In 2000 and 2001 it was 10 pounds in the South stand and 12 pounds in the East and 14 pounds in the West. Now it it 25 pounds in the South and 28 Pounds in the East and West NO wonder crowds have been down in the last 10 seasons on average

You do realise that was 20 years ago and inflation/vat etc happens.

I could argue you're doing exactly what you're suggesting the original post does in comparing apples and oranges. The post is discussing full adult ST prices, not renewals. It was prompted by an article comparing full adult ST prices. It's slightly lazy critique to say a post discussing X is slanted because it hasn't mentioned Y.

I haven't done research on SL renewal prices - Il happily take your word for it that Wigan match up very well against other clubs in that area. Hopefully that means our existing core attendance is secure (not a given because of increased financial pressures but let's hope so). I also made the point that the club are doing a lot of good work off the field. Can't we also consider what the club could do differently to help improve things further? I understand the point that the price of renewals and new STs are linked to a degree - I'm not suggesting that loyalty shouldn't be rewarded. But from the perspective of new or lapsed fans, the relative cheapness of ST renewals isn't going to influence their decision to re-engage.

The post considered some potential reasons why crowds have declined over the last decade and what might help bring some numbers back (which would help the sustainability of the club and improve matchday atmosphere). What do you think about some of the other suggestions to re-engage / attract new and lapsed fans to the stadium? Or would you advocate a strategy of blaming customers for not buying the product? What's the path to increasing attendances and engaging/re-engaging new and lapsed fans?

Another point I was discussing with someone the other day is that as much as we all may have affection for the town of Wigan and obviously the rugby club, I think it's fair to say there are more glamorous and attractive places for young people to aspire to live in. I like the vast majority of my peers from school or college moved on to other places for university or jobs and settled there. What you don't want is for the pricing of new STs, match tickets and flexi tickets to be unaffordable when people return permanently or for visits. The same would be true for people who have disengaged due to Covid, poor entertainment value under Lam or any other reason.

The comparisons with pricing isnt always going to be straightforwards

i have quickly looked on Saints website as a benchmark (not to slate either club)

Saints have Gold, Silver and Bronze in the 2 main stands (380, 350 and 315) where as Wigan is 350 all across for an adult purchasing for the 1st time, so there are pro's and cons with both. My old seat in the East is 30 cheaper at Wigan than at Saints for the season, however if i chose to sit in the end block it would be 35 more expensive

Wigans renewals at 235 and 295 compare well v 301 for Saints (so if you renew early you are getting a massive benefit)

Saints clearly have the benefit of being able to offer a standing season ticket too (280 full price / 226 for renewal), so for less than 17.50 per match you can watch the champions play at home which is clearly very good value for money)

It is a good discussion to be having.One of the things i commented on a few years ago was ticket pricing. Its difficult as we want to watch a professional sport, but not be paying for. There is a tipping point where i thought that over 20 (going back about 5-6 years when i made the comment) was a point where i felt that fans would start to think about it. Some prices are closer to 30, even standing at poor grounds away from home (Cas, Wakey). At the end of the day we are predominantly a Northern working class sport, so prices need to reflect that, but equally we cant have it all ways and then complain about standards if we arent prepared to pay for it

Not trying to point score as I agree with you this is not a thread to slate other clubs. However if I remember correctly, Saints had an early bird offer (pre 1st Dec) which may not be on the website now and was less than the £301 you quote.

EDIT- Just been on the website and the December information is still on so I may be wrong. I'm confusing myself now

I think the Saints offer was just to season ticket holders and holding the price at last years amount.

There may have been Stu

, but i just went onto both sites and entered values as i could see them. There was the note on Saints saying that prices were held at 2021/2 price, but just looked like an early bird / renewal and new, where on Wigan i could see the renewal price / early bird and new st purchase

I know Wigan used to have the option to auto-enrol (they may still have) wiganand from memory that kicked in somewhere around Aug - Sept, with the option of direct debit payments as i have used that in the past

as it stands there isnt much difference between the 2 clubs if we just discuss Wigan and Saints, and as i mentioned the standing ST at Saints is really good value (if you are young enough to be able to stand for 80 mins and not feel like your legs and back are falling to pieces



). with an average ticket at less than 17.5 for a renewal

Wigan appear to have changed their approach slightly too in the last couple of years as both the East and West stands are a set price based on age and renewal status, whereas previously we used to have a similar pricing as you do now with the Gold, Silver and Bronze. I personally think that the G,S & B is slightly better as i wouldnt like to be paying 350 to be sat in the top corner of the end block in either the East or West, where you have factored that in and they are slightly cheaper

but as the conversation shows, and the information everyone is presenting that the clubs have a challenge to get it right and attract fans (old and new) to the game that we all love to watch. Pricing too low, and you may not get bigger numbers at games, but priced too high and you risk alienating fans as it costs too much

The auto renewal at Wigan is cheaper than the renewal price but as stated above it comes out at the end of August so you could be in for a very expensive few weeks if you're in the CC Final and play-offs looming

I agree the game is at a tipping point. Clubs still need to pay back loans given during Covid and some fans are struggling with the cost of living so make the decision not to go to games anymore.

Pretty sure this is one of those off season topics that we get every single season.

A ST presumes you will attend every game. If you do, then you can pay a max of £350 saving you £40 (or £3 a game). You then get discount in the club shop and a Magic ticket for half the price. Whilst it sounds a lot, you don't have to pay up front and can pay each month and get the exact same benefits. Buy it early and you save £7 a game.

Now if you pick and choose, or you can't make every game then you still get the chance to save. You can pay £112 for the big four games of the season rather than £120. You then get discount on Magic. Or if you'll attend say 8 games then you can pay £224 (plus a tenner fee) as opposed to £240. Not a big saving but you then get other discounts that may work for you and the more games you attend the more you save.

Apart from give tickets away for free how cheap do people want tickets to be?

Since you asked:

Match tickets to be no more than £25, with all live TV games £20. Season tickets to cost no more than £245 (ie £19 a game).

Assume 6 of our 13 home fixtures are on TV - this represents a saving of £50 against the £295 cost of attending all games on a match-match basis.. The current situation of fixtures being changed at short notice not only for TV purposes, but also to accommodate the Latics means that more and more folk are sacking off buying a ST, and once they dont have a need to go, start picking and choosing their games even more.

I think the auto-renew is probably the better value, but it's always an issue attracting new fans & getting them to fork out for & commit to a full season (especially if it's a family outing). Even without all other prices going through the roof.
One gripe I have, however, is that the wheelchair team's fixtures aren't included in the ST when all the other flavours are. I appreciate it's a different venue with additional costs, but shirly at least some concession could have been made (and there's parking to take into account too)?