Chesterfield FC has announced a price freeze on admission for the first season at the new £13 million b2net stadium when the club moves in for the 2010-11 season.
At the club's AGM last night, the Spireites new majority shareholder Dave Allen revealed to a packed meeting that the board had agreed that there would be no price increases and supporters would be able to gain admission to matches at the same prices as this season.
This will make it the sixth successive season since 2005 that adult season ticket prices have been kept at the same level.
He said: "After plenty of discussion we have decided on a price freeze as we want to give everyone the chance to come along to support the team at the b2net stadium."
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"He went on to outline several reasons; "Primarily we want people to go and take a look at the new stadium. This season we've been playing great football but we've not been getting enough people to come and watch.
"We're operating in a difficult economic climate and the leisure pound is being squeezed as costs of everything increase and people have to make tough choices. We've decided to freeze prices to try and get more people in and raise income that way.
"It's better to have a lower price per head and more people that have a higher price per head and less people. Offering the same prices as at Saltergate to watch a good manager play good football, with the benefit of super matchday facilities is what people want."
He added; "We need to get more young supporters to the ground and if we do, we'll be able to keep prices right in the long term as well. "
"In addition, we'll have more income streams at the new ground by providing the best conference and banqueting facilities in the area, with the right people to run it. I'm looking for an extra £500,000 a year, which we can re-invest into the football side of the business."
"We have an ambition to get into the championship as soon as possible, a manager who plays good football, and we just want more people to come and enjoy it."
Dave Allen also revealed the terms of the £2m loan he's made to the club. In addition to the £4m shareholding, he revealed his loan, which enabled the new stadium project to start, is for 10 years at an interest rate of 5%. Chairman Barrie Hubbard also stated that the other directors had seen their interest rates reduced from 6% to 5% as a result of the current economy.
Shareholders unanimously approved the football club's accounts for year ending 30 June 2009 and re-elected Dave Allen, David Jones and Chris Breeze as directors of the club.
Manager John Sheridan was applauded for his management of the team so far, and shareholders also acclaimed the efforts of chairman Barrie Hubbard in leading the club to the dawning of a new era at the b2net stadium.
