12000 free tickets !! (1 Viewer)

http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/article...tickets-available-for-schools-and-rugby-clubs

Wasps have today announced that over 12,000 free tickets for three of the Club’s first four games at the Ricoh Arena have been made available for Coventry schools and rugby clubs. Working in partnership with Coventry Sports Foundation, Coventry Sports Network and Warwickshire RFU, Wasps will distribute the free tickets to the Aviva Premiership Rugby clashes against London Irish on Sunday 21st December 2014 and Sale Sharks on 4th January 2015 as well as the Club’s LV= Cup Round Three match against Cardiff Blues on 1st February 2015.

Nick Eastwood, Wasps Chief Executive, said:

“Wasps are absolutely delighted to announce this exciting initiative in partnership with Coventry Sports Foundation, Coventry Sports Network and Warwickshire RFU. Our ambition is to make Wasps as accessible to the community as possible and this is just one of the many ways we are trying to achieve that. Rugby is a game for everyone and we hope initiatives like this will introduce the game to as many people as possible in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.”

Cllr David Kershaw, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member Education, commented:

“This free ticket offer is a great opportunity for lots of local children to enjoy what could well be their first experience of top flight rugby. We are pleased to be supporting Wasps to establish themselves within our local community and I was delighted to join Paul Sackey when he visited a couple of our schools this week.

"Our sports strategy is helping to ensure that local people have access to sporting opportunities whatever their age. And if watching a game inspires even a few more people to take part, or to support the sport of rugby in the city, we will be delighted."

Paul Breed, Chief Executive of Coventry Sports Foundation, said:

“Coventry Sports Foundation works in a number of the City’s schools and has seen the excitement grow around the announcement of Wasps playing in the City. This is an exciting time for school children and their families to go and watch the first games that Wasps play at the Ricoh Arena. As a City we now have a 10 year sports strategy that aims to encourage more children and young people to take part in sport, using sporting events like this is a great way to inspire them.”

Ashdown said:

Now I know MMM stated that he was only passing on some information privy to him and shouldn't be shot for posting but please !! It was mostly incorrect ! Free radio are announcing on their news bulletins that Wasps are giving out 12,000 free tickets across the City. Now I'm not criticising their marketing either but I do like the facts to be out there and if and when there is a significant crowd at the Ricoh we shall now know why !!

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But they're not allowed to, MMM said!

Two things. Firstly, whatever the number, they're not freebies. Even for RFU-affiliated clubs, the deal is buy 10 and get 2 free; so pay for 8. They're not being scattered around like confetti.

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Looks like a record crowd of 60,000 at the Ricoh then!

It's not to the rugby clubs - I tell you. The deal, as explained, was that you buy 10 tickets and pay for 8; thereby giving the clubs a 20% handling margin. Each of us who attended the meeting this week can 'apply' for 2 free tickets for the Sale game (I guess we'll all get them); but that's only a handful in the bigger picture.

There was no talk whatsoever of free tickets to 'the rugby family'. None. And all I can do is report back on what I see and hear. Paul Sackey - the dreadlocked fella in the link from Matty - is engaging with schools. He may have a warchest of freebies; but I'm not privy to that

lordsummerisle said:

Looks like a record crowd of 60,000 at the Ricoh then!

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Within the context of RFU-affiliated clubs; like the 46 invited to the do this week; they're not being handed out. I reported back totally honestly and accurately

But why do they need to give out free tickets - I thought the demand for top flight rugby in the area was huge.

If the council were so keen to promote sport to kids and the public, they'd invest in infrastructure rather than permitting (and seemingly) encouraging building over whatever sports fields are left in the city. Instead they're desperate to see a half-decent attendance at Wasps to justify their reasons for bringing them here.

Unfortunately the thousands of free tickets model isn't sustainable forever, I'd guess - let's hope the council website can pull the paying punters in, eh.

you can stick the free tickets up your arse.......fuck off wasps.

Mary_Mungo_Midge said:

Within the context of RFU-affiliated clubs; like the 46 invited to the do this week; they're not being handed out. I reported back totally honestly and accurately

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Seem to be being scattered around in a slightly confetti like way though you would have to agree?

Ashdown said:

I have a lot of respect for MMM and his usually well thought out posts but either he's playing marketing guru for this franchise crap or his contacts are taking the piss !

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Nope. I see plenty of ills in this scheme, and I've commented as such. Other things I'll be truthful about. Some folk don't like that. I can see benefit - for example - in kids being routed via a player-development scheme that encourages them into a Coventry-Wasps partnership. Within the arrangement that currently exists, they're lost to Worcester. For every kid who makes, say Warwickshire or Midlands Colts U20, or whatever, very, very few are 'good enough' for Premiership rugby. If those who are plenty good enough for second-tier rugby, or even lower first tier rugby are attracted to, or stay in Coventry - I like that.

