Changes to the Ricoh next season - Waggott (10 Viewers)

[Hobo]

Its ok as long you don't marry them! (bit sexist there, but hey ho, it's Friday)

match day experience for the ladies is the company of a couple of thousand bald headed 40 something men, in swetty nylon tops, with beer bellies, home made tattoos, spewing pasties and profanities, who haven't got a clue about the off side rule and were never good enough to make their own school team, but are fucking football experts.

 

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[Monners]

match day experience for the ladies is the company of a couple of thousand bald headed 40 something men, in swetty nylon tops, with beer bellies, home made tattoos, spewing pasties and profanities, who haven't got a clue about the off side rule and were never good enough to make their own school team, but are fucking football experts.

Are you my wife?

 

[Otis]

The City chief executive has revealed season tickets will be reduced in price and the North Stand will be closed next season...
Coventry City chief executive Steve Waggott has written to Season Ticket holders who sat in the North Stand, Block 25 or the Family Zone this season to let them know of changes for the 2015/16 campaign.


In the letter, the Sky Blues chief executive admits that the timing is not ideal ahead of the game at Crawley but, with Season Tickets going on sale shortly and after consultation with supporters groups, he wanted to communicate those changes directly to fans affected.


The letter, which was posted on Thursday, said: “I am writing to you today regarding next season. It’s not an ideal time, given the circumstances, but I felt it important to contact you personally in advance about changes that will be implemented for the 2015/16 campaign as Season Tickets will be going on sale very shortly.


“Firstly, Season Tickets will be reduced in price. I’ve listened to supporters since our return to the Ricoh Arena regarding concerns around the affordability of football and have acted to bring down the cost of supporting your team week-in, week-out.


“We are also having a flat rate for adult and concession Season Ticket prices – so there won’t be a premium zone next season. More information on that as well as prices and sales dates will be on our website – www.ccfc.co.uk – soon.


“As I mentioned above, we are making a few other changes – largely to improve the atmosphere inside the Ricoh Arena by bringing supporters closer together but also to reduce the cost of opening the stadium completely when it is less than 50 per cent full.


“We have spoken to and consulted a range of supporters on these changes and the reasons for them and, coupled with the drop in prices, the feedback has been positive and there has been real understanding of what we are trying to do. We’ve looked at several alternatives but none were suitable at this stage.


“So the changes for the 2015/16 season are:


- Only the East and West Stands will be available for Season Ticket holders. The North Stand will only open for games when there is demand on a match-by-match basis.


- Our Family Zone will be moving from its current position to blocks 23 and 24 in the East Stand.


- Block 25 will no longer be available to purchase a Season Ticket in as it will be the area we use for group and schools packages in the 2015/16 season. It is also where cameras are placed during televised matches.


“We looked at alternatives to these changes but none were viable at this stage, which is not to say we have ruled them out for the future.


“We are, however, working with the Supporters Consultative Group on options regarding a partial opening of the South Stand to present our proposals to the independent Safety Advisory Group. If this option becomes available, we will move fans who have already purchased a Season Ticket elsewhere to that area for free – should they wish to do so.


“Please, if you have any questions or queries on any of the above, get in touch with the ticketing team and they will do everything they can to help.


“Thank you for your continued support and, we all agree, it’s vital that we get the right result on Sunday. Then it’s all systems go in terms of making sure we can be challenging at the top end of the table next season.”

Good stuff. Nice to hear something positive.

 

[Covstu]

Its very positive so well done to the club for doing this, weird timing but agree with the previous post around it not looking like a knee jerk reaction if we were relegated. The price is important but not essential, the product on the pitch is key. I would not be fussed if they said it was going up £1 per game but we would guarantee we would spend it all on new players but it just wouldnt happen.

 

[Astute]

match day experience for the ladies is the company of a couple of thousand bald headed 40 something men, in swetty nylon tops, with beer bellies, home made tattoos, spewing pasties and profanities, who haven't got a clue about the off side rule and were never good enough to make their own school team, but are fucking football experts.

They are so wrong. I still have all my own hair.

 

[Otis]

Its very positive so well done to the club for doing this, weird timing but agree with the previous post around it not looking like a knee jerk reaction if we were relegated. The price is important but not essential, the product on the pitch is key. I would not be fussed if they said it was going up £1 per game but we would guarantee we would spend it all on new players but it just wouldnt happen.

Not weird timing though putting the price down if he knows we are going down this season.

 

[Ashdown]

They are so wrong. I still have all my own hair.

Me too and no tats either and I did make the school team !

