The announcement last month, relating to a virtual freeze on ticket prices, apart from corporate areas, was well received.
Indeed, many applauded the club on taking the initiative on this subject. After all, it?s often quoted, sometimes wrongly, that our ticket prices are the dearest in the Premiership.
Amongst those that received plaudits, outside of the club, were those on the Fans Forum who quite rightly suggested that another price hike would be akin to the straw that broke the camels back.
However, despite announcing a record loss for a Premiership club, there is every reason to suggest that the next few months could well be the months when the cash ingestion by its supporters is at its healthiest.
With season ticket renewals due to fly in as the paying public clamour to renew their seats for the 2006-2007 season when hopefully we?ll win the Premiership for a third season on the trot, another revenue stream is about to go live.
This is a stream that could generate sufficient revenue to offset any potential loss of income related to the recently introduced ticket prize freeze. The clubs deal with Umbro ends this season and the kit deal with Adidas starts.
With the potential for three new kits to be in the shops, hopefully in time for the new season, there is every expectation that the new shirts will become probably the most desirable item of Chelsea fashion on the shelves.
Recent years have seen football shirts become increasingly popular and whilst many a supporter has, at sometime, worn a shirt that is a little out of date, it will no doubt be seen as a fashion disaster to be spotted in an Umbro manufactured shirt once the new Adidas designs are available.
Indeed, Adidas are in the remarkable position of being the supplier to a sole Premiership club. The fact that the club in question are the current English champions is a marketing mans utopia.
Therefore, whilst you may be very content that your season ticket hasn?t increased in price, you should also acknowledge that you?re very likely to hand over close to another £100 for the three new replica shirts.
Hands up all those who can visualise their kids demanding a new kit to wear either in the streets or during games at school?
It?s not hard to read between the lines or am I just being a tad too cynical?
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