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| 'Trust reaction to Club's Ticketing Statement' posted by THST on 18/03/2007 | Published 18.03.07
President - Steve Perryman M.B.E
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust
www.tottenhamtrust.com
Trust Board Statement.
On Wednesday 14th March, 2007, the Trust was informed by THFC of the details of the club's announcement being made today about next season's ticket prices.
Representatives of the Trust have already met once with the club and are due to meet again this week (20th March) for what we understood would be a final consultation meeting about the package. This meeting is still scheduled, and we will advise our members of our standpoint on more specific issues simultaneously with the scheduled time of the meeting.
However, as we have been saying for several weeks now, the Trust Board is totally opposed to any increase in ticket prices. The information provided on Wednesday was that while matchday prices are being held, the average increase for adult season ticket holders would be £25, with a £10 increase on concessions (juniors & seniors).
The prices published this evening show increases for adults ranging from £19 in the North and South Lower to £50 in West Upper, with most individual increases being £29. This is a range of 3.2% to 5.6%, with an average increase of 4%. The government’s consumer price index measure of inflation currently stands at 2.7%.
We pointed THFC to the news from several other Premiership clubs who have announced either price freezes or reductions for next season and the Sun's ticket-pricing campaign, which the Trust has publicly supported along with the Prime Minister and the Sports Minister. Our club's announcement makes them the first to buck this trend.
THFC believes its increases are offset by the enhanced membership packages being introduced, but we have yet to calculate the detailed value of those packages and believe any additional costs have been more than offset by this season's additional cup revenue. The revenue from the S/T increases equates to barely half the income from the game against Braga alone.
In registering our disappointment, we welcome your views on how we should react/respond on the issue of the pricing strategy of the club, which can look forward to significantly increased TV revenue next season, and of course has reaped the rewards of good cup runs this season.
The Trust persuaded the club to change its plans for those who presently occupy the North Stand. The plan was to ask adults who do not accompany children or seniors ('concessions') to move elsewhere this year with the offer of a year at North Stand prices in other parts of the ground, but for anyone who didn't move voluntarily to then force them to move next year unless they fulfil the requisite quota of adults/concessions in their party. To ensure openness, we confirm that four members of the Trust Board are North Stand S/T holders and will be directly affected by this.
Through this measure, thousands of season ticket holders, could have been forced to occupy seats that could be of a lesser quality and/or more expensive. Whilst the club will still go ahead with the voluntary move scheme, and only replace 'vacancies' in the North Stand with family groups, under pressure from the Trust they have now dropped the idea of a subsequent compulsory move.
The Trust Board is disappointed that, at a time, when Spurs football has been entertaining and could yet be successful, the club has sought ways in which to draw additional funds from its loyal support.
Last week, and in the recent membership/ticketing meeting, we were embargoed regarding the details being provided to us. Following the details given to us on Wednesday, we can assure you that the Trust Board as a whole was extremely unhappy but agreed to honour the club's request for
confidentiality prior to their public announcement.
It is, however, now the right time to place on record our views.
We will follow this up once we have digested the terms & conditions associated with the new season ticket packages, which we are to discuss at the meeting on Tuesday.
THST Board.
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