We are Rotherham United. Now is the time for a United Rotherham.
Open Letter from Chairman Tony Stewart
The COVID-19 outbreak has brought about so many new challenges for us all.
As a club right at the heart of the community we are all very aware of the financial, emotional and mental impact that this virus has had on the people of the town, which of course includes many of our supporters.
In the lead up to the news of the 2019/20 season being curtailed and confirmation of our resultant promotion to the Sky Bet Championship, the Board of Directors and I have talked extensively about all the ramifications for everyone, both season ticket holders and supporters who have purchased tickets for fixtures which we have not been able to play during the 2019/2020 campaign.
I am incredibly proud to say that during my tenure, we have been a club who has always operated within our means, however, following the suspension of first team fixtures back in March we cannot shy away from the fact that the club has understandably suffered from a significant loss of revenue from ticketing, sponsorship and corporate hospitality, among many other income streams, which have provided huge financial challenges for all football clubs and we are not immune to that.
Historically, the Club has had a history of facing troubling, precarious positions and every single time has not only survived to tell the tale but has come back stronger – together we can do the same again.
I am not an owner who is sat on the other side of the world, I am in amongst everyone, I live here, my family live here, my lighting business is here, I go shopping here, I employ lots of people who live here – Rotherham is in my blood and I cannot tell you how passionate I am to try and ensure that we come together and look to help each other get back on our feet after the devastation that COVID-19 has dealt us.
We climbed the leagues together, we built a stadium together, we won Play Off Finals together, there are also so many other instances I can recall where we have shown the ‘Rotherham resolve’ which enables us to be where we are today. We did all of this together.
At the same time as ensuring our own long-term financial security, the result of our discussions has been not only to, once again, freeze prices for existing season ticket holders who commit within the opening renewal period, but to also develop a scheme whereby the football club can be a vehicle that enables those Millers supporters who can, to reach out and ensure we do our upmost to look after the welfare of our own – our fellow supporters and residents of our town.
We are Rotherham United. But now it is time for a ‘United Rotherham’ – there is no more appropriate name for a project that we have created as an alternative to ticketing refunds.
This project is one which we hope will not only help to ensure the club’s long-term future but also provide a solid platform for us all to collectively deliver inclusive opportunities for the people of Rotherham and will enable some wonderful things to happen for the good of our fellow Millers and local key workers during these unprecedented times.
Whilst I am sure those who are in a position to, will be supportive of this initiative, we are also very aware that not everyone can and have subsequently added alternative options for consideration.
Thank you so much for all of your continued support and please accept our absolute assurances that as custodians of Rotherham United Football Club, we have been, are, and always will be working hard to ensure we keep our Club a fit and healthy one which we can all be proud of.
I look forward to seeing you all at the AESSEAL New York Stadium as soon as we’re able to but until then, please continue to stay safe.
UTM.
Tony Stewart
Chairman
About the United Rotherham scheme
United Rotherham. This is the name for the project which will be launched in an attempt to ensure Millers fans and people of the town who have been hit hard financially by the pandemic, are able to continue following their club.
This is a project which will allow us to look out for our fellow Millers, whilst also helping to guarantee the club’s long-term financial future through these uncertain times.
Following the curtailment of the 2019/20 season and the club’s subsequent promotion to the Sky Bet Championship, the remainder of the scheduled fixtures have been cancelled and the United Rotherham project has been created as an option for those who are happy and in a position to waiver their entitlements for the curtailment, whether that be for an individual match, season ticket or hospitality package and, therefore, donate to the project.
In waiving the return of these funds you will not only be retaining finances within the club which will help to us to overcome the shortfall of the last few months, but you will also – and more importantly – be helping fellow Millers who have been hit hard both financially and emotionally by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The funds raised by the ‘United Rotherham’ project will be utilised for those individuals and families who have followed the Millers for many years, but as a result of the impact that the virus has had on the incomes of many households, may no longer be in a position to attend fixtures at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
We will be reinvesting these funds into match tickets so that effected supporters can continue to watch our team in action, which without your support may no longer be possible for them.
In addition to looking out for fellow Millers supporters, we will also be using the funds to extend the same offer of tickets and hospitality to worthwhile causes in the area, including the NHS and key workers, who have worked so tirelessly on the front line throughout this pandemic.
We have witnessed so much kindness since the COVID-19 outbreak, this scheme will be another fantastic embodiment of the togetherness which now runs right through the club and town.
A summary of options for supporters to consider...
Fans in possession of individual home and away match tickets for 2019/20:
Option 1: As a supporter in possession of an individual home or away match ticket(s) for a cancelled game(s) in 2019/20 campaign, I would like to waiver the value of my ticket(s) and donate it to the United Rotherham project.
Option 2: Supporters will have the option to roll over and keep the value of the aforementioned ticket(s) within their account ‘Millers Wallet’ for the equivalent value to use on home fixture ticketing during the 2020/21 campaign.
Option 3: Alternatively, supporters in possession of individual match tickets for the 2019/20 season will be entitled to have their match ticket(s) refunded.
