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Published Date: 15 April 2009
By Mike Aitken
SCOTLAND'S leading football clubs have held a summit to discuss how they can best cope with the challenge of the recession.
The Scotsman has learned that representatives of the Scottish Premier League met in Edinburgh to share ideas and listen to expert advice – from organisations including Deloitte and the English Football League – on dealing with the unprecedented downturn in the economy.

Although Rangers and Celtic operate in a different commercial world from Hamilton and Falkirk, all 12 members of the SPL understand that as unemployment rises and those in work face concerns over job security, discretionary spending on leisure activities such as following football looks certain to be curtailed for all Scottish clubs next season.

How to deal with a possible drop in season ticket sales, falling income from merchandise and the likelihood of swingeing cuts in corporate spending were among the topics addressed at the meeting organised by the SPL.

Greig Mailer, the marketing manager for the SPL, said the pooling of ideas as the Scottish game faces up to the harsh reality of a changed economic landscape was an important aspect of the league's remit.

"One of the responsibilities of the SPL is to give clubs a platform to discuss and share new ideas," he said. "That's something we do on a regular basis and the recent meeting at Easter Road seemed to go down well."

There were presentations in Edinburgh from a number of specialist business organisations, including Deloitte, one of the world's largest financial advisers, on how to move forward, as well as input from the Football League on improving the matchday experience.

The vulnerability of football clubs which carry sizeable debts and don't have the cushion of the kind of lavish TV deals enjoyed by their counterparts in England means that no club in Scotland can take the credit crunch lightly. With the threat of insolvency already looming over several Scottish clubs, the SPL acted to take up the cudgels for its members and ensure no-one has their head buried in the sand when it comes to facing up to the fall in consumer confidence.

One issue on which all the clubs agreed was that offering free admission to children could diminish the value of their brand. This didn't mean they wouldn't look at cut-price deals for youngsters, but clubs were concerned about the negative repercussions attached to giving away their product. There were also concerns that unsupervised free admission for kids could cause match day problems.

It was significant when Hearts announced their season ticket prices for next season yesterday that rather than offer free admission to juniors they came up with an innovative scheme which prices entry for Under-12s at just £1 per game.

The £19 season ticket for juveniles is only available in conjunction with the purchase of an adult season ticket. Each adult ticket holder can buy two season passes for the Under-12s, thereby making it possible for more families with young children to attend games together.

The issue of season ticket pricing in a recession is a sensitive one, and some of Hearts' prices for 2009/10 are lower than they were this season. A seat in the Gold Zone is down from £385 to £340, while a Silver Zone pass is reduced from £335 to £295. Only the cheapest option, in the Bronze Zone, shows a small increase from £250 to £260.

There will also be a free membership programme for Under-16s to be called 'Hearts Juniors'. This will have matchday and non-matchday elements with a focus online.

As with all season-ticket schemes, only domestic league football is included in the price. No decision has yet been taken by Hearts, in the event of qualifying for next season's Europa League, whether they will play their home matches at Tynecastle or utilise a venue with a larger capacity such as Murrayfield.

The club have consulted with supporters' groups on their preferences and over the next month to six weeks will reach a verdict which seeks to balance the wishes of their fans with commercial pressures. Tynecastle is not currently deemed suitable by Uefa, the organisers of European football, but the changes required to make the ground fit for purpose are not major and are related to press and hospitality facilities rather than the dimensions of the pitch.




The full article contains 734 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 April 2009 10:42 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Ex-Pat Stanton,

Melbourne 15/04/2009 01:54:44
As far as I can see the biggest problem the clubs of the SPL have is that for the last 20-30 years football has been taken away from the people who are most passionate about it. Your average fan has always been working class with little expendable income anyway.
Most clubs have taken the opportunity to attend away from those people systematically over that time frame by increasing ticket prices exponentially and far and away above the rate of inflation.

The first time I went to a Hibs match with my mates rather than my Dad or Granddad it cost me about 2 pounds and adults were about 3 pound 50. That was some 25 years ago now but I was amazed when I was home last to find myself paying around 50 quid to take my sister to the East terracing... I am thankfully in a position where 50 quid isn't going to amke much of a dent in my budget but I imagine for most people taking their kids needs a new mortgage!!!

