Prices are frozen from this year, so there really isn't a problem is there. We only get 6,000 because it's in Widnes. I'd love Wigan or Wire to play there for a season, you'd get no more than we did. There is ZERO walkup, as it's a walk from St Helens to Widnes and there are very few who buy individual match tickets either as they don't drive.

We'll get 13,000 average at the new pad EASY.

I doubt all the West stand will be season tickets, some will probably be kept back for match day purchases. Those tickets and the East stand will probably be around the £22 mark for advanced purchases as will the family seats. Then £25 ish for advanced tickets for the North and South stands. I don't think those prices would be unreasonable or any different than you would expect to pay at most grounds now.

Wigan represents the best value tickets no doubt, but at Leeds its £27 and even £30 for some of the Carnegie end!!

I think for the standing terraces it is going to be £20/21 match day (based on full price season ticket £17.30 a game) but lets face it the away end is only likely to more than 2/3 full twice a season, maybe three times if Widnes travel well.

Saints need to ensure the North, Family Stands and West get as close to selling out as possible as it would represent up to 9,500 tickets. It already appears at least 2500 tickets have been sold in the North (not including those in the unallocated sections), the West is likely to go well as it is the only home standing and the family tickets represent fantastic value.

Really it is as much up to the St Helens public to back the club in 2012 as there are very good prices for season tickets all payable by monthly direct debit too. £18 a month for 13 home games at early bird prices standing or family seating, in fact it is only £18.70 a month for 1 adult and 1 child standing or seated in family area! That is just £17.25 per game for an adult and child to sit down.

They've shafted families a bit IMO with the placing of the family areas. I had an Under 5's ticket for my daughter last year in the North stand. Now they are only free if in the family areas, which are right in the corners of the South stand.

That's not exactly family friendly shoving small kids in the worst view possible. Now, having got the bug a bit it's more likely that she won't see any games at all.

I thought that as well. Why not have the whole of the North Stand as a family stand, seeing as the South Stand is exactly the same price as the North?

I don't think there'll be a bad spec In the place.

So you'd choose to sit right in the corner then?

It won't be an obstructed view, but it's the worst spec in the stadium.

So can anyone tell me what the difference is between the South and North stands? (Aside from the obvious)

I was expecting a similar arrangement to Widnes, one of them having expensive seats and largely empty for most games and the other being cheaper and mostly full?

The only difference I can see is that only the ends and the front 7/8 rows are available, the so called premium seats half way line / higher up appear to be reserved for the suits, whereas in the North there was the pick of the views (well there was hardly any left in the central blocks now already)

Sat in similar positions at Wembley and O/Trafford,werent a problem.

Why do you need a "family area"
Why not do as we do at Wigan and just have an offer on tickets for families, with pricing to suit kids ages?

We do. The only difference in the designated family areas is that they're cheaper and under 5s in those areas are free.

You can still get a family ticket in the North and South stands, outside of the family areas.

You are deliberately picking the worse case scenario! Early bird for the North and South stands until end of Nov is £20.07 and the renewal price is £17.84 which is exactly what they promised us last year!!
For the west stand renewals its £13.77 per game which is outstanding value. for a family of 5 renewal in the same stand work out a £6 per person per game!
Even in seated in the north or south stands its only £9.95 per person per game when renewed or £11.17 if early bird.

Given these prices £23-£25 would seem fair for a late SEATED match day ticket.
Who knows what our average crowd will be - you don't and I don't?
Clearly that figure will be crucial for the club; personally I think it will be in excess of 12K but not as high as 13K in the first season.

Perhaps they have learned from Wigans mistake in doing this, as i recall many adult Wigan fans knowing that an automated card entry system was in operation, rather than ticket books, went ahead and bought junior season tickets for themselves. Thereby getting a seasons worth of viewing for around £20
I understand Wigan have now put systems in place to mitigate this.

Having dedicated family areas also helps segregate the young kids into a special area, this prevents other fans from being annoyed by having fidgeting screaming kids sat next to them. As well as offering some protection for the kids in terms of being exposed to course language or drunken adult fans.

If the west stand holds 3800, and 3800 people want season tickets then Saints should sell every available space.
That then creates supply shortages and thereby creates a demand in later years.

Also if the west stand sold out with just season ticket holders, then Saints would be able to tell home fans to purchase match day standing tickets in the east stand. This would not really be an issue for most matches due to the small number of away fans that clubs normally bring. Realistically only Wigan, Warrington and Widnes will bring more than a 1000 fans to the new stadium next season. The likes of Leeds and Hull will probably bring between 500 and 1000. With the remaining clubs coming in a few taxis.