priced out our own, Mel Morris, He's priced out our own! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariotofmyown Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 1 hour ago, reveldevil said: He's priced out our own, He's priced out our own, Mel Morris, He's priced out our own! He made a mistake He made a mistake Mel will sort it out soon He made a mistake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagerbob Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I really hope the club do reverse their decision on this. THis is the first season in 20 years I havent had a season ticket, largely because i dont know if i will be living in the derby area or even the country so much in the next 12 months. I was always quite proud on our treatmwent of fans and the pricing structure and could only applaud the club on how well they looked after the fans with pricing when compared to other clubs. I really did think mel would carry on the good work of the american owners. I dont invisage going to man y games this season anyway, i will go to even less if this is the price of tickets. I think it is really sad if the club needs to do this to cover costs. Personally i would rather a club which is our club in any division who we can all go and watch. I really hope the pricing decision is not to cover costs of our bloated squad and to pay the likes of johnson and butterfield who werent needed anyway. Promotion at all costs for many, but not for me, couldnt care less if the costs are unreasonable. I'll probably start watching one of my favourite german teams when over here for a fraction of the cost and where i can stand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 12 minutes ago, ariotofmyown said: He made a mistake He made a mistake Mel will sort it out soon He made a mistake After Christmas, when the games are less attractive, I presume? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VulcanRam Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 On 01/08/2016 at 11:23, Tony Le Mesmer said: Just if I may put another angle on this debate? I have mentioned before that I used to be a regular home and away of a now conference club (York City) and have had many debates with fans of other lower league clubs about the way they feel about how their particular club treats them. An increasing minority feel so disenfranchised and marginalised by their respective clubs that they simply feel now that the only value they have to their clubs is as a guaranteed revenue stream. The whole community aspect of these clubs has gone they feel along with any semblance of customer service / fan engagement and professionalism even allowing for the obvious fact that smaller clubs have smaller budgets and therefore less staff to facilitate these. They feel mugged off big time for want of a better turn of phrase. One fan of a Devon club I know really well used to go to every game home and away and often I used to accompany him. Once I went to Hartlepool away and met him up there which originally me being from North Yorkshire only took me an hour and a bit to get there but he was on the road at 6am, the game was atrocious and his team lost (again - subsequently relegated) and he didn't get back home until after midnight. He'd do this week in week out. A real die hard. After years and years of being ignored and taken for granted by his club he decided to turn his back on what was a way of life and choose another. He's not been since. It all depends on what kind of person you are I guess. Some fans put their hands in their pockets regularly despite clearly being taken for a ride but they are quite happy to do this and will continue to do so because it makes them happy. They may not feel taken for a ride so they don't have an issue. Clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea and to some extent Derby can afford to do what they hell they like because, like Inverurie Ram says if we go or not they'll still do it. They know it won't have too much of a detrimental impact. If clubs like York or Chesterfield do the same (which IMO they are and lower league clubs are even worse) then given the paucity of their fanbase they will be hit hard. This is happening now IMO. Fans of York are gradually ebbing away (including myself although not a 100% true die hard) and with the cost of tickets, apathy of the board and dreadful matchday experience cutting off any chances the club have of attracting kids / new fans then the only people left are the ones who are ready willing and able to plug this deficit. York were supposed to move into a purpose built community stadium 2 years ago and share with the Knights who are the rugby club but there has been endless wrangles and hitches and work hasn't even begun yet. The Knights have gone bust, the football club got relegated into the conference and are struggling for finances. The clueless chairman even before the season was out and straight after relegation threatened the fans and asked for a million quid to start a 'footballing revolution'. As if such crassness wasn't enough, the lease on Bootham Crescent is set to expire in the next year or so and the club have brought out a new home shirt in each of the last 3 seasons at £45 a pop, one of the dearest in the lower leagues. I have no crystal ball but IMO based on everything on and off the pitch York City will either cease to exist in it's current guise in the next 5 years or it will end up ground sharing with Brid Town or something until a ground can be sorted. I cannot for the life of me see a grandiose new project of a new community stadium come to fruition just to house a non league side and when both the owner of the club AND the City of York council have no money. Clubs run functionally won't fold because they know they could even raise the prices year on year and this core group of fans will pay it and keep them afloat. It's a guilt thing for some and they feel entrapment IMO. They will not let their club down at all costs. The tragedy is that the club cannot grow like this. It will simply just exist, churn out rubbish and a whole stagnation around the club perpetuates. Again, like Inverurie Ram says, the clubs know this and therefore don't really have to do anything to make it a better place. I'm not going to come on here and say who is right or wrong because people do whatever they want to do as it's a free country. I have lived in Derbyshire now for a number of years and my kid was born here and goes to school here. Up until a few years ago I used to travel up to York to watch games and I took my kid to a few of them (£12 walk up price for a 3 year old in league 2 plus £21 for me and friend - £53 to watch a league 2 home game in a ground that needs condemning) plus fuel, parking etc and I am not prepared to do that anymore or more so I want my kid to grow up watching a local team to her. This brings me to the point (quoted) by Philmycock great user name or real name perhaps? I've got my first season ticket at Derby for two adults and a kid. It's a lot of money and i'm on minimum wage but I can pay over 8 months. At York the same package purchased when I got mine was just over 200 quid cheaper PLUS I only get two months to pay. So whilst I completely agree that ticket prices from conference up to Prem are an absolute joke across the board, for just over 200 quid more i can watch Championship football, decent players in great surroundings and also receive first