Fund the league by a small supplement on every game ticket?

[Al50]

The issue of funding within the EIHL has been rumbling on for many years now.

It has currently become more serious due to the current season curtailment.

Each year at around this time we hear that next year's funding depends heavily on the Play-Offs weekend.

Forget about Lottery fund help as from what I understand many other sports have benefited from large funding over the years, but what is arguably the most exciting, family friendly sport never has done and maybe never will do.

Forget about hoped for TV revenue. After some interest from Premier Sports and thankfully ongoing interest from Free Sports it seems unlikely that any other media revenues will appear.

So why not levy a small supplement on every ticket next year to help fund officials ( training of, etc) and all other costs.

Many fans will always complain about any extra charge while at the same time complaining about the quality of officials, etc - who officiate each game for a small amount while having a full time job as well.

For example if Steelers average attendance is 6,000 then a 50p supplement over 30 home games would raise £90,000 for the EIHL.

This would provide a regular monthly income for the league with very little admin.

No-one wants ticket prices to go up I know but from what I have seen ice hockey prices, for a superior product, compare very favourably with football.

Any thoughts?

[Ron 25]

The issue of funding within the EIHL has been rumbling on for many years now.

It has currently become more serious due to the current season curtailment.

Each year at around this time we hear that next year's funding depends heavily on the Play-Offs weekend.

Forget about Lottery fund help as from what I understand many other sports have benefited from large funding over the years, but what is arguably the most exciting, family friendly sport never has done and maybe never will do.

Forget about hoped for TV revenue. After some interest from Premier Sports and thankfully ongoing interest from Free Sports it seems unlikely that any other media revenues will appear.

So why not levy a small supplement on every ticket next year to help fund officials ( training of, etc) and all other costs.

Many fans will always complain about any extra charge while at the same time complaining about the quality of officials, etc - who officiate each game for a small amount while having a full time job as well.

For example if Steelers average attendance is 6,000 then a 50p supplement over 30 home games would raise £90,000 for the EIHL.

This would provide a regular monthly income for the league with very little admin.

No-one wants ticket prices to go up I know but from what I have seen ice hockey prices, for a superior product, compare very favourably with football.

Any thoughts?

I can see the merit in this idea, and wouldn't mind an increase on those grounds. Unfortunately, there will be many people who will, as is their right, object.

[LeicesterSteeler]

The issue of funding within the EIHL has been rumbling on for many years now.

It has currently become more serious due to the current season curtailment.

Each year at around this time we hear that next year's funding depends heavily on the Play-Offs weekend.

Forget about Lottery fund help as from what I understand many other sports have benefited from large funding over the years, but what is arguably the most exciting, family friendly sport never has done and maybe never will do.

Forget about hoped for TV revenue. After some interest from Premier Sports and thankfully ongoing interest from Free Sports it seems unlikely that any other media revenues will appear.

So why not levy a small supplement on every ticket next year to help fund officials ( training of, etc) and all other costs.

Many fans will always complain about any extra charge while at the same time complaining about the quality of officials, etc - who officiate each game for a small amount while having a full time job as well.

For example if Steelers average attendance is 6,000 then a 50p supplement over 30 home games would raise £90,000 for the EIHL.

This would provide a regular monthly income for the league with very little admin.

No-one wants ticket prices to go up I know but from what I have seen ice hockey prices, for a superior product, compare very favourably with football.

Any thoughts?

I think that's a really good idea!
I'd be more than happy to pay a little bit extra in knowing that it's going towards the league.

Going on last seasons total league attendance: 949,539 (Stat from Wikipedia), if every attendee was charged an extra 50p on top of their ticket price, the league would make: £ 474,769.50! Which intern could be put in to referees, or financial support for clubs etc.

[stans lad]

Surely this is something that the clubs could have done anyway, they have presumably voted not to.

[Al50]

You could well be right, but if they hadn't and if it was practical they could have a regular income stream throughout the season.

Also, if enough revenue came in that way maybe the play off weekend ticket prices could be reduced?

[SteelerBlade]

Playoffs look to be being re-scheduled so there may be no need for emergency measures.

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[Al50]

I wasn't thinking of it just as a one-off emergency option but as something to consider for the years ahead.

So if crowds increase, as all clubs aim for, then more revenue for the league to use as they see fit to improve for everyone- whether it be advertising, officials or whatever.

[Jayboy]

Wouldn't there then end up being an issue where the Steelers, Devils, Panthers and Giants of the league were seen to be contrabuting far more thane the fife's and Dundee etc.. And all that may involve.. Clubs in the past have often complained they were keeping the lower attented teams like Edinburgh Capitals afloat and it not being entirely fair! You obviously have a problem then when fans decide they are paying to much when the cumulative amount is added to a season ticket..

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[Al50]

Yes, on a club by club basis Steelers and Panthers would contribute far more than Fife for example.

However, at an individual basis, as a Fife fan, for example, I would contribute equally with a Steelers fan, at least giving the Fife fan more equality than the club's budgets.

I know similar issues have been raised in the past, yet when the league dropped for a short time to seven teams I believe the risk of playing the same clubs more frequently was also complained about.

I guess it depends on whether you think the big, richer club should contribute more than a smaller, poorer club.

Maybe in an ideal world we would have ten teams with the same budgets giving an equal playing field - but that can never happen.

[steelpuckz]

I suppose it's down to where the money goes. If it simply subsidises a poorly financed team then that would be good grounds for objection. If it goes towards funding training of refs, better promotion of the game then that may be better received.