Called in shop today to renew my disabled season ticket and was told that the price had gone up from £98 last year to £196 this year. Unfortunatly for me that is too much so thanks for the memories and goodbye to all my friends in C block and the con club. Tommy.

I'm really sorry to hear about this Tommy. I'll do my best to explain the reasons for this.

We discussed this at the disabled supporters association meeting in September, in the Cats Bar, as obviously some disabled supporters were very concerned about this.

I spoke with Francis and he explained Wakefield were the last club to offer reduced rates to disabled supporters, and the increase is in keeping with all other RFL clubs and professional sports clubs.

The disabled season ticket is a really good deal as it means that you get another free season ticket for your carer, so effectively you get 2 season tickets for the price of one.

The club also offer payment over several months, for those supporters who cannot afford the payment in full. Also there was an early bird deal, where you could have got your season ticket for a cheaper price, that couple with the spread payments was a really good deal.

As a disabled person, and full time wheelchair user myself, I feel strongly that if I am working then I should pay the same amount as my fellow able bodied supporters. Of course if unemployed, then the club offer reduced rates, as they do for OAPs.

It was a shock when I found out, like yourself, but given the information I do understand the reasons. I feel that the club could have communicated this better, but that's why the disabled supporters association is so important.

Wakefield were the last RL club to bring the prices in line with every other club, and at present there is so much happening which will make the club the best for disabled supporters.

Hope this helps

Jason

Hi Tommy, this is an explanation about the price change from the RUGBY LEAGUE SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION, taken from the RLFANS RLDSA page: -

Please see below

"Concessions for being disabled are being phased out by many organisations and in many walks of life in keeping with equality laws and Rugby League is one of those. The RFL have been forward thinking in this and it is something which the RLDSA has always supported. However as disabled supporters we are all entitled to a Companion/PA or Carer ticket free of charge so although we pay the standard charge we still get two tickets for the price of one if we choose to take someone with us for assistance or companionship. This enables us to have any help we need but still give equality.

Over a lot of years I've discussed this and many other issues with other disabled fans and disabled supporters groups and the over riding opinion of those fans, to this day, have been taken into consideration. These opinions gave us the aims of the RLDSA and the most important feature of that is to promote and develop disability awareness and equality for everyone within Rugby League and this has been discussed with the RFL and Rugby League Club's frequently.

We don't need a concession as we want and have the right to expect equality after all I think the days of shoving us into a corner of a ground or stadium without a thought are over as it is now 2010.

Personally I think the majority of people understand equality is being given, grounds improved and new stadia built with the needs of disabled people in mind, lets be honest 10 years ago unless you had a car you were pretty much stuck in the house. Things are not perfect by a long way in life in general, the same can be said of Rugby League but things are getting better, attitudes changing and facilities improving. As a result of that the majority of disabled Rugby League fans expect, as is fair, to pay the same amount all other supporters pay. If it turns out that the standards of facilities are poor and access very difficult we have every right to complain as loudly as everyone else as we are paying the same price. If we accept concession pricing we accept being treated inequally.

A concessions is offered usually to juniors and those classed as senior only but they don't involve disability so they are not part of this issue. If you are a junior and disabled you pay the concession rate for a junior and have the companion ticket, if you are classed as a senior then again you pay that concession price and still get the other ticket.

More disabled people than ever are turning out to watch Rugby League, this has reached the point where some Clubs are reaching capacity, if Clubs fill existing area's which are specific to disabled customers I expect, as do a lot of people, that those area's be extended or others found and we are happy that we pay the same as everyone else so that this can continue. We are very lucky as the RFL fully support the ability of all supporters to be able to support their teams both home and away, not all Sports do this and it all relates back to equality and not equality only when it suits us."

OMG it, thats a big jump, why not increase it bit by bit,

Like bluejayway as said the main problem and we all shouldn't be surprised with this is =#FF0000communication, it does seem steep but if the club had offered us able bodied 2 season tickets for the price of 1 we would jump at the chance at getting it. I'm sure the O/P must have someone he can go with at split the ticket cost.

That's a very good way of looking at it. I think with the formation of the disabled supporters association things are only going to get better, and it's amazing what we have achieved in only one month!



Just watch what we do next!

I think the issue is also legal isn't it Bluejayway? The equality laws work both ways and therefore getting a half-price season ticket if you are capable of paying for one is discrimination. The carer thing is of course inherent in the law also, to allow disabled people to have access to as much as is practicable that able body people have access to... equality all round!

I think it is a big hike but also the law is the law!

