bit.ly/1zeCXoa

bit.ly/1zeCXoa

In summary:

We kick off at 2pm and Sheffield get a years free promotion in a catchment area they've been trying to tap for ages. Deal of the century

Disappointing imo

An attempt to attract new fans and sponsors, with the appeal of a double header??

'Our main concern was ensuring that the pitch wouldn’t suffer from the extra matches taking place' ...

Oh dear ... That statement doesn't do the Club any favours.

I am disappointed that there as been no consultation with the fans, I for one find this earlier kick off an issue, I go to nearly all home and away games each season, therefore on home games I ensure I have time for a family dinner before the game to keep all happy as more often than not away games can mean an early start, I'm not sure how this will be received at home if I am to literally give up every Sunday throughout the season with the exception of holidays to rugby, I feel lucky to have a understanding wife, I know not all of our support do, but this may test her to the limit, I am considering cancelling my season ticket and attend home games when convenient as I still enjoy away games and the day out. If this deal indeed is a commercial coup and the Eagles are paying a market rate for the use of club Doncasters facilities then I am fully supportive of the changes especially if the funds are used to strengthen our playing squad, to miss any game in a season frustrates me, if it means a more successful team then it's positive news. It would make sense if we played alternately home and away so both teams could have 3pm kick offs, why as this not been considered .

I suspect that if the club had consulted the fans about the change to kick off times, we would have come up with many different answers but the main problem is that any change from our traditional 3pm kick offs is likely to cause problems for some of us. There would be no answer that would make everyone happy - perhaps other than "no change".

I am annoyed that the club's main concern was the state of the pitch when I strongly believe their main concern should have been the implications for the fans.

Once the fixtures had been decided, I doubt the RFL would consider swapping the schedule to ensure the Dons and Sheffield were at home on alternative weekends. Maybe a word in the RFLs ear some time before the fixtures were released could have persuaded them. It would be unfair to inconvenience every other team in the league by issuing a revised fixture list now.

On balance, a 2pm kick off time is probably the least inconvenient of all possible changes although like Rugblyman says plenty of Sunday dinner plans could be upset with family arrangements disrupted.

I don't suppose we'll ever know how much the Dons will benefit financially from the arrangement. Maybe any financial benefits to the club won't help pacify fans' objections anyway. The club must feel it's worth it financially.

It'll be interesting to see what the arrangements are for the "double header". I would suggest that as a goodwill gesture to Dons' fans for the inconvenience caused, that we are all allowed to watch the second match for free.

I'm happy with that ... we play first and one hour earlier is not a big issue for me, although 3pm would have been better with Sheffield having no choice in the matter but to play an hour later.
I will need convincing that the Dons will see any of this revenue, some figures might be useful ...
will we get any?

I'll be honest 2pm is probably better for me; personally although I can see it is not better for everyone. The double header thing will more likely come in to its own as the season progresses and others games have more of an impact on our own position.

I have been assured, and am convinced, that this is financially great for the Dons specifically.

The pricing obviously needs planning; we were £12 (by far the cheapest in the divisions) and they were £15 (about average) last season so ours was almost certainly going up anyway.

At some point, unless someone beats me to it, I will go through both clubs fixtures and work out the fixture parings. Imagine if were playing Fev and Sheffield play Bradford on the same day...could get busy!

Is this a rugby forum or the BBC good food website? Here's the Eagles press release and matchday prices, which I can only assume are the same for both. Great news that matchday prices are down on last year from £16. www.sheffieldeagles.com/News/Article/36897

Is this a rugby forum or the BBC good food website? Here's the Eagles press release and matchday prices, which I can only assume are the same for both. Great news that matchday prices are down on last year from £16. www.sheffieldeagles.com/News/Article/36897

Matchday 1 -
Dons v Fev
Sheff v London

2-
Dons v Leigh
Sheff v Batley

3-
Dons v Batley
Sheff v Hunslet

4-
Dons v Sheffield

5-
Dons v Dewsbury
Sheff v Leigh

6-
Dons v Bradford
Sheff v Halifax

7-
Sheff v Dons

8-
Dons v Workington
Sheff v Dewsbury

9-
Dons v London
Sheff v Whitehaven

10-
Dons v Whitehaven
Sheff v Workington

11-
Dons v Hunslet
Sheff v Bradford

12-
Dons v Halifax
Sheff v Featherstone

Number 6 could be an interesting afternoon.

