Chairman happy with Season Ticket uptake.
"We knew it would mean delaying the sale of season tickets but, if 50% of Season Tickets were to be bought online, then we knew the Ticket Office could cope this season and then reap the benefits going forward."
"We were previously selling just 6% of matchday tickets online and we hoped the print at home option would get this up to about 15% but, by the end of the season, we were exceeding 50% and this spurred us on to do the extra development and make Season Tickets available online too.
Providing the official website with some background to the online development, Robbie explained: "The uptake in online matchday tickets last season when we provided the Print at Home facility was amazing.
Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling has told the U's media team just how delighted he is with Season Ticket sales for the forthcoming campaign and, in particular, the uptake online.
"We were previously selling just 6% of matchday tickets online and we hoped the print at home option would get this up to about 15% but, by the end of the season, we were exceeding 50% and this spurred us on to do the extra development and make Season Tickets available online too.
Providing the official website with some background to the online development, Robbie explained: "The uptake in online matchday tickets last season when we provided the Print at Home facility was amazing.
Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling has told the U's media team just how delighted he is with Season Ticket sales for the forthcoming campaign and, in particular, the uptake online.
The IT work has all been done in house by Robbie's IT team in Tiptree and the club have taken advantage of the skills that were made available to them to the extent that its fans now have some new and rather exciting online options.
Robbie explained what has been created: "Our fans have the option now to buy a Season Pass, which is the same as the traditional Season Ticket whereby all of the cost of the ticket is paid in advance and the fan is given access to all home games in a season, or they can now buy an Annual Subscription where the money is deducted each month and the fan is given access to all home games in a 12 month period.
"The Annual Subscription can be bought at any time and, if it is bought midway through a season, then it continues to grant access to home games the following season until exactly a year has passed."
"The Annual Subscription can be bought at any time and, if it is bought midway through a season, then it continues to grant access to home games the following season until exactly a year has passed."
When we asked Robbie if relegation to League Two and a delay in starting to sell Season Tickets had affected sales, he told us: "I am really pleased to say a massive well done to our fans because, in just over a week, we have already reached 80% compared to last season's total.
"As a result, I am confident we will easily meet and hopefully beat last year's sales, especially when Annual Subscriptions can be bought all year round."
"As a result, I am confident we will easily meet and hopefully beat last year's sales, especially when Annual Subscriptions can be bought all year round."
With regards to the take up of the online options, Robbie went on to say: "What has really astounded me though is the amazing uptake online.
"So far over 82% of sales have been online, with less than 18% buying in person from the Ticket Office or over the phone.
"What’s also interesting is that just over 20% of those that have bought online have chosen to spread their payments over the year by choosing an Annual Subscription."
"So far over 82% of sales have been online, with less than 18% buying in person from the Ticket Office or over the phone.
"What’s also interesting is that just over 20% of those that have bought online have chosen to spread their payments over the year by choosing an Annual Subscription."
With the first league game less a month away, Robbie's final message was to say: "Thank you U’s fans for once again showing the team your loyal support, I really hope you get rewarded this season.
"And congratulations for being so tech savvy. Be prepared for plenty more amazing new ideas that we plan introduce this season!"
For more details on our 2016/17 Season Ticket packages, click HERE.
"And congratulations for being so tech savvy. Be prepared for plenty more amazing new ideas that we plan introduce this season!"
For more details on our 2016/17 Season Ticket packages, click HERE.