You have hit the nail on the head there. The equality laws make it quite clear, and as such we are just falling in line with what everyone else is doing.

Wakefield were the last club to fall in line with other clubs, and disabled fans have been getting season tickets at the greatly reduced price for longer than we should have been. We get a really good deal, as we get 2 season tickets for the price of one, which enables the disabled supporters to take along a 'carer'. It's a great deal.

I look at this way. I work full time, so am happy to pay my way and buy a season ticket for the same as those who are able bodied.

The club offered lots of different ways for fans to pay, so think they have been very fair.

Thanks for your replys but as far as this being the law how come i am able to purchase half price tickets to semi finals finals etc.

I can answer that. It was a mistake and I don't think it will be happening again. Half price tickets could be purchased for RFL events up until very recently, but as I said this has been subsequently changed.

No club, or even the RFL, offer reduced tickets for disabled people, but you will get 2 tickets for the price of one if you are disabled supporters, so it's still a good deal, whichever way you look at it.

If you come along to the next disabled supporters meeting you can get answers to your questions directly from the club. As I said in my first post, we discussed this at our last meeting in September.

The club are being incredibly supportive of disabled fans and the plans we have for the future will ensure that Wakefield Trinity Wildcats is the most inclusive of clubs.

Why don't you ask the club if you can pay over several months?

"Concessions for being disabled are being phased out by many organisations and in many walks of life in keeping with equality laws and Rugby League is one of those. The RFL have been forward thinking in this and it is something which the RLDSA has always supported. However as disabled supporters we are all entitled to a Companion/PA or Carer ticket free of charge so although we pay the standard charge we still get two tickets for the price of one if we choose to take someone with us for assistance or companionship. This enables us to have any help we need but still give equality."

The above paragraph taken from a post by RLDSA explains the new pricing policy really well.

bluejayway

i understand what you are saying.

we have to compete with other clubs etc but u say the carer gets a free season ticket well if you go off ur prices then no they dont because the prices have gone up by 100% so what it has cost this guy for 1 last year. is paying for 2 this.

which is a big jump

As a disabled supporter myself I have no problem whatsoever in paying the increased price.

I pay for my season ticket, my carer gets in free.

That said I did express the concern of the members of the disabled fans association, as I do feel it could have been communicated better, but that is why it's so important for disabled fans to get involved with the WTWDSA, as it gives them a voice.

So much is happening for disabled fans for the forthcoming season and into the future, which makes me very proud to be a Wakefield Trinity supporter.

A disgrace Wakey...!!!!!!

If you read the thread, it really isn't a disgrace at all.

You want to learn how to read mate, if Wakey are a disgrace, then every Super League club must be also, infact Wakey were the last club to rise it's disabled prices.

obviously this will of come as a big shock and as Jason has commented we have been the last club to implement the price of the season tickets for disabled,
why not get a friend to accompany you to the games and utilise the carers free season ticket, surely that can't be to difficult to share the out lay



please don't think that the club has turned it back on the disabled supports because of the increase, massive strides are going to take place in the coming future that will prove the Trinity is wanting to lead the way

For the previous five seasons i have had a carer accompany me,so the increase to me is still 100% . I have no doubt there are many incentives for the future and hope they are successfull. My own circumstances mean that due to a sporting injury that left me disabled i do not attend every game,and the price of the season ticket let me watch and enjoy a sport i played for a number of years. I will continue to support Wakefield and wish and hope for nothing but the best for there future.

I can't really comment any further then if you already utilise the carer policy, I sure if you write to the club by email you will get a reply,

me and Jason had this discussion only the other day and while I saw it as a good invite to new supporters that struggle to come to the game in your case it does seem to have the opposite effect,
I'm not fully up with the prices of the disabled season ticket holders that are unable to work but would expect them to be at least in line with the OAPs,

if you are in employment then you are getting a two for the price of one,
constructive criticism can only be a good thing and by passing your comments on will go a long way to achieve a better solution for the fans,

the fans for a long time have endured a very low standard of stadium which come friday will be the start of the new era, be apart of it you may find that the improvements will be worth it

Baffled is not the word I’m looking for I was present in the shop when a lady was informed that it wasn’t Wakefield who had put the prices up it was the RFL and they had no option !.

on contacting RFL I was told it was the club who set the prices !, as for the charge going up, in a club with limited attendances and support I would think that they should be pulling out all stops to keep and encourage support from any group.

after a season like this and numerous ridiculous rules by boy scout stewards I find it silly that they again seem to want to upset supporters, when will they learn that in business the customer comes first and is not a side issue.

