Fans Hail Roar Ticket U-Turn

"It's the best news I've heard all week," said long-time Roar supporter Nicole Smeelie. "It's been too long coming. I think you will see fans come back because the pricing is now the same as last season.

"The alarm bells should've gone off weeks ago at the club when they got just over 5000 for the Sydney game."

Smeelie, who has bought a family ticket at Roar since day one, also hailed the club's new marketing manager Steve Guise for speaking with fans directly to gauge their concerns.

"He's actually listened to what people were saying and gone out of his way to speak with the fans," she said.

Smeelie's Facebook page has been inundated with positive comments from fellow Roar supporters about the price drop and fans on au.fourfourtwo.com have also reacted positively to the news.

'Bravo to the Roar for having a crack at putting things right. I've been one of their biggest baggers on this site and whilst it's not the be all and end all, it is something.Here's to bigger crowds," wrote one reader in the comments section. Most comments have been favourable.

After au.fourfourtwo.com highlighted the issue some weeks ago and held an online debate last week, the club moved in the last 24 hours to drop ticketing pricing by around 15%.

Crowds at Suncorp have dwindled this season after averaging almost 15,000 over the past four years, down to around 7,000 so far this season.

At Suncorp last season, attendances for Roar's final two games of the season were over 17,000 and 23,000 respectively. And at the start of last season, Roar's first two home games pulled over 12,000 fans each.  

The season before that, the club averaged almost 13,000 for their home and away calendar of matches. This season, the drop-off has been very noticeable.

The first game of the season - the much vaunted derby against Gold Coast United - managed to atttact almost 20,000 - but when the replay came round this weekend, that figure had been cut to less than half with fewer than 9,000 attending.

Fans have been in uproar over the dramatically increased price of tickets this season with season ticket prices soaring.

A club statement said: "Brisbane Roar is excited to announce a new ticketing initiative to be introduced for the remainder of the Hyundai A-League 2009-10 season.

"Effective from this Saturday's clash with the Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane will roll-out new lower ticket prices.

"Under the new pricing structure average ticket prices have been reduced by 15 per cent. Adult tickets will now be available from $25, juniors from $10 and family - two adults, two children - tickets available from just $60."

To celebrate the cheaper ticketing at Brisbane home games, children 15-and-under -  when accompanied by a paying adult - will be admitted free to Saturday's match against Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium.

Proof of age must be provided when purchasing the tickets at a Ticketek outlet for any child over the age of 12.

Brisbane will also offer members who signed up with the Roar for the Hyundai A-League season prior to the Round 10 Gold Coast fixture a 20 per cent reduction off their 2010-11 membership.

Tickets at the new prices will be available from Ticketek on Tuesday, October 13 at 9am.