Saints have announced that some season ticket holders will see a reduction in their ticket for next season, although the bulk will see no change.

Saints have made reductions in season ticket prices next season, although the big surprise is that in many areas season ticket prices remain the same as last season, which to be frank are far too high.

It is good to see that Saints have slashed season ticket prices for those supporters behind the goals or in the wings, although they have not reduced the prices for the centre of the Itchen and Kingsland stands, nor the family section, meaning that the bulk of season ticket holders are going to have to pay exactly the same prices as last season if they are going to renew.

The club have proudly announced that 7,000 season ticket holders will see a reduction in prices, although that sounds a lot that is less than a third of this seasons total.

Although some reduction is better than none it is still falling far short of what other Premier League clubs have announced so far and it is also unfair on a large section of the clubs support who are being offered nothing whilst others something.

In short this year those who sit behind the goal paid £628 to renew their season tickets, next season they will pay £570, a reduction of £3.05 per game in the wings of the Itchen & Kingsland this year was £599 and next season will cost £570, barely a drop of £1.52 a game.

The club has said it is dropping these prices so those in the goals will not pay more than the £30 cap on visiting supporters tickets next season, this is absolute nonsense, it is not needed in regulatory terms.

This means that in the Itchen and Kingsland stands next season there will be supporters who sit just an aisle across each other, yet on one side of that aisle fans will pay £5,90 extra per game or in other terms £112 per season for an identical view.

I make no excuses I think football s overpriced these days, I applaud the club for making cheaper tickets available in some areas, but on the other hands what about the majority, this announcement gives them nothing.

This is very shortsighted of the club, they see the same statistics I do about attendances this season, they must see that St Mary's although still healthily full for most games has not sold out for all but a hnadful and even those have struggled.

If St Mary's is not packed out given the seasons we have had both this and last year then something has to give, next season we have to either challenge for the Champions league genuinely or there will be a drop in attendances as there were for the Watford home game when there were over 4,000 empty seats and barely 3,000 people who purchased single tickets for that game.

Short sighted ness from the club, if as they say this sees 7,000 supporters getting a cheaper tickets and the top saving has been £58 per person with the lower rate £29 at an average of £45 x7k this has cost the club £315 k, a drop in the ocean considering the increased amount of money in the Premier League next season.

The club should of and could have gone a lot further in its season ticket reductions this season and is worrying in that it shows a distinct lack of awareness within the club of its supporters and indeed the groundswell of opinion around the country.

Liverpool famously protested against proposed ticket increases next season, over 10,000 showed their disapproval and made the Liverpool board back track, I fear that will not happen here although it would have 15 years ago.

Here we will sit back and take it without a whimper, although I fear that many will vote with their feet and barring a late surge that takes us into the Champions league, there could be a significant drop in season ticket numbers next season and by virtue of that a drop in average attendances.

Photo: Action Images

SalisburySaint added 13:15 - Mar 29 when you asked for views recently few expected any decrease, but must said they expected there should be a freeze at the very least So your headline is not accurate as by given some discount to the lucky 7,000, together with extending cheaper ticket range up to under 18 and introducing a new lower rate for 18-21 year olds I would say they have exceeded expectations, but possible not as much as some would have hoped for

2

darkangelv2 added 13:15 - Mar 29 What? I'm dead chuffed - assumed they would go up as normal but have in fact got a reduction on mine.
4

SaintNick added 13:38 - Mar 29 Few here seem to be aware of the attitudes of supporters of other clubs, many are seeing reductions in season tickets and protests about ticket prices are rife and working. Ticket prices in the Premier League are far too high and Saints have seen empty seats at many games because of it, there were 4,000 empty seats for the Watford game The bulk of season ticket holders will pay between £36 - £39 per game and that is the renewal price, I hoped that Saints would be visionary and look at increasing their supporter base to build towards a stadium expansion, but it seems that they want to continue to milk the everyday fan at the highest rate they can

0

simmo400 added 13:44 - Mar 29 £737 for the centre in the kingsland is too much and that was last year. Add to that the TV games...constantly changing kick off times and lets not let forget friday football next year, Southampton FC need to encourage fans................dont feel at this price they are. Personally £500 max should be the norm at the club with discounting behind goals etc After all gate receipts are small fry in the scheme of things, but playing to half full stadiums wont look great on tv.

-3

Jesus_02 added 14:05 - Mar 29 Season tickets should be free for people like me and should be more for people like them so we can get better players and i can watch saints win the league for free.
-1

legod7 added 14:17 - Mar 29 Most of the adult prices have remained unchanged. But much more significantly most of the youngsters prices have been reduced. The old U17 price range is now U18 , together with a reduction in prices. Also the student rate 18-21 has had a reduction in price. The club are looking out for the next generation of season ticket holders
2

Saintpaul120 added 14:19 - Mar 29 Herein lies the problem - people are not willing, or are afraid to complain about season ticket prices in case there's a backlash. Well done Nick for speaking up. I happen to agree with your views and will add this: The disabled prices have remained the same for renewals and concessions despite the assault on PIP, Universal Credit and most welfare benefit reductions. They will price disabled out of football all together especially as Southampton F

-2

Saintpaul120 added 14:23 - Mar 29 ootball club (don't know why that post was interrupted), are only accepting the higher rate of PIP and not both levels. This will prevent a lot of disabled from attending. Keep up the pressure Nick.
-3

insanesaint added 14:29 - Mar 29 i'm happy i save £58 and i am glad they also put the u17 up to u18 as my son would have been classed as an adult but because of new structure i can save on his £273. if i am correct with my figures.... thanks COYS
4

Whatsforpud added 16:42 - Mar 29 The main argument for reducing prices all round is that gate receipts are such a small percentage of income now. Does anyone know what that percentage actually is for Southampton?
0

halftimeorange added 17:06 - Mar 29 I do agree that this pricing policy will not encourage new season ticket holders but, as far as maintaining last season's prices is concerned, it's simply what the market will stand. I'm fortunate to sit in the Premium seats but I could, if I wished, save myself the best part of a third of my ticket price by moving to the Wings or Goals areas. There are few if any regularly unused Premium seats and the club knows this so why should they reduce those prices. After all, football is a business and, as James Beattie once appropriately stated, "In this game the only loyalty is in the minds of the supporters". Get used to it. Maybe the EPL will implode because of its greed but, at this point in time, it's in demand all over the world. We regular fans are simply willing but useful accoutrements.

