This afternoon saw the latest meeting of the Supporters Consultative Group (SCG) at the Ricoh.
The main topic of discussion centred around the new season ticket and match day ticket pricing, which is still to be confirmed by the club hence full details cannot be given here at this moment. However look out for announcements near to the end of the week in terms of pricing, payment methods, the period of time for the early ticket price savings and the available blocks in the Jewson stand for
One benefit for those who choose to move into the Jewson stand will be access, at a future point when the sports bar is constructed and becomes operative, to this facility at half-time, as well as the very spacious concourse area under the stand.
With the move of the away section towards blocks 4 to 7, it is possible that those who currently hold season tickets in these areas will be invited to choose where they wish to move to in the Jewson, followed by PSL holders and existing season ticket holders. However all of this will be confirmed by the club at the time the Season ticket pricing structure is announced.
Indications are that the most expensive season ticket price for next season will be no higher than for the current campaign, with some areas of the Arena at attractive pricing levels.
The club are to look into the possibility of opening up Block A to season ticket purchases also, and season ticket holder benefits were also discussed.
The issue of match day morning ticket purchases attracting the same 'on the day' increase as those purchased at the turnstiles was raised, and the club will look into this to see if a time limit can be put into place where this supplement isn't applied.
Blocks 1-3 are likely to be kept for the Community Involvement Programme (CIP) as the concourse area behind offers a unique location for the schools to be hosted both before and during the match. Concerns were raised at the table about the proximity of school children so close to the away section but the club are likely to monitor the programme and any issues that may arise.
Other items covered were early proposals to host rugby matches at the Ricoh at the end of the season but this was early days and nothing is decided. There was no knowledge of talks regarding any further
The club continue to speak with the Coventry Building Society about the possibility of selling match tickets at their outlets, certainly the IT systems now used by the club would allow this to happen if this should progress.
Following news at the weekend of a different local coach firm winning the tender to supply away match travel for next season, the idea of having them provide a city centre pick up prior to a further Ricoh pick up before travelling onward was put to the club, who will take this suggestion away for consideration. This would certainly have the benefit to many of easier (and greener) travel.
The details for the End of Season dinner are hoped to be announced soon on the official website once the finer details have been determined.
Again issues surrounding the match day catering experiences and problems were provided to the club and these will be passed on to the company who look after this.
Joe Elliott kindly took time out to join the meeting and told the group how passionate Ian Dowie was about getting Coventry back to the Premiership, and re-iterated to the group how the '3' turned him from looking towards Leicester and joining the Sky Blues - a decision that Ian Dowie was very happy with, to the extent that he's said he cannot believe how focused and determined everyone at the club is.