I think the scheme makes sense from a business point of view, although not fairness, if you think like the owner of a manufacturing business. If Shell calls up Allam Marine and says I'd like to buy a single generator they get a price. If Premier Oil call up and ask for the same they get the same price despite being a much smaller company with far less resources. If you're going to take up a seat at the KCOM someone might think that it doesn't matter if the bum filling the seat is 8, 40 or 77 it's still one bum one seat. Everyone is paying the same so it's completely fair. Just like the poll tax was completely fair as we were all asked to pay exactly the same. This rational would make much more sense of course if the ground was completely sold out every game with a waiting list for season passes, sorry membership cards. However, this isn't the case at all as we have thousands of empty seats, or as a business might call it unsold inventory. All of that unsold inventory is an asset. An asset that is depreciating for every minute it's not cash in your pocket. So what should you do when you have too much inventory? We you do two things. You look for new customers and/or reduce prices to sell it. Kids for a quid (or at least large concession) does both these things and because this particular business has unbelievable brand loyalty eventually those little nippers will be paying full price along side their own little nippers...... (I know there are holes in my analogies but this is how I think they think)
The value of the intellectual property of Hull City is currently around zero given the owners stance on marketing and branding in general. At face value they haven't got a clue!
Despite the disregard and contempt they so blatantly have for their customers, the only way I can even begin to believe their belief in their strategy is to believe they thought the fan-base so dedicated that the dropping of concessions would be unpopular, but acceptable. In that we have yet to see the outcome. I'm sure deals will be done over the phone.
That's the real world, meanwhile over in Allam land drive away existing loyal customers and put the price up.
I've used Disney's Fast-Pass system, and I've even had a complimentary VIP Fast Pass (or something like that) which allowed us to just barge in at the front of every queue. I hope City replicate the part where you hand your pass to a person who then let's you in. It's radical but it really does work (I suppose if you wanted to really think outside the box that same person could take cash as well?)
Not that I'm aware of. I think it's simpler than that. I think the conversation went like this: Underling: Erm boss you know those automatic barriers we installed to save money and eliminate staff... Darkoverlord: [Evil Stare while stroking white cat] Underling: Gulp well it turns out that now we don't actually have anyone on the gates. People can just by a pass in their Granddads or little nephews name at the concession rate and watch the game for a reasonable price. Darkoverlord: [Evil eyebrow raise. STOPS stroking cat] Underling: But but...ddddon't worry we have a solution. We can use biometrics, or facial recognition or put people on the turnstiles. This will cost mon.... Darkoverlord: SILENCE! No one on earth is allowed to question my business decisions. Underling: Offfff ccourse bbbbut.... Darkoverlord Jnr: [whispers] There is another way father. A way which will ring even more money from the long suffering slaves. We simply abolish concessions they can all bear the pain equally. Underling: They'll never stand for it Sir, they'll revolt! Darkoverlord Jnr: No we'll just reduce the full price membership slightly, at least initially, as we know Farther everyone is driven by pure self interest so the majority will stay silent... Darkoverlord: Make it so [Sinister music plays]
The way to solve the kids concession fiddle is as follows. Link the scanning of the pass to a switch that then releases a large scimitar that swipes the horizontal at 5ft , rather like the Penitent Man scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Those abusing the system and who stand taller then 5ft then either have the tops of their skulls sliced off or are even beheaded. A lesson learnt for when they next visit the KCOM stadium. Kids that are taller then 5ft - tough ****, which is the club's attitude anyway to kids so no change there. This scheme has taken me 3 years to perfect.
So therefore if the members who sign for direct debit monthly are reduced to 5000 and we have 20000 non-committed match day members who may attend once per season or not at all it will be a roaring success with 25000 members. The club accountant must be having nightmares.
Its a factor. At the moment there are 16k season pass holders and of the membership scheme os taken up this could double the number of members
There's nowhere near 16,000 pass-holders, there's about 12,500 and 2,000 of them are corporate members unaffected by the new scheme.
At the moment there are 12500 season pass holders and if the membership scheme is taken up this could double the number of members. 2000 executive club members will not be affected by the scheme.
Aye, but it's obviously not going to is it? There's zero chance of the scheme as it stands doing anything other than reducing attendances.
