Ticket discounts for BMW workers - cryptic clue

[Kernow Yellow]

I wonder what the exciting change in the North Stand will be from Weber?
Could it conceivably be something to improve the catering?

What are you referring to? Who or what is Weber?

Not that I care particularly, as I've never sat in the North Stand and I very rarely avail myself of the stadium catering facilities. I'm just curious as to what you're on about!

[Snake]

The BMW group make 1.5 million cars a year and the mini plant has been on the club's doorstep for years. Eventually we get from them...

A few car seats.

Even that Barber shop in Bicester has put more into the club. BMW should be ashamed of themselves.

Good point and after some reflection I agree snake - it is a token gesture really and the press given to it was probably way over the top.

However if they are investing with the club in new training facilities
at the Mini Plant then that is good I suppose.

No it's not good. It's crap from BMW and I still feel a rant coming on.

[pottersrightboot]

As I said above, provided the ST holders are not undercut, I don't see the problem.

Would I rather the club sell extra seats for £12 each that they might otherwise not do? Of course I would. It seems to me to be a good thing, given the proviso I have already referred to.

Let's not get this out of proportion, we are talking of a benefit for BMW workers (who let's face it are not going to be the highest paid workers in the county) of just £4 per extra ticket sold.

Building commercial relationships takes time. The club gives a bit in a small ticket discount, the sponsor gives a bit in terms of probably £10k worth of dugout seats. And so on to the next stage. If we want BMW support, perhaps in stadium naming rights or helping finance a 4th stand, then like it or not, you do have to hold your hands out and say please. Commercial sponsorship does not come easy, especially in difficult economic times.

Let us also not forget that pre-Kelvin it was pretty clear that work on such partnerships was badly lacking and demandng and intransigent in approach. What we have now is hopefully a small step towards a longer term partnership, which just might result in something bigger in the future.

Hmm, fair enough, but something at the back of my mind makes me think why 'prefer' an individual supporter financially just because they work for a large employer who's done 'a bit' for the club.

Do Bridle employees get cheap tickets as well? What about Andy at The Barber's Shop in Sheep Street, Bicester?

FFS why don't Oxvox committee members or 12th Man instigators get subsidised tickets as well, thye've done more for the club than paid for a few jazzed up boy racer seats in the dug out.

Irony alert..

[GodalmingYellow]

As I said above, provided the ST holders are not undercut, I don't see the problem.

Would I rather the club sell extra seats for £12 each that they might otherwise not do? Of course I would. It seems to me to be a good thing, given the proviso I have already referred to.

Let's not get this out of proportion, we are talking of a benefit for BMW workers (who let's face it are not going to be the highest paid workers in the county) of just £4 per extra ticket sold.

Building commercial relationships takes time. The club gives a bit in a small ticket discount, the sponsor gives a bit in terms of probably £10k worth of dugout seats. And so on to the next stage. If we want BMW support, perhaps in stadium naming rights or helping finance a 4th stand, then like it or not, you do have to hold your hands out and say please. Commercial sponsorship does not come easy, especially in difficult economic times.

Let us also not forget that pre-Kelvin it was pretty clear that work on such partnerships was badly lacking and demandng and intransigent in approach. What we have now is hopefully a small step towards a longer term partnership, which just might result in something bigger in the future.

Hmm, fair enough, but something at the back of my mind makes me think why 'prefer' an individual supporter financially just because they work for a large employer who's done 'a bit' for the club.

Is it a case of preferring BMW employees, or quid pro quo for supply of seats and building of a commercial relationship?

How much does Andy's of Bicester contribute, and what do they get in return?

There is no method of comparison or conclusion of preferrential treatment without knowing the answers to these questions.

All we can say is that BMW have given the club some expensive posh seating, some additional ticket sales and likely ancillary sales, some local publicity (the value of which is high for Oxford United) and the beginnings of a commercial relationship, and in return BMW have been given some local publicity (the value of which is highly dubious for a major international company of that size), the beginnings of a commercial relationship and a £4 discount per ticket sold. I would say OUFC got the better end of that deal by a big margin.

The only issue is ensuring that regular loyal fans have not been hard done by.

BTW surely it should only be ex-OxVox committee members entitled to a discount!

[slappy]

The seats are obviously good publicity for BMW and probably cheap too (on a cost basis). I did wonder if OUFC could charge, but they would probably be told where to go and to keep their plastic seats.