 

[Wheelfass]

Presumably this means a flat rate for adults and another lower flat rate for concessions, rather than one flat rate to cover adults and concessions??

Just spoke with someone at the club. What it means is that normally the central blocks in the East stand command the highest prices for season tickets but this will change from next season so that a adult ticket will be the same cost irrespective of what block you choose. Likewise, I beleive that this season concession prices were applicable in Block 36 only (I stand to be corrected on this but I think that is the case) where as next season a concession ticket can be purchased in other blocks too.

 

[westofrayne]

What exactly does "match day experience" mean? What do we do differently to other clubs (results aside)? Do they all have lap dancers for every person or something?

Now that's a good idea, might increase ST sales!!

 

[slyblue57]

Not at all happy to be honest about closing the North stand. I can nt think of any other ground or team that kicks towards empty stands.
Why not close the corners and get fans behind a goal. I agree that "singers corner" create what little atmosphere there is, but surely behind a goal would be better.
For the last 30 years i ve had a season ticket and always behind the goal. Highfield Road without a west end nah , personally think its a stupid idea.
pusb
See you all at Crawley, behind the goal of course !!!!

 

[Steve.B50]

I can agree that it will feel wrong not to have fans behind the goal but we have had an empty stand at one end for a few years.
What ever they do it will not please everyone but I think the supporters SW spoke to probably put the best case forward and this is the outcome.

 

[chiefdave]

I would assume they've looked at the number of season tickets in each location and made the decision based on that. They could open a smaller section behind the goals but that would mean opening up the stand and incurring the associated costs.

Maybe you should ask them if you can be the guy sat in the stand to fetch the ball!

 

[ccfcway]

Not at all happy to be honest about closing the North stand. I can nt think of any other ground or team that kicks towards empty stands.
Why not close the corners and get fans behind a goal. I agree that "singers corner" create what little atmosphere there is, but surely behind a goal would be better.
For the last 30 years i ve had a season ticket and always behind the goal. Highfield Road without a west end nah , personally think its a stupid idea.
pusb
See you all at Crawley, behind the goal of course !!!!

so many people havent renewed their season tickets since the Northampton mess. We need to get fans back into the souless stadium we sort of call "home"

It maybe being done to help atmosphere, save money, reduce staff......whatever....in this instance its the right thing to do !!

 

[olderskyblue]

Bugger that. I've been sitting in my "lucky" seat since the Ricoh opened, and I'm not moving..!!

The downside is that me and my mates have had a full row to ourselves in block 19, and we might have to have people around us next season?? ugh..

 

[Nick]

Bugger that. I've been sitting in my "lucky" seat since the Ricoh opened, and I'm not moving..!!

The downside is that me and my mates have had a full row to ourselves in block 19, and we might have to have people around us next season?? ugh..

Lucky you, I can sit in an empty block and somebody would come and sit directly in the seat in front so I can't stretch out!

 

[Woz01]

I got a mate who is in the SCG and I asked about paying season tickets monthly and the club are looking at it, it is key for me whether I'm likely to get a season ticket or not. He also seems to think ticket prices will be reduced by upto 25%

 

[olderskyblue]

I got a mate who is in the SCG and I asked about paying season tickets monthly and the club are looking at it, it is key for me whether I'm likely to get a season ticket or not. He also seems to think ticket prices will be reduced by upto 25%

I think he means that season tickets for blocks 19 & 20 will be reduced by 25%, and that will be the cost for everywhere...

 

[duffer]

They are so wrong. I still have all my own hair.

Me too - I've just got a much wider centre parting than I used to have. By way of recompense, I can grow lots more hair in my nose and ears these days.

 

[Monners]

Duffer gets ready for night out

 

[Otis]

Me too - I've just got a much wider centre parting than I used to have. By way of recompense, I can grow lots more hair in my nose and ears these days.

I water mine and put it in hanging baskets.

 

[skybluetony176]

Not sure what to make of these proposals.

On one hand I can see it makes sense based on our current gate numbers.

But on the other hand it's clearly a cheaper option than investing in a team that will excite the fan base into returning so you dont have to close stands etc. to try and create an atmosphere.

My guess is that the numbers will dwindle further and we'll be in as much shit next season as we are this season regardless of whether we're a league 1 or 2 club.

SISU's ambitions for the club laid bare for me. They dont have none.

 

[Otis]

Not sure what to make of these proposals.

On one hand I can see it makes sense based on our current gate numbers.

