Norwich City chief executive David McNally. Photo: Action Images / Alex Morton.
Poll: Norwich City chief executive sparks debate about Carrow Road ticket prices - what do you think?
David Freezer and Kim Briscoe
Thursday, November 1, 2012
10:38 AM
Norwich City chief executive David McNally has sparked a heated online debate with the club’s supporters about ticket prices.
Many Canaries supporters had voiced their displeasure ahead of last night’s Capital One Cup fourth round clash with Tottenham, as tickets were priced at £30 for adults.
A crowd of 16,465 watched Chris Hughton’s side comeback from 1-0 down to beat Spurs 2-1 and advance to the quarter-finals of the competition, some 10,000 below Carrow Road’s capacity.
Mr McNally had justified the price, up from £10 against Doncaster Rovers in the third round, as still being a lot cheaper than tickets will costs for Tottenham’s visit to Carrow Road in the Premier League.
But some supporters voted with their feet last night and stayed away for the victory.
The club have now been handed a fourth successive home draw in the competition and a tantalising clash against Aston Villa, managed by Paul Lambert, who controversially left City this summer.
So this morning City’s chief executive decided to try and feel the pulse of the Canaries’ fanbase, to try and make the right decision on ticket prices for the Villa clash.
Using his official Twitter account, @DavidMcNally62, he said: “Thank you for all of the feedback regarding Capital One Cup ticket prices.
“We didn’t sell out last night with adult prices at £30, clearly, and yet our revenues were better than a sell-out and a £20 adult price.
“So, Canary fans, what would you recommend for the adult ticket price for the home quarter final tie vs Villa? For our club, revenues are really important because we can only spend what we earn.”
Mr McNally instantly got lots of responses to his tweet.
RaktoniCanary tweeted: “I can guarantee the players would prefer a full crowd behind the team rather than being outsung by the away end all night!”
And Phil Harris told the City chief executive: “I believe almost every supporter thinks £25 would have been fair. £30 just FELT grasping...”
Other fans felt the high price of last night’s tickets was justified in the end because of the exciting end to the victory, with substitute Simeon Jackson winning the tie in the 86th minute.
Freddie Gavita posted: “it was worth it for the last 10 minutes! It was exhilarating, and exactly why we love and support our team!!”
Responding to Mr McNally’s assertion that last night’s fixture brought in more revenue from a £30 ticket half-full stadium instead than if it had been filled at £20, fans said they felt the sales of food and drink from a full house would have increased the revenue and would not have angered the fans.
Ben Goodwin tweeted: “Was revenue up enough to justify keeping fans away from a match? Football is about fans not revenue.”
Others suggested discounted tickets for season ticket holders, or for those who have already purchased tickets for the cup run.
Prices suggested by many Canaries fans were in the £20 to £30 range and celebrity fan Jake Humphrey, host of the BBC’s Formula One coverage, weighed into the debate suggesting that £20 would be a decent price for the game against Villa.
He posted: “Pack the ground out, white-hot atmosphere, beat Villa, suddenly we’re in a semi-final, value will be more than sales!”
- What do you think? Cast your vote in our poll above and share your opinion by leaving a comment below.
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22 comments
I'll also add that my two car-sharers decided they couldn't afford the Spurs game and can't afford the Villa one either. Too much out of their wages in the run up to Christmas. They say they would have made both games at a real stretch at £20 (plus travel, etc).
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Robin Hood
Monday, November 5, 2012
I think the underlying "How can we extract the most cash out of the fans?" theme needs some moderation, so as not to exclude 10,000 fans from any game. I believe that rewarding fans with lower prices for all cup games would not only fill the stands at a total income only slightly less than an exploitative price that many couldn't afford, but would also result in such positive marketing impact that there would be a chance of filling 35,000 seats when they're eventually in place. Exploit and possibly lose fans now, and there's every chance that they won't come back.
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Robin Hood
Monday, November 5, 2012
I remind people that, before voting, this next match is just two weeks before Christmas. As such, anything more than £20 would be very unreasonable for fans who do not enjoy the sort of income that Mr McNally and his staff earn...
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Mel Lacey
Friday, November 2, 2012
Of course £30 was too much for what was effectively a reserve team, but also there were so many spurs fans in with the norwich fans that we will never know just how many norwich supporters voted with their feet. It is obvious that McNally has such a low view of us supporters and takes advantage of our loyalty.
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Lindag
Friday, November 2, 2012
The debate about ticket prices has no right answer however having paid £30 as a Norwich fan to watch my team and sit with my fellow Norwich fans I did not expect to be sat with 4 Spurs shirts in plain sight and numerous others items of Spurs branded clothing all around me. I, along with everybody else, walked past the sign at the turnstiles about home fans only, I even reported the situation to the steward, although he admitted to being aware! He blamed the situation on the turnstile staff for allowing them in, and said as the Spurs fans weren't causing a problem he could 't or wouldn't do anything about them. So we listened to them ridiculing our team and manager! They were breaking the rules and the club was condoning it!
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Sootie1930
Friday, November 2, 2012
irongloves has said it all - the club is out to make as much money as possible from the supporters . They couldn`t care less if some people can`t afford to go . It`s simply a money making machine , if they are in the Premier League next season , they`ll get 71% more TV income , will they drop ticket prices then ....don`t hold your breath .
