Cut-price Caley Thistle season tickets are selling well but fewer hospitality packages will be taken up as the club prepares for life in the First Division.
Darren Mackintosh, the club’s commercial manager, said it was hoped that “very encouraging” season ticket sales would eventually match the 2,500 sold last term.
Fewer individuals and businesses are expected to buy match-day hospitality however because of the Inverness club’s less attractive fixture list and the recession.
Mr Mackintosh also revealed that the club was keen to host major concerts, following the success of an Elton John gig in July 2007 when 18,000 fans packed into the Caledonian Stadium, which would be another way of boosting revenue.
He said: “Elton John was a great success and we are very keen to do any concert. We are having a number of discussions to make it happen again.”
Season ticket prices for the coming season, which kicks off on August 8, were slashed by £100 following relegation from the Scottish Premier League in May.
As well as season ticket renewals, Mr Mackintosh said sales had also been buoyed by a number of new season ticket holders.
He said hospitality sales would be hit because the likes of Aberdeen, Celtic and Rangers would not be visiting the Caledonian Stadium for league games this season.
Asked what impact the recession was having, he said: “It’s getting harder. Less companies are spending the money they did a couple of years ago when they would have had two or three tables, compared with one last season.”
It has prompted Caley Jags to reduce the number of hospitality match day dining tables to five, while a new hospitality package is being marketed to season ticket holders.
For £250, fans joining the “Kingsmills Club” will be able to use the Kingsmills Suite, have complementary refreshments and free travel to the city centre following matches. Main stand adult season tickets have been reduced from £340 to £240, with senior citizens down from £215 to £150 and children’s from £140 to £100.
A new category has also been created for eight to 12-year-olds in the family section, where they can have a season ticket for £25.
For more information about the club’s hospitality packages, call 01463 227454.