In partnership with Scratch Catering, a pay on the day street food type offering will replace the formal two-course hospitality at the majority of home league matches.
Our Q&A with a former player will continue at around 2.15pm on every matchday (subject to availability) and the post-game Man of the Match presentation in the 1907 Lounge.
We’re also pleased to announce that the 1907 Lounge will be undergoing a major refurbishment in the coming weeks (artist’s impression above and proposed floor plan below). Work will begin next week (Monday 11th) and is expected to take 3-4 weeks to complete. Initially, this meant the Lounge will be closed for the visit of Gateshead on Wednesday 20th August. However, we can confirm that the Lounge will now be open, although potentially with a restricted capacity. Updates on the refurb will follow in the coming weeks.
Access to the stadium will be via the David Kilpatrick Main Stand reception, with the 1907 Lounge and AK Lettings Bar only open to supporters who have purchased a Lounge Pass, for either the season or on a match-by-match basis.
Supporters who have already purchased a Season Ticket in the Main Stand can upgrade to a Seasonal Lounge Pass for £100 via our Fanbase Ticketing platform.
Unlike previous seasons, the top half of Block A in the Main Stand is on sale for Season Tickets, which gives the quickest access between your seat and the 1907 Lounge, both pre-match, at half-time and post-game. A number of seats in Block B remain on sale and give similar perfect access via the door into the 1907 Lounge.
Furthermore, supporters wishing to attend a match in a large group can request to reserve a table in the 1907 Lounge by emailing commercial@rochdaleafc.co.uk.
For full details on Lounge Passes, including how to buy/upgrade, click HERE.
PREMIUM PADDED SEAT
Furthermore, for an extra £50 on top of your Season Ticket and Lounge Pass, a limited number of 40 Premium Padded Seats remain available to purchase.
These seats feature the same benefits of a Lounge Pass but offer a more comfortable, premium padded seat in Block B of the Main Stand.
CLUB BOXES
We are pleased to confirm that all 12 Club Boxes have been sold on a season-long basis, meaning there will not be any boxes available to purchase match-by-match for any home league matches.
Certain Club boxes may be available to purchase for Cup matches, depending on seasonal agreements.
MATCHDAY SPONSORSHIP
Two matchday sponsorship packages are available for each home game.
Box 1 will host the Official Match Sponsor and offers ten people a two-course meal courtesy of Scratch Catering. Match Sponsors will also select the Man of the Match, receive a framed, signed shirt, a pre-match picture pitchside and other marketing assets, priced at £1,250 (inc VAT), which is the same as last season.
Box 2 will host the Match Ball Sponsor, again offering ten people a two-course meal, a pre-match picture pitchside, marketing assets and a signed Rochdale AFC football in a display case. This package is priced at £1,000 (inc VAT), which again is the same as last season.
THE RATCLIFFE BAR
Our catering partners, Scratch Catering, are looking to introduce a pub-style food offering in The Ratcliffe for all home league matches, which can be bought on the day. More news on this will follow in the coming weeks.
HOSPITALITY REVIEW
We have listed below the relevant numbers of hospitality usage from last season to help us explain the change.
- Only two supporters booked a full season package to use the 1907 lounge and have a formal two-course meal for every home league game.
- With formal seating, the Lounge can hold up to 100 guests around the large round tables, or around 375 including informal seating and standing areas outside the AK Letting Lounge.
- The 1907 Lounge and AK Lettings bar area need to accommodate the Box Holders, Premium Padded Seat season ticket holders, 1907 guests and two matchday sponsors.
- The average number of people who booked hospitality in the first five games was 20 per match.
- The average number of people who booked hospitality in the next five-game block was 26 per match.
- The average number of people who booked hospitality in the next five-game block was 42 per match, with this block including over 100 guests for the home game versus Oldham Athletic.
- The average number of people who booked hospitality in the next five-game block was 31 per match.
- The average number of people who booked hospitality in the next five-game block was 36 per match.
- Only three matches achieved more than 50 guests buying hospitality.
- On six match occasions, less than ten people booked into hospitality in the 1907 Lounge.
- Lounge Passes and a street food offer were introduced for Cup matches, and over 60 were bought for every game.
- A formal hospitality survey was conducted at different points over the season and the food quality and experience were rated highly, along with the value for money.
The conclusion is that the bar areas in the Main Stand (1907 Lounge and AK Letting Bar) were not being used at anywhere near the capacity for the majority of matches. To drive revenues and open up this facility for as many fans as possible, we are offering seasonal Lounge Pass priced at £100 on top of a Main Stand Season Ticket.
We will also be offering Lounge Passes on a match-by-match basis, if capacity allows.
If you have any enquiries on any of the above offerings, please email commercial@rochdaleafc.co.uk.