My reasoning for this is that in the great depression of the 30's Scottish crowds were over 100,000 on more than just a few occasions. The economic climate was much worse then and Football was a way of forgetting your troubles briefly on a Saturday for those of my Grandfathers generation.

My generation wont have that chance...
2

AC,

Melbourne 15/04/2009 02:32:30
Agreed #1
And as a fellow Melbournian, you will have noticed how much better the matchday experience (AFL, Soccer, anything) is here, better pricing, cleaner toilets, healthier food options, good public transport and parking options.
The cinema in Dundee is less than a fiver for kids, the football is well over it (not exactly sure of the prices)
No wonder attendances are dropping! Who on earth would take their family, or even allow their kids to (eg) go to Dens park when it doesn't even have sit-down toilets for men in the main 'Derry' section!
3

Doubly-negative,

15/04/2009 03:30:59
The best thing clubs could do is let kids in cheaply (I like the Hearst ideas for next season, they're forward-thinking and reasonable) and improve their 'product'.

If they want to discuss football in purely business terms, then we need a v2 or v3 of this product, as right now it's terrible. My team, Aberdeen, face a massive drop in season ticket sales next season, and a lot of that's to do with the fact that their games are just... bloody... awful at the minute.

That's not to say they can just suddenly find a new pool of skillful players, but they could definitely up the entertainment value by playing attacking football, without fear, ball to feet, open, attacking games which both sets of fans could really enjoy.

That'd put bums on seats.

Sometimes, during a recession such as this, people need an escape. Football could give us that escape. But right now, it's not, as on the pitch there's misery and fear! Who wants to 'escape' to that?
4

Jon Bon Jovi,

Dublin 15/04/2009 03:57:52
Exactly, you wake up on a saturday morning, think to yourself lets to go the game for a change, you pay your 20quid and get served absolute dross (mainly when aberdeen are involved this season) and you think, why the ell did i just give up 20quid when i could have spent it on beer/lottery ticket/beer/bookies/beer and actually got some enjoyment out of it....

JMG!
5

common sense voice,

15/04/2009 06:05:34
that's why I never go to games any longer...

hate to say it.. but OF to join Championship with aims for promotion to EPL... TV money... everyone happy in Glasgow

maybe all SPL teams to go to England, 1st division.. for bottom 6
6

They call me mr positive,

Corstorphine 15/04/2009 08:00:36
#1, 2 & 4 - so how many spl games have you guys been to this season?

Its seems to me that you guys have a lot of opinions based on when you lived in Gods chosen country and not where you live now.

And with the development of global tv I would have thought that you guys ave opportunities to watch tv footie at a far cheaper cost that I have trying to attend matches and watching the real stuff.

7

Iain Bhern,

15/04/2009 08:06:56
"but the changes required to make the ground fit for purpose are not major and are related to press and hospitality facilities rather than the dimensions of the pitch."

So why have we been getting told for the last 3 or 4 years that the pitch at Tynecastle doesn't meet EUFA criteria, or have the rules been changed again. Or did the press just get it plain wrong when they said the pitch was too small?
8

Shape to Shoot,

15/04/2009 08:28:44
I don't see the unemployment situation deteriorating that much in the next 3 months by which time we'll be well into the period when season tickets are renewed.
I very much doubt that this year's season ticket sales will be significantly affected by the recession....in previous recessions (not as severe as the present one however), football attendances have gone up.

The most significant drop in revenue for clubs will be advertising, sponsorship and corporate hospitality. All of these streams have brought in huge amounts of cash in recent years, particularly for Celtic and Rangers.

That's why the title this season is vitally important for rearrangerz. Without the guarantee of champions league money, the roof will start fa'in in.
9

Dave Bhoy,

15/04/2009 08:50:35
Poster 8 - I totally disagree. At parkhead you can already see this season that attendances are way down - possibly by 10%.

