Do new season ticket numbers add up?

Last updated : 12 April 2009 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday published season ticket prices for the forthcoming 2009/10 season on Saturday with supporters expecting some enticing deals given the criticism and failure of last seasons price structure and what had been suggested from the new regime controlling the cub.

Fans were outraged last season when the club announced price rises of 12% in some areas despite the fact that there was still the very real possibility that the club could be relegated at the time.

As a result gates at Hillsborough have been disappointing this season and a number of incentives have been introduced in the second half of the season in order to try and entice fans back.

Those that did purchase season tickets for the current season were led to believe that their loyalty would be repaid with regards to prices for next season so to what extent is this the case?

Taking the Kop as an example, season ticket prices have been reduced by £33 to £333 for adults. In isolation this would be a good offer but given the size of the price rise last season, perhaps some were expecting the cost to be closer to £300.

Also, this price is only available until the end of May, before the expiry of many players contracts up and down the country including at Hillsborough and so it is likely that some key personnel decisions in terms of transfers in and out will not be decided by this deadline.

Furthermore, this offer can be taken up by anyone who has had an SWFC season ticket in the past three seasons. Therefore, those that were loyal/foolish enough to pay the price increases to watch the current campaign will have not benefit anymore than the many that chose not to do so and have since benefitted from reduced match-day prices recently.

Those who do take up these offers will be entitled to a free commemorative dvd of the Sheffield derby double from the season an a 25% discount on a replica shirt but perhaps this could have been reversed with the shirt being free given the availability of highlights from those games across various forms of media for those wishing to relive the wins.

The offer of a student season ticket for £184 is an attractive one, the policy regarding the grandstand is set to be reviewed and over 80's and under 8's have the opportunity to watch the Owls for free but the overall view is one of scepticism as to whether the club can achieve their target of shipping 16,000 season tickets based on these offers.