We are delighted to unveil our ground-breaking debenture scheme – and your ticket for our historic return to Plough Lane!
After an exhaustive and extremely-positive consultation period, we are delighted to confirm the scheme will open on August 4. And we’re not just unveiling debentures, either! Your feedback has helped us create a stronger debenture proposal and we’ve made some adjustments that we believe will make the scheme more attractive for everyone.
One of the key additions will be offering non-refundable season tickets to make choosing seats affordable for more of our fans. The feedback also suggested that many of our fans would be willing to help the club by purchasing a non-refundable season ticket as well as debenture, which is a massive bonus for the club’s budget as football continues to struggle through the extremely-unpredictable Covid crisis.
Fans who purchase a debenture with a non-refundable season ticket followed by fans who purchase non-refundable season tickets without a debenture, will get priority for our first home matches this season, should we initially have to limit the amount of supporters in our stadium.
Some of the other changes we have made following your feedback include; giving 5 year season ticket holders greater flexibility with their credit to allow them to different things, as well as ensuring our volunteers will be amongst the first to choose their seat as thank you for their ongoing help and commitment.
Above anything else, our core principle was to ensure that current season ticket holders are looked after ahead of any non-season ticket holder and have the opportunity to secure their desired seats first before everyone else.
To view details of the priority periods and rules around purchasing debentures and non-refundable season tickets please visit DEBENTURES AND NON REFUNABLE SEASON TICKET EXPLAINED document.
This scheme is only happening thanks to you and the feedback you gave us. We’ve listened long and hard, even talking to supporters from the Chemflow End to see how we can best recreate their unique atmosphere at our new home. Season Ticket holders from the Ry Terrace will also be looked after and assigned two sectors in the East Stand to choose their seats from.
It is in all our interests to make the debenture scheme a huge success. Not only will it guarantee your seat at Plough Lane for at least 10 years, it will help put our club on a firm foundation as we march into an exciting, new era..
Debentures Q&A
When will I be able to buy a Debenture?
If fans indicate a motivation to buy, we would be looking at Debenture sales from the beginning of August – this is when we are looking to launch our new ticketing platform.
Why is the club not selling Season Tickets?
With the current Covid-19 crisis there is a lot of uncertainty about what will happen next season. As a club we need to have budget certainty to be able to plan effectively for next season. We should be issuing season tickets right now – especially as we prepare for life back at Plough Lane – but how can we if fans aren’t allowed to see games? If we had to issue refunds that could leave a significant funding gap so we want to provide fans with a product that has ongoing value and gives the club budget certainty.
What if I’m a current Season Ticket holder but don’t want to buy a Debenture?
We want to ensure that the debenture scheme does not impact current seating arrangements for season ticket holders. Therefore we will ensure that all current season ticket holders are allocated a like-for-like seat where possible.
Paul Strank stand season ticket holders will be allocated a seat in the west stand with a similar seating position. This includes a similar view and location to what they had at The Cherry Red Records stadium surrounded by the same group of people. If, for example, you are currently a season ticket holder in the top row of the Paul Strank stand at The Cherry Red Records stadium, then you’ll get a seat 9 rows back from the front, at a broadly equivalent location along the pitch, at the new stadium. But the new west stand has up to 18 rows. So, debenture holders will get the first choice on seats that haven’t been set aside for season ticket holders, including those in the rows further back from the pitch.
We appreciate that there will be no equivalent stand for John Green season ticket holders, as the north end will now be away section seating, therefore they will be allocated a secured seat in the middle sections of the east stand with a similar seating layout to what they had at The Cherry Red Records stadium. Again, starting from the front, running 9 rows back. The east stand will have 11 rows in most places. Rygas stand season ticket holders will also be allocated two sectors in the East stand to chose their seats from.
If you are in the Chemflow stand you will now have to be allocated an individual seat number and row in the South Stand as this stand will no longer be a terrace, it will be seated or if possible, safe standing. We will be liaising with Chemflow season ticket holders in order to create a situation that maintains the culture and the atmosphere of that stand and to find the best solution for allocating seats, as there are no like for like allocations to be transferred over to the new stand.
CURRENT SEASON TICKET HOLDERS CANNOT BE DISPLACED FROM THEIR ALLOCATED SEATS BY A DEBENTURE HOLDER OR A CURRENT NON SEASON TICKET HOLDER
Can I buy a debenture if I would like to stay in my allocated seat?
Yes, absolutely. There are still many benefits including a season ticket discount for the forthcoming season of 50% and then 5% for the following 10 years. You will also be guaranteeing the fact your seat is guaranteed for 10 years, even if you don’t buy a season ticket.
What if I want to move to a different seat from the one that was assigned to me?
You will be able to move seat straight away if you are purchasing a debenture.
