Should Season Tickets Include I-Follow?

Problem is im not sure its upto City to decide this but the powers above unfortunately.

 

My thought is no for normal seasons. I think it would have quite an effect on actual fans in attendance at some games, especially when the weather isn't so good, even with the more local fans

I do think they should reintroduce the Flexi tickets though with a guaranteed seat. Perfect for people who cannot get to VP every week due to work commitments or long distance fans.

 

It won’t happen there are two many vested interests

 

Exactly. Under normal circumstances UEFa don't allow any European league games to be broadcast on a Saturday afternoon (or something similar).
There was a loop hole a few seasons back when those games fell on an international break. I know because I watched us away at Blackpool when it was Hopkins first game in charge.
The only games normally allowed to be streamed in the UK are mid week matches.
So unless there's a major shake up to the broadcast rules post-COVID it won't be something clubs will be able to offer.

 

UEFA may have to reconsider the Saturday afternoon ban, Things are changing with more broadcasters coming in and more money on the table to buy those slots

 

UEFA only have the ban because FA and SFA have requested it, it isnt something that UEFA are fussed about

 

The one possible change I'd like would be if we sell out the away end for a Saturday 3pm kick off then it's offered on iFollow. The home team would still benefit as the current rule is the revenue fron the first 500 iFollow passes goes to them and City would benefit from anything sold past that number.
Take Exeter away. They got the money from 500 passes and we bagged 2000 passes. Not too shabby for either club.
In reality it'll never happen because the football authorities have no common sense just a greed mentality.

 

Normally the away side get nothing but expenses so to get iFollow money after the first 500 is a bonus for the away team, but does possibly cost the home team money

 

They are missing a trick with this aren't they. People just buy the illegal firestick things and can take their pick of any Ifollow game up and down the country. Rather that forcing people to do that they should let fans with accounts registered to the away club watch the game via Ifollow for a tenner and at least keep the money above board.

 

The problem with home games is that the club wouldn't want that because it would lose out on the revenue from programmes, food and drink etc that only comes from fans physically being in the ground.
Plus you diminish the atomsphere. I can see a situation where, say it's mid-winter and the weather is sh!t, more fans choose to stay at home and watch the game. The game itself suffers because you've suddenly lost 50% of those who'd normally be there cheering the team on.
VP feels very empty when it's less than half full. One thing that other teams comment on is the intimidating atomsphere of playing at VP when the fans are backing the team.

 

There would hardly be any fans in the ground for mid week matches.

I finished work at the office at 6.30 last night. Normally, I would put the effort in to get home for quick tea and then get to match for a 7.45 kick off in all weathers.

Last night I, along with probably thousands of others, would have been tempted to stay at home and watch on ifollow if that was an option with season tickets, especially given the heavy rain.

So no, not for me when we get back to normal again.

 

As you know Rod, my food and drink is a pie and a pint (or three) in the NBH. Can't wait, if William is still trading that is.

 

@Bigrod & @Idlebantam I just want to clarify that prior to COVID you could watch mid-week games via iFollow both home and away for £10. So, that aspect of live streaming hasn't changed post COVID. I'm referring to the live streaming of games on a Saturday
@Bigrod - I live a fair distance from VP and due to commute reasons couldn't make mid-week games, so I always streamed the game live. But on a Saturday I'd travel to games, usually with my daughter, my mate and his daughter. We'd have a few beers in town and then a couple at VP both before and at half time. A few times we've upgraded and took advantage of the £30 meal + game, which the club offered. Excellent value by-the-way. And each season I'd buy some form of apparel for my daughter.
That's all potential revenue the club loses by me sitting at home and paying the club £8.34 (the clubs take of the £10 iFollow pass) if I chose to enjoy the games in the comfort of my home on a Saturday.
I don't necessarily agree that people turn up, don't buy food drink, programmes and merch. When I did go to games the tea stands were usually doing brisk business and the frequent complaint was the lack of food left at half time. And even though these stands are franchised out, the club can charge more for the franchise if there's 15,000 in the ground than if there were 7,500. Simple equation - more people equals more food and drink consumed so more revenue for the franchisee.
The same with the club shop. It was always busy.
I understand the argument that if you live far away and can stream the game on a Saturday, that's money the club wouldn't normally get. But on the flip side, rather than bringing in additional revenue, it might be counter-productive because you'll lose fans who can go but don't bother. How would you police the geographic restriction of what qualified of living far enough away from VP to be able to watch games via live stream? The pre-lockdown method was anyone outside the UK.
So, even taking away broadcasting restriction rights, I don't think the clubs themselves would want to change the arrangement as it was prior to lockdown

 

Lots of disabled fans would love to watch games on iFollow on a Saturday instead of the dire radio offering,
A registration scheme with an iFollow pass would be great

 

It is an idea but it should be an add on rather than part of the normal deal and only available to season ticket holders for home games.

For away games the price should be set by the hone team so they can make the decision about balancing bums ons seats and viewers