Decreasing the Reebok.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

wanderlust wrote:Instead of reducing capacity, give 10,000 free seats to schools, get ushers selling pop, crisps and sweets and/or a McDonalds franchise.
Should break even financially, make for a noisy atmosphere and develop the next generation of (paying) fans.

That's way too obvious for the powers that be.

Amazing that the BWFC board is full of businessmen, but when it comes to the commercial aspect of the club they are fooking clueless.

They could give tickets to junior football clubs, its how to recruit fans isn't it?

But Gartside would be retired by then so it doesn't matter to him.

Devil's advocate time.

The club relies heavily on season ticket sales to boost the coffers in the closed season and give us money to buy players.

If suddenly they start giving away vast swathes of free tickets, there's a chance that Average Joe The Season Ticket Holder is going to think "Renew? Fuck that, I'm not paying £600 when two thirds of the people in the ground haven't paid to get in!"

And that would be a bad thing because it would make our financial situation even worse than it is now (hard to believe it could be, I know...).

Don't all shout at me, I'm just trying to think like Gartside.

Breadman wrote:Devil's advocate time.

The club relies heavily on season ticket sales to boost the coffers in the closed season and give us money to buy players.

If suddenly they start giving away vast swathes of free tickets, there's a chance that Average Joe The Season Ticket Holder is going to think "Renew? Fuck that, I'm not paying £600 when two thirds of the people in the ground haven't paid to get in!"

And that would be a bad thing because it would make our financial situation even worse than it is now (hard to believe it could be, I know...).

Don't all shout at me, I'm just trying to think like Gartside.

One of the lower league clubs (can't remember which) did a similar experiment and it worked a treat. Just need to kick the idea around for a bit. 
Sales for junior tickets can't add up to much  in the scheme of things so it could be "every paying adult can bring up to 2 kids for free"
Whatever the formula, the principle is get more in, sell more product, snacks and memorabilia etc and line up the next generation of fans - instead of them moping off to support Chelsea or City.
Reebok is a big asset so they should work it.