What's A Fair Price..

[Boba Fett]

to get into Dens and watch Dundee then?

Much has been made of the season ticket and PATG prices this season.

I don't think anybody can deny that the increase in prices and the ticketing arrangements have p*ssed people off to such an extent that our attendances are down on last season.

Not only are we seeing less through the turnstiles but we are squandering a golden opportunity to attract new supporters at what is hopefully the start of a long period of stability within the top flight.

If there is one area of the running of the club that Keyes and Nelms need to go back to the drawing board on, it is ticket prices and ticketing arrangements for me.

Taking into consideration the market place we are competing in and the "challenges" of Scottish football, what do you feel is a "fair" price for people to pay to watch Dundee at Dens?

A price that will balance the books and maximise attendances at every home game possible.

Taking it one step further - what incentives and offers should we be putting in place and for who?

I'll start with:

Adult season ticket - £250 (renewals and newbies - controversial!)

Under 18's season ticket - £125

Over 65's season ticket - £150

Under 12's season ticket - one free with an adult season ticket or £30 singulalrly

Scrap the Cat A / Cat B games and go for all PATG at:

£20 for an adult

£12 for 12 - 18 and OAP's

£6 for under 12's

PATG open in every section of the ground and employ a robust system for counting how many folk go through the bloody turnstile!

All ticket games - Probably only derbies and any other unique big matches that come round from time to time to justify it.

Surely this would get arses back on seats at Dens, balance the books and maybe even reinvigorate the Derry a bit?

[Prince Buster]

Agree with most of that but for me OAPs should not be entitled to any concession.

The idea of early bird renewals and discounts is to get the cash in so that the manager can get his budget in time to get any players he wants so I'd keep them.

[chomp my root]

Good question, knowing that need the income its going to cost more than most of us would think 'reasonable'. I'll go.....

Adult (no A/B pish): £24

Over 65: £12

13-16: £5 (I think its about 13 that you don't need an adult to accompany you, that's the reason I've gone with 13, if its different then I'll need to change it)

12 & <: Free

I'd like to see the ST include a couple of early round cup games, if you start going to the early rounds (and we're still in them   ) then it might encourage more bums on seats for the next round or two.

I think we've scored a massive OG with the kiddy pricing, it might be a case of the adults having to pick up the slack, the price of a pint shouldn't be a deal breaker for the vast majority I would guess. This is all without knowing the exact financials of course.

[Boba Fett]

Agree with most of that but for me OAPs should not be entitled to any concession.

The idea of early bird renewals and discounts is to get the cash in so that the manager can get his budget in time to get any players he wants so I'd keep them.

A tad harsh on the seniors maybe bud? Granted there are loads of wealthy pensioners but I'd guess not too many that follow the Dee. Do you not think that a really attractive flat rate for a season ticket would get good numbers in? I honestly do..

Good question, knowing that need the income its going to cost more than most of us would think 'reasonable'. I'll go.....

Adult (no A/B pish): £24

Over 65: £12

13-16: £5 (I think its about 13 that you don't need an adult to accompany you, that's the reason I've gone with 13, if its different then I'll need to change it)

12 & <: Free

I'd like to see the ST include a couple of early round cup games, if you start going to the early rounds (and we're still in them   ) then it might encourage more bums on seats for the next round or two.

I think we've scored a massive OG with the kiddy pricing, it might be a case of the adults having to pick up the slack, the price of a pint shouldn't be a deal breaker for the vast majority I would guess. This is all without knowing the exact financials of course.

What about ST prices Chomp? Any thoughts?

[Cobra]

Pensioners now earn more than the average worker. Sounds bonkers but apparently that is now the case.

[Prince Buster]

There are less poor pensiones around than poor working age people. Pensioners get to the ground for free if they want but most choose to drive expensive cars there.

A reasonably priced season ticket would be attractive discounted or not - too expensive just now.

[Cobra]

To answer the original question, I'd have to ask what does it cost to run a football club and hire players good enough to compete at this level?

How can that lot across the street make millions in transfer fees and still be saddled with debt.

My gut feeling says a tenner to get in but I honestly don't know if that's practical.

