Upcoming Changes At The Ricoh (6 Viewers)

[mattylad]

Wasps have already said they have no plans to change the seats as at a cost of 500,000 it makes no financial sense. If they now go back on this then that is not going to be very good opening PR and would seem to go against all of the positive marketing they are trying to deliver. Never say never but until the namimg rights are done I don't expect any change to be considered.

 

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[Neutral Fan]

Probably not a popular comment but as Wasps branding takes over Ricoh and SISU get zero revenues from the stadium, the more I expect them to move CCFC. I don't see they can afford a new ground so a franchise out seems likely. MGI won't mind if they can franchise in a small EPL club instead.

CCFC's best hope is this rugby franchise fails and MGI agree to sell sometime in the future.

 

[ecky]

Probably not a popular comment but as Wasps branding takes over Ricoh and SISU get zero revenues from the stadium, the more I expect them to move CCFC. I don't see they can afford a new ground so a franchise out seems likely. MGI won't mind if they can franchise in a small EPL club instead.


CCFC's best hope is this rugby franchise fails and MGI agree to sell sometime in the future.

Yeh, and how long is a piece of string?

 

[albatross]

Understand what your saying but the fact that you have to relocate your 6K core supporters 80 mile up the road and still attempt to fill a 32,000 stadium it really is a no brainer. It is going to take years (if ever) to maintain a steady attendance so they will just drop the school allocations slowly as regular attendances increase. No-one has a problem with kids going for free as they spend daddy's money on food which more than covers it.

Its not new but a winning formula nonetheless.

Also one potential factor here is that WASPS do have a realistic chance of making the playoffs (or whatever they call it). They are currently 5th . If they are still in the mix at the end of the season the last home game would be against Leicester in May. Whilst I accept that it may not interest some on here , i do think that they would be establishing a midland support base quicker than many would expect and it would be well attended.

 

[Raggs]

I doubt wasps are going to make the playoffs this year. Had a few very good results, but a few dodgy ones too, not enough consistency to stay in the top 4.

 

[Grendel]

Also one potential factor here is that WASPS do have a realistic chance of making the playoffs (or whatever they call it). They are currently 5th . If they are still in the mix at the end of the season the last home game would be against Leicester in May. Whilst I accept that it may not interest some on here , i do think that they would be establishing a midland support base quicker than many would expect and it would be well attended.

If its free you mean?

 

[pusbccfc]

At least they are leaving Singers corner with white seats..

 

[martcov]

Free tickets is hardly an imaginative or great marketing initiative

It can be risky.

There is an expectation it will happen again - getting off the drug can be difficult.
There is no guarantee at all it will encourage loyalty or returns.
If it becomes widespread and frequent it can cause consumer dissatisfaction to loyal customers who are paying.
There is the risk of brand devaluation.

What confuses me is that people keep saying this is a world class rugby club and an attractive brand in itself. Coupled with the notion that people in Coventry want premiership rugby this seems behaviour totally at odds with those statements. Imagine if Manchester United pitched up here? Would they need to do this.

The principal motivation of course is political - to ensure it is seen as a success on day one - even if it isn't.

Why should a Wasps owners be interested in Coventry politics? I would have thought that their principle motivations would be commercial and sporting success.

 

[albatross]

I doubt wasps are going to make the playoffs this year. Had a few very good results, but a few dodgy ones too, not enough consistency to stay in the top 4.

You are probably right, but if they get to that game against Leicester and it still meant something then a big crowd / game vs against Leicester would Draw the wider support. Any sporting event in front of a big crowd is at least in part about the occasion and being there , it also brings people back as they want it again and again.

 

[Senior Vick from Alicante]

Been attending games in one form or another for 40 years. The one thing that this has shown is how inept the current owners really are when it comes to PR. I think most fans are jealous of what wasps are doing and that's why theirs so much vitriol aimed at them. They have found a home which should have rightly been ours, its not their fault however that SISU own CCFC and have done everything wrong since day one. Sisu chose their path not Wasps, and in the future post SISU, whenever that is, I would hope that both teams can play in the stadium and thrive. With the right owners in the club their should be a bright future for CCFC in conjunction with Wasps not in spite of them. Wasps will not fail as some have put, they now have an income through ACL so I cant see it happening, plus if the rumoured stadium renaming with JLR goes ahead it means they have financial security. The one thing I do hope is SISU do not take the legal route once again as this will mean less cash on the pitch once again. Love city hate Sisu.

 

[Grendel]

Why should a Wasps owners be interested in Coventry politics? I would have thought that their principle motivations would be commercial and sporting success.

The owners and the council will collectively want to her maximum publicity from a large crowd.

Are you seriously suggesting both parties will not have realised the importance of this?

 

[duffer]

You are probably right, but if they get to that game against Leicester and it still meant something then a big crowd / game vs against Leicester would Draw the wider support. Any sporting event in front of a big crowd is at least in part about the occasion and being there , it also brings people back as they want it again and again.