If you are not purchasing a debenture you will have to wait until priority group 3 when you can buy a non refundable season ticket and choose your new seat or when season tickets go on general sale, subject to availability.
Will I be able to see a mock-up of the stadium and view before I select my seat?
Absolutely yes. We are creating a full stadium seat map of the stadium so you will be able to see and pick specific seats.
How much money will I save by buying a debenture?
The 5% discount over 10 years combined with the 50% discount on next season’s season ticket could see up to 80% of the cost of the debenture returned, depending on when fans can return to the stadium. This also equates to roughly one year’s free season ticket over the 10 year term.
What happens to the seat of a season ticket holder who chooses to move elsewhere?
That seat becomes available to other people – whether as a debenture or (once on sale) a season ticket. [[We will maintain a live online map of the seats that are available for purchase.]]
Is the debenture worth buying as there might not be many places to move to?
We will not have the same capacity issues that we had at The Cherry Red Records stadium. We can sell to all our existing season ticket holders and still have space for plenty of new debenture holders. In fact, all our current season ticket holders could fit into the west stand on its own! We also hope that we can bring in a whole lot more fans who haven’t been able to buy tickets at The Cherry Red Records stadium and provide crucial financial support now.
How many debentures will be available?
We don’t envisage selling any more than about 50-60% of seating capacity as debenture. It’s important to keep seats free to be able to continue to introduce new people to Wimbledon and give people their first experience.
What if I don’t want to move from my assigned seat but I would like to have new friends and family around me?
Unfortunately whilst you can keep your position you will not be able to displace other season ticket holders from their seats and you will therefore if you want to do this with priority, you will need to buy a debenture (or non refundable season ticket) in a different location where there are unallocated seats for you and your fellow debenture holders by creating a new seating group through the new group booking system.
How do I ensure I can sit with my friends or family?
With the new group booking system you’ll be able to create a new seating group with other current season ticket holders but you will need to find a space large enough to accommodate your group where the seats are unallocated
It’s very important to us that families are no longer broken up and sat apart from each other due to capacity issues. Therefore we are allowing the lead debenture holder in the family to purchase more than one debenture for immediate family members, for example an additional child and partner, even if they are not current season ticket holders. Likewise they will need to find a space with unallocated seats to accommodate the size of their group. If families are keen to increase their group to include extended family members they will need to utilise the new group booking system but they will not be able to buy a debenture for members of their extended family who are currently non season ticket holders.
We currently sit with three friends and would like to stay together at Plough Lane – how can this be arranged?
If you sat together at the Cherry Red Records stadium the whole group will be allocated similar seats at Plough Lane - therefore you will remain together.
If you wish to move as a group to different seats, please refer to our detailed debenture schedule which outlines when you will be able to move and with whom.
If we choose seats ‘on plan’ would we have the right to change them if we were unhappy with the original choice?
Debenture holders will have a chance to change their debenture seat at the end of each season.
Can I keep my allocated seat and buy an additional debenture elsewhere?
If you choose to keep your allocated seat, you will not be able to buy a debenture elsewhere in GA as well until General sale, (priority group 5) when you will be able to buy multiple debentures.
You will however, be able to buy debenture or keep your allocated seat in GA seating and buy another debenture seat in hospitality .
I’m an accessibility season ticket holder, can I buy a debenture?
Yes, all the same rules apply to season ticket holders with accessibility needs. We will also reserve the row directly in front (or behind in the case of east and south stands) of the wheelchair and ambulant seats to ensure that these season ticket holders have the opportunity to sit with family members. The carers seat comes with the main accessibility seat (there is nothing extra to pay for it).
I’m not sure about being locked in for a 10 year term, why should I buy a debenture?
As part of having rights to a particular seat for 10 years, you will be allowed to transfer that seat and its rights at any point during the term to anyone you wish, should you choose to.
You are also not required to always buy a season ticket every season throughout the term. You can choose to take a break and buy on a match by match basis. This may be useful if you are planning to go to university or are going to work abroad for a period of time. You will still have the rights to that seat for 10 years so can come back to it at any point during that term. You cannot however, pause the scheme and reengage it, adding on the years that it was paused for.
Will I have rights to my allocated seat or non refundable season ticket seat for the following seasons if I don’t buy a debenture?
You will be able to renew your season ticket in that same seat as long as you do so within the priority window for ST renewals
If there are a lot of people interested in buying a debenture within the top priority group (season ticket holders that have had a season ticket for over 8 years), how will priority be assigned amongst this group and within each other group?
Debentures within a priority group will be sold on a first come first served basis.
If I’d like to occasionally bring friends to a game, how will I be able to sit with them if there are no spare seats next to my seat?
All season ticket holders will be able swap their seat on a match by match basis to another unallocated seat within the stadium at the same or lesser level free of charge. Their friend will then be able to purchase the adjoining seat(s). By doing this, you will be giving up your seat for resale by the club for that particular match.