[chomp my root]

A tad harsh on the seniors maybe bud? Granted there are loads of wealthy pensioners but I'd guess not too many that follow the Dee. Do you not think that a really attractive flat rate for a season ticket would get good numbers in? I honestly do..

What about ST prices Chomp? Any thoughts?

I've not thought about what the percentage saving is for a ST, most of us don't seem to get a ST for the saving though so a quick bit of arithmetic would suggest that 18 (average) X 24 = 432 so call it 400 which is roughly an 8% saving for the league and if you throw in say 4 early round cup games it seems fair enough to me.

Using the same logic 200 quid for the oldies and malingering students and for the yoofs (13-16 and those in school up to the age of 18) I'd call it 60 quid. For the under 13's, to justify a ST (for away game tickets or Hampden park finals   ) if you toss in the 4 early cup games call it 20 quid. It allows the kids to have a ST and it shouldn't break the bank for the parents.

[chomp my root]

There are less poor pensiones around than poor working age people. Pensioners get to the ground for free if they want but most choose to drive expensive cars there.

A reasonably priced season ticket would be attractive discounted or not - too expensive just now.

Nothing like a good ol' fashioned sweeping statement there mate. We've got some fantastically lucky coffin dodgers at the moment but its not all and its certainly not going to last, I'm still a wee way from qualifying but (touch wood) I still intend to pay for the full adult price ticket when I'm a pensioner, I should be able to afford it but the way pensions are going, there will be plenty guys who are in their 40's now won't be on anything like what our parents are on.

[Ivan Drago]

If we were talking a fair price for the entertainment / skills on offer I would say a tenner per adult would cover it.

Fully appreciate why we (as in Scottish football as a whole) are in this situation with higher gate prices, however to suggest £20 upwards offers remotely near vfm is a nonsense IMO.

[chomp my root]

If we were talking a fair price for the entertainment / skills on offer I would say a tenner per adult would cover it.

Fully appreciate why we (as in Scottish football as a whole) are in this situation with higher gate prices, however to suggest £20 upwards offers remotely near vfm is a nonsense IMO.

Yeah, I get where you're coming from, we are paying far too much I think but like anything else, as long as people are paying it then that's what its worth. We don't have a 'right' to go to watch DFC, there are cheaper games we could go to and the club know this, they rely on our loyalty, its a juggling act for the clubs, there are times (like tomorrow) that I can't go and watch Dundee, when I can I go and watch my local junior team so I at least get my football fix, annoyingly its not just the entrance fee that's vastly cheaper, I can get a pie AND bovril for 2 quid. Football is like any other part of the entertainment 'industry', they'll charge what they think they can get away with. I despair about the child prices but the business of DFC will stand or fall by their decisions in that respect.

[Ivan Drago]

Yeah, I get where you're coming from, we are paying far too much I think but like anything else, as long as people are paying it then that's what its worth. We don't have a 'right' to go to watch DFC, there are cheaper games we could go to and the club know this, they rely on our loyalty, its a juggling act for the clubs, there are times (like tomorrow) that I can't go and watch Dundee, when I can I go and watch my local junior team so I at least get my football fix, annoyingly its not just the entrance fee that's vastly cheaper, I can get a pie AND bovril for 2 quid. Football is like any other part of the entertainment 'industry', they'll charge what they think they can get away with. I despair about the child prices but the business of DFC will stand or fall by their decisions in that respect.

It's not quite the same as any other entertainment though chomp for two reasons

1) brand loyalty

2) the concept of watching a one off spectacle that cannot be repeated.

2 is obviously the reason why a trip to the football should be more expensive than a trip to the cinema. You miss a showing of Driving Miss Daisy at the cinema and it's no biggy you can just go back another day and have the exact same experience. I get that bit of the argument.

However 1 is milked to unsustainable levels by football. Especially Scottish football. Other leagues have TV deals to rely on as the main source of income, ours is punters through the turnstiles. Therefor when cash becomes tight the only option we have is to go to the well yet again. It's unsustainable IMO.

The powers that be simply have to find a TV deal that facilitates the ability to cut prices down to a sustainable level. The quality of our product is p*ss poor and we are charging a premium for it. That's destined for failure.

It would be interesting to see how many people that fall away from going to the football ever return. Must be very few.