So what's Bates doing? He's not even spending much on new
players.................................
From the Scumchester Evening News
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1095701_blues_to_cut_season_ticket_prices
Blues to cut season ticket prices
Chris Bailey
February 10, 2009
CITY are to cut season ticket prices for next term by an average of
seven per cent as the new owners fulfil their promise to listen to their
supporters.
Fans will also be given an extra three months to pay as the Eastlands
accountants react to the depth of the credit crunch.
The cheapest adult season tickets this season were £388, with the most
expensive £538. Both will come down next season.
It is the first time seat costs have been cut and the move comes after
two transfer windows in which owner Sheikh Mansour approved more than
£80m worth of spending on new players and sanctioned a world record bid
for Brazilian Kaka.
In a further bid to offset any financial difficulties for loyal
supporters, season card renewal dates have also been deferred by three
months.
Prices for youngsters in the Blues' highly popular Live4City scheme have
been pegged at £95 for the season and those supporters in the 16-21 age
group will enjoy a 17 per cent drop in the cost of a season card. Every
fan will also benefit from the cut in VAT levels.
In another fresh initiative, fans who have previously received news of
ticket costs and their renewal packs in the first two months of the year
will now receive them later in the year.
Cash-flow
With no cash-flow worries over the summer, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak
is keen to alleviate the burden of payment so soon after Christmas.
"Our seasoncard holders are the cornerstone of this club and, since our
arriving at the club, we have listened to their feedback and their
concerns on a great range of issues, by pushing back the date for
seasoncard renewals we hope to make some small difference to the
supporters who follow the team every week,” he declared.
“We have also sought to respond to fans’ concerns on pricing and hope
that theprice freezes in some areas and discounts in many areas of the
ground will be welcomed.”
Executive chairman Garry Cook said: "Firstly in helping supporters
afford their football and secondly in filling Eastlands."
The Blues are one of the few clubs in the Premier League to increase
their average attendance this season and are determined that the trend
should continue next term and beyond.
“We put a team of people on the ticketing issue to see if we were
serving the needs of the fans and we quickly realised that we have to be
sensitive to the current economic climate,” declared Cook.
“Pricing is one aspect of what we looked at and we want to encourage
more fans, particularly youngsters to come to the ground. We want our
fans to feel this is their club and these seat cost cuts are part of a
long-term plan for us to become a better football club.
Invest
“At the same time we intend to continue to invest in the team because
we realise the better it performs the more people will come and watch us.”
Other professional clubs in the area are yet to decide their ticket
pricing for next season, with several of them involved in promotion and
relegation issues.
“Most clubs will be waiting to see what division they are in next season
before they even think about ticket prices,” said a spokesman for League
Two promotion hopefuls Rochdale.
Supporter-owned Stockport, despite their financial problems, will
consider a suggestion that their season ticket prices be frozen for a
sixth consecutive year.
And Bolton have been asking for their fans’ views in a bid to keep
prices affordable during the recession, a statement from the club
saying: “We are looking at options for next season following a large
scale and comprehensive fan consultation process.”
United, with heavy debt repayments to make and most matches selling out,
are likely to continue price increases, although a club spokesman says
there is “no news” on next season as yet.
Wigan say they are “nowhere near” a decision, while Oldham – pushing for
promotion to the Championship – have not discussed prices, and Bury and
Macclesfield have yet to make any decisions.
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Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad
