is PLATINUM
The local press are spinning it, the official website are trailblazing it but the messageboards are lukewarm and even a bit dubious and sceptical as Cardiff City yesterday announced season ticket prizes will be frozen for the next 5 years to the first 10,000 supporters to renews their season tickets for 2010/11 by December 31st creating a new category of supporter - Paltinum Ambassadors!
On the face of it, the deal isn't bad - nobody is committed to 5 years season ticket buying, it's just an option to make sure we gets ours at the same price. You only need to pay for next season now and the season after in a year's time etc. On a personal level, I've been putting aside money monthly so will have the funds to buy mine.
However there are percieved catches and worries,
- The club are expecting fans to buy their season tickets earlier and earlier every year
- It may be a good bargain if City are in the Premier League but will it be if we are not?
- Is it a sign of desparation by the club to get money fast?
- Is it money required to pay off Sam Hammam in which case, it means no money for the club?
- In a deep recession with years of hardship to follow, would prices necessarily increase anyway?
- Ambassadors are already promised frozen prices for next season so why commit now?
- Most fans don't have the money to buy pre-Xmas so may look to use finance - City's 10 month scheme at 19.9% APR would cost upto £30 more when it was 4 months interest free for this season.
- If City get new owners, are they going to honour or scrap this deal?
- PMG and the current regime are set to exit the club if a takeover goes through, is this a way to get them a haul of cash now?
However, cynicism and concerns aside, it does respresent a good deal for supporters who saw prizes frozen this season for the new stadium and can now guarantee those same prices through to 2016.
I will be renewing and go Platinum but only as I was wise enough to save in advance so will have the funds. Will 10,000 others do the same? It remains to be seen.
However, in the interests of blance, here is the club's statement on the matter:
Cardiff City fans are being offered the chance to freeze their season ticket prices for an incredible FIVE YEARS.
Chairman Peter Ridsdale announced the inflation-busting scheme on Thursday, adding that prices will stay frozen even if the Bluebirds soar into the Premier League.
The first 10,000 supporters to buy a 2010-11 Ambassador season ticket before December 31, 2009 will have their prices guaranteed for five years until the end of the 2014-2015 season.
Peter said: "Our fans have got behind us again and again. Now it's time to give them something back with a ground-breaking offer. You'd have to go a very long way to find a similar offer at another club.
"They'll save straight away because a VAT increase is due to come into force on January 1 next year. There'll be no need to worry about inflation, and if we get into the Premier League, there will be no increase."
The tickets will be available from Friday, October 30, and this is how the scheme will work:
*The first 10,000 fans who buy a 2010-11 season ticket before December 31, 2009 will become Platinum Ambassadors and will be guaranteed no price increases for five years.
*Prices start from as little as £14 per game for an adult and just over £2 per game for under 16s. Yes! £2 a game.
*We will still be offering our highly successful under-9s go free policy in the Braces Bread Family Stand.
*The offer is open to the first 10,000 fans buying their season tickets, or up until December 31, 2009, whichever is the earlier.
*Juniors who reach adult status during the five-year term will become liable for the full adult price in the season AFTER they reach the age of 16. Adults who reach the age of 60 during the five-year term will pay the concession price for the season AFTER their 60th birthday.
HOW TO BUY
Here's how to buy your Platinum Ambassador season ticket:
Phone 0845 345 1400
Online at www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk
Or in person at Cardiff City Stadium ticket office.
FINANCE OPTION
For fans who prefer an instalment option, we have teamed up with Zebra Finance to offer a 10-month equal instalment plan (APR 19.9% - terms and conditions available on request)
APR 19.9% TYPICAL EXAMPLE: If a season ticket purchased at £399.00 were repaid in 10 monthly equal instalments of £43.32 and paid in full 10 months after the advance was debited to the account, the interest payable would be £34.20, with a total repayable amount of £433.20 (19.9% variable).
2 comments:
Nigel, as I paid early to have my ticket frozen for next season, I will only get a price freeze for 4 years, as it will only be frozen until 2015 and not 2016 I have emailed corky to see if this has been discussed with PR.
You have a point. Only those who signed early bird last season had prices frozen for next term but now it's open to everyone.
That apart, it's still a good deal in theory...if we stay where we are or go up.
Whether it works out that way in reality is another issue as most clubs are freezing prices in the current climate or even reducing them in some cases.
Post a Comment