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Thread: Welcome to Widnes/ on the road in 2011

  1. #26
    really is sorry Reacher's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DD View Post
    Very true!
    Well your information is very different to what I thought. Having not read it through properly then yes it does seem like some have grasped it wrongly. Thanks for the clarification.

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    Banned The Chair Maker's Avatar
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    Re ticket prices. I have to dispute DD's now edited out assertion that our prices are more expensive than anyone outside London. Its far more complex than that

    Take Hull for example they dont have an advance ticket purchase discount. Hence their game day price is slightly lower than Saints game day price. However if a Saints fan buys in advance they can get cheaper entry to the ground. Also its cheaper behind the sticks at Saints than Hull regardless of when tickets are bought.

    Warrington is also more expensive than Saints to sit down in the main stand seats. Though obviously cheaper to stand up.

    Wigan is cheaper all round but thats always been the case, as you have to take into account that the town exists in the third world.

    Leeds charge upto £30 to sit down in their seats, and dont offer an advance purchase discount.
    Standing at Leeds is a minimum £20, again no advance purchase discount , which means you can sit down at Saints for less than you pay to stand in a condemed terrace at Headingley

  3. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Chair Maker View Post
    Wigan is cheaper all round but thats always been the case, as you have to take into account that the town exists in the third world.

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    On the subject of the buses and having to book in advance.

    Of course this is necessary.

    Imagine these scenarios.

    Arriva put on just one single decker bus to shuttle back and forth between Saints and Widnes, however 1000 Saints fans turn up at St.Helens bus station to get a lift. Most of these turn up between 6:30pm and 7pm. As a result Arriva cant cope and many people are left in St.Helens unable to get to the ground in time for kick off.

    Arriva put on 5 double deck buses to shuttle fans back and forth between Widnes, unfortunately between 6:30pm and 7pm only 30 fans turn up for a lift. The buses are therefore empty and Arriva's manager has to explain to his big bosses why he is losing a fortune running empty buses between St.Helens and Widnes.

    Now imagine the outbursts on these message boards, as a result of either of the above scenarios occurring.

    Therefore the sensible option is to carry out advance planning by requiring people to purchase in advance. That way numbers are known and the bus companies can anticipate the demand, ensuring all fans requiring the bus transport get to the ground on time.

    The only area i think could be improved is in the sourcing of these advance tickets. Ideally fans could purchase them in more than just Saints shop.

    I would like to think these bus companies could either offer the alternative of online ticket putchase, or failing that see if it would be financially possible to offer tickets for sale at certain designated outlets eg Post offices, local shops.
    I well remember years ago for example getting on the Eavesway bus to Anfield from outside Haydock high, as the local shop sold advance tickets. They also sold tickets for Old Trafford, Goodison and Maine road.

  5. #30
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    This thread highlights why Saints fans don't half wind me up sometimes!!!

    Well done Saints, nice little flyer that - seem to be making an excellent fist of this transition season IMO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by FearTheVee View Post
    Well done Saints, nice little flyer that - seem to be making an excellent fist of this transition season IMO.
    I agree. They do seem to be trying their best. It must be a nightmare having to sort out what will be a huge number of elements to the move.

  7. #32
    Starting A Programme Collection Harri81's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wanderer View Post
    I agree. They do seem to be trying their best. It must be a nightmare having to sort out what will be a huge number of elements to the move.
    Well said. I thought the information was good and timed well. My only concern is these swipe cards arriving in the post, especially as the post is so unreliable.

  8. #33
    Learning All The Songs Saint Simon's Avatar
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    Im have to say that i think saints have done as well as can be expected here. Ive got a season ticket in the northstand for the new stadium, and would you believe it, i'm in the north stand in widnes too.
    I've been told that we have sold "well over" 8k season tickets, so there will be very few tickets for sale on for each game, perhaps as low as 1k unless you want to go into the away stand, but you cant blame saints for selling alot of season tickets! good effort all round i say!

  9. #34
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk paulscnthorpe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harri81 View Post
    Well said. I thought the information was good and timed well. My only concern is these swipe cards arriving in the post, especially as the post is so unreliable.
    in what sense is it 'so unreliable'?? i've never had any issues with post not arriving, as have most people i would suspect

  10. #35
    Starting A Programme Collection Harri81's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by paulscnthorpe View Post
    in what sense is it 'so unreliable'?? i've never had any issues with post not arriving, as have most people i would suspect
    Depending on peoples postcodes I know a few people whose post has gone astray, today I received a Xmas card posted from Manchester at the start of dec. Only took 34 days to arrive. Hope that doesn't happen to the swipe card other wise it'll be mid march before I get it lol.

