mikey wrote: This idea of them being concerned for families is pure nonsense.

Having met the people, I can only disagree. Like I said, lots of factors pulling in lots of different directions.

And the Bohermore end is just an option: better it's there for those that might want to take it up than not offering it at all. (Although I agree, if it was a choice between a ST for the Bohermore end and nothing, I think I'd just stay in Murtys).

In fairness I've mentioned all that. I am a member of my nearest club and have been subscribed to Irish/Welsh/Scot supporters clubs for tickets. My point is that if these Six Nations tickets are available, then it would be nice if Connacht Rugby did more to ensure season ticketers have a chance to get them, be it a raffle etc. That's not done honestly and it's deceptive to have that down as a benefit.

Occasionally international tickets do become available via the Branch but are hard to get unless you are glued to your email and quick to respond when they are available. However the best way to secure them is my joining your local club or the Ireland Rugby Supporters Club. The latter tend to sell a group of matches but from my own experience you get decent seats plus they will the same ones for each game and can be brought as pairs. There is a a small membership fee to join but well worth it. Think long term and the Rugby World Cup in France!

The matchday experience in the Clan generally is really good and the stewards in particular should be commended. Some of the best pints I have on a night out are had from the boys in the tent in front of the Main Stand and I do appreciate that local folk like Handsome Burger get the chance to make a few bob. Maybe my €40 isn't going to help sign Cheslin Kolbe but if it helps improves the standard of player we have that's great.

My big criticism is the international tickets, which in fairness to the branch is being used as a benefit of the renewal this year (when available). I've been told by mates involved in a rival provincial supporters club that tickets, particularly Scotland & the ill-fated Italian match at home this year, were freely available to all branches. None of these seemed to come to us season ticketers. I do know that the office get limited tickets but I think a bigger effort to have international tickets for sale for season ticketers must be made if you are really using it as a renewal benefit. As somebody involved as a late in life member of a local rugby club I don't have a realistic chance of getting home Six Nations tickets (they deservedly go to players and volunteers). I've traveled all over the world for Irish matches but any of those come from general sale/buying international supporters club memberships just to get in the lottery. I don't feel as though being a season ticket holder has really assisted any of us, from speaking with fellow Clan heads, of getting international tickets. Even if it was a raffle or first come first served that would be fair but Autumn Internationals that are easily available of ticketmaster is not great form in all honesty.

I find it hard to imagine that the "suits", as I call the faceless people who increase prices, fret one bit over their decisions. Why tell us that we need to take the price rise to secure our place for the following season? Its playing on our loyalty and fear of loosing out. Offering families a place in the Bohermore end at a special price is really not having any regard for them. I say faceless because I doubt they have stood out in the wind and rain, especially with a child in tow and got soaked. They are the business side of the branch and as such need to bring in the cash, no questioning that. But like any business these people are bound to be on a pay bonus to bring in the revenue and by that increase Clan membership for full paying adults at the exclusion of pesky kids taking up space with mum and dad. Instead banish them to the wasteland of the bohermore end. This idea of them being concerned for families is pure nonsense. When the new facilities are in place and we have all the needs met for match day enjoyment to what we have today sure, increase prices. But we haven't. So a 26% increase in my case is certainly not justified.

To balance the books slightly we will have one extra home game in the league next year to this year unless they decide to change the fixtures again so that might offset some of the increase but then obviously we lose it again the next year.

For me its part of my life, I'll keep renewing within reason but I think the branch need to be very careful. Going to the Sportsground is a good night out but it's also an expensive night. Maybe prices haven't gone up in a few years but look at the rate of inflation that has been very low for a long number of years. Without wishing to be a doom-monger it's likely there is going to be at best a dip in the economy coming in the very near future.

Professional Rugby generally is at a real crossroads. The sums aren't adding up for a lot of teams. While I enjoy it, the Pro 14 isn't working let's be honest. The format is skewed, too many results are predictable and the Welsh in particular are seeing attendances fall annually. South Africa experiment was meant to open it up to further expansion but Kings are essentially 10 points for everyone who plays them in a league that needed more competitive teams. Cheetahs have been competitive to some extent but mainly at home. Both try to play good rugby but usually play in big stadiums with no one watching. We have enough of that with Edinburgh, Ospreys etc. The optics of it are terrible really.