You can only guess as the club insist in posting tickets sold (inc season tickets) rather than bums on seats when giving official attendances. Funny enough, this is a total flip of what used to happend when the clubs ex 'custodians' would regularly round the figures down by a good 10,000 - I presume to diddle the tax man. Anyone else remeber standing in a packed jungle with everyone laughing at being told that todays attendance is 31,000?

Did other clubs do this or was it only us?

Anyway, the point being, ebven with tickets bought, it is too expensive for many to go to games. The lukewarm football (at parkhead anyway) explains some of this, but I think its the recession that tells us most.

My two friends and I had a ticket each, £400/500 to celtic each year. Last season we went down to sharing 2 between 3. Next year I think we will go down to 0. I mate made redundant, one having to move away for work and one with new babies.

Recession is going to bite football hard.
10

Troy Tempest,

under the sea 15/04/2009 08:58:30
The recession could be good for the competitiveness of the league. e.g. Rangers have to sell their best players this summer, Celtic likely to let McGeady & Nakamura go. This increases the chances of something interesting happening (e.g. non OF cup win, possibility of a league challenge). This would boost interest from non-OF teams such as Hearts and also if the league isnt a yawn-inducing procession it might give the clubs a better bargaining position the next time TV contracts are renewed.

So actually a recession could be positive for Scottish football and give some teams the kick that they need.

11

Pedantic,

Edinburgh City Centre 15/04/2009 09:27:08
9,

Have to agree with the good points made in your post. I'm seriously thinking about not renewing at Tynecastle. In trying times these luxury expenses should be the first to go in favour of family essentials and I'm sure that many will be feeling the pressure financially. Especially when you consider that there can't be many games at any Scottish club where you can't get a ticket for the match.

Take away old firm derbies and I bet you can get a ticket for every other match if you wanted. Why then pay the season ticket money when you can simply pick and choose your matches when you can afford / want to go? Celtic / Rangers / Hearts / Hibs at home to St. Mirren on a cold, wet & windy day / night in January anyone?

No, season ticket sales will suffer next season, that's pretty much guaranteed across all clubs.
12

Hearts Daft,

Musselburgh 15/04/2009 10:22:32
I think the Hearts offer of £19 season tickets for under 12's is really great value. Allows me tae take the weans tae the fitba have a couple of beers and the wife can have an easy afternoon anaw. Ye cannae beat it.
13

DWB,

Leith 15/04/2009 10:40:07
Agree wholeheartedly #10. It appears that we are already witnessing a more competitive league this year, hopefully this continues.

The Old Firm will hopefully find their ability to stockpile the best players of clubs around them coming to an end too.
14

Shape to Shoot,

15/04/2009 11:05:19
9

I accept that some matches at CP this season have been poorly attended, particularly at our two most recent home games.
It does however tend to be when the opposition is from the bottom six, and it's hard to say whether people are staying away because of the product or because of cutting back. My guesstimate is that it's a mixture of the two. People who are still in employment (the vast majority) have actually seen their disposable income rocket over the last 6 months as oil and mortgage costs are , together, at their lowest in history.

So as a matter of fact, most people have a lot more cash to spare just now than for a very long time. It's the fear of what's coming next which stops them spending it. I would be surprised therefore if there is any significant drop in seson ticket sales...fans know that their clubs need that money even if they won't be able to go / choose not to go every week.
Winning the title this year with the guarantee of Champions League entry would I think eliminate the few remaining doubters.
15

nSyratzcGlaw,

15/04/2009 12:05:42
Scotland needs less teams.
16

Pedantic,

Edinburgh City Centre 15/04/2009 12:18:41
17,

So you think that those still in employment have "seen their disposable income rocket" do you? How do you explain that to those who are on a a basic working week (no overtime) or have had their working week reduced along with their pay?

Do you really believe that "most people have a lot more cash to spare just now than for a very long time"?

I don't know in what circles you mix but if this is typical of your world you are very fortunate indeed. Just don't go rubbing other folks less fortunate noses in it please.
17

David55,

Edinburgh 15/04/2009 12:45:07
Scottish Football's problem is that the football on display is rank rotten. I want to watch players who are comfortable on the ball, and who play attacking football. Instead I get kick and rush rubbish, and head tennis, that I can see down the park for free. Try entertaining the fans for a change. I go to about 5-10 games a season at the moment and that's only through blind loyalty.
18

,

15/04/2009 13:11:14
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19

Boyne Bhoy,

15/04/2009 13:16:48
For those in unchanged employment real income HAS increased in recent months due to price deflation however the increase is offset by increased uncertainty over the future.

