New BFC Membership scheme

[jedi_master]

The bottom line is the club have announced something which is obscure and poorly defined post Season Ticket sale.

If this devalues the product that Burnley supporters who have been purchasing Season Tickets have come to expect (despite a price rise) then that is poor, it's as simple as that. I am no 'special' fan, nor do I demand to be treated as such, but if it wasn't for this website (more specifically, this thread) I wouldn't have a clue of this even occurring.

The terms of these memberships and how they interface with Season Ticket holders, loyalty points and away ticket purchasing should have been explicitly stated to stop conjecture, hearsay and ill informed comments causing arguments. The club have failed with their one main objective - communication. Until we know more about the reals ins and outs of this scheme, it is hard to make a decision on how 'fair' it is to all varieties of supporters.

I am not in anyway against lowering the barrier for entry to younger fans (I have a soon to be 6 year old daughter that I would love to be able to bring on more regularly, and possibly dip her toe into her first away game in the next couple of seasons) but you cannot alienate one section of the fanbase - the bigger and more historically financially supportive to the club - to placate the other. There has to be a middle ground. That is not for me to dream up, it is for the club alongside a representative group of supporters that cover all bases. I liked to think that would be the newly crowned Supporters Board, but I do not believe they have provided any consultation on this matter to supporters - so I would be interested what input, if any, they have had on this scheme.

[ClaretTony]

The problem with supporters groups is they're much like local politics with some truly obnoxious people getting involved. Many of them driven by self-interest and not the interests of the wider fan base. We have some fans who really want to work with the club to make things better, but in my experience they're always under-mined by others with destructive personalities. I very much doubt any such group would have made much difference on this.

Back on the original topic, I've still seen nothing official that states there's any kind of priority for the premium package. Only hearsay on here.

I'm not sure which supporters groups you've been involved with but I've never seen anything other than the opposite and met so many people who have worked for the good of the club and more importantly for the good of the fans.

No one could know what difference an effective supporters group might have made. At the end of the day we don't even have the detail of this scheme.

[Lancasterclaret]

as is being so ably proved by the supporters of Burnley FC

As long as you get that is all football fans CP

Or British people in general

Its amazing what you can get away with if you convince people its good for them

[Nori1958]

Thing is CP, your average football fan won't give a s**t about that as long as he can still afford to go and the team aren't completely shite

Exactly

[aggi]

I do feel at the very least we should have been told before renewing our season tickets if people were going to be able to pay to get away priority, given how long the season tickets have given us away priority (based on points).

I doubt it would have made much difference to anyone's decision (including me) but Pace has continually emphasised how important he thinks good communication is.

People were already paying for away priority with the Foundation. Regardless of all of the outrage on here it's not a new thing at Burnley.

[Nori1958]

The problem with supporters groups is they're much like local politics with some truly obnoxious people getting involved. Many of them driven by self-interest and not the interests of the wider fan base. We have some fans who really want to work with the club to make things better, but in my experience they're always under-mined by others with destructive personalities. I very much doubt any such group would have made much difference on this.

Back on the original topic, I've still seen nothing official that states there's any kind of priority for the premium package. Only hearsay on here.

Emails have been sent out by the club to those who have asked for details...it's not hearsay and I posted the brief details yesterday

[Spijed]

flexible pricing strategies

how wonderful, takes Category A, B and C to a whole new level and at any given moment in relation to demand

One club for all as long as you have got the necessary wherewithal

Wouldn't mind going in the hospitality seats, but unless there was a facility to "trade-in" part of a season ticket for that match then it's a non-starter.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Wouldn't mind going in the hospitality seats, but unless there was a facility to "trade-in" part of a season ticket for that match then it's a non-starter.

I guess there COULD be a way to do that where you "re-sell" your ST seat, albeit separately. This would depend on the club offering this option.

[aggi]

From the Ticket office. Apologies for ruining the random speculation.

Premium vs Standard memberships:

Premium:

Priority window to purchase up to 4 home tickets and 2 away tickets for each game
First refusal for season tickets for the 24/25 season
10% discount on single game hospitality
5% back as team card points with retail purchases


Standard:

Priority window after Premium members to purchase up to 2 home tickets for every game
Priority window after season ticket holders with loyalty points to purchase up to 2 tickets for away games
First refusal for season tickets for the 24/25 season
5% back as team card points with retail purchases


Home games:

There will be a priority window for supporters who purchase a membership from us. As we have limited availability for home tickets after our season tickets sold out, tickets could possibly sell out for home games during the priority window for members. Premium members will be able to purchase up to 4 tickets for every game and Standard members will be able to purchase up to 2 home tickets for every game. If the games reach general sale, non-members will have the chance to purchase home tickets.

