How is it? The Bulls organise all sorts of events. An event to reward season ticket holders by having the chance to personally meet and ask questions of the new board is just one more type of event.


Of course not! Just that the event is for 2014 paid-up season ticket holders specifically, and is expressly part of the additional benefits which you are entitled to if you pay for a season ticket.


I doubt that very much. If any more than a handful of people "buy" admission directly just so they can attend then I would be amazed. They would be a million times more likely to still not buy a season ticket, but instead whinge on here about it not being fair they can't attend a season ticket holders' event, even though they aren't season ticket holders.

I'm not quite sure whether there's a pejorative note in your remark "attempt to drum up some extra season ticket sales". "Drum up"? Unfortunate wording. Is it a bad thing for a business to "drum up" sales, if it does?

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I suppose that the Directors now are in the position to outline plans for the coming season? And like a normal members club you present these details, as a matter of good sense and courtesy, to your members, who in this case, are being established as season ticket holders! I expect that sponsors will be invited to their own particular meetings. It will then follow that they will have open days and Forums for all supporters in the coming season.
Sounds like a plan to improve the "Meet the Supporters" in a better structured way for 2014?

Is this one of those events that Mr Moore meant when he said he wanted the Coral Suite used more? Good stuff

So this loyal fan who makes 10+ games a year buys a shirt every year and other merchandise isn't important or loyal OK fair do's.

I can see what the club are trying to achieve in adding incentives for people to buy a season ticket. Perhaps the club should simply of allowed free entry to ST holders and charged for non ST holders. So those who don't purchase a ST (for whatever reason) still have an opportunity to put their opinion over to the board. And the club achieve their objective of adding value and encouraging the purchase of a season ticket.

I think it's fair enough to invite season ticket holders only because there really has been no tangible benefit to being a season ticket holder in recent years. What did you actually get for being a season ticket holder? Fiver off a shirt. Entrance to all home games. Anything else special? The board are trying to give season ticket holders a higher status and are right to do so in my opinion. In fact I'd go further and give people who have been season ticket holders for 10 years access to the Coral Stand for free for the poorer games.

I didn't get a season ticket last year (so I'm knackered if they use my idea!) because of the turmoil but also because there was no financial benefit (paid on gate for first half of season and got the half season ticket) and there was no advantage to being a season ticket holder anyway.

I don't think its a case of not being loyal. There have been many loyal fans over recent years and I would imagine that you have been one of many.

I think the difference is that you have chosen to invest in the club at a time which is convenient to you (i.e. you can make a game etc) whereas other have invested in the club in advance. This is absolutely your choice and your prerogative to do so and I don't think anyone would argue that this is not the actions of a disloyal fan.

However it is also the prerogative of the club and their new owners to incentivise people to invest in the club earlier via ST's and I see this exclusive forum being one of them. Added value is something that is used widely in business and running the club as a business is an absolute necessity if we are to survive.

I would also imagine that the owners are trying to do everything in their power to sell as many ST's at a time where no other income is forthcoming.

This has obviously upset some on here, but likewise many now feel that their decision to invest has been recognised and appreciated via this offering. I think it has been said earlier but the club will chose to reward those they feel most valuable to the club (and the business) at the time. Later in the season i imagine that focus will switch to non-season ticket holders in the form of discounted tickets and selected game packages.

As and when that happens I wonder how many non-ST holders will complain of bias then?

Isn't the main reward of getting a season ticket the reduced cost per game against paying per game.

I'd say that was the main reward but i think that more than ever added value needs to be provided. I think this is a contributing factor to why more season tickets (or memberships as I've heard them frequently referred as) haven't been sold.

I do think this is a membership /business tactic, something I have knowledge of (those who know me will be aware that I operate and manage large sports and leisure facilities so I understand the market of adding value to membership based operations very well). Not to everyones taste I appreciate but from a business sense one which does make sense.

I'm grateful to be appreciated in this way but I can understand yours and others frustrations also.

Having been to the majority of these forums before I don't think you'll miss anything (although I get that isn't your point) but i'd be happy to relay anything on here during the forum itself, if this would at all help?

I'd also like to point out that I think its a great step not having pre-arranged questions as this has in the past allowed the management to by-pass some tricky subjects.

I haven't decided if I'll go yet - being a season ticket holder I can have that choice you see, let them eat cake, whatwhatwhat - but I do hope they pass a mic around this time, the last few have just ended up as a shouting match between those in the first few rows. Not to mention "the regulars" on the front row who seem to think the forum is a chance for them to have a nice one-on-one chat for an hour with the top table about how much of a devoted superfan they are.

Can somebody please ask that clown Duffy why, after years of bad PR and complete fabrication, why he still continues to steal a wage from the club?

He is as much of a neccessity as an ice cube seller in the Arctic yet still he remains at the club.

What Bullinenemyland said.

You have to appreciate that from the club's point of view, there are a number of different "groups" of supporters.

Die Hards. The "go to every game" crew. The "buy every shirt" crew. Turn up to every match from Finals, to Catalan away, to a friendly at London in the snow.

Season Ticket Holders who attend most or all home games, some away games, buy a replica shirt and a polo shirt, have a pint and a burger at every home game.

"Go when they can" fans. Attend most home games, but can't always make them, so don't buy a season ticket. Occasional away games too. Might buy some merchandise.

Fairweather fans. Those who only go when we're winning. Different degrees obviously from those who only go when we're top of the league, to those who go if we won the last match, to those who judge it on the weather or if Corrie is on at the same time.

Of course then you've got people that fall somewhere inbetween each of those, as well as sponsors and board members etc. (you could go on for years). But when the club look at the group of fans they think will respond most to them, and deserve the rewards more, they're going to look to the top end of the scale. Since it's difficult to differentiate between Die Hards and standard Season Ticket holders, they'll just use the very very simple database that says if you're a season ticket holder or not. They're not suggesting people in the "go when they can" area aren't loyal or just as big a fan. But if they want to aim at some and not others, they have to judge it on something. Anyone who thinks that judging it by "season ticket or not" criteria isn't the easiest way to do that, quite frankly, is a little blinkered.

Why don't you go and ask him yourself?

Let us know when you find the bottle to ask him to his face, as I'm sure a few on this fans forum would like to see it!

Is this forum turning in to the T&A comments section?

There used to be more reasoned debate and less silliness.