The unveiling of season ticket prices was more eagerly anticipated than ever before – and not just because it took almost six weeks from the end of the season to do so.

Few things attract more debate among supporters than ticket prices, and this year’s was no exception, fans keen to see how the club would respond to their 18-month absence.

After the announcement was made, there were clear categories emerging of where Rovers supporters sat:

- ‘I can’t wait to be back, take my money now’

- ‘I renewed last season so it works out okay for me’

- ‘More could have been done but I know full well I’ll still renew’

- ‘This isn’t thought through and I’ll certainly not be parting with any money’

- ‘What the hell are Category A+ games needed for?’

- ‘That’s about what I expected’

- ‘Sign some players and then I might think about it’

The importance of fans has been spoken about in great detail during their time away, and it is up to the interpretation of each supporter whether they feel that has been reflected in the prices.

So too has the lost revenue caused by matches being played behind closed doors, but it remains that with supporters there or not, Rovers struggle to break even on a matchday.

Ticket income equates to around a quarter of Rovers’ turnover, so their significance is strong – yet fans need to be seen as just that, not customers who part with their cash.

The matchday prices on paper look particularly steep, £25 the cheapest matchday ticket for an adult hardly screams affordable.

Some justification could be to try and tempt fans into buying a season ticket which provides better value for money, but a 23-game bundle isn’t simply about committing money, it’s the time as well. And that has become even more precious during the course of the last 18 months in which going to Ewood has been a habit no longer.

As Rovers have found to their detriment in recent years, retaining supporters has been a tough enough job, but that is a far easier sell than to entice.

Have Rovers done enough to turn the occasional matchday goer into a season ticket, whether that be with their pricing structure or indeed the progress of the team?

Those who signed up last year will now see the benefit of their discount, and the £10-a-game season ticket price for 2021/22 is a show of loyalty.

The amount of terms and conditions and topics in the FAQs published by Rovers shows the issues that were faced.

Rovers have said with confidence they will be able to accommodate all season ticket holders should any restrictions still be in place. Maybe they have had to lower their expectations of how many will be sold, just like fans may do too after a lower mid-table finish.

Rovers froze prices in 2019/20 and hoped for 10,000 sales.

They missed that by around 15 per cent, and from that moment an increase was always expected.

Covid hit and prices were raised to a uniform £399, an £80 rise for a Riverstander, and that is what Rovers have decided to stick with.

Relationships are two-way, about give and take, and some supporters may feel there’s not been an equilibrium on that scale of late.

Season tickets are hugely affected by everyone’s personal circumstances, some won’t be able to hand their money over quickly enough, others will feel priced out. But in uncertain times, there is at least clarity.