Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[Nii Lamptey]

Kits are sorted over a year in advance, so you can knock that one off.

TV decision was also pre-Heck.

Yep, fair enough. But he's in charge now, so the very least I'd expect is some kind of statement to the fans, based on the backlash on both instances.

On a related note, were our season tickets sold claiming free access to the Holte Suite this season (or did we just 'assume' it would carry on into this season)?
If so, that's false advertising and not a great position to be putting the club in!

[lennythekad]

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/08/03/People-and-Pop-Culture/Red-Bulls.aspx

[cdward]

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/08/03/People-and-Pop-Culture/Red-Bulls.aspx

Not his first rodeo.
Heck also managed to “alienate many of the team’s most ardent fans by raising season-ticket prices and committing what seemed to be some relatively minor missteps, like barring a popular food truck from its regular spot outside the team’s stadium.”

[AlexAlexCropley]

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/08/03/People-and-Pop-Culture/Red-Bulls.aspx

Looks like he hasn't changed then

[Monty]

Has he actually made any good decisions yet?

[brontebilly]

Surely coming into a role like that he should be focusing on improving the basics first for existing supporters rather than launching into vanity projects aimed at hospitality clients?

[London Villan]

It's about revenue - he's looking a quick fixes to raise more cash.

To play devil's advocate - is there another big premier league team with a facility like the Holte Suite that is free to season ticket holders? He's probably looked at that and thought why aren't we charging entry for that?

Rumours of the new "Warehouse" being £20-£30 a match would add to this.

It's the same at most PL clubs and is why they all earn so much more money that we do an a match day.

[Chris Smith]

It's about revenue - he's looking a quick fixes to raise more cash.

To play devil's advocate - is there another big premier league team with a facility like the Holte Suite that is free to season ticket holders? He's probably looked at that and thought why aren't we charging entry for that?

Rumours of the new "Warehouse" being £20-£30 a match would add to this.

It's the same at most PL clubs and is why they all earn so much more money that we do an a match day.

Looks to me like they’re trying to find ways to maximise income to partially compensate for the lost revenue whilst the North Stand is redeveloped.

[sid1964]

I would imagine that within the next 3 seasons my lower Holte End season ticket will be a £1,000.00

When i complain about the cost of my season ticket to my Wife her standard response is "you either pay it or you stop going, you have 2 choices"

The you tube video of Chris Heck when he was in charge Philadelphia basket ball team is interesting viewing

[London Villan]

He'd had gained a lot more respect if he'd come and said that - rather than the nonsense about it being what the fans asked for.

[Sexual Ealing]

It sounds to me that he's a US business twat who thinks he's doing the world a favour by bringing his 'ethos' to the plebs. I've worked for a couple of companies that were taken over by similar American twats and they did the same thing. I turned down a six-figure salary with one because they wanted my life in return. And now, here I am, impecunious, sad and without any dignity at all. At least I've still got my...

...hang on. What the fuck have I done?!

[Paul.S]

I would imagine that within the next 3 seasons my lower Holte End season ticket will be a £1,000.00

When i complain about the cost of my season ticket to my Wife her standard response is "you either pay it or you stop going, you have 2 choices"

The you tube video of Chris Heck when he was in charge Philadelphia basket ball team is interesting viewing

I think that’s dependent and where we are on the pitch and what they improve for us off it.
If he hasn’t learnt already, the support at our club are not slow in letting people what they think. If we are challenging at the right end, are signing top players and have improved the facilities then he’ll get away with it. Anything less and he’ll fall flat on his face.

[chrisw1]

It's about revenue - he's looking a quick fixes to raise more cash.

To play devil's advocate - is there another big premier league team with a facility like the Holte Suite that is free to season ticket holders? He's probably looked at that and thought why aren't we charging entry for that?

Rumours of the new "Warehouse" being £20-£30 a match would add to this.

It's the same at most PL clubs and is why they all earn so much more money that we do an a match day.

I agree with this and whilst I appreciate that it's an unpopular opinion I also agree that the club probably needed to make better use of the Holte suite.  We have a very tight ground so corporate areas are limited and we're miles behind our competitors.  Whether I think the offer in the corporate areas is good value is irrelevant as I'm not a potential customer.

Where they have fallen down is the lack of mitigation for those who have lost facilities or have terrible facilities in the first place.  Better concourses, more bars, more W/Cs etc.  It just comes across that they simply don't care.

And prices of course - not just season tickets but everything.  I saw a post where someone had paid £7.50 for a hot dog.  The bread was so stale it had fallen apart.  I just can't understand why the don't get that if they provide a decent offer at a reasonable price with good service the turnover would increase exponentially.

[Sexual Ealing]

I wonder whether the catering thing is a red herring. I'd have thought that it was all outsourced and the highest bidder takes all the profits so the club couldn't really give a shit about stale hot dog buns.

[London Villan]

It was outsourced a few years ago to someone like Compass, Levy or Delaware North, can't remember exactly.