Sheffield Wednesday today released details of ticket prices for individual matches for the 2009/10 season on the club's official website, www.swfc.co.uk.
An ongoing overhaul of the online systems that the clubs uses, set for completion next week will enable supporters to purchase and also print their tickets from their own computer and by doing so this will save them money as tickets purchased online will be £1 cheaper per ticket than those purchased from the club over the phone or in person at the megastore or the turnstiles to reflect the saving in administrational costs.
This is a positive step as previously it was more expensive and thus restrictive to purchase tickets in this way.
Wednesday have also reintroduced a categorised pricing system based on the attractiveness of the opposition with matches classified as "A", "B" or "C" fixtures.
The cheapest adult ticket for a home game next season is £16 on the kop for a category "C" fixture whilst a category "A" game on the South Stand is £28 when purchased online.
There are plenty of matches listed as "C" category including last season's play-off semi-finalists Preston, representing good value for money with the likes of Reading and Middlesbrough falling into the mid-range price section.
Unsurprisingly the local derby games against Barnsley and Sheffield United fall into the top price bracket as do the fixtures against title hopefuls Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion.
Interestingly the other two top-priced games come against Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Fixtures against these two teams have not attracted significantly large crowds in recent years and the decision for these must surely be based on historical local rivalry rather than the ability of the opposition based on their performances from the previous campaign.
As is usually the case, supporters intending to purchase a ticket for the home Sheffield derby will also have to buy a ticket for another home match and this is also set to apply to the Newcastle match on Boxing day.
The news that it will be possible to purchase a ticket for any home game as soon as the new system is up and running is very positive and this ease of access to tickets combined with a fresh approach to online pricing should help towards an increase in attendances at Hillsborough this coming season.
On reflection the tickets seem to be generally well-priced but as should be the case, there is still the opportunity to make the most of the best possible price of seeing the Owls next season by purchasing a season ticket.