Season Ticket Pricing – We Believe There’s A Better Way
When the club’s season ticket pricing was announced recently, we were pleased to see that the price of each level of ticket has been reduced from last season. Ticket sales have got off to a brisk start, which speaks volumes for our fans’ willingness to support their club despite the uncertainty about when we will actually be allowed back into stadiums. This generosity and commitment to helping the club has been consistent throughout the COVID-19 lockdown.
We are, however, one of just a few clubs who offer a single price for all age groups of junior supporters, and Starks Park is regrettably the most expensive ground in our division for primary school age children. We have campaigned for prices to be reduced (particularly for our youngest fans) for several years, and have supported the establishment and development of the Roary Club in order to improve the matchday experience for these young fans. We have done this for two reasons – because this is the age when kids pick “their club”, and also because we lose adult supporters when they become parents if it is difficult or expensive to bring their kids with them.
The club have made massive progress in creating a better atmosphere and experience for kids, but at £65 (£55 for renewals) we are unfortunately still one of the most expensive clubs in Scotland for this age group, and last season we were the third most expensive in the country (only the Old Firm were more expensive). The Raith Supporters Trust were able to offer a subsidy which brought the club’s pricing more in line with our League One rivals, but this was only due to us being in the fortunate position of having received a legacy in a former member’s will. In this season’s Championship, the only two other clubs to have a single price for all school age children are Alloa (£40) and Queen of the South (£14); of the other five who have announced their pricing so far, four charge less than £20 for primary school age fans, with only Hearts close to our pricing at £50.
Earlier this summer we made a proposal to the club to introduce differentiated pricing for under 5s, under 12s and under 17s, and hoped that the club would see the value in encouraging young fans and their parents to make a visit to Starks Park a regular part of their lives. We believe that in not doing so, the club has missed an opportunity to continue growing the fanbase of the future. The Trust will continue to campaign for reduced prices for primary school age fans.