I think that in truth the 27,000 at Gillingham, and then the subsequent attendances puts the lie to some of that theory. Wasps, like CCFC, will have some hard core fans that will always go. The rest will need persuasion and want value for money. The fact that they're already giving away tickets suggests to me that there isn't the draw in the local area for premiership rugby that some have assumed. Six or seven thousand at the Ricoh doesn't, as we know, give any game much of a sense of occasion.

In truth, we'll see soon enough.

 

[Grendel]

Been attending games in one form or another for 40 years. The one thing that this has shown is how inept the current owners really are when it comes to PR. I think most fans are jealous of what wasps are doing and that's why theirs so much vitriol aimed at them. They have found a home which should have rightly been ours, its not their fault however that SISU own CCFC and have done everything wrong since day one. Sisu chose their path not Wasps, and in the future post SISU, whenever that is, I would hope that both teams can play in the stadium and thrive. With the right owners in the club their should be a bright future for CCFC in conjunction with Wasps not in spite of them. Wasps will not fail as some have put, they now have an income through ACL so I cant see it happening, plus if the rumoured stadium renaming with JLR goes ahead it means they have financial security. The one thing I do hope is SISU do not take the legal route once again as this will mean less cash on the pitch once again. Love city hate Sisu.

What are wasps doing that makes us jealous? They've only sold a few tickets for the first match? I don't understand.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

In truth, we'll see soon enough.

Well... not that soon.

Big initial attendances don't mean all is rosy, initial small ones don't mean it's a guaranteed failure.

 

[Ashdown]

Big crowd expected at the BPA on the 29th November. Top of the table clash with moneybags and unbeaten Ealing, I think we'll get over 2000 for this one as long as the weather holds !

 

[Raggs]

Well it'll be 4000 free tickets for 3 of the first 4 games, on top of that should be tickets sales (maybe 2 games for 1 which I think was described somewhere here).

 

[mattylad]

What are wasps doing that makes us jealous? They've only sold a few tickets for the first match? I don't understand.

In football terms they won their game at the weekend 11-1 that makes me jealous

 

[duffer]

I'm going.

I just want to see a winning team. And now they have said they will have meeters and greeters there to explain Rugby to me I have to think that is a perfect combination of encompassing a day of success and knowledge.

Mate, if you can send one of the meeters and greeters my way I'd be very grateful. I've played a bit and watched rugby for a good few years now, and I'm certainly not sure that I understand the game! And you thought offside in football was confusing.

Brian Moore, former England international and qualified solicitor often admits that he can't understand referees decisions either. Those meeters and greeters are going to have to be good!

The tradition of the crowd shouting "Whoa-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo, you're sh*t, aaaah!" when players are running up for penalty kicks and conversions is still going strong in rugby by the way. See if you can get one started.

 

[shy_tall_knight]

I must surround myself with WASPS supporters
Villa fan at work going as likes a bit of rugger
Sister, her husband plus their 2 lads - all except sister were season ticket holders - were all there for Gillingham, not been back since - all going to first game at WASPS, brother in law has got a WASPS ST
Brother in law - a former rugby player, loads of his mates are going part of a pre-Xmas meet up, will not be regulars but expect to go to quitea few
son's boss is going with his lad expect him to be a regular


As for free tickets, a free ticket to a child means that an adult will have to attend and thus buy a ticket, once inside there are the legendary pies that SISU fought so hard to get control of. Free tickets aren't a sign of desperation they are the sign of a strategy

 

[Ashdown]

I must surround myself with WASPS supporters
Villa fan at work going as likes a bit of rugger
Sister, her husband plus their 2 lads - all except sister were season ticket holders - were all there for Gillingham, not been back since - all going to first game at WASPS, brother in law has got a WASPS ST
Brother in law - a former rugby player, loads of his mates are going part of a pre-Xmas meet up, will not be regulars but expect to go to quitea few
son's boss is going with his lad expect him to be a regular


As for free tickets, a free ticket to a child means that an adult will have to attend and thus buy a ticket, once inside there are the legendary pies that SISU fought so hard to get control of. Free tickets aren't a sign of desperation they are the sign of a strategy

Scabs !!

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

What confuses me is that people keep saying this is a world class rugby club and an attractive brand in itself. Coupled with the notion that people in Coventry want premiership rugby this seems behaviour totally at odds with those statements. Imagine if Manchester United pitched up here? Would they need to do this.

The principal motivation of course is political - to ensure it is seen as a success on day one - even if it isn't.

The council have been sold the vision of having a top tier premiership rugby team in Coventry and the Ricoh being packed every week with fans flocking into see the mighty Wasps but the truth is apart from the big occasions rugby is less well supported than football. So far this season Wasps average is 6.5k

 

[Otis]

Mate, if you can send one of the meeters and greeters my way I'd be very grateful. I've played a bit and watched rugby for a good few years now, and I'm certainly not sure that I understand the game! And you thought offside in football was confusing.

Brian Moore, former England international and qualified solicitor often admits that he can't understand referees decisions either. Those meeters and greeters are going to have to be good!

The tradition of the crowd shouting "Whoa-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo, you're sh*t, aaaah!" when players are running up for penalty kicks and conversions is still going strong in rugby by the way. See if you can get one started.

