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Season
Ticket Prices
The
club will be sending out season ticket renewal forms this coming Monday,
May 8th. Following the release of price and terms and conditions
details on the official web site, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust
(THST) was contacted by a number of members expressing concerns.
Members
were primarily concerned by the manner in which price rises appear to
have been imposed by stealth. You may recall that prices were announced
on Thursday and the associated Terms and Conditions were displayed 24
hours later. Added to the increase in some ticket prices, the club
has decided to halve the number of cup ties included in season ticket
books from four games to two. However, this fact was not initially
displayed, giving the false impression that prices had risen little in
real terms, if at all. This hardly appeared to be the most auspicious
beginning to the new and much heralded, open and honest relationship
between the fans and the club.
THST
was launched too late to be involved in discussions about next
season’s ticket prices but there were concerns and suggestions which
we felt we should communicate to the club. Consequently, THST
raised the issue of ticket prices with Daniel Levy (DL).
DL
explained that there had never been any intention to sneak the price
rises through the back door. He added that the posting of ticket prices
on the club web site had been poorly handled and was the result of a mix
up on the part of the webmasters, Sky. They were sent all the
information on Thursday but only posted the prices, not the terms and
conditions. When they posted the terms and conditions on Friday, they
did not make the price rises and reduction of included cup games clear
as they should have done.
The
season ticket renewal notices will contain a letter from DL apologising
for the rises and explaining why they are necessary. The rises are part
of a programme designed to increase the club's revenue generation
capacity. In isolation, ticket price rises will not generate a huge sum
but, in conjunction with improvements in other areas of the club's
financial activities, they will help to increase revenue significantly
and thereby help THFC to "act like a big club again".
THST
suggested that it would be a worthwhile gesture to allow season ticket
holders to pay for any extra cup ties at the per game rate applied to
season tickets but this was dismissed since it would defeat the purpose
of the price rises. THST was assured that all extra revenue would be
invested in the club.
DL
added that an innovative installment scheme would be introduced,
allowing supporters to spread the cost of paying for season tickets over
the course of the season. The details are as follows:
The
Credit Plus Club Plan is operated by a company called "The
Associates" which is owned by Citibank. The scheme basically
operates as a store or credit card but without the plastic.
THFC
supporters complete an application form which is returned to THFC along
with their Season Ticket Application. These in turn are forwarded to the
Associates for approval. If the supporter is approved, THFC are paid the
total charge of the Season Ticket by BACS payment and the supporter is
forwarded their Season Ticket Book for the forthcoming season.
The
supporter then receives a monthly statement of which they can pay as
little as £10 or 10% of the overall balance, whichever is less. The
supporter is therefore in control of the monthly payments and can choose
to pay the remaining balance off completely in one month or as and when
their finances will allow.
Lastly,
with regard to the ticket office, DL confirmed that a full review is
currently being conducted by outside consultants. THST has been asked to
prepare a document detailing the problems that fans face and the service
they receive at present. THST members are asked to make their opinions
and suggestions known. You will find details elsewhere on the website.
It
also emerged that DL is moving to a permanent office at White Hart Lane
next week. Once settled, he wants to institute monthly meetings with
THST representatives at which we can air supporters' views and he can
brief THST about developments at THFC. He has also agreed that THST
representatives should regularly meet with the relevant club employees
to discuss specific issues such as the ticket office, community
relations etc. It will be up to THST to identify the areas we wish to
discuss.
All
in all, a positive and promising start for the working relationship
between THST and the club.
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