I could be miles off with this, as I read the pack, terms and conditions and Prem rules when the scheme 'details' were announced and haven't read them much since, but could the club argue that the family zone is a concession, and they've gone further by letting others in there at the lower price, without actually being 'concessions' themselves? As I recall, the rate of concession only needs to demonstrate that it reflects the local community. Other grounds don't have concessions in every area.
Even if that was the case it would exclude oldies & oldies sat with other oldies who are not part of a family & don't currently reside in the South Stand Family Area. They'll also have to offer concessions to away support as they must be available. They'll have some explaining to do when offering reduced rates across three zones that are not available in similar zones to home support. I've read the paperwork & to me the club are quite clear in that there are no concessions & the PL are quite clear concessions must be available. There will have to be some kind of compromise.
But the concessions are available if people move. The rules don't say how many or where. There are already areas in the KC and many other grounds where there are no concessions available.
The designated family stand is lower priced than other areas. That could be described as a concession, even if it's not called one.
But a single or group oldie wouldn't be eligible to reside there. Therefore not available & they must be available. The normal price for the family zone is £27/month. A concession would be a reduction to this usual price. There are no concessions available based on the usual usual price in any stands to anybody.
The family stand is zone 2. Zone 1 is cheaper than zone 2 and oldies, families and teenagers have priority for seats if they move there. The concession is that they are allowed to move into those cheaper seats.
The club detailed the normal price for each stand in their pamphlet. A concession is a reduction to the normal rate. As it stands, there are no concessions. The PL have clear regulations that demand concessions be available. They also have a rule that states clearly that Membership of the League shall constitute an agreement between the League and Clubs and between each Club to be bound by and comply with the rules. Once the club sign up they are compelled to abide by the rules.
A concession is a price that is lower than the normal price. The normal price for each zone has been documented by the club. There are no concessions.
A lone adult can't get a seat in the family stand, therefore it could be argued it's a concession. They could argue that by allowing existing supporters to remain, they've gone beyond the requirement. It's all academic, because we're all guessing.
There's no such thing as an adult within the scheme as far as pricing goes. It is a same zone price for all regardless of age & status & as a result there are no concessions available.
I believe SCB has answered correctly. There are zones with different prices, but a zone only has one price; regardless of where it is or the demographics of it. It may be unlikely - maybe not the way they are treated - but what if no oldies or kids choose to go in Z1, would al of those supporters in there be receiving a concession, or just the going tariff for that zone? I have used the term 'a broad reasonable interpretation' throughout, it is more commonly used in patent adjudication. It can also be applied when folk want to dance around what a word, such as concession, really implies. Reasonable can be a compelling argument.
But there is a stand you couldn't get a ticket for as an adult, but is available to concession groups, and is a lower price. I don't know if my version's correct, but I can see how it could be argued. It's off topic for this thread, but I see the upper West and other movement of fans as at least as big an issue.
If people choose to use another area, that's there choice. It already happens in some areas of the ground now, where there have never been concessions. The club must make concessions available. Arguably they've gone further, and enabled others to benefit, especially as the age for unaccompanied youths is quite high.
I can't see how it can be argued. The definitions are all quite clear. The seats in the Family Stand are not cheaper because they've never been priced like this before, therefore the normal price is £27/month. A concessionary rate would be a reduction to the normal rate. The seats are available to single adults if you already reside there, they are not available to oldies who must have a concession option unless they already reside there. The part from the brochure that I used earlier, to me, states quite clearly that no concessions are available. "SAME ZONE PRICE FOR ALL: REGARDLESS OF AGE AND STATUS"
I can see what you're arguing, and it may turn out to be right. I just don't read it as clear as you are, because it can be spun different ways, plus there are other parts in the rules that can be used. If one of the zones is a cheaper price than others, that is arguably a concession. The fact others can take advantage of that arguably makes it a wider concession. Edit. Just to be clear, I'm 100% against the scheme and think not having proper concessions is disgraceful.
Again, as I have stated from the beginning, it depends on how you interpret a concession in respect to R7. I believe it is not reasonable to interpret the rule in any other way than a difference in price between oldies, juniors and the rest. That is a reasonable interpretation of that rule in English football. The club do not state they have offered a concession because they haven't. The PL will question this, we must await the outcome. This nonsense as being able to move another supporter from their seat, as being a concession for someone else, is simply wrong; it's an outrageous tactic involving a full tariff in that zone (1 or 2, whatever), or is everyone getting a concession?