Seems crazy to me at times.

'You were standing with your legs apart rather than together, penalty!' Easy 3 points.

 

[Grendel]

I must surround myself with WASPS supporters
Villa fan at work going as likes a bit of rugger
Sister, her husband plus their 2 lads - all except sister were season ticket holders - were all there for Gillingham, not been back since - all going to first game at WASPS, brother in law has got a WASPS ST
Brother in law - a former rugby player, loads of his mates are going part of a pre-Xmas meet up, will not be regulars but expect to go to quitea few
son's boss is going with his lad expect him to be a regular


As for free tickets, a free ticket to a child means that an adult will have to attend and thus buy a ticket, once inside there are the legendary pies that SISU fought so hard to get control of. Free tickets aren't a sign of desperation they are the sign of a strategy

So you approved of them at Sixfields then? The converstion rates for such schemes are less than 1% by the way

 

[Senior Vick from Alicante]

What are wasps doing that makes us jealous? They've only sold a few tickets for the first match? I don't understand.

Bought the stadium from under us?

 

[shy_tall_knight]

I didn't approve of anything they did at Sixfields because unlike you I didn't go as for what WASPS are doing, they are here for the long term they need to grow the customer base, Sixfields move wasn't designed about growing customer base it was a strategic disaster and it wasn't the cash they needed it was the numbers inside the stadium - and they failed miserably. I won't go to a WASPS game (except Munster or Leinster) but they have a strategy and with that commercial and marketing to try to deliver this strategy what have SISU done ?

 

[torchomatic]

Must just be you. I don't know anyone who's going. Then again, I only know about five people.

I must surround myself with WASPS supporters
Villa fan at work going as likes a bit of rugger
Sister, her husband plus their 2 lads - all except sister were season ticket holders - were all there for Gillingham, not been back since - all going to first game at WASPS, brother in law has got a WASPS ST
Brother in law - a former rugby player, loads of his mates are going part of a pre-Xmas meet up, will not be regulars but expect to go to quitea few
son's boss is going with his lad expect him to be a regular


As for free tickets, a free ticket to a child means that an adult will have to attend and thus buy a ticket, once inside there are the legendary pies that SISU fought so hard to get control of. Free tickets aren't a sign of desperation they are the sign of a strategy

 

[italiahorse]

What are wasps doing that makes us jealous? They've only sold a few tickets for the first match? I don't understand.

How on earth would you know that ?
This jealous/bias crap is exactly what he is on about.

 

[covmark]

How on earth would you know that ?
This jealous/bias crap is exactly what he is on about.

Nothing wrong with being biased against Wasps. I can't fucking stand them and it would please me no end if they went out of business.

 

[Woz01]

For Wasps 1st match at the Ricoh every block between 15-31 has only have limited seats left so I'd say they are selling well.

 

[Otis]

Must just be you. I don't know anyone who's going. Then again, I only know about five people.

Imaginary friends don't count, Torch.

 

[lordsummerisle]

For Wasps 1st match at the Ricoh every block between 15-31 has only have limited seats left so I'd say they are selling well.

That where the 12,000 tickets they#re giving away are then?

 

[Ashdown]

For Wasps 1st match at the Ricoh every block between 15-31 has only have limited seats left so I'd say they are selling well.

That's wrong, the system is misleading. The truth will come out on the day although I'm not sure whether we'll ever get to know for sure how many have been sold or given away. My guess is that all the hype and freebies will make this first game a bit of an occasion but I can't really see local people getting that genuinely excited watching Wasps beat a poor London Irish outfit.

 

[shy_tall_knight]

That's wrong, the system is misleading. The truth will come out on the day although I'm not sure whether we'll ever get to know for sure how many have been sold or given away. My guess is that all the hype and freebies will make this first game a bit of an occasion but I can't really see local people getting that genuinely excited watching Wasps beat a poor London Irish outfit.

Not when they can go a day earlier and watch a poor CCFC get beat by Fleetwood, NB CCFC I'm a STH won't go to WASPS but its 5 weeks until the game lets wait and see.

 

[chiefdave]

although I'm not sure whether we'll ever get to know for sure how many have been sold or given away

it would be nice if figures for paid attendance were released as well as total attendance (not just for this in general) but I guess we'll have to wait a while until there's not thousands of free tickets floating around to see what attendances level out to. The games against local teams will help assuming rugby fans travel in a similar fashion to football fans.

I can't imagine it levelling off to over 10K 'home' fans, if you're a rugby fan wouldn't you already support one of the local teams and keep going to see them? I guess some Cov fans might go to see a higher level of rugby, same as some of us might go if for some reason Man City were playing Chelsea at the Ricoh for some reason but will they spend week in week out when the novelty wears off given they haven't got that emotional tie to Wasps.

 

[italiahorse]

Nothing wrong with being biased against Wasps. I can't fucking stand them and it would please me no end if they went out of business.

You make more noise against Wasps than you do against Sisu who effectively gave the council/higgs no choice in this matter.

You do know what they are trying to do, don't you ? .............. and it's not over yet !!