Away games:

Premium members will have a priority access to a small allocation of away tickets of which they are able to buy up to 2 tickets. Non-members will have the opportunity to purchase away tickets when they go to general sale after season ticket holders if there are still tickets available.

Away - Premium sounds very similar to the old foundation scheme.

Being able to buy two tickets (with the standard membership) almost halves the cost of it (assuming you go with someone).

[daveisaclaret]

Amazing what a bit of communication can do - put that out on day one and this thread is probably 30 posts long.

Still don't like parts of it but not really much doing.

[GetIntoEm]

i said this a couple of days ago, the premium gets you at the front of the queue for away tickets, before accumulated points.

Money well spent.

[Boxy]

If its only a small section of tickets it shouldn't have too much of a impact

[Elizabeth]

From the Ticket office. Apologies for ruining the random speculation.

Premium vs Standard memberships:

Premium:

Priority window to purchase up to 4 home tickets and 2 away tickets for each game
First refusal for season tickets for the 24/25 season
10% discount on single game hospitality
5% back as team card points with retail purchases


Standard:

Priority window after Premium members to purchase up to 2 home tickets for every game
Priority window after season ticket holders with loyalty points to purchase up to 2 tickets for away games
First refusal for season tickets for the 24/25 season
5% back as team card points with retail purchases

What would first refusal for season tickets for next season mean in practice?

[bigdavethemaddog]

dont see why it should be more than one ticket per member especially with limited availability

[bigdavethemaddog]

What would first refusal for season tickets for next season mean in practice?

any unrenewed seats that become available id guess

[what_no_pies]

What membership did you pay for previously?

Seem to recall paying £15 for a membership. Wasn't it tied with Clarets Number and said to save us £5 per ticket, therefore allowing the club to charge the extra fiver to none members (away fans).

[RammyClaret61]

dont see why it should be more than one ticket per member especially with limited availability

That could be 3 people who are not members, who haven’t paid, getting a ticket before those who have.

Or, a group of 4 club together, £62.50 each and get one premium membership. Works out a couple of quid each a game.

[FeedTheArf]

i said this a couple of days ago, the premium gets you at the front of the queue for away tickets, before accumulated points.

Money well spent.

If you can buy up to 4 tickets a time, it's only going to take 4 lads clubbing together and chucking in 60 quid a piece to guarantee away tickets all season. Not a bad deal really (for them).

[ClaretTony]

Seem to recall paying £15 for a membership. Wasn't it tied with Clarets Number and said to save us £5 per ticket, therefore allowing the club to charge the extra fiver to none members (away fans).

Brendan Flood came up with that one, designed to ensure away fans paid more than home fans back in our first Premier League season.

[ClaretTony]

If you can buy up to 4 tickets a time, it's only going to take 4 lads clubbing together and chucking in 60 quid a piece to guarantee away tickets all season. Not a bad deal really (for them).

It's only 2 away tickets but that puts them ahead of season ticket holders who in any case can only buy one.

[Elizabeth]

Whatever the pros and cons I think it would be good if these new ideas lead to more people being introduced to the wonders of watching Burnley.

Of course I would not like any supporter already experiencing that missing out and hopefully it won’t come to that.

[what_no_pies]

Brendan Flood came up with that one, designed to ensure away fans paid more than home fans back in our first Premier League season.

Free season ticket for me but I paid the £15. I can't quite recall but must have done something for cup/away games or rolled over into the next season. Would have been no value in me doing it otherwise.

Has the club indicated any shelf life for this particular scheme?

[Spijed]

If I'm reading it correctly would that mean that if enough NON season ticket holders purchase the Premium membership (say 1000) then it's possible that tickets for a game such as Luton Away would be sold out even before regular season ticket holders have a chance to buy a ticket?

[Elizabeth]

Didn’t it say only a certain number of away tickets would be held back for the new membership.
Are they going to take away this benefit for current foundation members?

