Entry fee increased to £10 as of Saturday....

New Family Ticket Introduced and Small Rise in Match Day Admission Prices
Published on December 5, 2011 by redditchutd   ·   No Comments
The Club has announced that as from this Saturday’s match at home to Banbury United, it will be introducing a ‘Family Ticket’ for 2 Adults and 2 Children (under 16 years of age) at a cost of £20.00.  It will also be making a small increase in ALL match day admission prices to:

£10.00 Adults

£6.00 Concessions

£2.00 Under 16’s.

The club regrets this increase in price, especially in light of the current economic climate but since taking over the reigns at the club in March of this year, club Chairman, Vice Chairman and owners, Chris and Sallie Swan, have invested over £250,000 pounds of their own money to ensure the club is debt free and to improve the facilities at The Valley Stadium to a level that enhances the match day experience for fans.

The playing budget has also been increased significantly, enabling players of a higher quality to be brought in by the management team of Graham Hyde and Mark O’Callaghan, 5 of whom are now on contracts thus ensuring stability and continuity on the pitch and with a recent record of 4 wins and 1 draw in the last 7 matches in the league, this increased investment is reaping its rewards as the Reds climb the Premier League table.

With further ‘major’ investment in the club’s infrastructure planned for the future by Chris and Sallie, additional income is vital to ensure these plans can come to fruition and the £1.00 increase, across the board, on match day admission prices, is the fairest and easiest way to help ensure the necessary increase in income to help sustain the owner’s ambitions and help them achieve their ultimate goals for the club for the benefit of all involved.

The increase in admission prices is the first for some years, which when compared to the rate of increase of the cost of living, inflation, VAT and income tax in the same period is relatively small and it still means that the cost of watching football at The Valley Stadium is cheaper than that of many other teams in the EvoStik League (Southern) Premier Division, including some of those teams in a lower league position than ourselves and what it does do is help to secure the future investment in the club and will go a long way towards achieving the Chairman’s ultimate aim of the return of ‘Conference Football’ to The Valley Stadium within 5 years.

As a thank you to the club’s loyal supporters over the last ‘turbulent and traumatic’ 12 months, for the duration of the festive period, the Chairman has decided to reduce the draught beer, cider and bitter prices for the home matches against Banbury Utd on Saturday December 10th kick off 3pm and against Stourbridge F.C. on Boxing Day (Monday December 26th) kick off 3pm as follows;

-          Anytime up to kick off at 3pm – all draught beers, bitters and ciders will be £2.00 per pint

-          From 3pm till 6pm (including half time) – all draught beers, bitters and ciders will be £2.50 per pint

Whilst the club understands and appreciates that many supporters will have mixed feelings with regard to the admission price increase, it is hoped that the ‘True Reds Fans’ will understand the reasons behind this action and that they will back the Chairman and the club in this decision and they will embrace what the club is trying to achieve for the long term future of Redditch Utd F.C.

RockDJ wrote:I agree that an increase in income is vital but this should be done with a strategic plan, not just by raising the entrance fee!

Was the Supporters TRUST consulted or even asked for their point of view?

‘If’ you get 200 people paying £9 the club receives an income of £1800
When increased to £10 you only have to lose 20 people to that increase (180 people at £10) to only generate the same income, if fact you actually lose as there are 20 people less spending at the bar or the snack outlet.

What do the club do to promote and gain a presence within the community, local businesses? I’m sure with a clear strategy something could be done to increase income.

How much funding / Grants do the club get via local associations I know there is significant funding available at groups such as the Health & Well Being?

RockDJ wrote:Absolutely right Steve, balancing the books is everything.

I’m in a fortunate position stood on the gate at home games whether it’s selling programmes, golden goal or doing the complimentary guest list I get to talk to our fans as they wander through. I know a majority of our regular fans and if they have missed a game or two I usually say good to see you back etc. They usually say they’ve been doing this, watching that so on so forth.

My point is that when we were on the brink of closure the fans came and spent all they could afford, because we were so close to disaster they thought every little bit counted, and they were probably right.
Now we have a wealthy Chairman I believe that that perception has gone, people no longer think they “have” to go, so sometimes don’t. We have more paid staff than I’ve seen down the valley in 40 years, new improved facilities, not that it’s a bad thing but again people perception is that all is rosie off the playing field.

It’s only my opinion but I would have liked to see prices be reduced. We should try everything possible to get back that community spirit. I feel we should of made a really big thing about the economic climate, global recession, people out of work etc. We should be reading headlines like “Redditch United give back to the people of Redditch” to thank them for their continued support by reducing prices during the Christmas period. Or “Redditch United spread Christmas Cheer” by reducing the admission charge…..anything to encourage more people through the turnstiles. Marketed correctly so fans knew exactly what fixtures it was applicable for and where the revenue was going to be spent, I feel this would have been a much better ploy.

porrohman wrote:So what is the team? One post says there's only 3 U21's another says mostly U21's?

Bob Marley wrote:
Easy for us to say....by reducing the entrance fee, do you guarantee the overall income will increase?
Should the fans request a test and offer to subsidise any shortfall?...after all, that is what we are asking Chris to do?

I would be willing to contribute to a test...?

redditch born wrote:Comparing other prices of teams around the same level as Redditch doesn't wash with me either, as it wasn't their books that were examined by Swan before HE decided he would take over at the club, so why bring them up now?

Ahhh now rowly thats another can of worms????????? I heard the books were well........ lets just say incomplete??????????

RockDJ wrote:

Bob Marley wrote:
Easy for us to say....by reducing the entrance fee, do you guarantee the overall income will increase?
Should the fans request a test and offer to subsidise any shortfall?...after all, that is what we are asking Chris to do?

I would be willing to contribute to a test...?

It’s a fair point & a generous offer.
I guess it’s a little late now to change his mind. I’m just a little miffed that the club didn’t ask the TRUST if they had any thoughts or ideas, but it’s his prerogative I suppose.