class customer service (as I have done whenever I have had cause to contact DCFC). It's a no brainer. The walk up prices however are ridiculous and if I wasn't able to purchase a season ticket at Derby then I wouldn't be able to go. Families who cannot afford a season ticket have no chance really of going to Derby unless they go to a cup game like the Grimsby one for example which is a huge problem and other than reducing prices or even just making the odd game or two special designated family games and offering some really serious deals for families then i'm not sure the situation will improve. I'm one if these fans who doesn't care if the football is bad or the team are losing. I'm used to it. So long as i'm valued and respected as an integral contributing factor to the greater good of a football club and treated with consideration and not contempt then that's enough for me. What lower league clubs fail to grasp is that by and large the 'product' on the pitch is likely to be absolutely terrible most weeks. They know this in advance. Therefore to keep the interest of floaters or fans that get fed up easily they have to be proactive keep fans coming back either by ticket prices / offers or making the matchday experience a whole lot more than some old bloke picking raffle numbers out of a bucket or some youth trying to dink a football into the boot of a Ford Focus to win a pie as half time entertainment. Clubs do neither. Unusually long post all so apologies. Skip or read as applicable. Great post. I spent a couple of years home and away with York back in the late 80s when I lived there and couldn't afford to come to Derby more than two or three times a season (one of my mates brothers was a York fanatic and had a car ). I've kept in close touch with what's going on there. It saddens me greatly as it used to be a fantastic little club to support. Welcome to the iPro anyway, let's hope your first season ticket is a lucky one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 11 hours ago, Derby blood said: I am surprised at Derby putting there prices up like this, next time any of the chosen few get invited, to speak to Mel again, mention why this has happened, can see our gates falling by a few thousand with our new prices, does not affect me as I am a season ticket holder, but for your walk up fans, the prices are getting out of hand.Come on Mel you are A Rams fan, so please look after all Derby fans. Sorry, it's all my fault. I'm on Candy Crush level 1500, and I've never paid a penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike93rh Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I really want my club to be the ones setting an example. I want my club to be the best, to treat home and away fans fairly and not price the poorest out of the stadium. With prices like these, Mel, we're being the opposite of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnero Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 http://www.dcfc.co.uk/documents/2016-17-match-price-table129-3222220.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal is a Ram Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/derby-county-launches-match-ticket-discount-offers-for-fans-3222222.aspx Quote Derby County is launching a range of new ticketing incentives for fans to follow the Rams at home this season. The club is offering supporters the chance to receive: · A Discount Voucher of up to £5 for selected games if you buy tickets for other matches · A ‘Four or More’ discount which gives a 20% discount to those fans buying at least four match tickets – perfect for families · A Season Ticket Holder ‘Friends and Family’ scheme where current season ticket holders can buy tickets at a 25% discount for friends and family for five selected home league games In order for supporters to be able to plan and budget for the entire season we are issuing our full match ticket price structure for the 2016/17 campaign. Click Here for Category E & D prices. Prices for all areas will be available in due course. Discount Voucher Scheme Any fans who purchase an Adult, Senior Citizen, Under 18 or 2 to 12 year old ticket for one of the following home league games - Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City or Wigan Athletic - will be entitled to a discount voucher. Adults will receive a £5 voucher, Senior Citizens and Under 18s will receive a £3 voucher with 2 to 12 years group getting a £2 voucher, to redeem against the value of a match ticket. These will be available to use against the purchase of tickets for the following home league fixtures: · Brentford, Reading, Barnsley, Preston North End and Fulham Supporters with registered email addresses, who have already purchased match tickets for the Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Newcastle United fixtures, will be sent their vouchers after each game. Four or More Discount The ‘Four Or More’ initiative is primarily aimed at families wishing to attend matches at the iPro Stadium as a group. When four or more tickets are purchased for the same game in the same transaction, all tickets will receive a 20% reduction. Under the scheme, a family of four with two children under 12 sitting in the Category AA area of the stadium would pay £65.60 to watch a gold classified game, while the same family sat in Category E&D area would pay £53.60 to watch the same classified game. If you buy two or three tickets for the same game in the same transaction, supporters qualify for a 10% discount. Season Ticket Holder Friends & Family 2016/17 Season Ticket Holders can purchase match tickets for friends and family at a 25% discount for the following home league matches: · Brentford, Reading, Barnsley, Preston North End and Fulham. Derby County Chairman and Owner Mel Morris said:“This is a genuine and substantial effort to make coming to cheer on the Rams as affordable as possible. “It is always our aim to provide value for money to our fans. We know football can be costly and we will never take for granted the amazing backing our crowd gives the team. “Our ‘Discount Voucher’ scheme will give supporters the chance to sample another home game at a discounted rate after they have purchased a ticket for one of the other games listed, while our ‘Four or More’ initiative will make taking a family trip to watch our team, great value for money. I especially want to do everything we can to encourage families and future generations to come to our games. “It will always be a priority for us to create an environment where we can sell out the stadium and continue to grow our fan base. I think our ‘Friends and Family’ scheme for Season Ticket Holders will also help that ambition. “I share the excitement of all our supporters as we near the start of the new season and know everybody will get behind Nigel Pearson and team as we the near the big kick off on Saturday.” Supporters can also take advantage of our Group Ticketing Discount Scheme, which will also be offering a 20% reduction for purchases of 10 tickets of more for a game. Wonder if this is the reaction to the complaints about the high prices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Apart from Brighton and Villa, no adult match ticket goes over £30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal is a Ram Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 These are the prices for Categories D and E. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.