I still fully don’t understand why children are not allowed in free,given that most will spend a few quid on drinks and sweets,if you only retain a percentage your on a winner.

ps
I’m a long standing season ticket holder with no axe to grind regarding commitment from anyone. Im only observing pure ineptness from the people who make a living out of our loyal support and cash ,further more I also pay for the wife,the kids and all the clothes that go with it! oh and once a year i purchase gifts for others from the shop , i wonder how much all this costs ?????, maybe if they didnt put such a price on the stuff in the first place they wouldnt have to sell it off at stupid discounts at the end !! talk about business.

Please take some time to read the previous posts, as it explains why this decision was taken.

As a disabled fan myself I am very proud of what the club are doing for disabled fans both at present and in the future.

If you have any concerns then please get involved with the WAKEFIELD TRINITY WILDCATS DISABLED SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION.

The club do listen to the fans and are doing all they can, and more, to make watching a match at Wakefield the best possible experience for disabled supporters. For an example of this see the thread on the audio description systems.

We will also hopefully be in a position to announce other projects, designed primarily to help and disabled fans attend games.

Read the thread thoroughly. Whilst the RFL do not set prices, Wakefield were the last club to bring disabled prices into line with other clubs; the same as for other waged fans. If what is stated above by others is correct, as accepted by someone from the RLDSA, to not do so is discriminatory by law.

As far as pricing for kids and merchandising go, get a calculator and learn some fundamentals of economics. I'm not the club gets all of these things spot on, but have you not wondered why virtually all sports teams, and retailers generally for that matter, follow the model you criticise. As it stands, kids tickets are heavily discounted, again, in-line with other SL sides.

one hell of a post for your first one,
while I can't question what you have put, I know from previous occasion when I have contacted the RFL they gave me the wrong information and turned up to an all ticket match when they told me different, that isn't going to change the fact that the price has gone up and I'm not going to give excuses, try emailing them

as Jason has said their will be improvements for all young and old that would find improve their days entertainment

I read the thread through first time round, that’s why I joined in response to the blah,blah.
I have over 21yrs in sports marketing (merchandise to you )and I am more than fully aware on economics regarding sports, something that certain groups are not ! other wise they would not need to sell off kit at the end of the season, like wise are attendances are not the best and are fickle due to our recent history
as for business models which one do you think we follow ? that’s right no one knows hence the continued problems with cash and structure.

If you quote segments be sure you know your subject in reply.

If we cannot get people through the turnstiles in the first place what chance have we got to keep them !
why not for a change set trends rather than follow them ?!
This was not wrote to anyone in particular only in reply to what’s wrote already

I still assume that the first post was in reference to prices for disabled supporters. If so, this is set out by the RFL (Operational Rules Section E15).

As regards pricing for children and kit, I'd happily accept the assertions you make. Just back them up with some kind of evidence base from your extensive sports marketing experience though, preferably one that is in similar circumstances to our club, as it strikes me that the vast majority of SL clubs charge at least what we do for a child season ticket. Obviously, Shudds are a known exception, and it would be fantastic if we had the kind of money to bankroll long-term development that they do. However, until we have an owner with pockets as deep as Ken Davey, I don't think we can afford to throw away the income we do gain from charging kids on what would essentially be an experimental approach that counters what the conventional wisdom of what other clubs do. Similarly with kit, most clubs charge thereabouts what we do, most clubs sell off excess stock cheap once the season is over. Again, I'll happily defer to expert knowledge, but the margins and market are different from normal clothing & gifts. The added value in the added value in the replica kit is in the club brand. The potential market is limited to those who support anyway, who in part buy out of identification and support, with the decision to purchase being different from buying clothing in the high street. Clearly, most sports clubs take the decision that £40ish for a replica top is what maximises revenue, and that fewer sales will be lost by pricing at this range than would be recouped by pricing at a much lower price and hoping that people who don't really care for the club would just buy one in the belief that it was a bargain (what with it being so stylish and made of such quality material and all). Obviously, provide examples of say, Leigh Centurions doubling their merchandising revenue through selling tops at £10 and gaining a mass market in South America, and I'll stand corrected.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the club are chock full of business acumen. In my humble opinion, the raise in walk up prices for adults was a bit of an own goal last year, particularly when allied to poor on the pitch performance and the economic climate. But that is the nature of being a shoestring club, we can't afford a back office team with MBAs from MIT and they'll get decisions wrong at times in trying to squeeze what they can from the fan base. Until those who question everything put some meat on the bones of their flights of fancy as to what will turn us into a 20,000+ attendances superclub, I'll assume though that the path forward isn't so simple.