[Albion] Cost to be a mascot in the Premier League....

ATFC Seagull · Nov 28, 2024

Lots of people saying it's good "value". Obviously it might be, but it's still expensive as f***.

Maybe I need to be wiser to the way of the world but it just feels like this is the kind of thing that shouldn't be paid for. Drawn at random, given to disadvantaged kids, done through schools or grassroots clubs or something. No real reason for that I guess, just how it feels to me.

Maybe I'm still jaded that my dad would never let me enter the Junior Seagulls draw to be mascot at the Goldstone cos he couldn't be bothered to get there early.

Wozza · Nov 28, 2024

The club should give some places available via lottery.

(I know they do, I just thought I’d ignore the fact, like many others in this thread.)

ATFC Seagull · Nov 28, 2024

Wozza said:
The club should give some places available via lottery.

(I know they do, I just thought I’d ignore the fact, like many others in this thread.)

I don't think people are ignoring that.

I just think they should ALL be done that way. Or through other avenues that aren't buying it for your kid.

Sid and the Sharknados · Nov 28, 2024

jcdenton08 said:
I know what you mean but everyone is different in how they get focused to go into an intense match situation. Some might like to be relaxed, chatty, if it helps them on the pitch, others like to be riled up Adrenalin pumping, others are just in their own headspace. I don’t think unless the player is being a proper bellend there’s too much to read into this

Walk out, punch a small child in the face.
"Sorry, was in my match day headspace"

Wozza · Nov 28, 2024

ATFC Seagull said:
I don't think people are ignoring that.

“Why not just pic a few random young season ticket holders every match. Make them a fan for life.”

Etc etc.

The club does that.

ATFC Seagull · Nov 28, 2024

Wozza said:
“Why not just pic a few random young season ticket holders every match. Make them a fan for life.”

Etc etc.

The club does that.

One person.

Super Steve Earle · Nov 28, 2024

My lad, now 42, was a Junior Seagull at The Goldstone and was randomly selected to be Match Mascot against Kenny Dalgleish's Blackburn Rovers. Memorable day. Me, my mascot son, my wife and our younger son plus two proud grand dad's took up our allocation of six complimentary seats for the game and trundled down to the big match. Backroom tour of the West Stand, free set of kit for the boy, then down to the touchline. He wandered around the hallowed turf joining in the pre-match warm up while I trailed him with a giant VHS video camera on my shoulder, hired for the day from Granada. Then all in to the players lounge after for a couple of drinks with Garry Nelson and Dean Wilkins. Unforgettable and all free.

Greg Bobkin · Nov 28, 2024

I'm noticing a bit of a trend, here. People who have no experience of the mascot experience are frothing and those who have done it, think it's good value. It's almost as if half a story has been punted out in order to create faux outrage!

Is it too expensive? Clearly not, because it sells out. Should the club offer the same service, but for free - and therefore make a loss? That would be a bonkers situation, IMO. Is life fair? No - but that's nothing new.

People will pay for whatever they want to pay for and justify it as value for money. Would I pay £7 or whatever it is for a pint of beer? No. Would I pay £50 for a really decent steak? Yeah, probably. I'm sure there are loads of people who are the opposite.

It is, as they say, what it is :shrug:

ATFC Seagull · Nov 28, 2024

Greg Bobkin said:
I'm noticing a bit of a trend, here. People who have no experience of the mascot experience are frothing and those who have done it, think it's good value. It's almost as if half a story has been punted out in order to create faux outrage!

Is it too expensive? Clearly not, because it sells out. Should the club offer the same service, but for free - and therefore make a loss? That would be a bonkers situation, IMO. Is life fair? No - but that's nothing new.

People will pay for whatever they want to pay for and justify it as value for money. Would I pay £7 or whatever it is for a pint of beer? No. Would I pay £50 for a really decent steak? Yeah, probably. I'm sure there are loads of people who are the opposite.

It is, as they say, what it is

Given the popularity of the club at the moment they could probably charge quite a bit more and still sell out to be honest, but that doesn't mean they should.

Obviously some people just view it like a ticket, merchandise, anything else - the club are selling it and the fans can buy it.

For me it's just something a bit more special and an experience that not all kids can have due to capacity - even if it was more affordable. I think the kids who get to experience it shouldn't be the ones whose parents could put up the money for it (and get in quick when packages go on sale etc). Not everything in life has to be bought or sold.