The shine has gone off Europe to some extent too. So many teams just threw in the towel early on in the Champions Cup this year never mind the Challenge Cup.

From our side, since the Clan Stand went in we have started to build a strong core support but still there's a lot of floating supporters who will pick and choose their game based on weather, form, opposition, competition etc. Honestly I wouldn't put the dog standing behind the goals on a lot of bad evenings yet we're expecting people to pay significant money to stand there. Anyone planning a night out after the game, your night is over before it begins. You're wet and miserable and just want to go home.

Stadium when it happens would be fantastic but until we see some real movement on it I'm worried. There's been lots of press conferences and photoshoots but until there's real action I remain cynical.

With regards to being in Europe, I think we probably will end up in the Champions Cup if I have it right in saying the 4th place team in each conference play off for the European spot (South African teams excluded) so there's a good chance we'll at least manage 4th (hopefully 3rd). That would give us a play off at home (I think due to comparative points) to Dragons, Zebre or Ospreys which we'd have to fancy ourselves in. Challenge Cup would be a disaster, basically a Connacht A side playing some teams from France in relegation trouble who send over a 2nd/3rd string just to fulfil the fixture. Even when you win you just feel numb watching it.

Overall its been an up and down season, the depth in the squad wasn't good enough last year, we got around it by writing off the Challenge Cup and doing well to battle into 3rd in our conference. To me that was the correct course of action. However, during the off season we made minor adjustments to the squad when we needed real backup. For me the IRFU want Leinster, Munster, Ulster successful in that order, if all 3 are sweeping the boards in the Pro 12 and Europe they might look at backing Connacht a bit more but until then we are on our own fighting for scraps.

I appreciate the wage bill is always going up to keep the likes of Aki, Marmion etc but unless we make at least 3 or 4 significant additions to the squad next year on top of replacing Colby we'll be doing well to be competitive for 3rd / 4th again. If the extra cost to season tickets help us get the players we need fair enough but an increase just to keep existing wages paid to try stand still is a dangerous road to go down.

Just to mention that the Committee did speak to the Branch in relation to all this - that did take a lot of our points on board (as mentioned above). ST prices have been relatively static as of the last few years (no increase in Family prices between 18/18 and 19/20, and was 660 in 2017/2018). Juniors rose from 89 to 99 between 2017 and this season, again that's hardly a huge increase.

For me, I'm happy to pay a reasonable increase. It helps get new players in, keep existing players, give a foundation for the new stadium etc. etc. etc. That said, I'm a single man buying a single ticket - so pinch of salt and all that.

Looking at the prices for last year, the cost of an adult ticket outside of renewals was 340, a family of four ticket was 690. If you take the adult prices as they are, it essentially means each junior is getting their season ticket for a fiver. Another way to look at it is that a family ticket is getting a 30% discount, overall.

Looking at Leinster, say, their family discount works out at about 7% (probably a little better than that, actually, once you add on one set of service charges, but that isn't going to Leinster).

Munster is a bit different - kids go free to all games except Leinster and HC games, and so they've no family ticket equivilent. However, you can upgrade to bring your kid "from" €45.00 per child. Again, that's a bit more than the fiver a year CR were charging. And you can be sure that if they ever get to the point where they are regularly at capacity, they'll ramp up the pricing again.

Of course there should be a discount, and a good one, for families, but essentially giving a c. 30% discount obviously wasn't working for Connacht.

Some people have mentioned that there's probably going to be a further bump next year, or whenever it is that the stand is built. Well, yeah. Our ST prices have been low when compared to the other provinces because the facilities havn't been there in the way they are in Thomond or in the RDS. Of course when facilities are there they are going to have to be paid for - especially when you consider that a lot more of the investment is coming on the back of the Branch, and not the IRFU (a la Munster) or the NI Govt (a la Ulster).

And lastly: if anyone thinks that there is a disconnect between the 'suits' in the branch and the stand, or that they simply don't care, all I can say is that I think you're mistaken. These decisions are agonized over by the branch - and I do mean agonized. They're trying to do their best in difficult times - with many different factors pulling in many different directions.