As grounds are generally not sold out now there is less necessity to buy a season ticket so I would certainly expect to see punters holding off.

I'm personally lucky enough to be able to continue to buy mine and support my club financially even though I only average 5 or 6 games a season in my own seat at the moment-I want to be able to sit beside my mates if I do ever relocate to Scotland.
20

Boyne Bhoy,

15/04/2009 13:19:14
Whiner, you are an idiot-you should ask someone to read and interpret 17-what he says is in essence equally applicable to fans of all clubs
21

Jim Baxter,

Alicante 15/04/2009 13:28:43
Although I havent been to a football match in Scotland for many a year I feel sorry for the fans who pay a lot of cash to get into the grounds especially if one has a couple of kids. Why players are paid 10000 pounds a week and more is simply crazy money. Some fans want make that money in 6 months. Cut players wages and lower the prices of Season tickets.
22

Farmer Tom,

TRARALGON 15/04/2009 13:29:48
The greatest threat to football in this recession is that the TV companies will go broke... more than a slight possibility.
23

,

15/04/2009 13:31:25
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24

Sgian Dubh,

15/04/2009 15:50:02
Go to a rugby match instead. Glasgow and Edinburgh both doing well in Magners League and looking to do better next season. You can have a beer while watching International class SCOTTISH players and not have the swearing and abuse dished out at some football matches. And, no crowd segregation because rugby fans get on with each other regardless of who is playing. Season tickets are half the price of football equivelant. A rugby match is a genuine family friendly entertainment. Lots of good looking women go to rugby matches!!
25

Sgian Dubh,

15/04/2009 15:52:21
Further to my #27,

No over-paid prima donnas prancing about the pitches!
26

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 16:00:39
#27
Rugby. Thuggery on the field of play.
If you like that fine but don't try to tell football fans as it is a completely different game entirely
27

Sgian Dubh,

15/04/2009 16:12:12
I'm not trying to 'tell' football fans anything.
I am making a suggestion. On the main rugby story today, a rugby fan is suggesting that Premier League season ticket holders be offered discounted tickets to see Magners League rugby. If you can't see past football as the only sport, fair enough don't go to a rugby game. Your loss.
Magners League rugby is played in Glasgow and Edinburgh on a Friday evening, you might consider going to both? I know some rugby fans who attend both sports.
I had noticed that rugby is a completely different game to football. That's why I played rugby for many years and still support it.
And at a risk of being controversial, the 'thuggery on the field' comment is purely based on your biased ignorance of rugby. But then maybe football fans prefer their thuggery on the terracing, hence segregation of fans and alcohol ban?
28

,

15/04/2009 16:21:49
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29

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 16:25:11
#30
Rugby (after cricket) is the most boring ball game in the world.
When was the last time you heard about fan trouble at a footbll match?
30

,

15/04/2009 16:28:42
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31

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 16:29:33
#31
Ribbon
That comment has labled you as someone who is not really interested in football just like Sgian Dubh so why dont you both dissapear to a rugby thread and leave us footie fans to fight it out.

Slainte
32

,

15/04/2009 16:38:05
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33

Sgian Dubh,

15/04/2009 16:38:14
There isn't the same fan trouble with football matches nowadays. That's down to segregation of fans, alcohol bans etc. My point would be, that fans have to be segregated to stop trouble.
My wife's son lives in Edinburgh and went to Tynecastle for the first time earlier this year and although there was no violence, he says he would never have taken his girlfriend there due to the abuse hurled by both sets of fans. (I don't know who was playing)Yet, a school friend of mine in Glasgow regularly takes his wife and daughters to Firhill to watch Glasgow Warriors.
Last year I was on a P&O ferry from Troon to Larne and there was a near riot in the bar between OF fans which resulted in a huge police presence in Larne and the rest of the passengers being detained over an hour on board after the ferry docked at Larne. Admittedly, this doesn't happen very often because in most cases thay can't let the different supporters on the same ferries! I have had a similar experience on a train from Glasgow Central to Helensburgh when rival (drunken) football fans hurled abuse at each other (although no violence)
As for rugby being the (next) most boring ball game in the world, when did you last watch snooker?
34

