Our survey of Season & Match ticket prices is now complete. Both Trust members & non-members took part in our survey.
In this article we concentrate primarily on the views of Season Ticket holders, though a full breakdown of the results of the survey of Season Ticket holders can be found at the bottom of this article.
In our survey the vast majority of those who took part were season ticket holders (76%) of which almost half (45%) have been season ticket holders for over 10 years. Perhaps not surprisingly then the majority of season ticket holders are over the age of 41 (53%). Less than 15% of season ticket holders surveyed gave their age as being under 30.
There is no comfort either for the club in the typical age of fans purchasing individual match tickets as similar figures were recorded. This reflects the trend nationally that football crowds are getting older with fewer & fewer younger football fans now supporting their local club. Previous studies have shown that Leicester is one of the clubs with a greater problem than the majority of clubs in failing to attract the 15 – 29 age group.
Clubs like City are dependent on younger fans coming through the turnstiles regularly to carry on the tradition of supporting City. The club has made some strides in combating this with free season tickets for under 8’s. But our figures would suggest that once parents begin to pay full juvenile prices for two or three U’16’s then something has to give. Coming to support City regularly is a cost they simply cannot afford……
In recent seasons the club has introduced “Early Bird” discounts to encourage season ticket holders to renew well before the end of the current season. Recently Mr Mandaric stated that such discounts were unlikely to be on offer for the 2007/08 season.
While the majority of season ticket holders (55%) will welcome not having to fork out for season tickets before the last ball of this season has been kicked, 5% of season ticket holders in our survey were adamant they would not renew without discounts. A further 22% were unsure about renewing or could only state they would “probably” renew without the discounts.
The above figures support the Foxes Trust stance that if discounts for early renewal of season tickets are not forthcoming & prices for next season revert to the equivalent non discounted price then this will represent a significant price increase in real terms for supporters, in particular hitting those who have held season tickets for many years. An increase the Trust would totally oppose.
Likewise 15% of Season Ticket holders surveyed said they felt let down by the club over the amount of free & discounted individual match ticket offers this season, stating that it would definitely put them off renewing next season. A further 43% felt annoyed, but said it would not put them of renewing. Clearly the club has a lot of convincing to do if season tickets are to be seen as having real cost savings against purchasing tickets on a match by match basis.
Mr Mandaric’s takeover of the club removes the burden of early season ticket sales to generate vital “cashflow” ahead of the new season. Therefore the Foxes Trust is of the opinion there is no viable reason for season ticket prices to rise for the 2007/08 season. As our survey of individual match ticket prices clearly shows, regular attendance at games falls alarmingly among non season ticket holders with 86% attending less than 10 games so far this season.
While we did not specifically ask for views on cup tickets being included within season tickets many fans also commented to us these should be re-introduced. Highlighting attendances in recent seasons have been badly affected as season ticket holders refuse to purchase additional cup tickets as a protest at having to pay to watch the likes of Blackpool & Macclesfield in the early rounds of the League Cup.
Similarly season ticket holders were dismayed when the 10% saving on purchases in the club shop (sorry Mega-store) was removed in favour of the “Teamcard Loyalty Scheme”.
Last week Mr Mandaric asked fans to e-mail the club with their views on season ticket prices for next season.
Based on the responses to our survey & copies of e-mail’s sent to the club the Foxes Trust will be making the following recommendations to the club:-
· Inclusion of 2 Cup Match Tickets in Season Ticket Prices for 2007/08
· Reduced rates for Family Season Ticket’s of 1 Adult + 2 Children and/or 2 Adult + 2 Children
· Reduced rates for groups of friends purchasing Season Tickets en-bloc i.e groups of 10 or more
· Re-Introduction of 10% savings on purchases in Club Mega-store
· 5% discount on other club promotions/events i.e sportsman’s dinners
Below is a full breakdown of our survey of Season Ticket Holders showing overall %’s & also by age group.
