09 Oct 2013 16:51:55
ED007 I see that the EPL have given each club £200k to support away fans, either by cheaper tickets or help with coach/rail travel.
A few months ago we had a discussion thread on here about Celtic and what they could do to encourage both home and away fans.
I believe the club has a system in place with one of the bus companies in Glasgow for a discounted fare but only for Celtic season ticket holders.
I believe Celtic could do more to attract more away fans to help improve the atmosphere at Celtic Park, we all know some teams only bring a few coachloads through.
Celtic have been generous with their £100 discount off season tickets but nee to do more in the coming seasons.
My idea was along the German clubs approach of offering a one price ticket that covered entry, a programme and a tea/coffee and pie/burger.
Celtic could also approach their supporters club about help with hiring coaches.
I realise it would need to be costed properly, but if successful, it would in the long run, pay for itself by attracting more home/away fans to Celtic Park and spending their money at the ground.
Let's hear everyone else's thoughts including yourself Mr Bond. Timalloy {Ed007's Note - When we first moved back to CP from Hampden you got a bus/rail pass as part of your ST, the club also paid £10 per head to registered supporters club as an alternative. I certainly see the advantages of what you are suggesting.}
If the club is to help supporters I think they have to start at home and although I wouldn't benefit as I'm a season book holder they should make every home game £20 adult and £5 for kids as I would rather sit beside 55000 bhoys than 40000 as I understand money is hard for families to afford the current pricing
Jim
Tim . Other teams in the SPL can't really fill their ground so I don't think anything that Celtic would do would entice them to Parkhead . I'm all for getting our own fans back to the ground . I've said all along that when it comes to Thursday Celtic should cut prices and distribute tickets to Schools, youth clubs etc . They also should look at their catering prices which are really expensive especially to adults who come with their kids . I sit in the north stand top tier and find it sad to see nearly a top tier empty and covered with flags and banners when tickets could be distributed to kids etc . The fans are the lifeblood of the club and I honestly think more could be done . DH
The governing body here is bordering on skint from what I've read, not sure how accurate that is though.
Celtic still sell 40000 ish season tickets and has one of highest matchday revenues in Europe so not sure they will do anything especially when we are screaming at them to buy players, up wages etc.
Everyone is different how they support their team, I live quite near Celtic Park so travel costs are minimal. If i'm in the mood, I can walk.
Celtic are financially healthy this season but we all know that can change so easily over a couple of seasons and this is the harsh reality. We do not have the broadcasting cash of the EPL or the 80million population Germany has.
I always think though other Clubs could do more, I know Kilmarnock offered tickets to Celtic fans the other week for one day only but it wasn't well thought out at all and too little, too late.
You can imagine the outcry from some supporters at Celtic Park if they found out the Club had sold tickets to the away fans for a fiver. Personally it wouldn't bother me if they did let away fans in for his amount if it guaranteed a better turnout.
Look at the Hibs v Hearts Scottish Cup final last year, sold out. So the fan base must be there.
Partick Thistle are selling direct to Celtic fans, they know a lot of Celtic fans will be local and are offering £5 off the next home game so at least they are taking some initiative.
Scottish football is needing a serious overhaul from top to bottom ~ Mrs E
If the tickets went on public sale for £20 pound then I would be cheaper going and buying my tickets separate as it would cost less than my season ticket and that's with £ 100 off. Agree something needs done to encourage more through gates but still need to play fair with the season ticket holder
Has to start with discussions with supporters clubs and getting them to bring a mate, bring back someone who stopped attending, etc.
Subsidizing a second bus etc. For additional show ups. start bringing wife and kids. Busses for schools. Talk to teachers who might need subsidy to bring kids. Get sky, STV, BBC, radio Clyde who make fortunes from football to put something back.
@ Mrs E . I'm in a similar position as yourself in that I'm from the east end and don't have to get buses etc as I'm only 15mins walk . As a season book holder I wouldn't be fussed if tickets were reduced on the Thursday to bring people in . Dundee Utd let kids under 16 in for £3 . There's other clubs who let under 16 free . Surely it's an incentive to sell tickets for say £20 and bring your kids say 2 max free . Kids wil always want a drink crisps etc so do a decent price for the catering and it might pay dividends . My own dream would be to bring back standing for the whole of the bottom sections of the park . I can dream . DH
I agree with DH regarding catering prices, as an example, on my way to the morton game I bought a cup of tea from one of the catering vans outside celtic park, plastic cup, tea bag, and hot water
cost £1-00, same inside stadium cost £2-20, please celtic justify the price difference.If that is not ripping off fans i don't know what is.jimbhoy.
