A Parents Take on The Family Stand

I'm a season ticket holder in the Family Stand together with my two sons, 9 and 7 and I get equally frustrated with the fair weather nature of the support in the family stand.

At present, there is too little incentive for some parents/kids to attend all, or most games. For example, if you have two kids under nine, you get free season tickets for both of them. Therefore, if the kids get disinterested the parent will either attend alone, or not bother themselves. Therefore, the club needs to address this situation directly with those season ticket holders who only attend a small percentage of games.

It is not fair for fans who are happy to pay for a match day ticket, to miss out because kids with free ST's don't attend.

A Solution

The club should firstly undertake an exercise to analyse the turnstyle data and identify free or junior rate season ticket holders who have attended less then 70% of games. The club should then write to their parents or the accompanying adult ST holder and highlight that the club is losing potential revenue as a result of their non attendance and the fact they are unable to sell on these tickets, or benefit from match day purchases.

The club should also highlight to the parent/adult season ticket holder, that they will now introduce a new 'Minimum Attendence Target' which has to be met, in order to qualify for future child concessions.

For example, they could state that if a junior season ticket holder attends less than 70% of games this season, they will not qualify for child concessions next year, or the cost of those concessions would be a minimum of £75 for under 9's (rather than free) and £150 (rather than £40) for 9-15's for the following season.

By introducing surcharges for non attendance, this should ensure that parents make more effort to bring their kids more regularly, or that they won't be able to benefit from a free or cheap seat next season, which does not get used regularly.

I'm all for introducing kids to football from an early age and my kids love the match day experience, but there has to be some commitment and ongoing support to the club in return for a free, or dirt cheap ST.

I understand your feelings but it could be difficult to enforce peoples attendance at games. Work, illness, holidays, family issues all come into play here.
It is a big problem but I am not sure of the best solution. One I would like (but will not happen) is swap Grange and Canton Ends so more family stand area available.
Hard to do a swap back (whatever it is called) as some of the child tickets are essentially free.
I try to upgrade mine if they are going spare and allow someone else to use them.
This needs a lot of thought as if it is true there are lots of empty seats then a solution is needed (cannot see from my place how big the problem is).

An easier solution is to cut the numbers of Family Stand tickets which are avaiable. Then if the holders don't turn up the impact on revenues via additional ticket sales will be minimised.

I'm a season ticket holder in the Family Stand together with my two sons, 9 and 7 and I get equally frustrated with the fair weather nature of the support in the family stand.

At present, there is too little incentive for some parents/kids to attend all, or most games. For example, if you have two kids under nine, you get free season tickets for both of them. Therefore, if the kids get disinterested the parent will either attend alone, or not bother themselves. Therefore, the club needs to address this situation directly with those season ticket holders who only attend a small percentage of games.

It is not fair for fans who are happy to pay for a match day ticket, to miss out because kids with free ST's don't attend.

A Solution

The club should firstly undertake an exercise to analyse the turnstyle data and identify free or junior rate season ticket holders who have attended less then 70% of games. The club should then write to their parents or the accompanying adult ST holder and highlight that the club is losing potential revenue as a result of their non attendance and the fact they are unable to sell on these tickets, or benefit from match day purchases.

The club should also highlight to the parent/adult season ticket holder, that they will now introduce a new 'Minimum Attendence Target' which has to be met, in order to qualify for future child concessions.

For example, they could state that if a junior season ticket holder attends less than 70% of games this season, they will not qualify for child concessions next year, or the cost of those concessions would be a minimum of £75 for under 9's (rather than free) and £150 (rather than £40) for 9-15's for the following season.

By introducing surcharges for non attendance, this should ensure that parents make more effort to bring their kids more regularly, or that they won't be able to benefit from a free or cheap seat next season, which does not get used regularly.

I'm all for introducing kids to football from an early age and my kids love the match day experience, but there has to be some commitment and ongoing support to the club in return for a free, or dirt cheap ST.

Obviouly you have given the above a lot of thought but lets be honest it is far too complicated.

However, I think you have highlighted one problem which goes to the heart of the problem. Anyone who has children know how they can become bored very easily and while the first game they attend is a great adventure the second game is old hat.

So frankly there is no insentive which would encourage the children to attend. As I have stated above the only way to solve this is to drastically reduce the number of Family Stand ST avaiable. Cutting the numbers shouldn't be hard as I would imagine a high percentage of parents/children have not attended more than 50% of games and on that basis they should-not receive an oppotunity to renew.

The extra places freed up should go on general sale, although I would like to see a safe standing area created.

TBW

I don't think it would be too complicated but there would need to be some careful thought around this issue. I'm not opposed to your suggestion that the number of free or concession tickets in the family end is reduced either, on the basis that those ST holders who have attended a high percentage of games are guaranteed an option to renew.

Only those who have not attended many games should lose out if demand for ST's exceeds the number of seats available in a smaller section.

I would just increase the tickets anyway, there is no point in having an almost full stadium if a large percentage aren't paying, it's lovely to encourage kids so make it cheaper, but not free and charge more for the older kids also.

That way the only season tickets sold will be genuine ones that people intend to use.