,

15/04/2009 16:39:26
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35

,

15/04/2009 16:49:20
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36

Sgian Dubh,

15/04/2009 16:49:59
#33
If I made a generalisation about football fans wearing football tops and not being allowed in bars because in most bars football colours are banned you would possibly take offence. But, you choose to generalise about rugby supporters. Oh well.
The 'one law for some' you are referring to is just that there is not the violence and trouble associated with rugby supporters. I have drunk in bars after games in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and London with most nationalities of rugby supporters, and besides never having witnessed violence or abusive behaviour, I have never seen anyone else's bum!
Most rugby matches I go to now, I go with my wife as she loves the atmosphere before during and after the games, both club and international matches.
37

,

15/04/2009 17:06:26
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38

,

15/04/2009 17:18:24
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39

Shape to Shoot,

15/04/2009 17:19:38
When I used to live in Edinburgh (1993-1996), I couldn't get out of town quick enough if the Scotland rugby team were playing at murrayfield.
As Smarter points out, it's the behaviour of the rugga buggaz in the pubs after the game right through until the wee sma' oors of Sunday morning.

They are loud, drunk, obnoxious, foul-mouthed, mysoginistic....louts with a kelvinside background and their patter really is lamentable. And it's absolutely the case that because they are part of the rugby set they are tolerated in a way that football fanz would never be.
40

,

15/04/2009 17:20:51
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41

Daillyman,

15/04/2009 17:34:53
42 Just logged on and read your post, I thought you were talking about Scotlands TA followers.

My mistake.
42

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 18:04:30
#41 Ribbonman
good point but it was not in the ground was it.
43

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 18:08:58
#39
Think she cant wait till the big brawny men get stuck in about each other :-))
44

The Kids Are Alright,

15/04/2009 18:30:56
The clubs should invest in heated seats to get the fans back
45

Alba Abú,

15/04/2009 18:32:02
45 the new waspy.
I think that you are clutching at straws here.Dont let your blind loyalty to a football club, blur your sense of truth and justice.
46

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 18:32:42
Cant see why we are arguing about rugby and footbll is the article is about the economics of the SPL
Hearts offer of two under 12 season tickets for a season ticket holder is a great way forward.
47

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 18:35:31
And knowing as I do haven going with my family to games the extras like programmes, snacks drinks etc will all be revenue for the club
48

,

15/04/2009 18:38:04
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49

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 18:39:19
(Either my keyboard has given up or im becomming a rotten speller)
50

The new waspy,

15/04/2009 18:43:30
#51
LOL
a lot try to but they are not true fans
51

The Kids Are Alright,

15/04/2009 19:00:47
Scottish fooball took a knock back when they got rid of the turnstiles that you had to be fit to push and get through.


It's all electric these days
52

Rosscobhoy,

15/04/2009 19:24:59
Contrast time.

Earlier this season i went to watch Celtic at home against Hibs, Hamilton, Falkirk, Dundee Utd, Man U and Aalborg. The Man U game cost £40 which i can accept as a one off big occasion. The rest cost me a minimum of £25, and for the most part the games were abysmal. I also watch a lot of Junior football, and the most i've been charged is £6 to get in. This weekend i am going to a cup semi final. It'll cost me a fiver to attend and leave me the rest of my money for a good day out with a lot of my mates.(We can even sneak a beer in to the juniors matches). Blind faith and an ingrained sense of loyalty cost me far more money than i should be spending on football. Something really has to change. If people want a day out and a standard of football as good as the SPL on many an occasion, go and watch the juniors instead.
53

Shape to Shoot,

15/04/2009 20:33:55
Only saw last two minutes of man u first half...missed a great chance to go 2v0 up just before the break.
Got the impression that manure looked very comfortable.
I thought they would struggle tonight.

 

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