@4 a season ticket consists of 19 league 1 friendly 1 European and 1 cup match which would be £440 for non season tickets to attend all matches which would compare with season ticket prices that may sound a bit unfair but season ticket holders can have the best seats and know they have a ticket that guarantees juve barca etc all non season ticket holders have to gamble on that
Jim
@DH I agree, they could reduce the price for kids with an adult ticket for domestic games.
The price of the Champions League 3 game package was very reasonable and you could not argue with it. My 7 year olds season ticket was £50 which I'm not going to grumble at.
Jim, my only gripe is the catering, its way too expensive.
The amount of fans Celtic has though, you can't please all of them all of the time and some folk are just serial complainers ~ Mrs E
DH, I 100% agree, I wouldn't pay a score to sit and watch a game, I remember thinking yonks ago that I wished Celtic Park was more like the old White Hart Lane, upper sitting, lower standing, perfection for a good atmosphere,,, Algarvebhoy
@8 is there always 19 games at home with the way the split works, not sure. The friendly normally a mince game nobody interested in if it was a big team fair enough. We only get a European match free if its not a big game and were expected to sail through, think we had to pay for arsenal as an example, cup game a was in Santa ponsa for Morton game didn't no it was free but ud probably got a ticket for bout £12, plus there isn't always a home cup game. Even if it that was worth £440 that's how much I pay with my discount. A would say season ticket holders deserve a bit of loyalty as in shouldn't be paying more for there tickets than someone in a public sale. If some1 wants there chance of the big games then simple bug a season ticket
Ok will think as I type.
£100 at start of season buys you your season card, this gives you guarantee for a ticket in your seat for big games like the CL and against our fiercest rivals Inverness. It also gives you £10 off european tickets 1 european qualifier ticket and 3 domestic cup games. Also allows free entry to any home friendlies and also throw in a cheap celtic keyring, a foam finger or a mini hoopy the huddlehound nodding figure or some tat like that :)
There is then 3 tiers of pricing on top of this, £10 in the currently deemed poorest seats, £15 standard and £20 for other seats in places where its usually a bit dearer already. So that's 3 clear prices for a full season book assuming 18 home games - £280, £370 and £460. Keep kids ones similar to now and other concessions need considered. 10,000 tickets of each type brings in 11.1 mil or there abouts. I say that's not too shabby.
This leaves price range for a seasons viewing slightly lower than it is now but perhaps with a few more incentives for taking on a season ticket Also makes it a bit cheaper for folk to walk in off the street and not be fleeced. Yes they could watch all games for less overall however there are no benefits of season ticket.
This does hit on some of the clubs current earning a bit but if any of it can encourage more folk to just turn up then it could balance out in an ideal world.
Theres no easy solution.
We can however just say eff it, £10 a head and no season books and have a free for all for tickets, that might be fun!
I don't buy a season ticket to get a better deal than non season ticket holders I don't want a non season ticket holder to pay more than me just because he/she can't afford it they are still celtic fans like me and you. As for 19 league games not guaranteed might be 18 or 20 on odd season. Cup ticket is scottish cup Morton was £12. Catering is a joke would rather outsell to mcd/bk/Gregg's where pricing is same as outside ground
I cannot attend many games due to work so I usually get to around 10 home games a season. What really annoys me is I purchase my tickets online as soon as I know that I am able to go to a game. If I buy them early enough they get posted to me at home, this costs £1.50. If I only find out I can go in the days before the game I use the print at home option and it costs £1.75. How can they charge me £1.75 for printing my ticket on my printer using my ink!
A don't want a cheaper ticket a just don't want to be paying more
Next home game is £ 26 adult £17 kids monkey bhoy that means £86 for a family of 4 so you can expect 15000 empty seats again. I think that is too much for walk up families my pricing would cost £ 50 before food etc and no one expects season ticket holders to pay more obviously thing would require tweeking but north stand lower would expect to pay more than jock stein upper and walk up fans would have lesser quality seats but might add 5000 to attendance
Jim
A wouldn't expect to pay £17 for a child's ticket a think that's wrong especially if there season tickets go for way less than £100. My season ticket is normally £550 with my Ghirls it is £500 they didn't give me the full £100 off.
Think clubs and schools could be given tickets .
But I also don't see why adults shouldn't be paying the going rate, if they have some sort of disability then they get a discount fine with that.