  11. #36
    Got A Season Ticket WidnesSaint's Avatar
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    The only thing i wanted to know really was whether fans who dont have a seaosn ticket can sit in the North Stand at Widnes...

  12. #37
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk DD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Chair Maker View Post
    On the subject of the buses and having to book in advance.

    Of course this is necessary.

    Imagine these scenarios.

    Arriva put on just one single decker bus to shuttle back and forth between Saints and Widnes, however 1000 Saints fans turn up at St.Helens bus station to get a lift. Most of these turn up between 6:30pm and 7pm. As a result Arriva cant cope and many people are left in St.Helens unable to get to the ground in time for kick off.

    Arriva put on 5 double deck buses to shuttle fans back and forth between Widnes, unfortunately between 6:30pm and 7pm only 30 fans turn up for a lift. The buses are therefore empty and Arriva's manager has to explain to his big bosses why he is losing a fortune running empty buses between St.Helens and Widnes.

    Now imagine the outbursts on these message boards, as a result of either of the above scenarios occurring.

    Therefore the sensible option is to carry out advance planning by requiring people to purchase in advance. That way numbers are known and the bus companies can anticipate the demand, ensuring all fans requiring the bus transport get to the ground on time.

    The only area i think could be improved is in the sourcing of these advance tickets. Ideally fans could purchase them in more than just Saints shop.

    I would like to think these bus companies could either offer the alternative of online ticket putchase, or failing that see if it would be financially possible to offer tickets for sale at certain designated outlets eg Post offices, local shops.
    I well remember years ago for example getting on the Eavesway bus to Anfield from outside Haydock high, as the local shop sold advance tickets. They also sold tickets for Old Trafford, Goodison and Maine road.
    Many football clubs in Britain manage to put on a match day service from their town/city centre to grounds for the average bloke who wants to pay on the day. It's all about being to make good estimates as to the volume of traffic. If we over-estimate by four buses one week, then we know what do the next.

    At some point, somewhere, Saints are going to have to accept that they are going to take a knock on a few things going to Widnes. But at the same time, when your average spectator sees that the club will do this for him, he feels more part of the family and he spends more money on the club in future. Long term business planning and all that.

    Our plan is very much based upon getting every last penny in now and the future (not to mention your average fan) will take care of itself. Unfortunately, we may well find that the people who are being messed about, the ones who are not being looked after, might simply find something better to do with their time and not bother coming back.

    In the long run, we might save a few grand this year but lose significantly more grands as a knock-on effect.

    You have to remember, the support of the club is not just about who goes through the turnstiles now, it's about who goes through the turnstiles in future. The customer needs to be encouraged to go, he needs to have it spoon-fed for him. He does not need it to be made difficult because he will simply find alternatives. Lose him and you lose his kids and his grandkids too further down the line.

    Customer relations is Saints Achilles heel and customer relations are quite possibly at an all time low at the moment, primarily due to an accumulation of little things, petty savings that may sound big at first and look good on this year's accounts, but when placed against the context of future recuperation had the customer been treated right, would have probably paled into insignificance.
    THIS YEAR LENDING SUPPORT TO:- St. Helens RLFC, Manchester City, Celtic, Alemannia Aachen, Steps 1 to 6 Non-League Football

  13. #38
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk DD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomhsaints View Post
    The only thing i wanted to know really was whether fans who dont have a seaosn ticket can sit in the North Stand at Widnes...
    Well read the form properly then!

    Of course you can! It even tells you how much it is in the North Stand on the day.
    THIS YEAR LENDING SUPPORT TO:- St. Helens RLFC, Manchester City, Celtic, Alemannia Aachen, Steps 1 to 6 Non-League Football

  14. #39
    Got A Season Ticket WidnesSaint's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DD View Post
    Well read the form properly then!

    Of course you can! It even tells you how much it is in the North Stand on the day.
    Yes i know that now lol but i didnt think this thread would cause so many problems. Arr well i cant wait to pay £35 every home game for me and my other half !

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    I think those prices are very steep considering the savings the club must be making on not having the overheads of running KR vs rental costs at Widnes.

  16. #41
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    Quote Originally Posted by DD View Post
    Fair play but it also say no cash on the day.

