I suppose it had to happen????? read on below, taken from todays Echo. By Kevin Clark Published on Thu Feb 17 09:46:23 GMT 2011 THE cost of watching Premier League football at the Stadium of Light is going up. The club today announced its new season ticket prices ââ¬â with increases across the board. And it is the Black Catsââ¬â¢ youngest fans who face the steepest rise. The cost of a season ticket for under-16s is up ã20 from ã49 to ã69 ââ¬â a rise of more than 40 per cent. Pensioners will be be hit too, with the cost of an over-65s season ticket rising from ã285 to ã300, while under-22sââ¬â¢ prices start from ã280 next season, compared to ã265 at the moment. Adult season tickets will cost from ã400 for 2011/12, up from a minimum ã380. Tickets go on sale on Monday, March 7, and fans have until 5pm on Wednesday, April 6, to take advantage of the current prices and guarantee their seat. Anyone opting to renew their ticket or buy a new one before then will again be able to spread the cost over eight months, interest free. Martyn McFadden, editor of fanzine A Love Supreme, said he didnââ¬â¢t believe anyone would be put off by the increases. He said: ââ¬ÅIt is a very small rise, really, though I donââ¬â¢t know if they would have been better off not having a rise and making a big thing out of that, in terms of the extra money it is going to bring in. The interest-free credit thing does help a lot of people ââ¬â I have used it myself. ââ¬ÅA lot of people will continue to be frustrated at the amount that Premier League footballers are paid, but if we werenââ¬â¢t bringing in exciting players for people to watch, they would be frustrated by that and we would probably be battling the drop ââ¬â it is damned if you do, damned if you donââ¬â¢t. We want to be battling at the top ââ¬â it is the price of love really.ââ¬Â Chairman Niall Quinn sparked controversy recently when he criticised supporters who choose to watch foreign broadcasts of games in the pub rather than go through the Stadium of Light turnstiles. Today he said he believed the pricing was fair and appealed to fans to back the Black Cats where it counts. He said: ââ¬ÅI do appreciate that with all the passion and enthusiasm in the world ââ¬â which our fans certainly have ââ¬â it still isnââ¬â¢t always an easy decision for supporters to commit financially to a season card. ââ¬ÅThat is why our long-held ethos of welcoming supporters to the Stadium of Light with a realistic pricing structure continues to be uppermost in our minds. ââ¬ÅI believe we strike a good balance with our prices in terms of making paying to watch their team as affordable and convenient as possible for our fans and bringing in the revenue we need to help the club continue to make the progress we all want to see. ââ¬ÅOur 2011-12 prices means a child under the age of 16 can attend the Stadium of Light for less than ã4 a game, which I think represents very good value for money and gives families the opportunity to come along and enjoy football together. ââ¬ÅI sincerely hope our commitment to fair prices will encourage as many people as possible to join us on the next part of our journey. ââ¬ÅIt would be great to see a sea of new faces alongside the thousands of fans who are already part of our fantastic Sunderland family.ââ¬Â Current season card holders will be sent renewal information by post in early March. Online renewals and new purchases by credit/debit card are also available at safc.com. For further information, supporters can check out the clubââ¬â¢s official website, safc.com, or call the ticket office on 0871 911 1973.
I think the increases are reasonable. They won't scare off anyone, it amounts to a quid a game, basically. Wonder if i can pass myself off as under 16 like, surely the club ain't wiley enough to realise i've had a season ticket(card) longer than 16 years already... Where's me old school uniform...
mackemwelder, I don't know about you but the standard of modding on this board is dropping as fast as a new mike ashley chin. Fair comment like being called a twat is one thing, but personal abuse is increasing at what seems an exponential rate. I feel like complaining as I'VE NEVER liked being called a Ha <shockraiseskirtinhorrorand runawaysmiley>
Know what you mean, my thigh high hold-ups always fall down around my ankles and I end up tripping flat on me face.... and ...... DON'T get me started on what the thong does to me bits
Well this is it. If he has the name 'big' in his username, well we know he ain't. Gotta love keyboard warriors, bet he's a reet little creep. (excuse the appaling use of the english language!)
In the current climate with those employed in public service, a very large element of the work force up here, having a pay freeze and in some cases increments held back as well, for the next three years, a cut in spending power of 20% any increase is out of order. I feel for the under 22s especially, with over 20% of those not in college unemployed across the county, in Sunderland this could be as high as 40% and those going to college facing student fees and loans of about ã40K they can not afford to come to games as it is. Rather than putting up prices the game needs to look at its structures and find a way to reduce the pay of players to say a maximum of ã150K per year and bring the tickets back in line with what they were in real terms in the 1970s. If we dont I fear for the future of the game. It will be watched by well off middle class crowds in the ground and the working class in the pub watching on TV. This will be the death of football, it is and should remain a sport for the average working man and woman to bring their kids along as well, with out them the game dies. So yes I am angry about the increase in tickets and how do we change it? Difficult because I will still want to go so will still pay, but until supportors work together with a single voice and organise a national strike, when on a given day we all, from all clubs refuse to turn up and leave the grounds empty for the day we, including me will be responsible for the death of the game we love.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH COSMETIC SURGERY TOO LOOK 16, there's a second line of defence the ask you to drop your trousers if the todgers wrinkled you have to pay double.
You will be ,,,,,,,,,well and truly when your cash is gone my sympathy mate its been a rough one for you this month cash wise. anyone want to watch Ajax even though Swearuz [pun] has gone
They've got Teemu ain't they? Has he managed a game yet? Made out of straw and piss, seemingly. Shame, decent player.