Wages before Fan Prices

[Jimboola69]

Yes this is in The Stun, yes they are a shower of...

But quotes are quotes and he has said similar before.

That's rich

By MARK IRWIN

February 16, 2007

CHELSEA have told supporters to forget cheaper tickets ? because the club?s millionaire players are demanding massive pay rises.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon revealed everyone is queueing up to get their hands on the revenue from the new ?625million TV deal.

And, despite The Sun?s ?Cut the cost of football? campaign, Kenyon made it clear to a Blues fans? forum that their sky-high wage bill means they cannot afford to cut prices next season.

Kenyon claimed: ?A reduction in prices is a difficult topic because other sectors of the business want their share of the TV cash and the players also want a slice.?

The bombshell came as Frank Lampard and John Terry are demanding ?6.3million-a-year contracts to put them on a par with top earners Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko.

Supporters? representatives had calculated that slashing ?5 off every Premiership ticket next season would cost Chelsea just ?4m.

They argued that could be funded by the massive increase in TV money which the club will receive next term.

Every club in the Premiership is guaranteed a minimum of ?30m a season when the new deal kicks in, with the champions getting ?50m.

But those hopes were quickly kicked into touch by Kenyon at a meeting with a group of 15 fans before last Saturday's home game against Middlesbrough.

Kenyon, accompanied by operations director Ron Gourlay and ticket manager Graham Smith, spent 2? hours with fans? forum representatives.

Chelsea are currently the second most expensive club in the country for supporters, with only Arsenal charging more.

The cheapest tickets for a match at Stamford Bridge start at ?35 and season tickets cost up to a staggering ?1,150 a year.

Yet the club bankrolled by Roman Abramovich?s billions are still set to announce a massive loss when the financial figures for 2005-06 are revealed next Monday.

Kenyon is under increasing pressure to start balancing the books after announcing record losses of ?88m in 2005 and a further ?140m last year.

That task has been made virtually impossible by an annual wage bill which has soared beyond ?125m over the past season.

KENYON ... pressure

But Chelsea fan Paul Fletcher, from Woking, countered: ?The players don?t seem to have any understanding of the costs involved in following the team.

?I know some Chelsea fans who pay more than ?1,000 a year. But I simply can?t afford that sort of money.?

A Chelsea spokesman insisted: "No decision has yet been made on ticket prices for next season. We have consulted the fans and their comments will be taken into consideration.?

From http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002 ... 17,00.html

This is why I can not get to many games anymore. What is the point of ?30m strikers and players on ?130,000 a week when I have been priced out after 30+ years of going since i was in the Shed with my dad.

I have never felt more distant from my club.

[glory55]

I really do hate the sun...........

However the more bad press K*nyon and Co gets the better!!

They need to be put under pressure,if they dont reduce the ticket prices.

Sort this stupid category system out..........IT DONT WORK!!!!

People wont pay the same price for Wigan & Blackburn as they will for T*ttenham & Arsen*l!

Nobody should be saying ....

...."oh well its a buisness,supply and demand"............

BOLLOX TO THAT ......

WERE THE BEST SUPPORTERS IN THE WORLD..........THIS IS OUR CLUB........ STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES!!!

I can see a serious backlash on its way!!

[c3blu]

Then you hear Kenyon talking about building a new stadium with a capacity of 55,000. He wants demand to exceed supply so he can charge what he likes.

To much money is going out of the game. The only people who dont benefit from all the cash flying around at the moment are the people who are responsible for all the interest in the first place, the fans. Stop lining bloody Pini Zahivi's pockets and pass something this way.

If we build a new stadium we should make it as big as possible and have the cheepest tkts in the league.All 4 divisions. Its not just us its the entire country.

How can it be cheeper to watch Barcalona than Wycombe?

[BLUENUT]

What is the point of ?30m strikers and players on ?130,000 a week when I have been priced out after 30+ years of going since i was in the Shed with my dad.

I have never felt more distant from my club.

SPOT ON!

[bonetti]

If L'arse are the most expensive, why dont the 'currant bun scum sun' write about them - the w**kers

[glory55]

If L'arse are the most expensive, why dont the 'currant bun scum sun' write about them - the w*****

Its got nothing to do with Arse........

They dont sign 30 million pound players......

They do however have a new stadium to pay for and all the hype surrounding a new stadium!!

That hype will soon die down and then they may well have to drop their prices!

Our supporters however,have had to stump up with more money-MORE MONEY,every year under Bates,

basically because the club was badly run and needed it.

But we dont now.........we have money!!

They dont rely on Gate money to play 20% or even 30% of the players wages!

Its ALL wrong

And people who support P*ter Keny*n-NO MATTER WHAT

need to have a serious word with themselves.

Or else,OUR GAME will die on its Arse!!!

If he is planning on a ticket hike,he better brace himself for the consequences!!

[glory55]

Then you hear Kenyon talking about building a new stadium with a capacity of 55,000. He wants demand to exceed supply so he can charge what he likes.

To much money is going out of the game. The only people who dont benefit from all the cash flying around at the moment are the people who are responsible for all the interest in the first place, the fans. Stop lining bloody Pini Zahivi's pockets and pass something this way.

