The biggest ever response to THST’s annual survey has revealed Spurs fans are happy with what’s happening on the pitch, but harbour some concerns about what’s happening off it.
Over 3,200 fans took part in the survey to gauge fan opinion on a wide range of issues. The survey, which ran from 23 June to 9 July and is now in its fourth year, plays a major part in influencing how THST works over the coming season.
Notable findings from the survey were:
• Accessible pricing remains very popular – 72% backed the Club’s cup pricing policy and an overwhelming 84% expressed satisfaction with the pricing of Champions League packages.
• Despite the controversy over the home ticket ballot system last season, just 24% said they were unhappy with it.
• 41% backed THST’s successful push for Category A tickets to be allocated by loyalty points. Only 14% disagreed.
• Over half the respondents, 53%, said the £30 away price cap had not influenced their decision to apply for away tickets, with 45% backing the cap and only 8% opposed to it.
• 64% said they had been inconvenienced by matches being moved for TV throughout the past season, with 88% agreeing that far more consideration should be given to match-going fans when scheduling matches for broadcast.
• 41% of existing season ticket holders were not happy with the pricing for our year at Wembley, with 28% of Bronze members unhappy and 48% of Bronze members disagreeing with the decision to remove the two cup vouchers from the season ticket package.
• Over two thirds of season ticket holders and Bronze members surveyed felt there should have been an amnesty, or sabbatical, for the Wembley season. And nearly half those surveyed said they will have to pay more to travel to Wembley.
• Some 97% of those who held a season ticket before July this year intend to continue with their season ticket in the new stadium.
• When considering purchasing or renewing a season ticket at the new ground, price is the most important factor, coming in at 68% overall.
• 60% of season ticket holders expressed a preference for sitting in the single tier South stand in the new stadium, compared to 68% of the overall figure.
• 85% thought retaining tradition and heritage in the new ground was important, with 63% wanting to see the stands named after players and managers.
• Bill Nicholson, Jimmy Greaves, Danny Blanchflower and Ledley King topped the polls for names for stands.
• 63% disagree with any plan to rename White Hart Lane station.
• Support for the introduction of a safe standing area if the law changes still runs high, with 86% in favour and only 7% disagreeing.
• 67% would consider buying a season ticket in a safe standing area, with 63% believing it should cost less than a regular seat.
• 55% were happy with the way the Club communicates with fans. But the number who thought communication had improved over the last five years, while still high at 62%, was down on last season’s 67%. And we must point out that the survey was completed between 23 June and 9 July, before a significant number of complaints over ticketing in particular and communication in general were made.
• Over two thirds of respondents want to see the Club report back to fans at an AGM-style meeting, 91% wanted to see better customer service platforms, and only 18% were aware of the role of the Club’s Supporter Liaison Officer.
• Just 22% agreed with Premier League B teams competing in existing competitions with Football League Clubs – a hardening of the position expressed last year. That made it all the more regrettable that, while the survey was being completed, THFC announced it would be competing in this season’s Checkatrade Trophy.
• A massive 97% were satisfied with the on field performance of the team over the last campaign: a ringing endorsement for the manager, coaches and playing staff.
• 54% were satisfied with THFC's transfer policy, with 96% satisfied with the Club's approach to progressing homegrown and Academy players. Again, survey responses were given at the start of the summer.
• 76% of respondents were satisfied with the work of the Trust, and that rating increased to 89% amongst THST members: the highest satisfaction rating we’ve had since relaunching four years ago.
We’ll be working hard to maintain and improve that level of support from fans in the challenging months ahead. And over the next few days, we’ll be looking in more detail at some of the specific survey results and sharing the conclusions we’ve drawn from them.
A PDF presentation of the full set of survey results, with graphics to make it all easier to digest, can be found below.
THST Board
7 August 2017
• Accessible pricing remains very popular – 72% backed the Club’s cup pricing policy and an overwhelming 84% expressed satisfaction with the pricing of Champions League packages.
• Despite the controversy over the home ticket ballot system last season, just 24% said they were unhappy with it.
• 41% backed THST’s successful push for Category A tickets to be allocated by loyalty points. Only 14% disagreed.
• Over half the respondents, 53%, said the £30 away price cap had not influenced their decision to apply for away tickets, with 45% backing the cap and only 8% opposed to it.
• 64% said they had been inconvenienced by matches being moved for TV throughout the past season, with 88% agreeing that far more consideration should be given to match-going fans when scheduling matches for broadcast.
• 41% of existing season ticket holders were not happy with the pricing for our year at Wembley, with 28% of Bronze members unhappy and 48% of Bronze members disagreeing with the decision to remove the two cup vouchers from the season ticket package.
• Over two thirds of season ticket holders and Bronze members surveyed felt there should have been an amnesty, or sabbatical, for the Wembley season. And nearly half those surveyed said they will have to pay more to travel to Wembley.
• Some 97% of those who held a season ticket before July this year intend to continue with their season ticket in the new stadium.
• When considering purchasing or renewing a season ticket at the new ground, price is the most important factor, coming in at 68% overall.
• 60% of season ticket holders expressed a preference for sitting in the single tier South stand in the new stadium, compared to 68% of the overall figure.
• 85% thought retaining tradition and heritage in the new ground was important, with 63% wanting to see the stands named after players and managers.
• Bill Nicholson, Jimmy Greaves, Danny Blanchflower and Ledley King topped the polls for names for stands.
• 63% disagree with any plan to rename White Hart Lane station.
• Support for the introduction of a safe standing area if the law changes still runs high, with 86% in favour and only 7% disagreeing.
• 67% would consider buying a season ticket in a safe standing area, with 63% believing it should cost less than a regular seat.
• 55% were happy with the way the Club communicates with fans. But the number who thought communication had improved over the last five years, while still high at 62%, was down on last season’s 67%. And we must point out that the survey was completed between 23 June and 9 July, before a significant number of complaints over ticketing in particular and communication in general were made.
• Over two thirds of respondents want to see the Club report back to fans at an AGM-style meeting, 91% wanted to see better customer service platforms, and only 18% were aware of the role of the Club’s Supporter Liaison Officer.
• Just 22% agreed with Premier League B teams competing in existing competitions with Football League Clubs – a hardening of the position expressed last year. That made it all the more regrettable that, while the survey was being completed, THFC announced it would be competing in this season’s Checkatrade Trophy.
• A massive 97% were satisfied with the on field performance of the team over the last campaign: a ringing endorsement for the manager, coaches and playing staff.
• 54% were satisfied with THFC's transfer policy, with 96% satisfied with the Club's approach to progressing homegrown and Academy players. Again, survey responses were given at the start of the summer.
• 76% of respondents were satisfied with the work of the Trust, and that rating increased to 89% amongst THST members: the highest satisfaction rating we’ve had since relaunching four years ago.
We’ll be working hard to maintain and improve that level of support from fans in the challenging months ahead. And over the next few days, we’ll be looking in more detail at some of the specific survey results and sharing the conclusions we’ve drawn from them.
A PDF presentation of the full set of survey results, with graphics to make it all easier to digest, can be found below.
THST Board
7 August 2017
| thst_annual_fans_survey_2017-2.pdf |