[aggi]

If I'm reading it correctly would that mean that if enough NON season ticket holders purchase the Premium membership (say 1000) then it's possible that tickets for a game such as Luton Away would be sold out even before regular season ticket holders have a chance to buy a ticket?

That's not how a small allocation of away tickets reads to me.

I would also think that selling 1,000 is unlikely. The majority of people who are willing to spend that much are probably also people with a lot of loyalty points.

[Elizabeth]

Surely the people willing to spend that much would not have a lot of loyalty points

[GetIntoEm]

Didn’t it say only a certain number of away tickets would be held back for the new membership.
Are they going to take away this benefit for current foundation members?

yes, its not connected to the foundation membership

[ngsobob]

It's the owners, it's the American way to 'monetise' everything. To have a situation where non season ticket holders can buy first access to away tickets puts money before season ticketers loyalty points; years of such loyalty clearly matters less to them than commercial income. We have to accept that's who they are. We've lost what was special about Burnley but gained a presently successful team. All any of us can do is make our personal choices. I dropped the match programme and Clarets+. I'm watching the catering presently as a local supplier, Hollands, has been replaced by a national company. Brewery next? Away games are a pain as everyone stands but important ones like Villa away last time mean we have to go.

That's the Premier League and the obsession to get in it.

[Elizabeth]

yes, its not connected to the foundation membership

The foundation membership still runs and has the benefit of holding back away tickets for those in it.
As the new membership will also have the same benefit I was wondering if it would be a case of two sets of memberships being held back away tickets by the club.
Or is this the start of withdrawing this benefit for Foundation members ?

[Spiral]

Remember Lee Hoos's 'buy one season ticket for the price of two' retainergate nonsense? This kind of tinkering rarely goes down well.

[Paul Waine]

Does anyone know how many times Burnley took the maximum away allocation rather than the minimum away allocation? Is there a chance that the Premium Membership scheme gives the club the confidence in away ticket demand that they take the maximum allocation for every away game? That would be a win-win for all fans, season ticket holders with limited/no points, premium members and walk-on fans who can only get to the occasional away game.

[Quickenthetempo]

Does anyone know how many times Burnley took the maximum away allocation rather than the minimum away allocation? Is there a chance that the Premium Membership scheme gives the club the confidence in away ticket demand that they take the maximum allocation for every away game? That would be a win-win for all fans, season ticket holders with limited/no points, premium members and walk-on fans who can only get to the occasional away game.

If they take the maximum allocation for every game, I don't think this new scheme will be worth buying.

A money man will want away tickets like gold dust, so more pay for the scheme.

[colner]

Ive just had a quick look on the ticket page and theres a banner reading this https://tickets.burnleyfootballclub.com ... esktop.jpg
Not sure what match this is for [MCFC perhaps?] but maybe this is what will happen for match ticket sales timescale going forward

[KRBFC]

Unless my Math is crapper than usual I make it that even if 5,000 non ST holders paid £35 it would only come to £175,000 and you think to yourself - is it worth it?

All the STs sold out and the Turf will be full - it's not as though the fans are not backing the owners. It's not even as though the owners have stuck a lot of their own cash in.

What's the point. Be the people's club....make it easy for folk to come and support the club. It's not like we have a 30,000 fan base with 10,000 on a waiting list. We've had 20,000 average gates in the top division since the mid 60s.

Exactly what I will never understand about English football, the money to the clubs is absolutely peanuts yet clubs would rather over charge supporters and ultimately drive fans away than fill stadiums.

Fourth tier games in this country are likely more expensive than top flight German football. Get local arses on the seats and the finances will take care of themselves.

[Chester Perry]

flexible pricing strategies

how wonderful, takes Category A, B and C to a whole new level and at any given moment in relation to demand

One club for all as long as you have got the necessary wherewithal

This is an extreme example but it gives an very illustrative example of dynamic ticket pricing, which may be coming to the hospitality seasting

The Messi Effect: Inter Miami Ticket Prices Jump 1,000% After Messi Joins MLS
https://archive.is/D3vWj

[MancunianClaret]

I've bought a standard membership. I only make it to half a dozen or so home games per year, and the occasional cup game - so a season ticket isn't really cost effective for me. Hopefully this means I can get tickets to a few desirable home games this season (although I won't use it for buying away tickets, except for Man U/Man City perhaps, if there are any left).

