Directors Meetings Monday 23 February and 2 March 2015
Answers to Members’ Questions
Many of the question posed by members were duplicated, so rather than respond to individual emails, and, on the suggestion of one of our members, it was felt more appropriate to place all responses on the Trust web site. In addition, in some instances, varying content of questions posed regarding the same topic are contained under the one heading.
A further meeting was held on Monday 2 March to clarify the situation regarding the use of the Radcliffe Suite / Dale Bar for Trust events, as Graham Rawlinson, the Club director who manages the facility on behalf of the Club was unavailable for the meeting on the 23rd. The results of that meeting are contained within Question / Answer 4. The result of this additional meeting was felt important enough to be included, hence the reason for the delay.
Question 1
Following the success of the Christmas cards sent out to the U/7 season ticket holders are their Plans in place to firstly do it every year and secondly extend it to birthdays. Only an idea but, if the birthday card was sent a week early maybe with a free adult ticket to next home game and a voucher for the club shop. I’ve spoken to some people and the feedback I’ve had is the voucher wouldn’t be used because they’d have to go to travel to Spotland to use it, however, giving a free adult ticket (the child already has a season ticket) gives an extra excuse to spend in the club shop (birthday present perhaps as the card, voucher and ticket are a week before the birthday) because they are physically at Spotland. Be great if you could answer point one and look into point two and come back to me with your (directors) thoughts.
Answer 1
The sending of Christmas cards to U7’s season tickets was easy to facilitate – all being sent out together relevant to one specific date. Birthday cards prove a more difficult one to administrate, given the multiple specific date issue, but it will be an item to be considered by the new Marketing Manager.
Question 2
What’s the current situation with the Stadium Company? Is a shareholders EGM still planned?
Answer 2
Negotiations continue, and the Directors advised that negotiations have never been as far advanced as they are currently. As shown on the Hornets web site (news item 19 December 2014), they have voted in favour of the sale of shares currently held by the RFL and Rochdale Council to the Football Club, should these parties agree. It has to be appreciated, however, that negotiations in such matters are delicate, and general release of fuller details as to the stage currently reached could prove negative. An EGM is still planned to provide shareholders with details of any agreement reached to gain their approval.
Question 3
Is there a cut-off point regarding Stadium negotiations and is there a real appetite to source a site for a new Stadium?
Answer 3
There is no cut off point regarding conclusion of negotiations, and, at this advanced stage of negotiations there is no plan to source a site for an alternative venue.
Question 4
Could there be some clarification about the Trust using the Dale Bar for events and whether or not charges were/are in place?
Answer 4
A meeting with the Club was held in July following the FIFA night, and the subsequent loss to the Club as a result of the low numbers attending. As a result of these discussions, the Trust understood that in future all events held in the Radcliffe Suite / Dale Bar would be subject to a room charge. This interpretation was disputed, and, as a result, the future policy will be that any event planned by the Trust, who would always prefer to hold it on Club premises, as the revenue reverts to the Club, will be referred to Stephen, the manager, and a decision, based on its potential financial viability to the Club, would be made as to whether or not a room charge would be made. The Trust would then decide whether or not to utilise the facility or seek an alternative.
Question 5
When is our current kit agreement with JD Sport to expire and will supporters have an input for next seasons kit?
Answer 5
The agreement with JD Sports expires at the end of this season. The supplier for next season has been appointed, and an announcement regarding the design of the new kit will be made before the end of the season. The management team, coaching and playing staff have all been involved in the design of the new kit.
Question 6
Are the Directors happy with the work on the floodlights, the brightness appears not to have improved whatsoever?
Answer 6
The Directors are pleased with the work carried out. Tests on the pitch have been conducted in association with the Football League. The Lux readings now attained are higher than previous all over the pitch. The minimum reading required by the Football League is 300 – the lowest reading achieved is 415. The overall reading required is 500 – the overall reading achieved is 599. In addition, these readings achieved are all in excess of the specification demanded of the contractors by the Club.
Question 7
Are there any plans to introduce a payment plan to spread the cost of season tickets?
Answer 7
Vouchers can be obtained from the Club shop, which act as savings stamps that can be redeemed against a season ticket.
Question 8
Are the club trying to attract the right person regarding the advertised post for a Marketing/commercial post. Are they willing to pay the necessary salary to attract the right person?
Answer 8
In an attempt to secure the most suitable candidate, the advertised post which resulted in 67 applicants was narrowed down to a short-list, from which further interviews were held and an appointment has been made, details of which will be announced once the necessary formalities have been concluded. The Directors emphasised that they went to great lengths to obtain the ideal candidate, and are confident that the appointment will prove to be an important asset in the marketing of the Club.
Question 9
In the run-up to the Stoke game, why couldn’t tickets have been put on general sale straight after the Crawley game to allow fans attending the game to buy tickets? Why couldn’t there have been a ‘crossover period’ where tickets were on general sale, but with Season Ticket holders still having their seats/space reserved for a few more days? This would have seen anyone able to buy tickets on the day of the Crawley game.
(Something similar happened v Sheff Wed last season:
http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/article/facup-r4-details-1284564.aspx
All fans were able to buy tickets when we played Plymouth the week before, with Season Ticket reservations in place until close of business after that game). Why could Stoke fans buy tickets on the day of the game yet home fans couldn’t? Also what had changed which now means Trust members can’t buy tickets on the day of a game? What were the advantages of using a telesales company rather than selling them over the phone at the club? Are the club happy with how the telesales idea went and will feedback be sought from fans who used the service? What was the percentage of non/semi regulars buying tickets and what follow up plans are in place to attract them back in the future?
Answer 9
The Club decided that the crossover of selling tickets for general release for the Stoke game after the Crawley game at the same time as priority sales to season ticket holders causes problems as far as queuing is concerned – season ticket holders having to queue with non-season ticket holders. A consideration in the future could be given to split the sales between the ticket office and the Club shop.
Initially, the agreement was that Trust members would be able to purchase tickets on the day in the event of an all-ticket game. For future all-ticket games, the Club will advise the Trust if the sale of tickets to Trust members on the day is applicable, and the option of priority to Trust members was felt to be a benefit should purchase on the day not apply. However, as with previous games, should any Trust member been unable to purchase a ticket prior to the day of the game, on application, they would have been able to purchase one on the day.
Stoke fans were able to purchase tickets on the day of the match as they had not sold their allocation. Home fans could also have purchased on the day, as the home allocation was not sold out.
The advantage of using a telesales company to sell tickets was that it allowed for 24/7 sales, and the information gained from the information required to complete the sale will be fed back to the Club for inclusion on the database to be used for marketing purposes to attract attendance at future games.
Question 10
What is the current situation in terms of having online ticketing available?
Answer 10
The Club now feel that they have negotiated the best price possible for the application, and there are plans to trial the system at a league game this season.
Question 11
What is the current capacity of Spotland? Could this be broken down into capacities of each stand?
Answer 11
The capacity of Spotland is :
Total 9961
Sandy Lane 1898
Main Stand 1921
Willbutts Lane 3549
Pearl Street 2593
These numbers are subject to restrictions including such aspects as segregation areas dictated by police etc.
Question 12
Do the club agree that the covers purchased by the Trust could have been used more effectively ahead of the Orient postponement?
Answer 12
The Club maintained that the use of the covers was reflected by the weather forecasts provided, and the loss of the game was felt as badly by the Directors as it was by the fans. They also felt that the background to the decision not to utilise the covers preceding the game was supported by the lengthy statement posted on the official web site.