"The renewal window for Season Tickets for the 2017/18 season will open on Wednesday March 1st 2017 at 10am. The renewal window will remain open for 24 days.

We will be in touch over the new few days with full details on next season's package. So keep an eye on your email and remind your family and friends that are current Season Ticket holders.

Once again, thank you for your wonderful support throughout the season."

PS: I found this a good read about how Leinster have gone about things over the last 20 years from a marketing perspective: www.the42.ie/leinster-rugby-marketing-pa...ody-3208913-Feb2017/

I think Connacht have upped their game big time over the last while, on and off the pitch. There's always room for improvement though.

While we're on the topic, how about incentives for actual attendance? They scan our season tickets at every game, so it would be easy to reward those who attend most/all games, or just as importantly make sure their season ticket is used in their absence. A friend of mine is a Kerry football season ticket holder, and if he goes to enough games during the year (league etc), he's guaranteed (good) tickets at the business end of the season (including the all Ireland final).

One note on this. Some might argue based on the "attendance" figures above that there is no need for such a measure. However, those "attendance" figures are misleading - it's seems to be accepted common practice to communicate an attendance figure that is actually a "tickets issued" figure (tickets sold plus comps for sponsors etc. etc). The actual "attendance" figures are significantly different. More people in attendance means better atmosphere, more up-selling opportunities etc.

ConnachtCows wrote: The Sportsground is not too small for us. We dont fill it generally. The problem is lack of covered stands.
Building a bigger stadium, so everyone can get a season ticket for the same area would just result in a stadium that is a little over a 1/4 full.

The Sportsground is absolutely too small for us, and we've filled it repeatedly this season. It's been sold out 5 of 10 home fixtures and we've never gone below 90% in the other fixtures (I realise actual attendance may be below ticket sales, but for safety reasons there's little or nothing to be done with that). The only way we'd have a 1/4 full stadium is if we built our own Debt Star; our stated size of 10-12K (especially the lower end) seems reasonable. Due to our tenancy arrangements, we won't resolve either problem (capacity & facilities) without a new stadium.

Opponent	Attendance	Capacity	% filled
Glasgow	6063	6194	98
Ospreys	5749	6194	93
Edinburgh	5771	6194	93
Ulster	6194	6194	100
Toulouse	8091	8094	100
Cardiff	6190	6194	100
Treviso	5903	6194	95
Wasps	8090	8094	100
Munster	8090	8094	100
Zebre	5697	6194	92

Also I think there should be a category of season ticket that entitles you to a ticket in the same section for knockout games.
Since the EPCR/Pro12 rules allocate 25% of each section to the away team and 10% to sponsors (might have those numbers wrong), and they sell more than 65% of the Clan Terrace to STs, they can't currently guarantee that to everyone, but if they just sold the first 65% as a different category ("Clan Terrace Gold" or whatever), then those people would know they were guaranteed the same ticket for knockout games (assuming they pay up) while the others would have to move to the Bohermore end. Other than that the two categories of ST would be the exact same. This would avoid unnecessary queues at the Sportsground and crashed servers in the event that we get a home knockout game next season (assuming they also avoid doing anything silly like letting everyone buy two tickets :evil: ).
It might require some element of random allocation in the first season but it'd be better than the fiasco that was the Pro12 semi.

I'm not sure that being an existing season ticket holder doesn't entitle you to anything, I think I should be entitled to renew my season ticket (that is to say in my current location), but for anything outside of that anyone elses money is a good as mine.

As someone that watched the Munster match from the Bohermore end over Xmas I can heartily agree with Cows on the lack of covered standing (and seating in a good positions, never been in the current seated section but doesn't look like the view would be great), not an experience I would look to repeat quickly.

Rotorbike wrote: This just goes to show what we all know, the ground just isn't big enough anymore.

My plan is to renew my spot in the clan stand but I want to be able to do this in my own time before the cut off date. Not be told 'sorry your place has now gone'

I'd also like to purchase a season ticket for my daughter (in the same area) who is now old enough to enjoy matches. How do I manage that if those in the main stand want to invade? Lol.... Surely my many years of having a season ticket entitle me to do this? Maybe above someone moving around the ground?

I've no problem people moving around the ground if Connacht can accommodate everyone that wants to buy a season ticket in the position they request. Then everyone else can buy their occasional tickets in the remaining areas of the ground.

Am I just asking for too much?

I actually disagree with a lot of what you said.
The Sportsground is not too small for us. We dont fill it generally. The problem is lack of covered stands.
Building a bigger stadium, so everyone can get a season ticket for the same area would just result in a stadium that is a little over a 1/4 full.

Unfortunately, being a long term season ticket holder doesn't entitle to you to anything special.

I agree with Pinky's idea

Phase 1: Season ticket renewals take place, and you can only renew for the same position as your current ticket
Phase 2: Renewals for those who wish to move location
Phase 3: Option to buy 1 additional season ticket for wherever is left
Phase 4: Early bird offer to general public
Phase 5: Full price offer to general public

Rotorbike wrote: . How do I manage that if those in the main stand want to invade? Lol...

I pick the main stand over the Clann for my season ticket, as it is usually just a small bit more sheltered from the wind and rain, and I prefer the slightly better (slightly higher) vantage point - I ain't 6' 2'' unfortunately.
I know several others, that pick the main stand for this reason - I admit the atmosphere in the Clann is a little better, as the lower roof helps with the noise.

This just goes to show what we all know, the ground just isn't big enough anymore.

My plan is to renew my spot in the clan stand but I want to be able to do this in my own time before the cut off date. Not be told 'sorry your place has now gone'

I'd also like to purchase a season ticket for my daughter (in the same area) who is now old enough to enjoy matches. How do I manage that if those in the main stand want to invade? Lol.... Surely my many years of having a season ticket entitle me to do this? Maybe above someone moving around the ground?

I've no problem people moving around the ground if Connacht can accommodate everyone that wants to buy a season ticket in the position they request. Then everyone else can buy their occasional tickets in the remaining areas of the ground.

Am I just asking for too much?

I replied to the email explaining my reason for voting no

It's to black and white a question.

Yes as long as there is a time period for people to renew as normal first. Would be a nice option

I hear Mainstanders fancy their cousins. Don't want them folk round our parts.

I tried voting No, hoping I might get a little comment box to qualify my answer somewhat, but no such joy, just a "Thank you for voting and don't even think about trying to change your mind".
So officially my position is now apparently: feck off mainstanders, stay off my turf ...

They'll have to pry my Main Stand spot from my cold dead hands.

Completely agree - that was a terrible question to ask.

Pinky, your resolution is the most sensible approach, hopefully someone from the Branch is looking here.

Pinky do a survey on the survey (!)

I think it's fair to say the clan stand is the most sought after area of the ground. Perhaps there could be a one week period where clan stand season ticket holders can notify the branch that they would like to swap their ticket for another area. I'm sure this would free up a few tickets, possibly not many though.
These available spaces could then be applied for by other season ticket holders over a short period, maybe another week.
Lets say 20 spaces are freed up and 100 people apply, a draw could be made to see who gets the tickets.