Town chairman David Sheepshanks announced the new ticket prices this afternoon with fans paying 50p more across the board. This means that the standard season ticket is now £329 as opposed to £319 last season.
One of the areas the club were keenest to stress was their new Under 20s ticket. This new concessionary rate is designed as a transition between the children's ticket and the adult. At their cheapest these are £195. Ipswich Town have the cheapest children's season ticket in the Premiership at £95.
The new South Stand upper tier seats have a basic price of £415 with premium seats in the front four rows at £609.
Disabled fans will get the opportunity to watch the game from two new positions in the top and lower tiers of the new South Stand. There are 36 in the lower and 12 in the upper. The new North will also have 48 more places for disabled fans.
David Sheepshanks said "We have kept increases to a minimum, aproximately in line with inflation and introduced more good news for young fans with a special new rate for under 20s, to ease the burden between our very attractive children's prices (under 16) and our adult pricing. The board has given the matter careful consideration and hope that with the very substantial continuing investment in the team, the stadium and the facilities, the new package will again be seen as representing good value."
Renewal forms will be sent to existing season ticket holders and should be returned by May 15th. Payment will not be taken from bank acciounts until June 25th. Season ticket books will go out from July 18th. The club is anxious to know how many existing holders want to renew as soon as possible in what will be a diffucult summer with the new North Stand probably being built.
Other areas relating to this were also discussed. The waiting list for season tickets was revealed as over 3,000 people long. New season tickets will not start until September/October when the North Stand lower tier is ready.
The club has not yet received planning permission for the stand and the planning committee meet later in the month. Local residents have made a number of objections which the club are trying to address. They have already had one meeting with residents and will have another one next week when they will illustrate the new stand with use of a scale model of Portman Road.
Town have a date in mind after which, if planning permission still hasn't been received, the stand will be put back a year. In this case waiting list fans will only get the few seats vacated by those not renewing existing tickets. However, with more seats available they will get more tickets in the ballot which Town will continue next season.
Town have few worries ahead of Saturday's game with Newcastle. Richard Naylor returns to the squad as expected while only Gary Croft (groin) and John Scales (calf) are out injured.
George Burley said of Naylor: "It's been a worrying time for him. He had an operation last summer but it didn't completely clear up the problem. He's been given some different exercises to do to help him train and play and it seems to have helped."
James Scowcroft picked up a minor injury in the Liverpool game, but has been training in the last couple of days.
Radio Suffolk will be broadcasting an interview with Bobby Robson tomorrow afternoon just after 1pm.