Weststander · Nov 28, 2024

POSKETT AT THE VALLEY said:
Supply and demand. What’s the problem.

But football clubs and the industry don’t base literally all prices on supply and demand. They, some more than others, often take into account sentiment, historical ties, PR. Arsenal and the new stadium Spurs appear to milk every penny on tickets, hitting that sweet spot on a graph. Whilst elsewhere clubs listen, it’s not 100% about the American business model.

Weststander · Nov 28, 2024

Greg Bobkin said:
I'm noticing a bit of a trend, here. People who have no experience of the mascot experience are frothing and those who have done it, think it's good value. It's almost as if half a story has been punted out in order to create faux outrage!

Is it too expensive? Clearly not, because it sells out. Should the club offer the same service, but for free - and therefore make a loss? That would be a bonkers situation, IMO. Is life fair? No - but that's nothing new.

People will pay for whatever they want to pay for and justify it as value for money. Would I pay £7 or whatever it is for a pint of beer? No. Would I pay £50 for a really decent steak? Yeah, probably. I'm sure there are loads of people who are the opposite.

It is, as they say, what it is

People who could afford it deem it great.

mile oak · Nov 28, 2024

I don't see why it should be free but those prices are a rip off and quite honestly the clubs charging the higher end here should be ashamed of themselves. Its bad enough parents fork out a fortune on kit. Not sure what price it should be but in all honesty a three figure sum is I believe quite unnecessary.

wellquickwoody · Nov 29, 2024

ATFC Seagull said:
Maybe I'm still jaded that my dad would never let me enter the Junior Seagulls draw to be mascot at the Goldstone cos he couldn't be bothered to get there early.

Sorry, not funny for a child I do understand , but now as an adult I was pissing myself laughing reading that

ATFC Seagull · Nov 29, 2024

wellquickwoody said:
Sorry, not funny for a child I do understand , but now as an adult I was pissing myself laughing reading that

To be honest I'm now on his side.

Who wants to be hanging around at the Goldstone for 2 hours before kickoff so their kid and walk out holding hands with Junior McDougald?

Uh_huh_him · Nov 29, 2024

Not surprised we charge for this.
More surprised that so many clubs don't.

Whilst I agree the money involved isn't huge, it pays for someone's salary, in the best run club in the league.

wellquickwoody · Nov 29, 2024

Uh_huh_him said:
Not surprised we charge for this.
More surprised that so many clubs don't.

Whilst I agree the money involved isn't huge, it pays for someone's salary, in the best run club in the league.

It also takes a weeks salary for some people to actually afford this for their child. The cost to the club…..50/100/150 pounds per child? Cost of a child’s lifetime of supporting going west……hundreds of thousands of pounds?

Han Solo · Nov 29, 2024

Nothing that can be done about it that wouldn't cause a minor Ferrari deficit among the players, I'm afraid. Unsolvable situation.

Thunder Bolt · Nov 29, 2024

Shirt £55
Shorts £27
Socks £18
WSL centre tickets £60 x 2 = £120
Meal £30 x2 =£60.00

Of course, that’s at retail price, not what it actually costs the club.

chaileyjem · Nov 29, 2024

Sarisbury Seagull said:
The avergage age of the crowd at the Amex gets older ever season and that’s not going to ever change as families can’t afford to take kids these days. We’ll have a very small fan base one day.

I don’t know if crowd age has changed that much at the Amex or in the PL - my guess is that there are tens of thousands of new younger fans - both in the ground and looking at the many kids sporting replica shirts dotted around the parks and fields of the city compared to a decade ago. I also read today that for the rest of the season that Man Utd are charging a minimum of £66 for remaining tickets this season including kids. u18 Tickets for say Everton (h) in the new year in the North are on sale now for £19. Season tickets for u10s at the Albion can be had between £100 - £200 - so effectively £5-£10 a ticket.
I agree with you that football should be cheaper, - and a full youth kit with numbers etc coming in at £120 is a shock! - but Albion make some sensible choices here compared to other clubs where they can and the long term foundations are actually very good.

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 29, 2024

Disappointed the club charge for this. I'd prefer it was free with appropriate safe-guards so only genuine fans get to become mascots.

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[Albion] Cost to be a mascot in the Premier League....

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