Southampton Football Club has put out the details for its 2025/26 season tickets and the good news is that those who renew before the cut off date will get a discount from the full price.
Saints have announced their season ticket prices for next season and those who renew before June 12th will benefit from a 5% discount, but only if they pay in full.
Those who choose to use the split payment system will find it slightly different from last season.
Firstly they will not receive the 5% discount given for paying in full and secondly it will be spread over 7 payments, the first at time of renewing and then 6 further monthly payments that will be paid by card rather than direct debit. There will not be a credit check needed.
There will also be a 5% credit charge made to cover administration costs etc, the club claiming that part of this was due to misuse by a small minority of supporters last season, when it was interest free.
I am not sure of the validity of this, if it was only a minority of supporters who welched on the payments, why punish everyone who didn't by imposing a 5% surcharge.
Key dates
Monday 12th May - Renewal window opens
Monday 12th May - General sale begins on any available seats
Thursday 12th June (5pm) - Renewal window closes and Season Ticket sales paused
Friday 13th to Wednesday 18th June - Reserved seats released and seat move window
Thursday 19th June - Season Ticket sales re-open
Thursday 26th June - Split payments sign-up deadline
Should Season Tickets sell out again for the second time in two seasons, more information will follow regarding how supporters can join the Season Ticket waiting list again.
After consulting with the Fan Advisory Board, the club has also introduced several new and updated benefits to Season Ticket holders, in addition to continued priority for away tickets and additional home tickets:
10% discount on retail merchandise throughout the season (excluding replica kits)
Exclusive window to avoid paying online booking fees for home cup match tickets
Early access to new product launches
Priority access and discounts on select club events
Automatic entry into monthly prize draws for unique experiences
Whilst I am in favour of season ticket holders getting extra benefits, I am not sure that many fans will be too excited at this, of course 10% discount on merchandise is welcomed, but why not on replica kits as well, given the price of a replica shirt these days and given the actual cost of producing one, this would be the one area where a large chunk of the fanbase would benefit, this is the biggest part of the merchandising income, it's a little bit of a slap in the face for season ticket holders, here's 10% discount, but not on anything that you really want to buy !
I am not sure what part the Fans Advisory Board had in this and indeed the whole pricing of season tickets, but I think they should have fought far harder for more discounts.
Morale has perhaps never been lower in the Saints fanbase, we have just endured the worst season in the history of the club, never have Southampton supporters had to sit and watch so many defeats and so few points.
Where is the real incentive to buy a season ticket, initial comments on social media seem to indicate that many supporters view this announcement negatively and certainly the club PR department have not exactly sold it in a positive manner.
Basically they are saying the thanks for our loyal support over the season is £23.70 if you are part of the Northam Red & White Wall & £30-£40 off a season ticket for the rest of us and then only to those rich enough to pay up front.
Someone in the club needs to take a good hard look at it, never have the owners of the club been so despised by the fans, I don't use the word despised lightly and I feel that is a good description at the moment of a large part of our fan base towards Sport Republic, never have we seen the club in such disarray add to that the fact that for most never have they been subjected to the high cost of living as we are now and the chances of a third consecutive season ticket holder sell out are slim.
The proof in that pudding is in the number of empty seats in what was a virtually sold out stadium on Saturday against Manchester City, perhaps as many as 1,500 season ticket holders stayed away £30 discount is not going to lure them back.
We have a large and loyal fan base, but it can only take so much, I would urge the club to look again and consider whether this price structure can be changed and that it is currently not enough given what has gone on over the last year.