3

MarchingHalo added 17:07 - Mar 29 My ticket will cost around £34 each game. which is a great price to watch Premier league football. beating arsenal 4-0 and Sunderland 8-0 and villa 6-1 and Liverpool 3-2 amazing times and memory's. every seat in the stadium has a great view point and people moaning your price stayed the same then move to an area you can afford. buy a ticket and watch your team or shut up and dont buy a ticket. (SOUTHAMPTON FC IS NOT A CHARITY). go support portsmouth if you want cheap football.

2

saintinexile added 17:29 - Mar 29 Last week someone on here wanted an investment of £100 million next season. Now some want lower prices. The ground is (very) often full or near full. We want to win the league, be in Europe, win the FA cup........... You get what you pay for. Dream on.
1

steadyeddie added 18:54 - Mar 29 I sit in Block 34 and my ST price is unchanged, but I do feel that I should be offered the same deal as the 'lucky' 7000. The club must surely realise, how divisive the Policy is? Letter of complaint to Mr Kruger methinks.
0

TygerUppercut added 19:11 - Mar 29 Any saints fan that is happy with this pricing structure because wow wee your ticket has been frozen is a MUG . I sit in the wings so price has been reduced by a pathetic 29 a season , I find it beyond unfair that some supporters will be paying less yet the majority paying the same . How is this fair ?! We already pay some of the highest prices in the premier league so with the massive new TV deal I was hoping for a genuine appreciative gesture & reduction by the club . I would be fully behind a planned walkout a la Liverpool but unfortunately I feel our fanbase is far too meek & mild to get behind such an action. NICK do you have any suggestions on how to air our views to the club ? I understand it's probably too late now for them to further reduce tickets but the very least they should do is even out the reduction to ALL St holders not just those in the wings & behind the goals . Nick , perhaps an online petition would at least highlight the general consensus to the club ?

-1

vanmans added 19:24 - Mar 29 Well said MarchingHalo Southampton FC is not a charity . You whinging season ticket holders make me sick. Your season ticket guarantees a seat for all games league and cup. If you don't want to pay the price don't theres plenty of people waiting to take your seats
2

simmo400 added 20:01 - Mar 29 can't argue with that. If you don't like it don't pay. I'll go on another holiday this year watch saints on the pc live home and away. I'll be back should we drop out the prem and they won't be on live. Good luck saints.
0

densham41 added 20:10 - Mar 29 Unbelievable some of the comments on here. No chance getting this Fan base United Nick! Thank god Branfoot isn't our manager now we would never have got rid of him with this divided fan base. I love this football club but the attitude of some I'm alright jack makes me sick and saddened for the club as a whole. This new pricing policy is unfair for lots of reasons, but with the attitude of some above looks like we will have to put up with it. I will make my points to the club directly as some on here couldn't give a toss as long as they are alright.

1

darkangelv2 added 20:38 - Mar 29 It's not really a case of being meek or mild. I just value my ticket more highly than you. Perhaps I am better off than you? Perhaps not. Either way, you can say I'm a mug. I'll say you're cheap.
2

SaintNick added 21:00 - Mar 29 Im interested in the comments "We are not a charity" and "there are plenty of people waiting to take your seat" Most of those who seem happy with the pricing seem to be those that have been given a reduction, perhaps they would care to donate the reduction back to the club then to help with transfers in the summer. As for plenty of people waiting to take our seats, that hasnt been my impression in 90% of games this season when there has been loads of empty seats, where were all these people on a cold midweek night against Watford

0

jonrog added 21:07 - Mar 29 1990 it cost around £6 for a match day ticket that equates to around £15 today with inflation. We are mugs that can not help ourselves Let's get some points at Leicester
2

saintinexile added 21:11 - Mar 29 'where were all these people on a cold midweek night against Watford '. Probably in the same place as they would be at half the price?
5

SaintNick added 21:29 - Mar 29 Now you hit the point saintinexile, it is about getting people to buy season tickets so that they have to go, cheap season tickets = bigger crowds = stadium expansion Expensive tickets = empty seats
-2

TygerUppercut added 21:33 - Mar 29 No darkangel I am not cheap , I've had my season ticket for 7 seasons now & ive watched saints all my life , I would've renewed if the price had gone up down or stayed the same because I can now afford to do so. I'm a working class self employed tradesman & im now at a point int life where Going to every game & paying for the beer food etc isn't a problem. When I was a labourer on not a lot of money could I have afforded last seasons most expensive match day ticket of £54 !? No I couldn't . That is the price an 18 year old would have had to pay . For me the only saving grace from these prices is the club are making it slightly more affordable for some youngsters to a certain age but it still doesn't go far enough. Look around the ground & you will mainly see Middle Aged people with young kids , once they hit 17, 18 or whatever the ticket change age is People are priced out . Like I said I can afford my ticket but unlike you I'm not just looking out for myself & am looking at the bigger picture of who the club should be aiming to attract

1

MarchingHalo added 22:22 - Mar 29 18-21 cheapest ticket = £19 a game, ticket to watch the new batman in odeon southampton in imax = £18.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Leeds United Polls