Then just make the reductions and take the hit. It'd be a great gesture whose cost is dwarfed by the PL money anyway.
Would there be an overall hit? Income would decrease based in the Memberships already sold but recouped on additional Memberships bought, because of the change. The increased Membership would also lead to additional merchandise & concourse income. Overall I don't think total income would be much different. Which, in a way, highlights the decision to abolish concessions was more a spite led decision than a business one.
The membership scheme is flexible enough to allow the re-introduction of concessions this season, if only in the Family stand. Children with passes last season in that stand are already getting concessions with the family guarantee. It's just a question of reducing it for children that bought a pass this season and having match day concessions. We then have the rest of the season to look at how to make the membership system fairer. Hopefully the Chinese will talk to all the supporters' groups, including the Trust, to look at ways of bringing the club and the supporters back together. Once we have been sold a polite letter asking for a meeting with the various groups, including the OSC, would be in order. Even better if it was jointly signed by all the various supporters' groups we have.
It's certainly an option, but not an easy one, they'd still have to reprice every membership already sold to a concession, it's a hell of a job pulling that off part way through a season.
What about giving the seats back to the people who had to move cos they couldn't/wouldn't pay to sit in the ****ng seat they've had years?? Do we get first dibs or does that go to the returners.
Another reason why I think it would be better to try and resolve everything for next season, though I'd hope they'd at least try and sort the West Upper immediately.
If the opened the whole of the upper West they would go to new members unless the club offered you the choice to go back, ie you get first dibs. However they may not introduce concessions for that stand so those that couldn't afford to move back would lose out. I see the reintroduction of concessions for children in the Family Stand as fairly simple and cheap to introduce immediately. It would be a sign of goodwill and start to lift the mood of resentment. A promise to then work with the various supporters' groups to launch a new and improved membership system next season means the club and fans would be working together. An early meeting to discuss our concerns is, in my view, very desirable. We then wouldn't have to second guess how they feel about the name, the membership scheme and talking to us. All it takes is a simple polite letter asking for a meeting. Ideally, a common letter signed by all the various supporters groups. Once the sale goes through the past is the past and we move on.
So loyal returning fans with years of service, Torkey away etc etc get put in West upper with the stiffs!!! I can feel further staying away...
I have no idea. The Allams will leave the membership scheme in a mess. The easiest thing to do is fill the upper West with new members. How you do that can cause further alienation amongst supporters or it can start the healing process. I have no idea what the Chinese want to do once they own the club. I think an early meeting with them to discuss the name and the state of the membership scheme would be helpful. I'm assuming they would like the protests and ill feeling to stop once they take over. The best way to do that is to listen to what we have to say, we can listen to what they have to say and hopefully find enough common ground to enjoy the rest of the season and have something more substantial in place for next season.
Give ALL spare seat tickets to schools...local clubs...charitys etc for free For the rest of the season and sort prices out for next season. I couldnt care less if someone sat on an empty seat got in for free..
I suspect most fans they speak to will say the West Upper fans should be allowed to move back to their regular seats, so if they listen to them, that's what I'd expect to happen.
Could they simply reduce the price off all the direct debits by 20%. It is not a concession but would bring the cost down across the board with immediate effect and create some.......Cannot remember the word.......get there in a minute.......ah yes - goodwill feeling. Any reason why that couldn't be implemented before the season end overhaul.
Admission costs are such a small part of revenue. An opportunity would be reintroduce concessions and let it roll as it is for a season or so. Bring fans back on side by building bridges. So we don't really need to do anything other than the concessions. Maintaining cheap adult tickets can be reward for putting up with the two amigos.
