Hibs defend decision to charge entry fee for training centre tour

Published on Tuesday 13 May 2008 10:52

HIBS today denied ripping off fans by charging them to visit the club's £5 million state-of-the-art training centre.

The Easter Road club are throwing the doors of the centre on the outskirts of Tranent open to supporters for a limited period during the close season.

However, the fact they are asking 5 for a guided tour (children 2.50) has angered some fans who feel that entry should be free.

But today Ian Spence, the club's director of marketing and communications, insisted the fee had been put in place simply to cover the overheads of opening the centre at a time when it would usually be closed.

He said: "We have to pay staff to open the centre, guides and security. Each person who visits will also be given a tour guide packed full of facts, figures and photographs, a full-in-depth explanation of how the training centre works."

Spence revealed the scheme is already proving to be extremely popular with bookings being taken for the first series of tours, on May 25, 26 and 27 and June 1, 2 and 3.

Four tours, each lasting around 75 minutes, will take place each day with numbers on each of them limited to just 20 people.

Spence said: "We've limited the number of supporters on each tour to ensure they can enjoy the day and be able to see everything there is to see rather than simply cramming as many people as possible into the training centre."

Further dates for tours will be released once the initial block has been fully booked up. A family group ticket (based on two adults and two children) costs 12.50 while under fives will be admitted free.

Meanwhile, Hibs reminded supporters planning to buy a season ticket that if they do so before the close of business on Friday they will receive a 10 discount voucher for the new all-yellow away strip which goes on sale the following Wednesday.