If there are other events at the stadium, as a debenture holder, will I get any priority access to those?
Along with long term season ticket holders, you will have priority to buy for all cup matches, but will have the added benefit of having priority to buy for other non football events that may be held in the stadium in the future – thought this may not be in your chosen debenture seat.
What is the order of priority for buying a debenture?
The proposed priority for buying a Debenture and/or choosing your seat will be as follows:
- Current Season Ticket holders who have had a season ticket for 8 or more years and current volunteers that wish to buy a non refundable season ticket (can choose seat without debenture)
- Current Season Ticket holder who have had a season ticket for 7 or less years
- Current season ticket holders that wish to buy a non refundable season ticket (can choose their seat without debenture)
- Dons Trust Members, Seedrs investors, Plough Lane Bond holders and PLC Shareholders
- General sale Debenture
How does hospitality debenture work?
When you purchase a hospitality debenture the seats are linked to a particular hospitality lounge and package, so before you buy a hospitality debenture you will need to decide which hospitality package you’d like to have.
Don’t worry, you will not be locked in to that lounge for the duration of your term, you can transfer to a different lounge at the end of each season if you wish or swap it for GA seat, subject to availability. However it’s important to note that you cannot buy seat only at hospitality level. In other words, if you haven’t bought a hospitality season ticket, and you wish to take up your seat for a particular match, then you will have to buy the corresponding hospitality package for that match. You cannot buy the seat alone.
5 year Season Tickets
I am a five-year season ticket holder. How will the debenture scheme affect me?
In short: as little – or as much – as you’d like. The five-year season ticket you purchased for the Cherry Red Records stadium will still be valid at Plough Lane for the allocated seat you will be given.
If you wish to move from your allocated seat within the same or to a lower category, your 5YST will still be valid. However, if you wish to move to a higher category, then you will need to pay the additional balance to keep the same term.
Alternatively, you can take your remaining credit and put it towards buying a debenture if you choose. You could also use your credit against any hospitality packages, or our hospitality debenture, and also for any multiple-ticket purchases you might want to make. You will need to contact us if you wish to do this.
Like all debenture holders, you’ll of course be entitled to 50% off the forthcoming campaign’s season ticket price – and five per cent off the seasons after that. You will need to let us know if you wish to maintain your first year as a non refundable season ticket, otherwise we will assume that you would like a 50% discount applied to your year one.
In summary, if you wish to do anything other than stay in your allocated seat, you will need contact us.
As a five-year season ticket holder, how will my Plough Lane seat be assigned to me?
You will be allocated a seat in exactly the same way as all current season ticket holders will be.
Please could you confirm whether the five-year scheme is still available?
As previously explained, last season was the last opportunity to buy a five-year season ticket.
Can I add extra years to my five-year season ticket?
No, we will no longer be offering 5 year season top ups at Plough Lane.
Can my debenture be transferred should I die during the 10-year period?
Yes, it can. You will be allowed to nominate a person to make the transfer for you.
Pricing
Will the Debenture price for Accessible tickets be different?
No. Season ticket prices are not different and nor are debentures. It should also be noted that the carers seat is included in the main accessibility seat debenture.
If I buy an Adult seat debenture and a Child seat debenture for my son, who is 15, what happens in three years’ time when he turns 18? Do I have to upgrade his debenture to an Adult one?
No, there will not be an additional price to pay for that debenture. However, he will have to pay for an adult season ticket from that point – or an adult match-day ticket - to physically see games.
What if my 15-year-old son can’t attend a match? Could his mum, or an adult friend, use that seat in his place?
No, that won’t be possible. To guarantee flexibility like that, you would need to buy an Adult debenture and then your son – or whoever you want – could use that seat on a match-by-match basis.
As someone who is in the slightly at-risk Covid-19 category (heart attack six years ago and in my 50s) will I be able to watch a live stream of the game as part of my season ticket package?
This is something we are looking in to at the moment in association with EFL guidance
Should fans not be allowed into grounds, will season tickets be reimbursed – or maybe vouchers offered for match-day hospitality?
The debenture scheme completely avoids this problem. There will be no need to buy a season ticket until football is back. Also if you have purchased a non refundable season ticket, then you will be agreeing to no refund on that season ticket.
As a current season ticket holder, would I be able to buy a debenture for my own allocated seat at any time in the future - or would I have to buy a debenture when they go on sale in August?
We are still considering this option but, to reiterate, the best way to help the club is to buy a debenture when they go on sale this season.
International supporters
I live overseas but would like to contribute to the club by buying a debenture
Yes – you can absolutely buy a debenture if you live overseas. You will receive the same terms as everyone else and will have the opportunity to buy match by match with a priority when you are able to visit.