So I've been informed by someone at the club. Out of 47 boxes available, only 8 are used full time and half of them by the club sponsors who got the box as part of their package. Seems remarkable that the club is failing so badly in this sector of its operation. I presume heads will roll (again).
Just finished reading the Rupert Lowe thread. Clicked on this one thinking it said Lowe had taken up an executive box at St Marys. *note to self read title properly *lowe and lowest.
To be fair it is a pretty hard sell at the moment, I used to arrange some motorcycle based corporate days for Virgin Media and all that kind of stuff was first for the chop once conditions hardened in the last few years.
Lets face it, most things at Saints are far too expensive, from season tickets, to match day tickets, to replica shirts. Until that changes I imagine sales in most things will drop.
Yeah probably too costly and they'll be loads of add ons that you have to buy in order to get the full match day package every home game. How much you reckon they go for?
Its supply and demand though isn't it. If the season tickets were very overpriced then few would have purchased them and the club would have had to lower the price, same with the replica shirts... I was surprised at the Sunderland game the number of fans there with new shirts, what are they £50? Enough people seem to be buying them to allow them to sell at that price. Don't know how much a box is but I expect they are costly and as someone else correctly pointed out businesses will cut these sort of things out when the hard times come.
Appreciate they all get filled for games against Man Utd etc, but the lack of box holders for the season probably does reflect the current economic climate, but also that Saints have a nasty habit of overcharging and also of being quite aloof to local businesses.
Think businesses are looking at value for money these days. In the past, the business executives would do it as much for themselves as the clients. Still amazed the take up is that low though....would have expected two thirds full at least. Wonder what the temporary take up is like...on a match by match basis.
Do you know how much they are? I also wonder how much effort the sales team put into targeting "away" businesses when so many boxes are available. I'd be interested to know what sort of sales team they have trying to market the boxes; if they are just using a telesales team, then I doubt they'll get the level of success needed. If they were a little more 'involved' with local businesses, they'd have better relationships and potentially better sales.
That will be true for a lot of games this season. The only time I bought hospitality was for our PL promotion game as I wanted to be sure I was there. I enjoyed it as a treat...lovely soft seats...easy access to drinks/tea etc. Would possibly do it again, but I bet it is dearer now. Can't remember the cost then but was over a couple of hundred for two.
Prices are high, but also it's difficult for businesses to justify a full season. I believe you're allowed 10 people per box so over 19 matches that's a lot of different customers to bring in and staff members to reward. Expect many businesses will take up the opportunity to do a couple of games a season.
My dad very kindly treated me to the Markus Leibherr lounge last weekend. Lots of benefits (especially if you like drinking) however I noticed that most of the "Saints fans" knew a lot less than those in the non-padded seats. Including things as not knowing who we'd signed, any young players names or last weeks result. Whilst I really enjoyed it, I would rather be with proper supporters getting involved in the match and chanting and hurling abuse at the opposition and officials and let the businessy people enjoy their meals and drinks and big wages.
Executive boxes were priced at £60,000 for the season which is why we have low take up as it would be local smaller firms that are interested and the cost is simply prohibitive.