If we build a new stadium we should make it as big as possible and have the cheepest tkts in the league.All 4 divisions. Its not just us its the entire country.

How can it be cheeper to watch Barcalona than Wycombe?

So true,its all gone wrong mate!

If we move from the Bridge......

.... we will have lost OUR identity almost so completely...........

....... that we may as well,scrap the name and call the new stadium "The Samsung Arena".

Fill it with tourists (who got their ?70 tickets from a leicester Square ticket booth) and wear Green and Orange hoops.

ITS NOT FOR ME AND ITS NOT FOR CHELSEA

Im sorry for moaning but I love Chelsea!

[Scott]

"CHELSEA have told supporters to forget cheaper tickets ? because the club?s millionaire players are demanding massive pay rises. "

Even if true would the club come out and say that? What f*ckin planet do they think we're from?

[mad_mac]

ROB I completely appreciate all you have to say!! This is a joke, and maybe we should start getting cheaper players in 9well at least not paying over the odds). However, i do feel that if we want to compete on all levels we need world class palyers in. However, I wouldn't mind us also bringing in world class prospects, thus reducing the wages. everyeone should start off on a certain wage, and only move up if they have earned it!

Scott

[glory55]

ROB I completely appreciate all you have to say!! This is a joke, and maybe we should start getting cheaper players in 9well at least not paying over the odds). However, i do feel that if we want to compete on all levels we need world class palyers in. However, I wouldn't mind us also bringing in world class prospects, thus reducing the wages. everyeone should start off on a certain wage, and only move up if they have earned it!

Scott

We do need good players and the best way to do that is to bring young talent in.....

....maybe that is what we will be seeing in the near future (I hope).

When Roman first took over,it was obvious by the sacking of Claudio,that he wanted immediate success.

Look at the money he has spent!!

But,he can either afford to pay top-top money .....

.....or he cant..!!....

Our supporters shouldn't have to fork out..... for his manic spending.

We need to get away from this "YES SIR" mentality,

that some people have towards,the people that run the club.

Be cautious.....protect our interests.

Dont let them get away with it......

Prices down.............simple as!

....IT IS.......AND ALWAYS WIL BE OUR CLUB.

Cheers Scott!

Rob

[loz]

I think the only way we might see reduction in ticket prices is to move to a 70,000 + stadium but then that means leaving the Bridge (which I don't want us to do).

[Phillip]

Does anyone know if Arsenal has lowered their ticket prices from what they were at the Library?

I would think that a team would not lower the ticket prices based soley on moving to a larger stadium, and instead would raise them to help recoup the costs of building the monstrosity.

[glory55]

No thats not good enough for us Loz!!

Dont fall at the first hurdle.

We wont fill 70,000.........honest to god mate!

[loz]

No thats not good enough for us Loz!!

Dont fall at the first hurdle.

We wont fill 70,000.........honest to god mate!

I agree totally but I still see it happening - it will be a hideous mistake, we will have CL games and cup games with 35000 empty seats

[glory55]

Does anyone know if Arsenal has lowered their ticket prices from what they were at the Library?

I would think that a team would not lower the ticket prices based soley on moving to a larger stadium, and instead would raise them to help recoup the costs of building the monstrosity.

Their ticket prices have gone up........to the most expensive in the league.

If we move thats what the club will do to us.......push up the prices.

[glory55]

I agree totally but I still see it happening - it will be a hideous mistake, we will have CL games and cup games with 35000 empty seats

Spot on Loz!

It would be a complete nightmare.

AFC Chelsea,maybe in the not to distant future...

....IF they dont get their act together.

But I dont think they will push the prices up!!!

Because of the bad press,the club are already getting over this!

The S*n may well be in line for some congratulations!

I and many others,will support any campaign that looks out for the interests of "salt of the earth" football supporters.

[Jimboola69]

I would certainly never ever support an AFC Chelsea type club. Not going that route.

But would a salary cap at the club of say ?100k or even ?80k be soooo bad fro the club?

As for the stadium I think that with Arsenal at 60,000, Liverpool soon at 65,000 and Man Utd closing in on 80,000 we can not continue at just over 40k. To make the same as Man Utd we would have to charge TWICE as much.

I am not saying we do not have any high profile players or sell Terry, Lamps etc.

The original point of starting this thread was that while weare now cash-rich thanks to Roman, I find myself as an old Shed boy priced out firstly by Bates' madness and now by the policies of Kenyon.

Again today Chelsea play at home and I am on a computer while listening to the radio.

This cannot be right.

[glory55]

I would certainly never ever support an AFC Chelsea type club. Not going that route.

But would a salary cap at the club of say ?100k or even ?80k be soooo bad fro the club?

As for the stadium I think that with Arsenal at 60,000, Liverpool soon at 65,000 and Man Utd closing in on 80,000 we can not continue at just over 40k. To make the same as Man Utd we would have to charge TWICE as much.

I am not saying we do not have any high profile players or sell Terry, Lamps etc.

The original point of starting this thread was that while weare now cash-rich thanks to Roman, I find myself as an old Shed boy priced out firstly by Bates' madness and now by the policies of Kenyon.

