As Cov season ticket sales increase, it's Warriors away to start the season - should I stay or should I go?

It's always tease, tease, tease

You're happy when I'm on my knees

One day it's fine, and next it's black

So if you want me off your back

Well, come on and let me know

Should I stay, or should I go?

Should I stay, or should I go now?

Should I stay, or should I go now?

If I go, there will be trouble

And if I stay, it will be double

So come on and let me know

Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash

All The Champ noise pre-season so far seems to have focused on the return of Worcester Warriors and in particular the reporting of its record-breaking season ticket sales, rumoured to be well in excess of 4000, with the club itself reporting first day sales achieving the highest numbers in the club's history.

Impressive as it is, I doubt that most supporters from the other 13 clubs participating in The Champ this season will be particularly surprised. They might feel a bit envious, but certainly not shocked, considering the intense national media attention that Warriors has drawn since its return was officially announced.

As I've consistently mentioned in previous posts, I was never in favour of the club's return. However, now that it is back, Warriors should be treated just like any other club in this league, with its supporters receiving the same levels of respect from Cov fans that we expect from them. The club's issues leading to its administration were the fault of its owners, not its supporters.

Since we all purport to be part of a broader rugby family, it's time to welcome this prodigal son back, even if it might not be with the open arms some of its supporters believe it deserves.

Accept its return? Yes.

Welcome. Not really, if I'm honest. But that doesn't stop me being respectful of its supporters.

I'm aware of a number of Cov supporters who, riled by the RFU's decision to allow Worcester into The Champ this season, are refusing to make the trip over to Sixways in October, feeling that it's 'morally' the right thing to do. A protest vote, of sorts.

For them, Worcester has no right to be in The Champ and until all the debts are repaid then the club should remain in limbo or reform as a new club and start at the bottom of the rugby pyramid. They are simply not prepared to give monies over to a club who are, as it stands, still in debt.

Whilst I have some sympathy for those Cov fans who have made such a decision for the right reasons (as opposed to the vainglorious supporters who make such statements and never travel to away games anyway - and every club has a few of those), for me it's the wrong approach. First and foremost, I'm a Cov fan and if ever Cov are going to need its travelling supporters, the best in the league by a mile for me, it's at Sixways against Wuss for their very first game back. It will be a really tough game for Cov and no matter the context, I'll be there to support my team. An absence of away support that day would penalise Cov far more than it would financially benefit Worcester.

And for those fans who feel that Worcester prices are exorbitant, I paid a total of £35 for my ticket and that of my grandson's (who is 17)...both seated...cheaper than at either Bedford or London Scottish last season (and Notts, I think, too).

I appreciate the should 'I go or should I stay?' question will be asked by many supporters over the coming months, but for me there's simply no clash....

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Whilst I'm not overly shocked by the uptake of season tickets at Sixways in the weeks leading up to the start of the coming season, I am more than a little surprised by the 17% rise in sales of tickets at Coventry (https://www.warwickshireworld.com/sport).

After a rather lacklustre three months for the club post-Christmas, marking the worst runoff games since Alex Rae took over in 2022, the exit of half the squad at the end of the season, rumours of players being approached by a senior player already moving to Worcester, the addition of several low profile younger signings mostly unfamiliar to Cov fans, and a notable drop in average Championship attendances at the BPA by several hundred compared to the previous season...the feeling at the end of May/early June was more one of relief that the current season had ended rather than excitement for the next one.

Had someone asked me back then whether I felt this kind of increase in pre-season ticket sales was possible, I would no doubt have accepted it was, but I'd have added that the likelihood in all probability would be a drop of a similar magnitude.

So, what might have led to such an uptick in Cov's season ticket sales, then, despite what was a disappointing season by Cov's recent standards?

Well, judging by the comments made by one or two Worcester supporters on various rugby-related messageboards over the last few months, this would be down purely to the Warriors-factor. The return of the erstwhile Premiership side will be the saviour of The Champ in their somewhat blinkered eyes and the rest of the league should be beholden to Worcester for providing a financial shot in the arm when it is most needed.

Okay, I'm in danger of tarring all Worcester fans with the same brush here and of course that is just not the case. Many have been very gracious, accepting that the club is fortunate to be back in the professional fold but, unfortunately, it's the supporters who shout loudest who are often most heard.

And for the sake of balance, one or two Cov supporters haven't always reacted with good grace, although rather like poking at a hornets' nest, they have been provoked somewhat.

Even the most patient of Coventry fans have had their tolerance tested by a minority of Worcester supporters who persist in advocating their own interests while expecting the rest of the league to appreciate their presence without question. These fans have undermined much of the positive work done by a small yet dedicated group of supporters who, during the months when it seemed all three disgraced Premiership clubs might fail in their appeals to rejoin The Champ, attended Championship games and showcased the best of what Warriors fans would bring to the game at this level.