Not happy fuming in fact.
I work every Sunday until 2 and could just make 3pm k.o.
I may have to return my season ticket it was bought on the premise of 3 pm k.o.
I wonder if anyone from dons office can reply to this.
No tickets should have been on sale until this was sorted.

In fairness to the club, lots of clubs have "Early Bird" offers on season tickets before the fixtures come out. It's not uncommon and no-one was forced to buy.

Wonder why it couldn't be 3pm and 5 15?

5.15 would have been too late - by the time the game had finished and fans had got back to Sheffield it would be getting late and our younger fans will have school the next day. Good to see that Club Doncaster have listened and we have an earlier kick off time.

Is there an award for the most annoying poster on this forum? Because if there is, it would be won hands down by griff.

Onedon is totally sickened off by the moving of the kick off time and griff offers no words of comfort or empathy whatsoever. How nice is that?!

I've contacted the ticket office at the stadium for clarification on whether they will refund money to season ticket holders who cannot make the new kick off times, such as Onedon.

The ticket office have not yet been informed of the kick off time changes and have not been informed of any club policy with regards to refund requests.

I would suggest that anyone who wishes to apply for a refund contacts the ticket office on: 01302 762576

Is what I said untrue or summat ?

Weeks 1 and 6 could be busy

Worky and Whitehaven there at the same time too could be interesting

It's like Sheffield's at the other end of the world. Heaven forbid anyone should come from Batley or somewhere.

No but its got nothing to do with the 3pm kick off altered to 2pm.

I would Read the post again if i was you. it now means i cant get to any of the matches.

Have the club agreed to refunding fans their season ticket monies if they can't now make the games due to the kick off time. I have a choice to make either stop going to the majority of away games to make time to spend some Sunday's with the family for sunday lunch or miss home games, I really enjoy away days, to be fair more than home games due to the atmosphere at other grounds and the whole matchday experience which is poor and expensive at the keepmoat.

I am happy with the deal if it means we have a greater budget for the 1st team squad, however I have concerns that there is no known figure in terms of income, it appears that Eagles are paying nominal rent but the club receive a percentage of gate receipts and the hope that the spend on food and drink will increase, no doubt it will, but it's difficult to predict what the extra revenue will be after cost.

This is a great deal for the eagles, who in effect are playing at the keepmoat for virtually no cost, with this type of deal it appears strangely convenient that our fixtures have been drawn so we are both at the keepmoat on the same date, therefore not damaging the pitch and allowing for double header which our marketing department believe they can exploit to increase revenue, I can only see a few people who will watch both games and therefore potentially spend more money within the ground which will be the aim, I hope this works, but could potentially backfire and the extra revenue won't be available to cookie until next season and if isn't successful could reduce revenue with the extra cost with staff and other associated cost.

Where have you got your information about how much rent Sheffield are paying and the split of the income from?

The information could be a wind up, as from an eagles fan I know, must admit it sounded to good a deal, and could be his way of trying to get one over myself in our bid to constantly have the bragging rights. Although what he said made me think.

I do believe it is important as a sport we stick together and help clubs not only survive but prosper, I feel the survival of a professional game outside super league hangs in the balance, and if ground sharing and therefore sharing costs strengthens the balance sheets of clubs who have a desire of promotion to the top flight is a massive positive.

When I spoke to the ticket office on Wednesday afternoon (29th October) to enquire about refunding season ticket monies, the ticket office hadn't officially been informed of any changes to kick off times and had no idea if any policy had been put together with regards to possible refunds.

I would be amazed if the club refused refunds. We all bought our tickets in good faith and in the belief that Sunday 3pm would be the kick off time.