Again today Chelsea play at home and I am on a computer while listening to the radio.

This cannot be right.

Your correct,its not right!

I haven't got the same problem...

... cos I would have gone today but im trying to save the pennies for Porto

And I do too much football some times.

But you know........

If it came down to it,I would support a break away club.......

.... as a very-very last resort.......

....although talk of that is hypothetical of corse.

As for the stadium,I really think we would struggle to fill a stadium that size,week in-week out

We dont have that kind of support.

[loz]

It would be a complete nightmare.

AFC Chelsea,maybe in the not to distant future...

....IF they dont get their act together.

But I dont think they will push the prices up!!!

Because of the bad press,the club are already getting over this!

The S*n may well be in line for some congratulations!

I and many others,will support any campaign that looks out for the interests of "salt of the earth" football supporters.

Glory55

What would you like to see the club do (other than the obvious dropping of ticket prices - that is probably a wish of all sane football fans).

I have a few ideas myself however you are definitely the most verbal on here regarding the way the club treats the fans (I don't mean that as a criticism, I commend it) so I would like to give you first shot!

(the question obviously is open to anyone else as well)

[Jimboola69]

Would we fill a 70k stadium?

At ?60 a pop, probably not.

At ?40 a pop, more chance.

At ?30 a pop...hell yeah!

That would allow for a lot of the traditional fans to 'return'.

I know at least 20 who are in the same boat as me. Just normal working Joe No-one's, priced out currently.

And if we get the traditionals back, you hear us roar.

It would lovely to be in a noisy atmosphere again where you are not stared at or told off for vocally supporting your team in numbers.

Just my 2p's worth.

[glory55]

What would you like to see the club do (other than the obvious dropping of ticket prices - that is probably a wish of all sane football fans).

I have a few ideas myself however you are definitely the most verbal on here regarding the way the club treats the fans (I don't mean that as a criticism, I commend it) so I would like to give you first shot!

(the question obviously is open to anyone else as well)

Well....

I wouldn' t move from the Bridge as we have no real need to....

Build a Terracing section in the North corner of the West stand to house roughly 3,000-4,000 EXTRA SUPPORTERS.

Actively encourage supporters to bring flags and banners to the ground.

Remove the numbers off of the seats and tickets in the North Lower.

So vocal groups can sit/stand together ,it would improve the atmosphere 100% as supporters would arrive earlier to take their section with their pals.

Get rid of the away season ticket holders scheme........

It dont work,as the club fine you if you dont take up your ticket....and if you have a season ticket,you can always get a away ticket.

Get some human stewards....some of "our" steward's have worse criminal records than some of our nuttiest fans old school.....Basically doormen who couldn't get a job.They are too heavy handed and have no social skills

Drop the price of Programmes-Haven't read one since Bates left

Drop price of food/drink in the ground.

Put some of the Sky Money (that ALL prem clubs are getting this year) back in to dropping ticket prices,we need groups of young blokes going to football again we need OUR atmosphere back!!

IF they can do this then PK will have one me over

Look after OUR loyal supporters.......we OUR their best "customers"....

value us..........It matters to other clubs!

We dont want FREE-BEES we just want to be loved

LOZ

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A VOICE

THE FRUSTRATION SEEMS TO HAVE LEFT ME FOR THE MOMENT

[c3blu]

Firstly i'd hate us to leave the bridge, but i feel we do need an increased capacity to be able to compete long term.

I have been banging on about bringing back terracing for ages, this would offer more people the chance to go to the ground, and offer a cheaper alternative for those of us struggling with the current costs of watching our team.

Unfortunately its the same health and safety losers who are stoping the club increasing the bridges capacity who will no-doubt put a block on the return of terracing.

When you look at the number of members we have, there is no reason to think we could'nt fill a big new stadium but only if the price is right. If we have empty seats for some games so what. If the stadium is designed right having one tier in a certain part of the ground closed should'nt affect the atmosphere if the bowl around the pitch is full.

We could offer away fans more tkts, this would help the atmopshere on its own. Bigger reductions in the family section(how people manage to take their kids these days is beyond me).

I dont want prices frozen, or a fiver knocked off, we need prices slashed. If corperate fans want a meal and a glass of bubbly while sitting in their box at a match then great,let them pay for it.

We should be able to accomadate all fans to 'the peoples' game. The best way('cos terracing i'm affraid is a non starter) is to have a massive ground, with cheap tkts.

[glory55]

If they build a bigger ground I still think they will make us pay for it!!

[ethicalstrategy]

we need groups of young blokes going to football again

In my experience there are lots of groups of "young blokes" at the ground for all the matches.

[ethicalstrategy]

Again today Chelsea play at home and I am on a computer while listening to the radio.

This cannot be right.

Assuming you mean the Norwich match then I'm not sure I understand your point.

Tickets for this match were ?25 for adults and ?12.50 for kids or seniors in the West lower. Availability was pretty good too I think.

I accept that full price Premier League tickets and CL tickets are pretty pricey, but the cup matches seem reasonable and there have been quite a few of them this season.