The Boards of THST and THFC met on Monday night to discuss the agenda we posted earlier this week. The minutes of that meeting, as agreed by both Boards, can be read here. We’d like to make some brief comment on what we took from that meeting – particularly as we are about to enter a new and challenging period for the Club and its fans.
We approached the meeting in a positive frame of mind, emphasising the benefits of regular contact – at Board to Board meetings and often on a day-to-day basis – with those who run the Club. We believe the relationship that has been built has secured real gains for Spurs fans, and that the Trust’s determination to act in an independent but constructive manner underpins this.
At Monday’s meeting, it became clear that much of the detail we had been asked to raise by members about the new stadium, a potential ground share and about ticket pricing could still not be discussed in the absence of a final settlement over the CPO.
On Tuesday 31 March, less than 24 hours after the meeting, we heard that the outstanding issues had been settled via a private treaty with Archway Steel. This is very positive news for the Club’s future in the long term. But the timing of the statement has resulted in us obtaining less information for our members than we would have liked on this occasion. Needless to say, our dialogue with THFC continues and we will communicate updates outside of the formal Board to Board meetings once the Club are in a position to make comment.
In terms of that dialogue, the issue of ticket pricing and the financial burden placed upon fans is one of our highest priorities. It’s why we worked so hard to challenge the attempt to bring this year’s Season Ticket renewal date forward, on countering attempts to drive up pricing through StubHub, and on the national campaigns around ticket pricing that began to bear fruit last week with the Premier League’s announcement.
We’ve indicated clearly that we want the Club to adopt a monthly Season Ticket payment scheme that does not impose high interest charges or fees, that while we welcome the recent price freezes we want prices to start going down across the board, and that we want a progressive pricing policy to be adopted for the new stadium that includes tickets at significantly lower prices than we see today. We take that view against the backdrop of a 700% increase in prices since 2000, and of the unprecedented £5.14bn three-year domestic TV rights deal.
We will continue to research and suggest options for pricing policies that ease the burden on fans.
The Club’s view is that making any commitment to reducing pricing risks harming the Club’s ability to compete. While we recognise the increasing pressure on clubs to generate independent commercial income as Financial Fair Play regulations come into effect, we do not believe fans can be asked to bear an ever-growing financial burden while the game’s income levels rocket.
Money from gate receipts will also, of course, form an important component in the complex financial modelling being used to finance the new stadium we all want. Again, we have made the point to the Club that it should not assume fans have an infinite ability to be used as a source of financial underpinning for a stadium we will continue to pay to use long after it is built.
We also firmly believe that fans should be fully involved and consulted on potential ground shares and the detail of the new stadium. These are absolutely key issues both in terms of traditional patterns of support and retaining the unique character of this Club and its stadium – a character that has existed since before most of us were here and which we hope to see continue long into the future.
These positions mean we are not always going to see eye to eye with those who run the Club, although our commitment to genuine engagement remains.
We are currently arranging a Members Meeting, details of which will be shared as soon as possible, and we’d urge members to come along to discuss the above in more detail. And, if you can get other Spurs fans to join up and contribute, we’d be happy to hear their views.
Those unable to attend in person are very welcome to email us at info@THSTOfficial.com.
As always, we will guided by our members as we continue to show our support for Spurs.
THST Board
1 April 2015
At Monday’s meeting, it became clear that much of the detail we had been asked to raise by members about the new stadium, a potential ground share and about ticket pricing could still not be discussed in the absence of a final settlement over the CPO.
On Tuesday 31 March, less than 24 hours after the meeting, we heard that the outstanding issues had been settled via a private treaty with Archway Steel. This is very positive news for the Club’s future in the long term. But the timing of the statement has resulted in us obtaining less information for our members than we would have liked on this occasion. Needless to say, our dialogue with THFC continues and we will communicate updates outside of the formal Board to Board meetings once the Club are in a position to make comment.
In terms of that dialogue, the issue of ticket pricing and the financial burden placed upon fans is one of our highest priorities. It’s why we worked so hard to challenge the attempt to bring this year’s Season Ticket renewal date forward, on countering attempts to drive up pricing through StubHub, and on the national campaigns around ticket pricing that began to bear fruit last week with the Premier League’s announcement.
We’ve indicated clearly that we want the Club to adopt a monthly Season Ticket payment scheme that does not impose high interest charges or fees, that while we welcome the recent price freezes we want prices to start going down across the board, and that we want a progressive pricing policy to be adopted for the new stadium that includes tickets at significantly lower prices than we see today. We take that view against the backdrop of a 700% increase in prices since 2000, and of the unprecedented £5.14bn three-year domestic TV rights deal.
We will continue to research and suggest options for pricing policies that ease the burden on fans.
The Club’s view is that making any commitment to reducing pricing risks harming the Club’s ability to compete. While we recognise the increasing pressure on clubs to generate independent commercial income as Financial Fair Play regulations come into effect, we do not believe fans can be asked to bear an ever-growing financial burden while the game’s income levels rocket.
Money from gate receipts will also, of course, form an important component in the complex financial modelling being used to finance the new stadium we all want. Again, we have made the point to the Club that it should not assume fans have an infinite ability to be used as a source of financial underpinning for a stadium we will continue to pay to use long after it is built.
We also firmly believe that fans should be fully involved and consulted on potential ground shares and the detail of the new stadium. These are absolutely key issues both in terms of traditional patterns of support and retaining the unique character of this Club and its stadium – a character that has existed since before most of us were here and which we hope to see continue long into the future.
These positions mean we are not always going to see eye to eye with those who run the Club, although our commitment to genuine engagement remains.
We are currently arranging a Members Meeting, details of which will be shared as soon as possible, and we’d urge members to come along to discuss the above in more detail. And, if you can get other Spurs fans to join up and contribute, we’d be happy to hear their views.
Those unable to attend in person are very welcome to email us at info@THSTOfficial.com.
As always, we will guided by our members as we continue to show our support for Spurs.
THST Board
1 April 2015
RSS Feed