    Personally, I would want to travel from Lea Green. It's a bit off to either make me trek to town im midweek or make me have to buy a bus ticket by mail order.

    Surely the plan is to make it as easy as possible for people without cars to get to games not as difficult as possible.
    normally I tend to agree with you, but on this subject the club cant really get it right whatever they do. they cant cater for every possible situation of every single fan who may want to get the bus with a million potential various options.
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    Quote Originally Posted by DD View Post
    Many football clubs in Britain manage to put on a match day service from their town/city centre to grounds for the average bloke who wants to pay on the day. It's all about being to make good estimates as to the volume of traffic. If we over-estimate by four buses one week, then we know what do the next.
    As I suggested earlier, paying on the day might not have been an option for Saints. They have negotiated these deals with two of their sponsors/partners. Saints will have wanted to get the best possible deal for the fans. A condition to that might well have been that there are no cash payments because of the requirements for each company on their regular services. This arrangement is just for one season and so Arriva and Hattons will not see any long-term financial benefits to it. Also, the arrangement is for a very few occasions relative to the number of days in a year and so it will not be a particularly attractive proposition to a business to put on significant numbers of buses irregularly. I would imagine from a business POV, doing what Saints have negotiated with them to do goes against pretty much every ounce of business sense and Saints will no doubt have had to pay a significant amount more than we are paying for the arrangement. I am just grateful that Saints have managed to secure these deals.

    Unfortunately, we may well find that the people who are being messed about, the ones who are not being looked after, might simply find something better to do with their time and not bother coming back.
    I think most fans appreciate and understand that the 2011 season is not going to be ideal in a number of ways and that Saints are trying very hard to accommodate people. They have stated in their email flyer that they have tried to take into account those who just want to catch occasional matches at Widnes and those who want to go to every match at Widnes. But clearly, cash payments were one step too far.

    You have to remember, the support of the club is not just about who goes through the turnstiles now, it's about who goes through the turnstiles in future. The customer needs to be encouraged to go, he needs to have it spoon-fed for him. He does not need it to be made difficult because he will simply find alternatives. Lose him and you lose his kids and his grandkids too further down the line.
    Well, us women will step in if the men become too wussy! I don't reckon the 2011 season will be about getting new fans. It will be about holding the collective breath until the new stadium is built. After that, Saints will go all out for the new fan. That is when Saints will have a real gem to market to the new fan. Until then, all we have is Widnes.

  18. #43
    Learning All The Songs are you blind ref's Avatar
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    I think the flyer is excellent and informative - well done Saints
    I do wonder why the swipe cards weren't issued at the same time as season tickets though, would have saved them a fortune in postage for a start, plus we are still waiting for things posted first class before Christmas here, got a card posted first class on the 9th December yesterday.
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    Starting A Programme Collection Harri81's Avatar
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    Does anyone have an idea of when the swipe cards will be posted out?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Geoggy View Post
    I think those prices are very steep considering the savings the club must be making on not having the overheads of running KR vs rental costs at Widnes.
    Contrary to popular opinion, renting a stadium is much more costly to clubs than owning your own. I have this on good authority from several RU clubs currently doing the same. For example, clubs can only generate revenue from their rented stadia on match days, not 365 days a year - this makes a huge difference to income. Add to that the costs of renting office space for 12 months...

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    More good news from Saints.

    They are offering specialist transport for disabled spectators to Widnes.

    http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2956

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    I think the no cash on the bus rule and the necessity to pre book is laughable. That would be bus fare into town and back to pay the £4 fare to Widnes, costing I suggest circa £8 !! ( or petrol plus town centre parking fees) I reckon it would be not much more to get a taxi expecially if there are a couple of you !!

    I would be inclined to use it on some occasions when it was convenient if I could roll and pay on the bus.

    Its going to be car for me this season and a nice 20 minute walk from 2012 onwards
    Last edited by Div; 17th January 2011 at 20:09.

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Chair Maker View Post
    More good news from Saints.
    They are offering specialist transport for disabled spectators to Widnes.
    I think this is a great idea. Well done Saints.

  24. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Chair Maker View Post
    More good news from Saints.

    They are offering specialist transport for disabled spectators to Widnes.

    http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2956
    Excellent Saints. Transport for all. Now lets av details to the nearest and best chippie for all.

  25. #50
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    Is there a dedicated family section at Widnes?

    I am contemplating taking my 6 year old to a few games this season, and as it is his first, I wanted somewhere a bit more family oriented until he gets used to it

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