The adulst tickets should be full price to stop adults buying cheaper tickets and free ones that they don't intend to use....

Push the prices up gradually if you like year on year, to allow people time to adjust ......

TBW

I don't think it would be too complicated but there would need to be some careful thought around this issue. I'm not opposed to your suggestion that the number of free or concession tickets in the family end is reduced either, on the basis that those ST holders who have attended a high percentage of games are guaranteed an option to renew.

Only those who have not attended many games should lose out if demand for ST's exceeds the number of seats available in a smaller section.

Probably those who don't use the tickets that much would be the ones who would-not renew but the problem is they will only to be replaced by other families who don't attend.

I would go with your idea of offering renewals to ST Holders with a high percentage of attendance only and slowly reduce the over all family stand season tickets avaiable.

Whilst some of the space created would go on general sale I would keep back enough seating to offer match by match deals to families instead.

Trouble is trying to prove who has and who hasn't turned up week in week out, unless you get someone walking around taking note of the seats which are empty and logging them down to see when that person who uses that seat turns up.

I wish I could remember the offer a read about 1/2 years ago, cant even remember the club. Its was something along the lines of free season tickets for kids if they attend every game. I think it was something like they paid the full amount upfront then everytime they went to a game they would have a %age of that money back.

I would just increase the tickets anyway, there is no point in having an almost full stadium if a large percentage aren't paying, it's lovely to encourage kids so make it cheaper, but not free and charge more for the older kids also.

That way the only season tickets sold will be genuine ones that people intend to use.

The adulst tickets should be full price to stop adults buying cheaper tickets and free ones that they don't intend to use....

Push the prices up gradually if you like year on year, to allow people time to adjust ......

thats right price out families my family family including my 7yr old daughter attend nearly every game why should we be punished

if its a free seat it should be used every game not most of the time end of

I wish I could remember the offer a read about 1/2 years ago, cant even remember the club. Its was something along the lines of free season tickets for kids if they attend every game. I think it was something like they paid the full amount upfront then everytime they went to a game they would have a %age of that money back.

How about no more season tickets for kids? Say a season ticket for a kid currently averages about £5 a game.
Instead of giving them a perm seat they give the adult a perm seat and the one next to it gets reserved until a certain time eg 2 weeks before the game. (just like ST holders seats are reserved for cup games up to a point).

If they do not take up the offer of purchasing the ticket two weeks before the game then it goes on sale once again to the public. This also means they could in effect charge a child or adult price for the ticket as well.

Canton blue

All the club needs to do is check their turnstyle data. Every time someone uses their ST to enter the ground, this Data is logged centrally, so the club can tell how many games people have attended.

I wish I could remember the offer a read about 1/2 years ago, cant even remember the club. Its was something along the lines of free season tickets for kids if they attend every game. I think it was something like they paid the full amount upfront then everytime they went to a game they would have a %age of that money back.

I was thinking somewhere along those lines. Couldn't we charge people for Season Tickets up front, but give them a refund if they attend a required number of games? Even if it is £50 for under 9s it is something.

as anyone actually got a figure of what seats and what area of the ground are not being used by season ticket holders

as anyone actually got a figure of what seats and what area of the ground are not being used by season ticket holders

I think the problem is that they keep changing.

so why are the majority of the posts having a go at the family stand,when there are sparse areas in the canton and ninian.

so why are the majority of the posts having a go at the family stand,when there are sparse areas in the canton and ninian.

Because the problem of non-attendance by season ticket holders is more prevelent in that area than anywhere else.

so why are the majority of the posts having a go at the family stand,when there are sparse areas in the canton and ninian.

Because the family stand is "full" officially and the season tickets are a lot cheaper than elsewhere anwyays.

so why are the majority of the posts having a go at the family stand,when there are sparse areas in the canton and ninian.

Because families are being turned away in the family stand as its sold out but people are not turning up.

Ninian and canton have seats for sale

last season they were selling family tickets in the canton are they doing the same this year.

any free season tickets holders should notify the club one week prior to a game if they are not attending, if they fail to do this on three occasions then they lose the ticket, this will give the club a week to sell the ticket, i dont think thats to complicated or unreasonable.

I'm a season ticket holder in the Family Stand together with my two sons, 9 and 7 and I get equally frustrated with the fair weather nature of the support in the family stand.

At present, there is too little incentive for some parents/kids to attend all, or most games. For example, if you have two kids under nine, you get free season tickets for both of them. Therefore, if the kids get disinterested the parent will either attend alone, or not bother themselves. Therefore, the club needs to address this situation directly with those season ticket holders who only attend a small percentage of games.

It is not fair for fans who are happy to pay for a match day ticket, to miss out because kids with free ST's don't attend.

A Solution

The club should firstly undertake an exercise to analyse the turnstyle data and identify free or junior rate season ticket holders who have attended less then 70% of games. The club should then write to their parents or the accompanying adult ST holder and highlight that the club is losing potential revenue as a result of their non attendance and the fact they are unable to sell on these tickets, or benefit from match day purchases.

