Thankfully PJ has stood by the loyal supporters who go to the home games, and often the away games too. It is also fully understandable that he wants more inside the ground. But three games in just over a week at £30 a pop and you are not exactly going to be turning them away.
A family of four going to all the games at standard pricing would be looking at more than £200 for the three games, and in the week's running upto Christmas, it's a lot to ask. They would then have to find the food and transport money on top of that.
I fully understand those half-hearted, one off game supporters turning their backs on the club. At £35 for a one-off game, it's crazy. I was astounded by the hike in prices this summer, it just didn't reflect the club's standing.
While season tickets are exceptional value, not everybody can make every game. The reward for season ticket holders comes with the reserved seat and the privilege for tickets come the big games. A price saving, for me, is an added bonus. I would rather 25,000 fans paying £15 rather than a half empty stadium paying £35.
Would it not have been possible to do a “3 for 2” on the three Christmas fixtures? Arsenal and Chelsea are attractive games at £60, if you get Sheffield United thrown in. This would have boosted the attendance figures for the three fixtures while the jolly-cum-latelys would be happy with the prices they were paying.
Perhaps even family tickets for the games would lower the burden on those bringing their children. The Latics have an excellent policy for young children, but as previously mentioned, attendance every week is not possible, and attendance to the three Christmas fixtures would be debt imposing.
Praise is certainly due for the pricing structure the club has adopted for season ticket holders, but the individual match ticket structure is inadequate and far too expensive.
Fans across the country are turning away from over-priced Premiership football, and I see Wigan Athletic as a revolutionary club. Perhaps we could lead the charge in lower prices with a focus on getting bums on seats.
I can see where Mr Jewell is coming from, he wants his team to be numerously supported, and it deserves to be, but only at the right price. Judge us after Chelsea, and that's on TV.
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