It will be a while yet for a car company to come in willing to pay to sponsor our seats I think.

As for the seat discounts, I think probably will get more income from people coming who would otherwise not have, rather than losing money from existing customers taking advantage of the discount.

[slappy]

Weber are the barbecue grill company where the players went the other week. KT mentioned they were doing something exciting in the NS. On yellowsforum, someone knows what it is but says it is under embargo.

[Isaac]

I'd like to hear this Snake rant, mainly because I reckon it'll hark back to the FOUL days and some perceived, but not fully explained, injustice from then.

I don't see the problem with this, firstly in my opinion BMW are no more obliged to be involved with OUFC than they are with any other local football club or business. Secondly it appears win-win, bit of press, maybe a few more tickets sold - pretty much as explained by GY above.

More encouraging is that the club is trying and apparently making progress on these sorts of relationships.

[Kernow Yellow]

Weber are the barbecue grill company where the players went the other week. KT mentioned they were doing something exciting in the NS. On yellowsforum, someone knows what it is but says it is under embargo.

Very exciting

&quotBefore kick-off John Cooper will be presented to the crowd&quot. If only I could be there...

[Brahma Bull]

As I said above, provided the ST holders are not undercut, I don't see the problem.

Would I rather the club sell extra seats for £12 each that they might otherwise not do? Of course I would. It seems to me to be a good thing, given the proviso I have already referred to.

Let's not get this out of proportion, we are talking of a benefit for BMW workers (who let's face it are not going to be the highest paid workers in the county) of just £4 per extra ticket sold.

Building commercial relationships takes time. The club gives a bit in a small ticket discount, the sponsor gives a bit in terms of probably £10k worth of dugout seats. And so on to the next stage. If we want BMW support, perhaps in stadium naming rights or helping finance a 4th stand, then like it or not, you do have to hold your hands out and say please. Commercial sponsorship does not come easy, especially in difficult economic times.

Let us also not forget that pre-Kelvin it was pretty clear that work on such partnerships was badly lacking and demandng and intransigent in approach. What we have now is hopefully a small step towards a longer term partnership, which just might result in something bigger in the future.

BTW surely it should only be ex-OxVox committee members entitled to a discount!

[recordmeister]

Weber are the barbecue grill company where the players went the other week. KT mentioned they were doing something exciting in the NS. On yellowsforum, someone knows what it is but says it is under embargo.

Very exciting

&quotBefore kick-off John Cooper will be presented to the crowd&quot. If only I could be there...

This is excellent news. KT is really bringing home the bacon in terms of commercial relationships.

It isn't Beano I'd be worried about leaving the club, it's KT. He's just an employee and on the evidence of the last three seasons at the club, he could move on to manage a football business at a much higher level.

[Snake]

I'd like to hear this Snake rant, mainly because I reckon it'll hark back to the FOUL days and some perceived, but not fully explained, injustice from then.

I don't see the problem with this, firstly in my opinion BMW are no more obliged to be involved with OUFC than they are with any other local football club or business. Secondly it appears win-win, bit of press, maybe a few more tickets sold - pretty much as explained by GY above.

More encouraging is that the club is trying and apparently making progress on these sorts of relationships.

There is quite a long list of ‘joint ventures’ under WPL but still no sign of a proper partnership that will enable the purchase of the stadium.

We are Division IV, so that rules out Arab billionaires but a big local business may be the ticket we need to move forward given that the club is already run efficiently and all the basics are in place with Thomas, Wilder et all. And BMW are based in Cowley and the PM lives next door. How hard is it to get a proper deal after all these years?

As things stand the BMW stuff is up there with hopes regarding the University, gems from Africa, the Oxford Mail, Buildbase, Bridle, a now bankrupt Debt Doctor, Seacoast United, the council for a few shops on Blackbird Leys on the overflow car park, or maybe some flats in the corners of our ground. I’m still waiting to hear about something like free balloons from that bloke with a beard who’s based in Kiddlington and is still a virgin when it comes to involving himself in Oxford United. Meanwhile, all those businesses in the Science Park actually employ people to stop Us parking there instead of charging a few quid per car.

Told you it would be a rant

[recordmeister]

I'd like to hear this Snake rant, mainly because I reckon it'll hark back to the FOUL days and some perceived, but not fully explained, injustice from then.

