I wouldn't be disappointed if the prices were frozen. In comparison to most clubs our season tickets are decent value. I would be very disappointed if they were to go up with the big money to deal coming in though.
I think it's the individual match ticket prices that need looking at as sometimes the category prices just don't look right to me.
Rant time!
The price comparison to other clubs is a complete fallacy to me.
Football has been an absolute rip off for years, so to my mind comparing one rip off to another carries little if any weight. For what you get for your money £20 (for example) would not be plenty, it would be too much.
For instance, I would not pay £20 (for example) to enter a night club with poor music and a sh!te sound system, which only serves alcohol for a short period of time with bar staff that move about like extras from the Night of the Living Dead; door staff who in many cases clearly think they're something special because they wear unusually bright jackets, and are seemingly doing you a favour by permitting entrance to said club. That's before we get to the teams of (occasionally) poorly choreographed dancers, whom it appears may struggle to keep their balance in a stiff wind, and whose performances are far from guaranteed.
Another line which is often trotted out is the comparison to theatre tickets. I rarely go to the theatre because I'm not a theatre buff, I am a football supporter. Strange how they never compare football ticket prices to the cinema, another gripe of mine which ties into the category A-Bullsh!te pricing scheme.
Why is one cinema performance deemed to be worthy of a higher price tariff when it's the same movie and the same facilities? Because its supposed 'peak viewing', ie the most popular performance on the day when most people can get there, for the privilege of being charged more for essentially the same service.
Applying the same argument to the category A-Bullsh!te scenario exposes it for what it is. Another rip off. In a category A game the West Bromwich Albion team which takes the field is going to be pretty much the same as a team taking to the field for a category C game. Yet 'game by game' supporters are supposed to pay more for the privilege of seeing the opposition. And let's face it, how many category A games sell out? Following the Viles impending relegation, probably zero.
Further many games are moved for TV meaning rather than being at peak times, ie Sat' 3pm, supporters are asked to inconvenience themselves for the privilige of paying more for the same. Inconvenienced to watch the same at a higher price, so the peak tariff argument falls down too. What a load of old b@ll@cks that is.
As for the season ticket price being a reward for stumping up front, that's a load of rubbish too. Clubs would catch the snot from the end of your nose, use it as burger relish and sell it back to you if they could find a means to do so, and if they could get away with it (probably
).
I will be extremely disappointed and vexed if our prices go up, even a price freeze would be a slap in the face for me given the increases in TV revenue.
As you can see from the above, general pricing within modern society as well as at the football (which has now been accepted as the norm') urinates upon my sensibilities. Yes we all have a choice as to how we spend our money, but that doesn't mean we have to accept facile arguments as justification for being over charged.
Don't get me onto peak time rail travel, the price of alcohol in pubs or school holiday travel and accomodation costs!!!!!!!!!