GOVERNMENT V.A.T. REDUCTIONS STATEMENT
Following the announcement from the government that VAT is to be reduced to 15%, Wigan Athletic Football Club is pleased to announce that it is to pass on the savings on the individual matchday purchase of tickets between 1st December 2008 and the end of the Barclays Premier League Season 2008-09.
All matchday prices will be reduced - 50p being deducted off full price adult tickets and 25p off other tickets.
Recently, the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, unveiled a series of measures in his pre-Budget report that he hopes will help to boost the economy, including a VAT cut from 17.5% to 15% for thirteen months.
As stated last week, the Club has been consulting various bodies on how the changes affect ticket prices at the JJB Stadium. Wigan Athletic prides itself on already having the most competitive prices in the Barclays Premier League and the Club is intent on continuing to deliver great value.
Chief Executive Brenda Spencer said: "We are very aware of the current economic climate and that our supporters are not exempt from its effects therefore it was felt right that we pass on the benefit to fans. We looked at various different methods of ensuring that the savings found their way to the consumer and this was felt the most appropriate. Other Clubs have reduced prices by larger percentages but it must be noted that they had higher original ticket prices."
Full details of all new matchday ticket prices are shown in the table below.
Half season ticket prices, released at £149 for adults will also be affected and will now be sold at £145 with the other concessionary prices also being reduced in line with the VAT reduction.
Any matchday purchasers (or Half Season Ticket purchasers), who purchased a ticket between Monday 1st December and Thursday 4th December inclusive, can claim a refund to the value as detailed above by contacting the Ticket Office in the same manner in which the Ticket was purchased. The home games affected are Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. Any unclaimed amounts will be donated to the Club's Youth Development Programme.
Meanwhile, matchday catering prices at the JJB Stadium will not be affected by the VAT reduction. Central Catering, the company contracted to operate the kiosks, has instead guaranteed that current prices will be held until the end of the season. The prices are already extremely competitive when compared to other stadiums. Furthermore, Central Catering has already absorbed one price and duty increase with another expected before the end of the current season.
The Club expects to make further price updates to reflect the VAT change in other areas of the business in the coming days.
Ticket price amends are as follows:-
| CATEGORY A GAME | ||
| Current | Revised | |
| ADULT | £28.00 | £27.50 |
| ADULT (Central) | £30.00 | £29.50 |
| Disabled/ Ambulant Disabled | £20.00 | £19.75 |
| JJ's Under 16 | £10.00 | £9.75 |
| JJ's Under 11 | £5.00 | £4.75 |
| Over 65 | £20.00 | £19.75 |
| Over 65 (Central) | £22.00 | £21.75 |
| Under 16 | £20.00 | £19.75 |
| Under 16 (Central) | £22.00 | £21.75 |
| CATEGORY B GAME | ||
| Current | Revised | |
| ADULT | £25.00 | £24.50 |
| ADULT (Central) | £27.00 | £26.50 |
| Disabled/ Ambulant Disabled | £18.00 | £17.75 |
| JJ's Under 16 | £10.00 | £9.75 |
| JJ's Under 11 | £5.00 | £4.75 |
| Over 65 | £18.00 | £17.75 |
| Over 65 (Central) | £20.00 | £19.75 |
| Under 16 | £18.00 | £17.75 |
| Under 16 (Central) | £20.00 | £19.75 |
| CATEGORY C GAME | ||
| Current | Revised | |
| ADULT | £20.00 | £19.50 |
| ADULT (Central) | £22.00 | £21.50 |
| Disabled/ Ambulant Disabled | £15.00 | £14.75 |
| JJ's Under 16 | £10.00 | £9.75 |
| JJ's Under 11 | £5.00 | £4.75 |
| Over 65 | £15.00 | £14.75 |
| Over 65 (Central) | £17.00 | £16.75 |
| Under 16 | £15.00 | £14.75 |
| Under 16 (Central) | £17.00 | £16.75 |