I don't see the problem with this, firstly in my opinion BMW are no more obliged to be involved with OUFC than they are with any other local football club or business. Secondly it appears win-win, bit of press, maybe a few more tickets sold - pretty much as explained by GY above.

More encouraging is that the club is trying and apparently making progress on these sorts of relationships.

There is quite a long list of ‘joint ventures’ under WPL but still no sign of a proper partnership that will enable the purchase of the stadium.

We are Division IV, so that rules out Arab billionaires but a big local business may be the ticket we need to move forward given that the club is already run efficiently and all the basics are in place with Thomas, Wilder et all. And BMW are based in Cowley and the PM lives next door. How hard is it to get a proper deal after all these years?

As things stand the BMW stuff is up there with hopes regarding the University, gems from Africa, the Oxford Mail, Buildbase, Bridle, a now bankrupt Debt Doctor, Seacoast United, the council for a few shops on Blackbird Leys on the overflow car park, or maybe some flats in the corners of our ground. I’m still waiting to hear about something like free balloons from that bloke with a beard who’s based in Kiddlington and is still a virgin when it comes to involving himself in Oxford United. Meanwhile, all those businesses in the Science Park actually employ people to stop Us parking there instead of charging a few quid per car.

Told you it would be a rant

WTF?

Do you really think that a major, international business is going to come along and plonk a shit load of money in to the club, enough for us to be able to buy the stadium? That's as mental as people who come on at the start of each season and say &quotwhy haven't we signed Ronaldo / Beckham / Giggs. Something must be wrong at the club.&quot

We're a local sports team and as such must look to local businesses. Putting together a team of sponsors is like putting together the team of players. Some will be statement sponsors like Duberry / BMW. Others will be a little more stable and lucrative such as Bridle (the Beano of sponsors, perhaps) and some will turn out to be the Futcher of the team, much like Debt Dr.

As for the bearded chap down the road (or even the PM?!), why the hell should have any investment, financial or emotional, in our club just because he has a house in Kidlington. He also owns an island in the South Pacific, and you don't see him sponsoring local rugby team there.

I don't get your negativity to all the activity that seems to be happening at the club. Local business are they key. Even when Burnley were in the Prem, their biggest advert behind the goal which everyone saw on MOTD every week was:

DAVID FISHWICK MINIBUS SALES

I think you need to take your eyes off clubs like Man Utd and look at just how local our club is. Therefore the partnerships need to be local and yoiu build it up from there.

[Brahma Bull]

I still have not seen any official announcement about subsidised tickets for BMW workers. My personal view is that it's OK to discount tickets for BMW workers but they should be reduced to the figure that a regular United supporter (who may not have a season ticket) would have to pay.
According to figures in that Yellow Forum thread, it doesn't look like that's the case.

Out of interest, how much did the Lucky 7 ticket cost last season? I would like to see what the matchday ticket cost would be based on that mini season ticket.

[recordmeister]

Isn't part of this intuitive top drive 'bums on seats' as we now take 50% of all catering profits from the stadium. If someone gives the club £12 for a seat, that's £12 the club didn't have before, so that can only be a good thing. And then if they buy a burger and beer, some of that profit is also going to to the club.

It'll end up like being on a flight. Never ask the person sat next to you what they paid, as one of you will end up being disappointed. But at the end of the day, it's all money in company coffers...

&quotahh, but they're going to be paying a price per ticket comparable with, or cheaper than, a season ticket holder is paying per match&quot

Yes, but having a season ticket is not just about individual ticket price. You're buying into a scheme which gives you other additional benefits which are not afforded to the mini workers, such as priory on additional tickets and away match ticket such as Slumdon.

[Brahma Bull]

OUFC take no percentage of catering revenue from any food and refreshment concessions within the stadium. This is a myth.

OxVox are meeting Lindleys in the coming weeks to discuss the standard of food, the pricing and value for money. OxVox members will be sent a survey so we can fully represent their views and concerns.

Point 9 of our recent OUFC meeting makes reference to the meeting (see below) and we made a Trust comment on the matter also (link below)

http://oxvox.org.uk/PageContent.aspx?id=128
http://www.oxvox.org.uk/news.aspx?id=279

Season Ticket holders get a good deal, I don't disagree. But what about those ardent fans who cannot afford to invest £250-£400 but go to every game because of cash-flow (that number is at least 2000 every home game).