To clarify, I don't agree at all with the idea that the rise in the club's season ticket sales is linked to the Warriors being in The Champ this season. Why would any Cov supporter spend nearly £300 on a season ticket to see Worcester play just once at the BPA when they could save almost £270 by simply paying at the gate for that specific game? That makes no sense whatsoever.

I'm not even sure I agree with some of the club's own reasoning, namely 'a string of high-profile new signings' being one of the causes. Morgan Strong and Aristot Benz-Salomon apart, the remaining signings are unknowns to me (maybe more a comment on my own Coventry myopia than it is on the profile of the players in question?). As a group of players, there doesn't appear to be enough big names amongst them to whet the appetite of most Cov fans, although I totally accept that the potential amongst them collectively might be.

High-profile they are not, to me anyway.

However, the other reasons the Club states for this possible increase in season ticket uptake are very pertinent, namely the further expansion of Coventry Rugby's Community Engagement Programme ('bringing supporters even closer to the club') and a 'renewed investment in Academy Development'.

Among the potential reasons for this increase in pre-season sales, the most exciting and the most likely cause is the boost in Academy development, The chance to watch over 16 Academy games for free, included within the season ticket price, along with 13 Champ games, provides excellent value for money especially when rising costs elsewhere are squeezing us from all sides.

Last season we caught a glimpse of the talent that Cov is nurturing at a junior level, and for me, some of those Academy games showcased the best rugby played by any Cov side all season. It's a fantastic chance to see Cov's potential future stars start their rugby journey with us, and I'm certain there will be times when I'll choose to watch the youngsters at the BPA rather than travel to see the 1st team play away if the two coincide. I sense significant developments are happening at the Academy level and if the club is to advance further on the pitch in the coming seasons, some of these Academy players will likely play a key role. Each game is an 'I was there' moment in the making.

The club also mentions the overhaul of The Champ as another factor for the rise in pre-season interest, though I can't see it myself. The addition of Worcester has been both a drawback and an attraction and in itself, for the reason mentioned above, isn't enough to explain away a 17% increase. Two extra home games will obviously help but of course they've been reflected in an increase in the cost of a season ticket. Current supporters of Championship rugby will doubtless approve of the changes for the most part, as I do, but I genuinely don't feel they're going to be enough to attract an entirely new audience which surely must be the RFU's main aim?

Indeed, attendances will rise simply due to the Warriors' presence in the league, both at home and away games. However, this won't be because new fans are drawn in; rather, it's more likely down to those who attend a few games each season being curious about what Worcester has to offer.

At Cov, a home game against Worcester might well be a sell-out of around 5,200, while the average home attendance could be 3,500 this season, resulting in an additional 1,700 spectators. This is significant but not transformative, doing little more than compensating for the lack of a home Boxing Day match this year, which would have been a sellout anyway.

Unless the RFU can find a big-name sponsor for the league and the clubs negotiate a tv deal that will enable them to attract a different, wider audience to the one currently watching games live, then it's hard to see how The Champ will grow.

No, the increase Cov is currently witnessing is down to the club's own endeavours, both on and off the pitch, rather than anything the RFU or Worcester has to offer.

In fairness to Cov Rugby, the improvement in its self-branding in recent seasons has also raised its own profile significantly, with the club reaching out further and further to a younger and younger audience via the various social media platforms. Whilst I'm content to get my club news from X and X alone, my grandson has accounts with Instagram and Facebook (and TikTok - although I couldn't even tell you if Cov use it) and as a result is always far savvier about what's happening down at the BPA than I am.

Much of what the club now produces is beyond simple club news, with players seeming to enjoy the opportunity to communicate with supporters informally away from a match day scenario. The club sees its role as entertaining just as much as informing these days.

Cov has definitely upped its game in this respect, although there's still plenty of work to be done if it wants to attract an even wider audience.

This next bit is purely guesswork, but supposing Cov had 1500 season ticket holders last season (and I don't think that would be too far off the mark), then a 17% increase would see that total rise to 1755. If the average cost of a season ticket is £250 (to allow for concessions etc), then the club would benefit by an extra £63,700 which, in the scheme of things, is a significant amount. Additional monies are always going to be welcome, especially as it's a sum that probably wasn't originally built into planning budgets for the season 2025/26.

It's also intriguing that while Worcester has been very vocal about their season ticket sales, Coventry has remained relatively tight-lipped. It was only thanks to Trevor Hinson forwarding the online article from Warwickshireworld that I was made aware of it. Considering Cov Rugby's eagerness to showcase the buzz that's coming out of the BPA these days, promoting the rise in season ticket sales on their website and social media would help amplify the excitement currently being generated around Cov Rugby.

If the boot was on the other foot, I think I know what Worcester would be doing...

Up the Cov!

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