Concessionary ... Full price season tickets

[zigga-zagga]

I doubt if any statistics exist but I was wondering what the 'conversion rate' from concessionary to full price season tickets was.

An example was my daughter. From the age of 12 I bought her a season ticket, right up to the age of 21 when she became liable to pay full price. She had left university and was working but still took the decision that, at that time, she couldn't afford to pay the £450 or so that her full price season ticket would cost.

At 25 years of age she now'picks and chooses' which games she attends and finds this much more affordable.

It's easy for under-21s to say 'I'll have a full price ticket when the time comes' but I wonder how many do and whether anyone else has friends or family who have found the transition from concessionary to full price a little too much

 

[birkin youth]

Yeah, good question

I don't get a Season Ticket because it doesn't seem worth it, financially.

I sit in A Block, where season tickets are around £510 (so about £22 per game). The average price of tickets was about £25 last season... but once you think about missing 1 or 2 home games, once you think about the £10 price offers they do, then it seems you don't really save that much,

My point is, in certain areas, season tickets are overpriced (even compared to individual match tickets) which puts people off buying them.

 

[Jacko_w]

I had a concessionary ticket and when i was 21 i payed full price. Ive just renewed again and bought away membership

 

[earthworm]

I had an under 21 ticket, just renewed again and I'm 28 now (Upper BC).

 

[Rich]

Interesting point, Zigga.

Also touches on something that always rankles with me, and that's the concessionary price goers moralising over those who have to pay full price not always going.

Nothing worse than someone whose parents have given them £100 for a season ticket looking down on someone who can't afford to pay £500 for theirs. Seen a lot of posts along those lines on here in the past.

 

[cousins141]

Hi Im 21 from (may onwards) and ive been going to forest for 7 years but this year i really want to go but i just cant afford its like you said my price has jumped up and im gutted

 

[Mist Rolling In...]

I'm in this position... Got my first season ticket last year as it was my last chance to get one as a concession. I'm now 21, so have to pay adult prices, and won't be renewing. Simply can't afford it, unfortunately.

 

[birkin youth]

I don't understand why the price difference between U21 and full Adult tickets is so much?

Don't U21's pay around two-thirds less?? i.e they pay around 1/3 of what a full adult does?

I think that's a bit ridiculous, what is the basis for this?

They should increase the u21 tickets, and balance it out by reducing the price for full adults.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I think you may be on to something....

Looking around the ground there always seems to be a lack of 21-25 year olds in comparison with other age ranges. I don't doubt that the price hike is the main issue.
Unfortunately for our age group in particular, getting on the property ladder, finding funds to buy a car and in some cases marriage mean that the disposable income to shell out £400+ on Forest is vastly reduced.

I'm not sure how you'd go about fixing the 'problem' though - and it may not even be a problem to Forest.
Maybe offer a 'young persons' scheme where by this age is entitled to a ST the price of an U21 ticket if they have renewed every year for the past 5 years? Not sure how the older generation would like that though.

Complex situation anyway, good thought into zigga.

 

[zigga-zagga]

Mr renewal price this year was £480 and my son's was £197 - next year he's 21 and I believe that he's committed enough to pay full price but I sympathise with people who can't.

We encourage kids to come along with the 'Chavs for a Quid' days and other offers but they are offered no further incentives at 21.

I am sure that I have seen somewhere on my travels that some clubs due concessionary season tickets up to 23 and some even to 25. By this time people are usually a lot more financially secure and more likely to be able to commit to the additional expense.

 

[Rich]

What about something that works a bit like a Young Persons Railcard.

Something for 21-26 year olds, a card that costs somethign like £100 but saves you money on your season ticket/match tickets for the remainder of those 5 years.

 

[birkin youth]

Personally, I'd like to see all adults paying the same price.

People between 18 and 60/ 65 paying full price, with discounts for people in full-time education.

 

[WatnallRed]

Its a very interesting point.
I doubt ill be able to afford one when taking that jump especially as ill be going from uni to trying to get a full time job, i just wont be able to afford it. I do think they should introduce some scheme where by if you renew early or have renewed several years of you get some sort of discount or any incentive. Does annoy me that does renew year after year n get no reduction or reward for continued support than people buying one just because the league looks good this year.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Personally, I'd like to see all adults paying the same price.

People between 18 and 60/ 65 paying full price, with discounts for people in full-time education.