[aggi]

Ive just had a quick look on the ticket page and theres a banner reading this https://tickets.burnleyfootballclub.com ... esktop.jpg
Not sure what match this is for [MCFC perhaps?] but maybe this is what will happen for match ticket sales timescale going forward

Interesting that season ticket holders will also have a priority for buying home tickets.

[MrTopTier]

Hypothetically if you get a thousand people signed up for this you make a quarter of million. For essentially doing nothing but a bit of tweaking of a ticket system. Clever.

Be interesting to see if they issue the take up figures for this.

[IanMcL]

Didn’t it say only a certain number of away tickets would be held back for the new membership.
Are they going to take away this benefit for current foundation members?

That would mean you could pay the fee and still have a chance of not getting a ticket.

[distortiondave]

Interesting that season ticket holders will also have a priority for buying home tickets.

Are those rogue apostrophes or is my mind addled from the heat?

[Nori1958]

That would mean you could pay the fee and still have a chance of not getting a ticket.

You would hope so....... possibly only 10 percent of tickets should be available to this scheme?

[ClaretPete001]

Exactly what I will never understand about English football, the money to the clubs is absolutely peanuts yet clubs would rather over charge supporters and ultimately drive fans away than fill stadiums.

Fourth tier games in this country are likely more expensive than top flight German football. Get local arses on the seats and the finances will take care of themselves.

True the only caveat to that is that a lot of clubs are operating at full capacity with waiting lists. So, they can add margin to their bottom line by getting more out of those occupying the seats because the demand is there even if some decide not to pay it. Their seats are taken by those on the waiting lists.

We hover around 95 per cent in the PL without waiting lists so the opportunity is to fill those seats and create revenue that way......!

Obviously, this season there is heightened demand because of last season but generally speaking it's not there so...! As I say, I don't think it's a great longer term idea for the club but I guess £35 isn't going to break the bank of someone who can afford to buy tickets at the Turf.

For me in the longer term brand loyalty is more important to us than those who win most of their games and have lots of fans clamouring for a seat.

[bigdavethemaddog]

Didn’t it say only a certain number of away tickets would be held back for the new membership.
Are they going to take away this benefit for current foundation members?

Chelsea and Leeds split their away tickets 70% to season ticket holders and 30% to away members

[CrosspoolClarets]

I wonder if those first refusals on season tickets imply that a process will be in place for us to sell back any unwanted ones for each game?

A lot of unknowns that could easily be explained in a social media Q&A.

[bigdavethemaddog]

I wonder if those first refusals on season tickets imply that a process will be in place for us to sell back any unwanted ones for each game?

A lot of unknowns that could easily be explained in a social media Q&A.

that will be for any unrenewed season tickets that become available next summer id guess

[wilks_bfc]

Are those rogue apostrophes or is my mind addled from the heat?

Maybe as well as changing the badge, we’ve also changed our nickname to “The Claret”

[CrosspoolClarets]

that will be for any unrenewed season tickets that become available next summer id guess

Yes that is the obvious answer but if they do introduce a Brentford style scheme it would make sense to be a member to take advantage as there will be certain to be tickets handed back for even the biggest games.

The more insidious possibility is that in the future they could scrap the automatic right to renew. I doubt that, it would “lose the room”, but I keep an open mind and am a bit wary. More likely is they will copy other clubs with membership schemes.

[Nori1958]

Yes that is the obvious answer but if they do introduce a Brentford style scheme it would make sense to be a member to take advantage as there will be certain to be tickets handed back for even the biggest games.

The more insidious possibility is that in the future they could scrap the automatic right to renew. I doubt that, it would “lose the room”, but I keep an open mind and am a bit wary. More likely is they will copy other clubs with membership schemes.

Nothing like a bit of fear mongering based on no facts whatsoever to open another 5 pages of nonsense

[forzagranata]

Hypothetically if you get a thousand people signed up for this you make a quarter of million. For essentially doing nothing but a bit of tweaking of a ticket system. Clever.

Or…,you get some decent sponsorship and commercial deals done at last instead of squeezing more money out of your fans.

[Ightenhill_Claret]

I wonder how much tickets are going to be for next season? I paid £37.50 for West Brom in the Bob Lord on a Friday night (on Sky) last season so can easily see adult tickets hitting the £50-60 mark for the 'big games' this season.