Open Forums
Open Forum - Latest Questions and Answers
By Anthony Collett
Apr 26, 2006, 21:03

Q: All season ticket prices seem to have gone up, but especially senior citizens. Why is this? Also, how is the qualification worked out for disabled supporters?

DC: We have said over the last few years that concession prices have been brought more in to line with the adult prices as the prices had become disproportionate over the last few years.

TC: The club will recognise definitions put forward in the Disability Discrimination Act. The Government offers 3 levels of Disability payments and those supporters receiving medium and high level allowance can take advantage of season ticket prices for disabled supporters and a carer.

Anyone else who feels they should qualify should contact the Box Office for an individual decision.

Are we any closer with the plans to re-develop Sixfields?

TC: We know we have to wait until August for Northampton Borough Council to make their decision regarding the location of the district centre. We do have two planning applications already in that are awaiting decisions – one is for the hotel and the other is for a new study centre. Hopefully if we can win promotion that will help keep the pressure on the Council because we all know we need the re-development to help the club progress.

Do we give out too many complimentary tickets and why do we need to pay for our season tickets for next year before the current season has ended?

DC: It is something we are looking at. There have been a few games this season where there have been too many and I am cracking down on it. The club loses an awful lot of money and when we plan our budgets we need to get this money in at this time of year. My father and I have put an awful lot of money in and we need help from season ticket holders at this time of year.

TC: In terms of tickets we do need to honour certain obligations. For example, our players, away players and away staff are all due an entitlement. We are looking across the board to make sure that any complimentary tickets we issue are required. Most of our complimentary tickets are aimed at children who are guests of work in the community.

Are there any plans to restrict queuing times at the Sixfields Box Office?

TC: I don’t think we have ever been busier in the ticket office than we have this week. We have been dealing with season tickets and selling Oxford and Chester tickets and taking Grimsby ticket applications. We only have the capacity and the licence for 4 ticket machines. We can’t have separate windows for different games because many people want to do more than one thing in the same visit or buy a ticket for different games. We try to have

3 staff serving personal callers and one person on the phone. If the windows become free those members of staff then switch to answering the phones. We can only deal with 4 transactions at one time. Our on-line box office is a step forward but we are not totally happy with it and we are working with our provider to improve this service even further.

Are we looking for more sponsorship?

TC: We are always looking for more sponsorship. We have increased our commercial income by a huge amount this year and we have attracted more sponsorship this year than ever before in the club’s history. We are looking to generate more income for the club from all areas.

I was disappointed to read last week that the reserve team had played on Tuesday. Should we promote their games more?

TC: Tuesday’s game was included in Monday’s programme, on the web site on Monday, read out by the PA announcer and shown on the stadium TVs. As a club we do what we can to promote these games and we also make the information available to the media.

If we are expecting an answer regarding the re-development in August, why have people said it will take until 2008 for the re-development to happen.

DC: We hope to get the location of the district centre sorted in August and then we will need to submit planning applications and then there is the build time so it will take until 2008 for the project to be completed.

What progress has been made for a list of benefits for season ticket holders and members?

TC: When you collect your season tickets in July/August included will be a list of companies who will be offering discounts on products and services for season ticket holders and members. The list will grow as time goes on and season ticket holders and members will begin to see extra benefits appear.

NTFC Supporters Ltd would like to thank all supporters for attending.