You've contradicted yourself. 40% between 18 and 21 are in full time education.

 

[Rich]

I think the point he's making is that those who are working at 18 should have to pay full price.

 

[birkin youth]

Personally, I'd like to see all adults paying the same price.

People between 18 and 60/ 65 paying full price, with discounts for people in full-time education.

You've contradicted yourself. 40% between 18 and 21 are in full time education.

so I haven't contradicted myself; I just meant that discounts should not be given solely on the basis of age.

It's unfair that a 20 year old who works full-time gets a massive discount, but a 22 year old in full-time education has to pay full-price.

(I also doubt your statistic is true, but that's irrelevant)

 

[Rich]

If the 22 year old has a Student Card they only pay £12 per match, though.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Ah yes, sorry about that misread what you put. I therefore agree with you.

It was recognised by the Government (so therefore may well be totally wrong) last year that approx 39% of youngsters go onto Uni.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

If the 22 year old has a Student Card they only pay £12 per match, though.

Are they still confined to the upper BC though?

 

[Rich]

Indeed they are, which I think is a good thing. There has to a level of compromise from both sides, and I think that strikes the right balance.

 

[zigga-zagga]

I think the point he's making is that those who are working at 18 should have to pay full price.

The problem is though that the minimum wage for a 21 year old rises to the magnificent sum of £4.73 per hour in October. That's £189.20 before deductions for a 40 hour week. Even for a 22 year old the minimum is only £5.80 (£232 per week). How is anyone supposed to save enough money for a season ticket out of this pittance

 

[Rich]

The problem is though that the minimum wage for a 21 year old rises to the magnificent sum of £4.73 per hour in October. That's £189.20 before deductions for a 40 hour week. Even for a 22 year old the minimum is only £5.80 (£232 per week). How is anyone supposed to save enough money for a season ticket out of this pittance

Your reasoning, as sound as it is with the numbers, is flawed for two sides of one reason.

Firstly, people who are 18 don't automatically have to be paid minumum wage, your reasoning assumes they do.

Equally, it assumes that people who are over 22 automatically earn more than minimum wage, which is simply not the case.

Many people who are 25, 26, 27 are still in jobs that pay minimum wage. How are they supposed to magically be able to afford to spend more than people 5 years their junior on the same money?

It's also worth pointing out that many 18 year olds in full time employment on minimum wage, and I dont mean all 18 year olds, just a vast majority, will still be living at home, and as such generally have a higher rate of disposable income than their older, higher paid, co-workers.

 

[zigga-zagga]

I accept your points but it is undeniable that, when employing young people, employers tend to stay as close to the minimum as possible - their thinking is affected by the minimum wage law.

In these days of increasing pressure to keep costs down it is inevitable that wages stay as close to the minimum as the employers can get away with. We musn't lose sight of the fact that, whilst most of this forum appear to be in reasonably well paid employment there is a vast number of people who aren't.

Retail is notoriously badly paid as is the unskilled part of construction - most of these will will be at or near minimum wage.

 

[Rich]

I accept your points but it is undeniable that, when employing young people, employers tend to stay as close to the minimum as possible - their thinking is affected by the minimum wage law.

In these days of increasing pressure to keep costs down it is inevitable that wages stay as close to the minimum as the employers can get away with. We musn't lose sight of the fact that, whilst most of this forum appear to be in reasonably well paid employment there is a vast number of people who aren't.

Retail is notoriously badly paid as is the unskilled part of construction - most of these will will be at or near minimum wage.

Absolutely right.

Indeed I used to manage a pub for a well known brand, who quietly insisted that I emply people who were 18 and try to let them go before they were 21, simply as we had to pay them more.

I just think that, especially in these times of job losses, people will take whatever job they can, regardless of their age. If you walk around Sainsburys you see lots of people stacking the shelves and working the tills who are across the full working age spectrum. Not too long ago I would have expected the majority of these people to be in the younger category.

Without using a system of idiosynctratic and relative pricing, it's a fact that some people are always going to be priced out of the market.

If concessions are offered, there has to be a cut off point. Age isn't the best determiner of income and affordability, but it is the least intrusive.

I still maintain that a loyalty card with discounts applicable owing to numerous criteria is the best way to go.

 

[cousins141]

to be fair im 21 in full time employment the main problem is ive got better things to spend my money on saving for a house and paying off my car. Im trying to sell things to make room for the money being spent on a season ticket. As im desperate to renew