Ok so here's response I received after querying where notice was given of the increase;

"We sent an email two weeks ago to all our season ticket holders with details of the price increase. The Clan were informed at the start of February.

In relation to the increase in season ticket prices, we have to get the balance right each year to provide the best possible value for money to customers while also ensuring that tickets are priced in a sustainable way. If you have any more questions I am happy to talk through them."

I guess in original renewal email the prices were laid out on there however no direct acknowledgement of the actual increase but apparently did consult the Clan in early Feb...can anyone verify this from the Clan and advise what discussions and feedback there was?

Look in any case I am going to renew as want to keep supporting the team and going to games... it's just very frustrating how it's been managed once again! I would have been fine with a reasonable increase if I thought we were getting some additional value...I guess promise of priority access to new stand is something, although I am not convinced how well that will be managed in light of this...

In regards to "consulting" Clan members and increasing season ticket prices,who would agree to such exorbitant increases?? A few years ago I complained at having to pay more for a "student". I'd two of my kids still in school,one not yet 16, the other 17 but close enough to be considered a student. It was a hefty increase on the previous year for both of them. I complained and asked to meet someone from marketing but no joy, an email instead.. No recognition for loyalty, I was just a number on the system. Same applies today. Its a disgrace this increase and absolutely nothing in the way of improvement within the grounds for supporters comfort. A cynical increase to play on us not having a place in the new stand.

32% year on year increase for 2 adult/2 kids family ticket on clan stand is:
a) short sighted that they are pushing the families out.
b) extortionate in the absence of any facilities upgrade. If it was clear that it was the new stand pricing early, that's one thing but expect another hike next year.
c) disproportionate to the 16% increase in adult ticket

My family season ticket for main stand has jumped over 200 euros since last year 2 adults 3 kids.
The plan is to rid the two stands of kids releasing tickets for the big games.
a quick look at Leinster family tickets 750 for last year.
Tickets were for north and south ends seated but not covered.
Munster season ticket holders can bring in 2 kids per adult ticket holder except for Leinster and I'd say champions cup games.
And junior tickets go up to 75 euro for 13 games.
Also junior tickets for both are up to 18.
The option of 475 for both ends is shocking to stand out in the rain.
There must be a crazy rise coming for the new stand but I think the branch are in for a shock.
A rise in adult tickets I understand but a 50%rise in kids tickets sends a clear message.
Think I might pick and choose games next season I got the message no kids wanted.

It's the marketing suits who've come up with idea to tangle the prospect of no place in the new stand once it's built, so if we want to be sure of a spot, take the 26% increase or loose out (@€500 last season). I've had a season ticket for 20 years and in latter have always purchased the family ticket. As anyone who has spent years standing in the rain and wind the Clan was a no brainer if bringing kids along. And now families can avail of a "special" @€475 to stand in the wind and rain at the Bohermore end. Bollox. If we had the new stand fair enough, but we've still glorified Porto Loo's, no shelter to buy chips etc and some little s##t who has probably never stood in the Sportsgrounds to watch a match figures "time the screw the season ticket holder" and move families to the the worst part of the grounds. What can we expect when it's built? Another increase for sure.

Going by the general mood in the Clan Stand over the last few months and the probability that we will be back in the Challenge Cup next year it could backfire badly.

Hi there has any in the Clan any idea why there is a 15% increase on the season tickets for next season? The new stadium wont be built by then presumably? What is driving this increase? I replied to the renewal email and received the following

"Thank you for contacting Connacht Rugby. Price increases do have to happen from time to time so for us the priority is to be as up front and transparent about it as possible and give supporters as much notice as possible of any increases.

We have also engaged with the Committee of the Clan Supporters Club to listen to the views of supporters and take any concerns on board. We met with them last week and they provided some really useful points which we have taken on board such as notice period, feedback on value offered and the importance of rewarding loyalty of current season ticket holders when it comes to the new stadium."

Am I missing something...where was the notice of the increase??there is no reference made to it on the renewal mail? have replied back looking for details...seems to be very badly managed as is their general MO but not a major surprise! I will likely renew but would still like a reasonable explanation as to why I have to pay €35 more for next season?