LIFE TIME TICKET
JOHN LYONS EXAMINES A SWEDISH CLUB’S INNOVATIVE IDEA – A LIFETIME SEASON TICKET…
A Swedish club’s idea...
WOULD you like to have a lifetime season ticket at your favourite club? Many supporters would jump at the chance.
Once you’d paid for it, you could sit back safe in the knowledge that your seat was safe, your place was always going to be there. No one could stop you attending the big games.
You wouldn’t have to worry about loads of bandwagon-hoppers jumping on board and creating a fight for the tickets. You wouldn’t have to shell out each year to renew your season ticket or spend time doing it.
Well, one Swedish team have decided to give their fans that option. It’s not any old team, either – AIK are the reigning Swedish champions.
Their 2018 success was their 12th title and came on the back of an all-time high in total numbers of spectators in one single season (23,664 on average) but also in a single home game (50,128).
It was when the Stockholm-based side announced their season ticket prices for the new season, which kicks off at the end of March, that news of the Infinity card, a season ticket that’s valid for a long as its owner lives, came to light.
The price? 189,100 Swedish kronor ( 18,500) being a symbolic flirt with the club’s founding year of 1891.
“We’re proud to welcome people of all ages, occupations and backgrounds to our stands,” said Fredrik Söderberg, AIK marketing director.
“As a celebration to this commitment, we’ve created the Infinity card. Even though it might not be a bestseller, it’s an important reminder that AIK is always there for you, no matter what.”
It didn’t take them long to find a buyer.
AIK supporter Magnus Käck swiftly snapped up an Infinity card, giving him entrance to every home game for AIK in the domestic league for as long as he lives.
He said: “It felt good when I made the decision to purchase the Infinity card and I feel even better about it now. I know for a fact that I’ll attend AIK games at least 30 years from now, but I have no idea what my life situation will be like at that time.
“It’s a thrilling thought to think that, no matter what, I will always have AIK as a part of my life.”
Soderberg couldn’t hide his delight either.
“The fact that we have supporters who choose to manifest their love for AIK shows what kind of club we really are,” he said.
“AIK is something you carry deep inside of you throughout life and this is the ultimate proof of affection for it.
“I’m very proud of the reception that has been given to the Infinity card and that we now have our first supporter taking the step to actually procure one. It really is a fantastic thing.”
Maybe the idea will catch on. It does sounds perfect – if you’ve got the money! – though perhaps it wouldn’t be so clever if your team crashed down through the divisions or, worst of all, went bust!
And what if you decided later in life to move away, to live a lot further away from your favourite team. You’d be a bit stumped them.
Let’s hope Magnus has taken everything into account…