News

The entries in bold are amended. There were errors in our calculations – thank you to those supporters who pointed this out. We have listened carefully to the feedback to our recommendations and feel our original proposals could have placed some people in difficulties. Equalisation to the national pension age will therefore be phased out over a longer period.

We as a Board need to balance between what is needed to achieve sustainability and the ever increasing demand to meet supporters’ expectations of affordability.

We have taken the decision to publish how the ticket pricing actually works so there is no misunderstanding about the actual cost.

Last year due to the clubs needs, we increased prices to provide a secure foundation for the future.

A number of supporters were very critical of the decisions and were of the opinion that lower prices were the answer -they were wrong.

Some will say that attendances are lower is in part due to playing some games on a Friday. There was no real difference between a Sunday game and a Friday evening. There will be a natural demand to go back to a Sunday only game and certainly it would be our natural preference.

Next season we move to a 14 team competition which will start at the beginning of February until September with a full programme over the Easter weekend. Based upon our current income the team should be strengthened by increasing the squad numbers but we will be in difficulty in doing this with the current restricted income.

The Board has decided that there will be a few games on a Friday - this is in essence to allow the players some time off at the weekend during the season. It would inappropriate to expect players to play every Sunday without any free time with their families in the season. However we will not know the fixtures until later in the year.

This, our first year has shown to us the need to ensure the ticket pricing is right, fair and transparent.

Prices: We believe that our clientele requires constant updates on what the Club receives net, when people purchase a ticket. The net receipt for tickets is as follows:

£18 Ticket Sale > -20% VAT (£3.00) = £15.00 > -10% to LSV Co (£1.50) = £13.50 > -£0.05 Ticket Cost = Net income of £13.45 to Leigh Centurions

£9 Ticket Sale > -20% VAT (£1.50) = £7.50 > -10% to LSV Co (£0.75) = £6.75 > -£0.05 Ticket Cost = Net income of £6.70 to Leigh Centurions

£10 Ticket Sale > -20% VAT (£1.67) = £8.33 > -10% to LSV Co (£0.83) = £7.50 > -£0.05 Ticket Cost = Net income of £7.45 to Leigh Centurions

The season tickets for last year covered the holder for nine home games and two Northern Rail games making a total of 11. This year, a season ticket will cover the holder for 13 home games and no Northern Rail, making a total of 13.

Last year, a season ticket for the West Stand cost £170 (£15.50 per game). The concessionary rate was £90 (£8.20 per game).

In the North Stand the season ticket cost £150 (£13.60 a game). The concessionary rate was £80 (£7.30 a game).

Our decisions for the 2013 season are: We will be stopping the early purchase scheme due to the adverse consequence on the club's income.

We will be increasing the qualifying age limit for concession by one year each year until it reaches the national pension age. This year therefore supporters who are 61 years of age and over at the time of applying for a ticket will be eligible for a concessionary rate.

We will keep the prices for the West Stand at the same price £18.00

We will be increasing the concession price by £1.00 to £10.00

We will be keeping the North Stand to £16.00

However over the next 2 seasons the price difference between the West Stand and the North Stand will be phased out.

The Concession price will increase in alignment with other clubs to £12.00.

The Board must recognise the loyal support so we will be introducing during the 2015 season a loyalty discount to recognise those supports who purchase season tickets or alternatively purchase match day tickets but to achieve this we need to ensure the clubs database is accurate and details of purchases are properly recorded. This will take time to implement that is why the scheme will be launched in 2015. It is essential that all supporters’ details are accurately recorded on the clubs database.

It is expected that as we become more self sufficient, the loyalty scheme will be enhanced so that the regular supporters will receive the benefit they have helped to create.

From a financial point of view, scrapping the early booking and raising the concessionary rate should generate an extra net income of £13,800 for the year, provided the crowd numbers stay the same.

The pricing policy is aimed at sustainability with the club being able to ensure a competitive team on the field. Our ability to achieve this is also dependent upon the continued support of LSV with whom we would not be able to achieve the success we have achieved.

We must all appreciate that the success of LSV is vital to the success of the Centurions we are partners in every sense of the word.

We have to be able to demonstrate to the RFL that we have a considered and robust view when it comes to finances. The RFL’s age for concessionary tickets is 65 whereas the concessionary age for Leigh Centurions and many others is 60. At other clubs the concessionary rate is less generous than ours. Halifax’s concessionary tickets are 72% of the full value price whilst Sheffield’s are 67%, Featherstone 60% and our rate would still be very attractive at 55.5%. 35% of our supporters currently avail themselves of concessionary tickets – this percentage is likely to rise. Productions of a bus pass or similar will be proof of age.

Reserved Seats: We have been approached by a small number of people over the subject. It is our view that the seats reserved for this season should be able to be reserved for the same season ticket holders for next season, if they so require it. If reserved seat holders fetch Bob, they are free to go to other parts of the stand in order to sit together.

Existing season ticket holders will be able to re-new their season ticket (and reserve their seat – either their current one or a different one) from Monday, 15th October. Season tickets will go on general sale from the 1st November.

We consider that the advantage of purchasing a season ticket against a full price ticket is that it is 15% cheaper and equivalent to two free games. It allows the season ticket holder a reserved seat for all games, including those not covered by the season ticket (Challenge Cup, etc.). It obviates the need to queue for tickets.

There are likely to be merchandise discounts in due course and it will allow the holder priority in purchasing tickets for Finals, etc. It could affect the cost of entry to under 23’s and under 18’s games if held at the LSV.

It is therefore proposed that a season ticket for 2013, in the West Stand, will cost £200, generating a saving of £34 if one was to attend at all 13 games. The average ticket cost is £15.40.

A season ticket for the North Stand will cost £180. The average ticket cost is therefore £13.85.

**Concessionary Tickets: ** It is proposed that the concessionary rate for the West Stand will be £120 -an average of £9.20 per game and £110 for the North Stand - an average of £8.46 per game. (It will be noted that there is an added cost here of £1 per game.)

**Family Tickets: ** It is proposed that a family ticket, covering two adults and two children, Family Ticket will be £400, whereas the normal cost could be between £430 and £490.

**Juniors & Students: ** It is proposed that the ‘Quid for a Kid’ for under-12s should remain. Season tickets for under-12s will be £15. Season tickets do allow juniors free admission at away fixtures and the purchase of a season ticket will allow free entrance into the Junior Centurions Club. Under-12s need only give proof of their attendance at junior school at the time of purchase.

Under-16 year olds will be £5 per game or £45 for a season ticket.

Students, having given proof of full time education, will be entitled to the same rate as concessionary tickets, i.e. £10 a game or £120 seated / £110 standing season tickets.

_**THE LEIGH CENTURIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 22nd September 2012. **_