Kevin Whitcher
As PR own goals go, the email season ticket holders received yesterday evening informing them they would have to stump up extra cash (around £20 for most tickets) when they renew their season tickets at the end of May because of the club’s categorization of pre-paid for cup matches is right up there with the best of them.
Uproar and disgust at the pettiness of the gesture towards the club’s most loyal fans has been coming thick and fast, and rightly so. There are protests planned for the Leicester game, which you will learn about in the national press and through the usual social media channels, as well as this website. These are to let the club know that if they wish to treat their supporters (or customers to anyone from Kroenke Sports Enterprises reading this), then they can expect a barrage of abuse.
I suspect they may end up backtracking very quickly if they have any concept of how to try and regain any sense of goodwill from their fanbase. However, just to give you an example of how you can make the club pay in the long term for their pettiness (the income will be less than £1 million, a real drop in the ocean given the club’s turnover), here is an example that was sent to the club last night by one Gooner reader…
Dear Arsenal
I am feeling really let down by the club this evening after being a supporter for thirty seven years - twenty as a season ticket holder - and a regular since 1990. Wife a red member, kids junior gunners, over 45 away credits at the moment. I am an AISA life member and Arsenal Supporters Trust life member. A regular at Arsenal Ladies, previously a fanshare saver. Club shop every year for new replica shirts and when my kids go about once a month we eat in the ground for about twenty pounds a game along with buying the programme.
I am disappointed with the email received and the actions of the club I love, after another fortuitous home draw (13 from 15) which made the already scheduled Barcelona home game the seventh cup tie this season. The club in their good fortune with the home draws in recent seasons have already seen extra profit and are trying to make a money grab off us in this way feels very petty, and it is very dispiriting.
I am currently trying to teach my children the value of money. I explained previously how eating in the ground and buying direct from the club helps the club immensely.
It does not seem my actions are being reciprocated. As a result I will no longer purchase programmes and food at the ground. I will also not buy merchandise from any of the club shops onsite or elsewhere.
And that is a real way you can teach the club a lesson and hit them where it hurts – in the wallet. Not buying food and drink in the ground, not buying their programmes (The Gooner is £1 less and has far more interesting content) and especially not buying anything from the club either in their shops or online.
This could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Perhaps it is time for all fans to unite with a concerted effort to make the majority owner feel our wrath and ideally get him to sell up. Let’s try and get some good chants prepared for the Leicester match – suggestions welcomed in the comments.
Aside from that, await further news as the Leicester game approaches about how you can make your view felt regarding the club’s request for more money.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
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