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dragonfly
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Norwich City need to set cup prices at a level where a sell out crowd is assured. Knowing that £30 was too much, Mr McNally should now reassure fans he has their interests and the team's at heart and ensure a full house for the Aston Villa game, which £20 would do. Season ticket holders might also be more willing to pay inflated prices for the later cup rounds if at least they could watch under 21 games at Carrow Road for free. The young players would benefit from a better atmosphere too!! The long term future of the club depends upon a strong supporter base which will slip away without give and take on the part of the club.
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Anne Steward
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Now that NCFC is in profit, with supporters having backed then through thick and thin in all weathers, should they not reward their loyalty? they could afford a freeze on prices and reward the public for its support in national campaigns, such as 'kicking out racism'. I'm sure in economic times, a socially responsible move as a price freeze, would be much appreciated, as well as rewarded with more custom.
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ingo wagenknecht
Thursday, November 1, 2012
why are you blocking comments?
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ingo wagenknecht
Thursday, November 1, 2012
It surprises me that fans don't realize that football clubs don't give a toss about their problems.The sole criterion is to make as much money from them as possible with ticket prices and inflated prices for drink,food, programs etc.Was the introduction of the booking fee last season a reward for the loyalty of fans through thick and thin,in my case, since 1946? The cost to many families now of travelling to watch a match is beyond their means. Do the clubs care? The answer is clearly not a jot.Mcnally makes it plain by stating he is happy with the ground half full at £30 a ticket rather than full at £20.All that concerns him is the bank balance.The attitude will only change if support drops again to the level now at Ipswich.Forget all the orchestrated clapping of fans and the 12th man nonsense.All they want is your money and as much as can be obtained,not as much as you can afford.
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irongloves
Thursday, November 1, 2012
I was quite happy to pay 30quid last night,everyone has their right to an opinion,but i would be interested to see how many of these moaners who keep complaining about the price would be complaining again if we got to the final and they couldn't get a ticket.i realise times are hard these days for most people, if i cant afford to go i dont go simple as that,OTBC
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ncfcforever
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Thought £30 was steep for this one but Tottenham fans did not think so.. I had Spurs fans next to me in the River End.. Liker Harry Redknapp with a tax bill by the 89 min. Would think for a later round and the chance to thank Mr Lambert, £30 is about right for Vlila How about a discount for those who went to less glamorous ties? Need to sort out access to County Hall. Very slow last night - a full house and many would have missed kick off.
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Pondlife
Thursday, November 1, 2012
MCNALLY got it righrt four home games a chance to put money in the kitty.the yokels of norfolk still want good football for peanuts.beat villa they will wanting tickets for a semi final
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AOTWAY@BTINTERNET.COM
Thursday, November 1, 2012
gr8 that our CE is open enough and prepared to have this discussion with us - how many other clubs would do this? I subscribe to the lower ticket price, full house and extra add foodprog etc being a better option OTBC
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malmocanary
Thursday, November 1, 2012
£30 was okay - but club missed a trick to get families in during half-term and Halloween - the discounted family package at Villa Park of £44 for 2 adults 2 children or season ticket bringing a friend for a tenner would have helped. All the cost of marketing team e-mailing and texting has to be accounted for too! Plus as others have said lost secondary income. Most importantly impact on atmosphere and team. The club needs to focus on long term and fostering goodwill. I'm sure Delia has let McNally know this. As for Villa, might as well charge £40 - its the return of the Prodigal son innit - well worth shelling out for?
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shefcanary
Thursday, November 1, 2012
For the club its about money, for the fans its about being able to afford the ticket. Probably yesterday was a good price for teams in a large catchment area but Norfolk is mostly a poorly paid workers area and for my self as an OAP I decided it was too expensive, my Season ticket takes most of my spare money.
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goldie
Thursday, November 1, 2012
McGnarly got his sums right. He`s good with money things. People? What people?? They`ll soon forget. We`d have needed a full-house @ £20 to make a relatively small gain in "takings". 16,465 @ £30 = £493,950. 26,829 @ £20 = £536,580, a gain of £42,630. Plus Pie, Tea and Programme revenue, less additional staffing costs. Can`t even buy an affjordable Norwegian for that. Good Will is another issue.
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, November 1, 2012
What a very one-dimensional approach McNally has adopted! Does he not think that an extra 8,000 home fans would create an atmosphere the team has more chance of winning in? Does he not think that they might buy ridiculously priced hot dogs, beer and programmes? Can he not see that a second XI is less of a draw then the first team?
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Buckscanary
Thursday, November 1, 2012
What a very one-dimensional approach McNally has adopted! Does he not think that an extra 8,000 home fans would create an atmosphere the team has more chance of winning in? Does he not think that they might buy ridiculously priced hot dogs, beer and programmes? Can he not see that a second XI is less of a draw then the first team?
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Buckscanary
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Given that it was £30 last night, I can't see it being less for the next game when Villa are also a Premier League team. The fact is, there are bound to be more fans there anyway as it is a quarter final. What will be interesting to see, is how many season ticket holders take up their seats before the tickets go to general sale. Will those who have been to the previous rounds be offered any kind of priority on tickets?
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Simon Alexander
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Season tickets should also include Cup games for free
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billythebookie
Thursday, November 1, 2012
This hardman Glaswegianunderstands nothing of peoples current difficulties Fans first overpaid Chief Executives second
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No to tory boy
Thursday, November 1, 2012