Fans priced out

Really disappointing news from the club yesterday concerning match-by-match ticket pricing for the season which starts in just over two weeks time. Having finished 13th in League One last season and having only brought in five players (three of whom are injured) so far to replace the dozen or so who left, the club think they can get away with charging supporters without season tickets twice as much to see games. 

Simplification of the zoning pricing model means that the vast majority of available seating for 'walk-up' Adult fans will cost £29 or £34 (the 'early buy discount' prices!). To add insult to injury, the hated £3 'Meire Tax' for those who don't buy more than two days in advance, will still be added and there is also the £1.50 admin charge if you are unable or unwilling to buy online. This compares to the pro-rata season ticket rate of c£18 per game.

In the current economic climate, which will only get worse this season, these prices will be vying for most expensive in the division and I find myself once again asking who was involved in agreeing them? The club keeps making very basic commercial errors and, with hindsight on numerous occasions, have been keen to tell us they will be seeking greater fan input to future decisions only to appear to carry on regardless.

I think the market might have worn £24/£29 for these tickets but they should have scrapped the Meire Tax and the booking fees as well. The pricing for the various concessions is similarly high and similarly unattractive. As things stand these prices will reduce gates even further, cut revenue correspondingly and minimise other sell-ons.

There will now be even greater pressure on Ben Garner to deliver attractive, winning football because without it, the club's financials will continue to be under pressure with all that, that entails.