Do I like that the very best will then move onto a franchise club? No. But do I like that they currently move to Worcester, completely circumnavigating CRFU? No.

You may not agree with the above - that's wholly your prerogative, and I respect that. But I do see shades of grey in all of this. Say what I like, comment on what I don't.

I would have to say that the ticketing offer to the rugby clubs was - in my mind - very stingy. I was astonished, to be frank

lordsummerisle said:

Seem to be being scattered around in a slightly confetti like way though you would have to agree?

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Yes. I would. As I have commented, for the affiliated clubs to get a pretty tight deal; and for kids who maybe have no interest whatsoever in egg-chasing seems wrong.

I would have said that half price tickets for affiliated club members, and freebies for local minis and juniors playing for RFU-affiliated clubs would be much, much better.

The scheme seems shit. There you go

Remember the talk of free tickets in Northampton. It was like CCFC had been to people's houses and punched their Gran.

Another one for the next episode of SBT Moral Maze.

Eastwood is a patronising c**t. Did you write his speech, MMM?

Rugby is a game for everyone and we hope initiatives like this will introduce the game to as many people as possible in the Coventry and Warwickshire area

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Free? They would need to be much cheaper than that to make me consider going to watch Wasps.

Nick said:

Remember the talk of free tickets in Northampton. It was like CCFC had been to people's houses and punched their Gran.

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This actually happened - but being from Coventry my gran's pretty tasty. She slipped inside Fisher's first punch, then uppercut right, left cross, and it was game over. Being from Coventry she then kicked the crap out him whilst he was on the deck, and stole his wallet, watch, and mobile phone. That'll teach him to try to palm off free tickets.

That Dai Young's a big punter, but if she gets inside his jab it'll be game over for him too.

duffer said:

This actually happened - but being from Coventry my gran's pretty tasty. She slipped inside Fisher's first punch, then uppercut right, left cross, and it was game over. Being from Coventry then she kicked the crap out him whilst he was on the deck, and stole his wallet, watch, and mobile phone. That'll teach him to try to palm off free tickets.

That Dai Young's a big punter, but if she gets inside his jab it'll be game over for him too.

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Haha brilliant stuff duffer

fernandopartridge said:

Eastwood is a patronising c**t. Did you write his speech, MMM?

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And he, like I, probably doesn't care what little folk like you think...

I heard a tale of a season ticket holder at Sixfields who now has 2 season tickets at the Ricoh near the Director's box, and a car park pass.

He only had one season ticket at Sixfields, and the rest came free gratis when we came back to the Ricoh.

It doesn't amount to 12,000 of course...

Mary_Mungo_Midge said:

And he, like I, probably doesn't care what little folk like you think...

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Case closed.

olderskyblue said:

I heard a tale of a season ticket holder at Sixfields who now has 2 season tickets at the Ricoh near the Director's box, and a car park pass.

He only had one season ticket at Sixfields, and the rest came free gratis when we came back to the Ricoh.

It doesn't amount to 12,000 of course...

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Quite right too. A just reward for loyalty in difficult times

Ashdown said:

What do we all get for these current difficult times? Or are we in the land of milk and honey now?

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No freebies until we hit the 'bottom of the cycle' mate. Surely you'd know that by now.

I can see the benefit of papering, if you've got 12K empty seats you might as well have 12K let in for free who might then spend while in the ground and / or buy tickets in future. The trick is to not give free tickets to those who would have otherwise paid. With such a large number of tickets being given away, and with it being known by everyone they are available it may well impact on sales.

Doubt there's any chance that when the attendance is announced a figure for how many paid is given.

Read my lips: no new taxes.

Those 20,000 that have already purchased tickets for the first gMe - as revealed by a reliable source yesterday - are going to be well pissed off.

fernandopartridge said:

Case closed.

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That was condescending, not arrogant.

Besides, there's nothing worse than people with more noise than knowledge. As such, why don't you tell me what the initiative is than Eastwood is making reference to?

Ashdown said:

Is the other one for his alter ego ?

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Don't know, but my mate has been invited to use his "spare"

Ha! Trying to readdress the balance with some quick spin? I think that is total crap, unless of course he has a friend in the ticketing office. We weren't offered anything like that.

olderskyblue said:

I heard a tale of a season ticket holder at Sixfields who now has 2 season tickets at the Ricoh near the Director's box, and a car park pass.

He only had one season ticket at Sixfields, and the rest came free gratis when we came back to the Ricoh.

It doesn't amount to 12,000 of course...

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Your posts are usually a mixture of the two.

Mary_Mungo_Midge said:

That was condescending, not arrogant.

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torchomatic said:

Your posts are usually a mixture of the two.

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As opposed to your shandy of the delusional and ignorant....