But on the other hand it's clearly a cheaper option than investing in a team that will excite the fan base into returning so you dont have to close stands etc. to try and create an atmosphere.

My guess is that the numbers will dwindle further and we'll be in as much shit next season as we are this season regardless of whether we're a league 1 or 2 club.

SISU's ambitions for the club laid bare for me. They dont have none.

It will all make perfect economical sense.

We can close a stand every season and when all 4 stands are closed whoever's left can watch the game from the dugout.

 

[Otis]

Not sure what to make of these proposals.

On one hand I can see it makes sense based on our current gate numbers.

But on the other hand it's clearly a cheaper option than investing in a team that will excite the fan base into returning so you dont have to close stands etc. to try and create an atmosphere.

My guess is that the numbers will dwindle further and we'll be in as much shit next season as we are this season regardless of whether we're a league 1 or 2 club.

SISU's ambitions for the club laid bare for me. They dont have none.

They have ambitions then? That's what you're saying?

 

[hill83]

They have ambitions then? That's what you're saying?

You don't even not know what he ain't saying

 

[Nick]

Interesting report on the Telegraph site about the "reactions". Instantly negative from the headline, then picked out 15 negative comments and 1 saying it is a good idea.

No mention in the comments about the cheaper tickets.

 

[Otis]

Interesting report on the Telegraph site. Instantly negative from the headline, then picked out 15 negative comments and 1 behind it.

No mention in the comments about the cheaper tickets.

Because we are not happy unless we are moaning and as Sisu are the Devil incarnate and evil beyond comprehension, they can never, ever be deemed as having done something right.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

The best matchday experiences are at places like Arsenal, West Ham, United etc.

Outside the ground, you know you're at a football match. The merchandise sales, people drinking, and the excitement is what makes a good matchday experience.

The Ricoh matchday experience is poor because of the lack of social areas surrounding or within the ground. The Wasps have their public spaces inside the exhibition hall where people can drink etc.

It's hard to get a good matchday experience. There isn't really a decent one in this league.

Would having a pint in the casino with hundreds of others not constitute a social area?

 

[chiefdave]

But what is really different at Arsenal. You get off the tube walk up to the ground and in you go? The only slight difference is that they have Arsenal branding on the approach to the ground (can't think of any other club that has that off the top of my head) and then club shops outside the ground at various points (to be fair they sell a shedload of merchandise so worth doing).

You get in the ground the F&B is pretty much the same, the pre match build up pretty much the same. I'm not really seeing much difference between us and Arsenal or anyone else. Not to say we couldn't look for ways to improve things but I think its being made a much bigger deal than it is.

And of course we are handicapped by only having access to the ground shortly before and after games so are restricted to things that little very little setup and breakdown.

 

[ccfcway]

if the gates continue to drop (and there is nothing to suggest they wont) you can see one stand being open in 18 months time

 

[ajsccfc]

I wish the Telegraph wouldn't make news items out of reader comments.

 

[chiefdave]

if the gates continue to drop (and there is nothing to suggest they wont) you can see one stand being open in 18 months time

The next thing will be to decrease the number of blocks open. They need to keep both stands open as one side is all corporate and one side all fans. Not too hard to imagine this time next season we're talking about less blocks being available in the future.

 

[ccfcway]

Interesting report on the Telegraph site about the "reactions". Instantly negative from the headline, then picked out 15 negative comments and 1 saying it is a good idea..

clearly you havent read the positive story about CCFC splashing out on hotel rooms on saturday night ?

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sp...ws/coventry-city-splash-out-overnight-9158730

 

[RegTheDonk]

At least they've set their stall out early enough this time for fans to get familiar with the changes. We shouldn't see the cock up like we did last year. Fair enough.

 

[hill83]

I wish the Telegraph wouldn't make news items out of reader comments.

Clickety clickers click. Beautiful advert money. Ooh, a slightly misplaced advert on a link to another article. Silly us.

 

[Ashdown]

As I wrote earlier, it's not just about a few quid. Some will commit whether they raise it 50% and throw shit bombs at you as you enter the turnstiles. I guess we have around 700 of these types. Many others only renewed on the wave of optimism that occurred when we came back to Coventry and it's those that need to be convinced that there will be some form of entertainment next year and it's also these guys who got used to a blank Saturday when they boycotted Northampton so won't be fooled again.
I'm with another group who will go and buy single tickets for 3 or 4 games if SISU have still got Waggot picking has beens and no hopers for the manager to sign on a shoestring or do 12-15 matches plus cup games if we look competitive.....and by that I mean starting well and remaining at least in the top 10 all season.