Save your ticket to get a discount

Notts County are offering a money-off discount to those who back them in Saturday’s Meadow Lane clash with in-form Chesterfield

The appetising local derby is the first of six games that have been designated as Category A and consequently, admission prices are going up by £2 for adults and £1 concessions.

But Notts are looking to ease the “pain” by offering supporters the chance to save the difference from one of the Category A fixtures in December against MK Dons and Rotherham.

Spectators on Saturday are being urged to save their ticket because it will then qualify them for the discount.

Explained Notts’ Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes: “We are aware that some supporters are not happy about being asked to pay more and have reacted positively to that. It’s clearly a bone of contention so it’s important to explain how we arrived at this point.

“When the directors sat down in the summer to discuss the way forward, they recognised the need to increase the players’ budget if a promotion push was to become reality and the challenge was to find the money to pay for it.

“Bearing in mind that admission prices at Meadow Lane had not increased for five years, one option was to raise them by £1 across the board. It was decided not to do that but instead, nominate six Category A matches which would probably generate big away followings.

“In real terms, it means that regular supporters would be asked to find an extra £12 for the Category A games – instead of £23 for the complete season.

“But as was pointed out very clearly when the scheme was announced during the summer, season-ticket holders would be exempt from the increase.

“We have now taken the decision to ease the “pain” but it does mean that money budgeted for when the scheme was planned will now have to be found by another means.”

This is commendable Nigel - but can I humbly suggest that something is missing from all of this?

If I could put my 'business' hat on for a moment....

There is nothing wrong with Notts trying to charge more. In fact they should be trying to! They're in business.

What's missing from the equation is MARKETING

If you're going to charge more you have to sell it to the customers. Tell them why they need to attend this match - hype it up - make them want to go so bad they will cough up the extra.

The only time in recent memory I have ever seen this happen was the 'Great Escape' under Dearden - with Radio Trent against Huddersfield - result = big crowd.

Notts seem totally clueless about Marketing. And by the way Marketing doesn't mean spending lots of money you don't have

Could this be passed onto the board somehow? If they don't have the Marketing expertise I'm sure it can be found within Trust membership.

£18 to see fouth tier football? It's no wonder attendances are soo low.

Is there any advanced ticket discount? This was raised at a fans forum many months ago as away of charging away fans more while giving the home fans the opportunity to be rewarded for supporting the team. I seem to remember it got a reasonable amount of support.

Thta is a good suggestion

However what's needed is a year long strategy - not just a one or 4 game bright idea.

Marketing is not about what you do for 1 game or even 4 executive . Its a continuous process all year round that aims to boost overall income from all possible areas....

Gate receipts are just one. Food, drink, programs, lottery tickets, merchandise, corporate advertising, sponsorship, premium internet sales, the list goes on

The whole company (club) should be focused on marketing their product effectively to the whole community.

I honestly reckon if they gave me £150 a week to implement a marketing strategy they could improve income by several thousands each week.

Instead Notts rely on a dwindling group of fans for their revenue - and they don't even communicate with them effectively!

No wonder their 'repeat business' is tailing off!

League Two home support 2007-2008 Season to date:

Brentford 4224 (excluding 446 away fans)
Morecambe 4121 (313)
Dagenham & Redbridge 3926 (229)
Chesterfield 4181 (1576)

If this trend continues for the remaining category A games, it seems that we will make money from the away fans and the usual number of non-season ticket home fans as it doesn't seem the home support increased at all. It could be argued that the increased prices persuaded many home fans to stay away as I would be surprised if we wouldn't normally have an above average home fans attendance for a local derby with Chesterfield?

Finally, the claim for not putting up prices at Meadow Lane for 5 years is not something the club should be shouting about too much since they are still amongst the highest in League Two and so all you are doing is highlighting how much fans were over charged in those previous years.

Our club need to decide whether our strategy for increasing revenue from ticket prices is based on either squeezing harder our existing fan base or showing loyalty to our existing fan base and increasing our crowds. Initially, the Category A scheme unfortunately seems to be doing the former.

Save your ticket get discount yeah free entry to boost the declining attendance up at meadow lane whos to blame? st

sorry should of added free entry against Bury