Post by Tangerine Sherlock on Jul 21, 2011 10:22:06 GMT 1
Preston’s arch rivals Blackpool have strayed on to North End territory in a bid to boost attendances at Bloomfield Road next season.
Homes in the Penwortham area have had a Blackpool FC brochure dropping through their letter boxes in recent days.
Entitled ‘Share in the pride, share in the passion’, it details season ticket and hospitality prices to watch the Seasiders next season, as well as carrying a message from manager Ian Holloway.
Blackpool look to be trying to exploit PNE’s relegation to League One as they bid to swell support following their own relegation to the Championship.
But North End supporters have stayed loyal, with season ticket sales at the 6,700 mark.
And there’s been a good early response to the sale of half-season tickets, which became available this week.
PNE’s marketing manager, Adrian Ward, told the Evening Post: “Let battle commence!
“We have been made aware that this brochure is doing the rounds.
“And we think this is the first time that Blackpool have moved into this area in terms of marketing themselves.
“Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers have previously done it with the backing of Premier League money which is finance we don’t obviously have.
“It is the prerogative of Blackpool to try and launch themselves into other areas which they see fit.
“Every club is always on the lookout for more support and revenue.
“We’ve been active in areas which some people might say is Blackpool territory – Kirkham, Wesham and Lytham.
“Last season, our chairman Maurice Lindsay attended a fans’ forum in Kirkham, which drew a lot of interest.
“We do have a very strong support base in the Penwortham area, and I’d be surprised if there was a mass stampede from there to Bloomfield Road because of this brochure drop.
“Watching Preston is the cheapest option by some margin.
“Rather than worry about what other clubs are doing, we are concentrating on getting the best value for money for our supporters.
“We worked hard on pitching the season ticket prices at the right level and with us having sold around 6,700, it was clearly the right price for many fans.
“The response to the half-season tickets which we put on sale on Monday has been good.
“We are indebted to our fans for sticking with us after relegation, and hopefully they can have something to shout about this season.
“Commercially, we are working all the time to encourage more supporters to watch PNE.
“We’ve got another promotion of our own coming before the start of the season.”
Homes in the Penwortham area have had a Blackpool FC brochure dropping through their letter boxes in recent days.
Entitled ‘Share in the pride, share in the passion’, it details season ticket and hospitality prices to watch the Seasiders next season, as well as carrying a message from manager Ian Holloway.
Blackpool look to be trying to exploit PNE’s relegation to League One as they bid to swell support following their own relegation to the Championship.
But North End supporters have stayed loyal, with season ticket sales at the 6,700 mark.
And there’s been a good early response to the sale of half-season tickets, which became available this week.
PNE’s marketing manager, Adrian Ward, told the Evening Post: “Let battle commence!
“We have been made aware that this brochure is doing the rounds.
“And we think this is the first time that Blackpool have moved into this area in terms of marketing themselves.
“Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers have previously done it with the backing of Premier League money which is finance we don’t obviously have.
“It is the prerogative of Blackpool to try and launch themselves into other areas which they see fit.
“Every club is always on the lookout for more support and revenue.
“We’ve been active in areas which some people might say is Blackpool territory – Kirkham, Wesham and Lytham.
“Last season, our chairman Maurice Lindsay attended a fans’ forum in Kirkham, which drew a lot of interest.
“We do have a very strong support base in the Penwortham area, and I’d be surprised if there was a mass stampede from there to Bloomfield Road because of this brochure drop.
“Watching Preston is the cheapest option by some margin.
“Rather than worry about what other clubs are doing, we are concentrating on getting the best value for money for our supporters.
“We worked hard on pitching the season ticket prices at the right level and with us having sold around 6,700, it was clearly the right price for many fans.
“The response to the half-season tickets which we put on sale on Monday has been good.
“We are indebted to our fans for sticking with us after relegation, and hopefully they can have something to shout about this season.
“Commercially, we are working all the time to encourage more supporters to watch PNE.
“We’ve got another promotion of our own coming before the start of the season.”