Accies ticket prices to rise by over 52 per cent

May 21 2008 By Shirley Bartynek

ACCIES fans will have to fork out more to watch their team in the Scottish Premier League next season.

Season ticket prices will rise 52.6 per cent, or £120, to £350.

Admission prices of £22 for adults and £11 concession compare with £14 and £6 last season.

However, these prices remain the same throughout the season, including visits by the Old Firm.

Club chairman Ronnie MacDonald blamed the increases on the higher costs of playing in the top flight of Scottish football.

He said: “With a promotion comes a huge increase in our operating costs for players and management personnel, stewarding, policing, press and television facilities, car parking, computerised turnstile control and facilities for our visitors.

“We have had to balance our anticipated costs against revenue whilst trying to make Premier League football affordable to a growing band of young fans.”

The club say they are keen to attract younger fans and those, under the age of 10 who are accompanied by an adult season book holder,
will get a season book free of charge.

Mr MacDonald added: “I appreciate the support our fans have given us since we arrived and hopefully our ‘child friendly’ policy will go some way to rewarding them.

“As a family-based organisation, we want to see younger fans coming to watch us, and with that in mind have initiated a family deal whereby youngsters can see the top stars playing as, once they have their season book, they gain access to all SPL league games, not just a select few.

“Children between the age of 10 and 15 who purchase a season ticket in conjunction with an adult will only be charged £75,half the standard price.

“This is in addition to our free scheme which was initiated very successfully last season.”

A designated block in the centre of the main stand is also set to house the younger supporters.

Accies are in the process of spending £450,000 on tearing up the plastic pitch and laying a grass surface with under soil heating.

Chairman Ronnie MacDonald said: “We have had to install an under pitch heating system to comply with the SPL rules of admission.

“Such an installation is totally impractical with an artificial surface, hence our decision to lay a new grass surface and heating system.”

The world’s biggest vacuum was last week brought to New Douglas Park to suck up over 100,000 tonnes of rubber pellets to make way for their new turf.

Work got underway 10 days ago to replace the Hamilton Accies’ artificial surface to prepare them for next season’s Premier League campaign.

The pellets had to lifted first in order to make the surface easier for contractors to lift.

Mr MacDonald added: “We appreciate that parking can be difficult for some of our infirm and elderly supporters and we have made 150 car park space vouchers available (free of charge) which will be balloted amongst season ticket holders who require such a facility.”

IN ACTION: a large vacuum sucks up the rubber pellets in preparation for the new surface.

NEW SURFACE: work gets underway at New Douglas Park costing the club £450,000.