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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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...
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
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.
"If you're going to strive for a change then you have to keep going upwards,"
Keiron Cunningham, 2016
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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.
Saint until I die - For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad.
Does anyone have an idea of when the swipe cards will be posted out?
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...
More good news from Saints.
They are offering specialist transport for disabled spectators to Widnes.
http://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2956
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.
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