The club should also highlight to the parent/adult season ticket holder, that they will now introduce a new 'Minimum Attendence Target' which has to be met, in order to qualify for future child concessions.

For example, they could state that if a junior season ticket holder attends less than 70% of games this season, they will not qualify for child concessions next year, or the cost of those concessions would be a minimum of £75 for under 9's (rather than free) and £150 (rather than £40) for 9-15's for the following season.

By introducing surcharges for non attendance, this should ensure that parents make more effort to bring their kids more regularly, or that they won't be able to benefit from a free or cheap seat next season, which does not get used regularly.

I'm all for introducing kids to football from an early age and my kids love the match day experience, but there has to be some commitment and ongoing support to the club in return for a free, or dirt cheap ST.

I like your thinking, mate but there is ONE single issue that would stand in the way of ANY potential solution as it stands and that is the total selfishness of the people who are preapred to 'BLOCK' these seats in the first place for their own ends

I know a couple of people who turn up every week but rarely with the kids. When questioned they simply say: "It's my right and I am entitled. It's there to take advantage of and IF we get to the Premiership my kid(s) will be made up...."

Hmmm, I wonder exactly who wll be made up more?? The kids?? Or the parents who live their dreams through their children??

The solution for me is simple: Prevent adults from entering what is afterall 'The FAMILY Stand' without accompanying children and put them in any available spare seats according to availability elsewhere in the ground

May sound a little harsh but there appears to be more than a few taking advantage of the 'Under 9' loophole and there are MANY who would GENUINELY like the opportunity to take over those seats

any free season tickets holders should notify the club one week prior to a game if they are not attending, if they fail to do this on three occasions then they lose the ticket, this will give the club a week to sell the ticket, i dont think thats to complicated or unreasonable.

that sounds the best idea

any free season tickets holders should notify the club one week prior to a game if they are not attending, if they fail to do this on three occasions then they lose the ticket, this will give the club a week to sell the ticket, i dont think thats to complicated or unreasonable.

that sounds the best idea

What if they phone EVERY week and say thaey are not coming?? Would there be a limit on 'non-attendance' even with the phone call?? (I'd hope so )

any free season tickets holders should notify the club one week prior to a game if they are not attending, if they fail to do this on three occasions then they lose the ticket, this will give the club a week to sell the ticket, i dont think thats to complicated or unreasonable.

that sounds the best idea

What if they phone EVERY week and say thaey are not coming?? Would there be a limit on 'non-attendance' even with the phone call?? (I'd hope so )

i think there should because people like me woudnt be punished then

The club should firstly undertake an exercise to analyse the turnstyle data and identify free or junior rate season ticket holders who have attended less then 70% of games. The club should then write to their parents or the accompanying adult ST holder and highlight that the club is losing potential revenue as a result of their non attendance and the fact they are unable to sell on these tickets, or benefit from match day purchases.

sorry can you explain where the lost revenue is?
pints and pie's ?
or the actual seat at full price, as apposed to a junior price, thus pushing the fans of tomorrow out of the ground?

I would just increase the tickets anyway, there is no point in having an almost full stadium if a large percentage aren't paying, it's lovely to encourage kids so make it cheaper, but not free and charge more for the older kids also.

That way the only season tickets sold will be genuine ones that people intend to use.

The adulst tickets should be full price to stop adults buying cheaper tickets and free ones that they don't intend to use....

Push the prices up gradually if you like year on year, to allow people time to adjust ......

thats right price out families my family family including my 7yr old daughter attend nearly every game why should we be punished

I agree. No issues with those who USE their tickets the vast majority of the time :ayatollah:

The club should firstly undertake an exercise to analyse the turnstyle data and identify free or junior rate season ticket holders who have attended less then 70% of games. The club should then write to their parents or the accompanying adult ST holder and highlight that the club is losing potential revenue as a result of their non attendance and the fact they are unable to sell on these tickets, or benefit from match day purchases.

sorry can you explain where the lost revenue is?
pints and pie's ?
or the actual seat at full price, as apposed to a junior price, thus pushing the fans of tomorrow out of the ground?

You miss the point. It's about (a) the EMPTY seats that could go to other families that are currently refused entry to that particular section, and (b) the 'coveting' of seats 'just in case' we get to play the so-called 'big boys' some time soon

In my world it's called 'hedging your bets" and it shouldn't be allowed to be so blatant

NO issues at all with those who actually bring their kids at a reduced price; for they are the full-paying fans of the future!!

I would just increase the tickets anyway, there is no point in having an almost full stadium if a large percentage aren't paying, it's lovely to encourage kids so make it cheaper, but not free and charge more for the older kids also.

That way the only season tickets sold will be genuine ones that people intend to use.

The adulst tickets should be full price to stop adults buying cheaper tickets and free ones that they don't intend to use....

Push the prices up gradually if you like year on year, to allow people time to adjust ......

thats right price out families my family family including my 7yr old daughter attend nearly every game why should we be punished

Sorry mate but it's a business not a free community project, I've always paid extra and taken my boy with me and mates in the grandstand. Nothing personal at all, and well done for adding another fan, but unless the price gradually goes up, the current problem will continue and the club will lose revenue.