The club continues to operate on a reduced staffing base at present, meaning that supporters in possession of individual match ticket(s) should submit their preferred option on the attached form by Friday 31st July 2020.
Click here to select your option through our online form.
Fans in possession of season tickets for the 2019/20 campaign:
Following the curtailment of the 2019/20 season, a total of six home fixtures have been unavailable to attend for season ticket holders.
Option 1: As a supporter in possession of season ticket for the 2019/20 campaign, I would like to waiver the pro rata value of my season ticket and donate it to the United Rotherham project.
Option 2: Supporters who are wishing to renew a season ticket with us for next season*, will have the option to roll over the pro rata value of their 2019/20 season ticket at the (a cost worked out on price paid for the season ticket factoring in the percentage of games that will not be played) to retain within their ‘Millers Wallet.’ This total can then be deducted off the renewal rate price during the first phase of season ticket sales for the 2020/21 season.
Option 3: Alternatively, current season ticket holders who will not be renewing for the 2020/2021 season will be entitled to have the pro rata value (a cost worked out on price paid for the season ticket factoring in the percentage of games that have not been played) of their season tickets refunded.*
The club continues to operate on a reduced staffing base at present, meaning that supporters in possession of 2019/20 season tickets should submit their preferred option on the attached form by Friday 31st July 2020.
Click here to select your option through our online form.
*Details on how a 2020/21 season ticket will look and their subsequent prices will be confirmed by the club as we receive more information on the upcoming Sky Bet Championship season and further guidance from the Government on how and when supporters are able to safely return to the stadium.
Fans in possession of individual match hospitality packages:
Option 1: As a Business/Individual in possession of a home match hospitality package(s) for a cancelled game(s) in 2019/20 campaign, I would like to waiver the value of my hospitality package(s) and donate it to the United Rotherham project.
Option 2: Supporters wishing to join us for an alternative match in the hospitality areas during the 2020/21 season will have the option to roll over the value of their package to be kept on their account for use during the 2020/21 season.
Option 3: Alternatively, any Business/Individual in possession of a home match hospitality package(s) for a cancelled game(s) during the 2019/20 campaign will be entitled to a refund for an hospitality that has already been paid for.
The club continues to operate on a reduced staffing base at present, meaning that supporters in possession of match-by-match hospitality tickets should submit their preferred option on the attached form by Friday 31st July 2020.
Over the coming weeks, a member of our commercial team will be in touch to discuss your options for future hospitality packages for the 2020/21 season.
Click here to select your option through our online form.
Fans in possession of seasonal hospitality packages/corporate members/private box holders:
Following the curtailment of the 2019/20 season, a total of six home fixtures have been unavailable to attend for seasonal Executive Members.
Option 1: As a supporter in possession of seasonal hospitality package/corporate membership/private box for a cancelled game(s) in 2019/20 campaign, I would like to waiver the pro rata value of my hospitality package/corporate membership/private box and donate it to the United Rotherham project.
Option 2: Those who hold seasonal hospitality packages/corporate members/private box holders will have the option to roll over the pro rata value of their 2019/20 seasonal package** (a cost worked out on price paid for the season, factoring in the percentage of games that will not be played) to retain on their account, which can then be deducted off the price of a seasonal hospitality package for the 2020/21 season.
Option 3: Alternatively, those who have purchased/are seasonal hospitality packages/corporate members/private box holders in the 2019/20 season who will not be renewing for the 2020/2021 season will be entitled to have the pro rata value (a cost worked out on price paid for the season, factoring in the percentage of games that will not be played) of their seasonal packages refunded.
Over the coming weeks, a member of our commercial team will be in touch to discuss your options for future hospitality packages for the 2020/21 season.
Click here to select your option through our online form.
**Details on how seasonal 2020/21 hospitality packages will look and their subsequent prices will be confirmed by the club as we receive more information on the upcoming Sky Bet Championship season and further guidance from the Government on how and when supporters are able to safely return to the stadium in hospitality areas.
Disabled supporters in possession of car parking passes for the 2019/20 season:
Any supporters who have purchased seasonal disabled car parking passes will have the pro rata amount outstanding on their 2019/20 car parking pass taken off the cost of a disabled car parking pass for the 2020/21 season.
This will automatically be handled by a member of the Red and White Shop staff at the time of purchase of next season's car parking pass.
Note:
Supporters are advised to NOT send their credit/debit card details or bank account details via email, as a member of the ticketing team will contact you with further information regarding your requirements once we have received your completed form. We aim to have the refunds completed within 6 – 8 weeks. Confirmation will be sent to the supporters once the refund has been completed. Refunds will be returned to the same payment owner as they original transaction was completed by. Unfortunately, we will be unable to refund any booking or postage fees.
Supporters have until Friday 31st July 2020 to claim their refund.
Any supporters who haven’t claimed a refund or responded to the relevant form by this date will have their Millers Wallet balance updated with the relevant value, which will be calculated in relation to fixtures missed in 2019/20 to spend on tickets ONLY in the 2020/21 season.