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

[ATFC Seagull]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

“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]

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]

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

 

[ATFC Seagull]

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]

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]

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]

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.