Rugby: Jersey to increase admission fares

  • JRFC to increase ticket prices and membership fees
  • Plans in place for more cover to protect spectators from inclement weather
  • Chairman hopes to improve parking conditions on pitch three

PATRONS of the Jersey Rugby Club are likely to pay more to watch their team next season – but officials have plans in place to improve the spectating experience.

Chairman Bill Dempsey says ticket prices and membership fees will have to increase to off-set escalating costs to the Championship club but he also has some exciting plans in place to upgrade facilities.

Dempsey has long stated his desire to provide the St Peter faithful with more protection from the elements and the club have now submitted proposals for a ‘temporary marquee type structure’ to the Planning Department. If approved, it would be erected over the terraces to the east of pitch one for approximately six months of the year.

There are also plans in place to lay a substrate on pitch three to ensure that spectators have sufficient match-day parking at the club year-round.

Jersey fans will likely have to pay more to watch their rugby next season. Picture: DAVID FERGUSONThe stand on the airport side of the pitch is currently the only undercover spectator area away from the main clubhouse. Picture: ROB CURRIE

‘It’s a two-fold issue at the moment,’ said the chairman.

‘We constantly need to improve our facilities but we haven’t put an increase on our match-day fee or membership fee for three years.

‘We need to put the entrance fees up to survive but we understand that we need to offer our supporters more … providing ample cover and somewhere to park all year round would be a huge step forward.

‘The marquee would provide cover for between 700 and 800 people. Then we’ve also made an application to put a surface covering on pitch three, so as we can use it all year round.’

Earlier this year, the RFU struck a new five-year agreement with second-tier clubs, which included an increase in central funding. Part of the deal required clubs to allocate a percentage of funding to developing their facilities but Dempsey says he is still unsure of the sums of money involved.

‘With the new RFU deal, clubs are being looked at to see if they match up to the minimum standards – that could be in terms of the medical facilities or our changing facilities,’ he continued.

‘The RFU want to see that we are making improvements.

‘Although the agreement for the funding from the RFU is there, nothing has yet been confirmed. We’ve got a meeting at Twickenham in June but we expect to be receiving the funding in July or August. Unfortunately, we can’t wait for their decision – if we want to make improvements ahead of next season, we need to start the planning process now.’

The chairman said that although ticket prices will go up, the exact increase is yet to be determined.

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