| Question |
All |
U16's |
17-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61+ |
| 1B) Type of Season Ticket Held | ||||||||
| a) Adult | 75.16% | 71.4% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 97.9% | 12.5% | ||
| b) Senior | 13.66% | 2.1% | 87.5% | |||||
| c) Young Adult | 4.35% | 100.0% | 28.6% | |||||
| d) Junior (U16) | 6.83% | 100.0% | ||||||
| 1C) If “c” or “d” above will you purchase an Adult Season Ticket when the time comes? | ||||||||
| A) Yes, definitely “City ‘til I Die!” | 8.07% | 63.6% | 80.0% | 28.6% | ||||
| B) Probably, depends on how the team are doing! | 1.86% | 27.3% | ||||||
| C) Would like to, but is too expensive | 1.24% | 9.1% | 20.0% | |||||
| D) No. It’s not value for money | ||||||||
| E) Not Applicable | 88.82% | 71.4% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| 1D) How long Have You Been a Season Ticket Holder | ||||||||
| a) Less Than 3 Years | 7.45% | 27.3% | 20.0% | 28.6% | 7.7% | 6.4% | ||
| b) Between 3 & 5 Years | 24.84% | 63.6% | 40.0% | 28.6% | 10.7% | 28.2% | 19.1% | 25.0% |
| c) Over 5 years but less than 10 | 20.50% | 9.1% | 20.0% | 14.3% | 32.1% | 10.3% | 21.3% | 29.2% |
| d) Over 10 years | 45.34% | 20.0% | 28.6% | 57.1% | 53.8% | 46.8% | 45.8% | |
| e) Not Stated | 1.86% | 6.4% | ||||||
| 1E) Did you purchase your Season Ticket before the end of last season to get the discounts on offer? | ||||||||
| a)Yes | 90.68% | 90.9% | 40.0% | 71.4% | 96.4% | 92.3% | 91.5% | 95.8% |
| b) No | 9.32% | 9.1% | 60.0% | 28.6% | 3.6% | 7.7% | 8.5% | 4.2% |
| 1F) If Yes, Would you have purchased your Season Tickets without the discounts? | ||||||||
| a) Definitely Not | 4.97% | 18.2% | 3.6% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.2% | ||
| b) Probably/Don't Know | 21.74% | 18.2% | 20.0% | 28.6% | 25.0% | 12.8% | 25.5% | 25.0% |
| c) Yes | 67.70% | 54.5% | 20.0% | 71.4% | 67.9% | 74.4% | 68.1% | 70.8% |
| d) Not Applicable | 5.59% | 9.1% | 60.0% | 3.6% | 7.7% | 2.1% | ||
| 1G) Do you agree with the club policy of asking for Season Ticket renewals before the current season has finished? | ||||||||
| a) No, The club are takng us for granted | 18.01% | 18.2% | 28.6% | 28.6% | 12.8% | 14.9% | 20.8% | |
| b) Would prefer they didn't, but not unhappy about it | 37.27% | 18.2% | 60.0% | 28.6% | 42.9% | 51.3% | 29.8% | 29.2% |
| c) Yes, it helps the club budget for next season | 44.72% | 63.6% | 40.0% | 42.9% | 28.6% | 35.9% | 55.3% | 50.0% |
| 1H) What were your main reason/s for buying a Season Ticket? | ||||||||
| a) Cheaper/easier than buying individual match tickets | 22.98% | 36.4% | 20.0% | 14.3% | 10.7% | 30.8% | 27.7% | 12.5% |
| b) To guarantee sitting in same seat with friends/family | 27.33% | 27.3% | 14.3% | 32.1% | 33.3% | 17.0% | 41.7% | |
| c) Equally, both of the above | 44.10% | 27.3% | 80.0% | 71.4% | 53.6% | 35.9% | 42.6% | 41.7% |
| d) Other | 5.59% | 9.1% | 3.6% | 12.8% | 4.2% | |||
| 1I) Do you feel the value of your Season Ticket has been undermined with the ticket offers the club has introduced this season? | ||||||||
| a) Yes. I feel let down & it will make me think twice about renewing next season | 14.91% | 27.3% | 20.0% | 21.4% | 12.8% | 12.8% | 12.5% | |
| b) It’s annoying, but would not put me off renewing next season. | 43.48% | 27.3% | 20.0% | 28.6% | 46.4% | 46.2% | 42.6% | 54.2% |
| c) No. The club need to get as many fans in as possible | 39.13% | 36.4% | 40.0% | 71.4% | 28.6% | 38.5% | 44.7% | 33.3% |
| d) Don't Know/Not Stated | 2.48% | 9.1% | 20.0% | 3.6% | 2.6% |
Look out for the article detailing the match ticket survey results soon