[Albion] Albion Fans vs Ticket Window ****Official Bun Fight Thread****

[Commander]

by the definition of the club's loyalty scheme, you are deemed as a less loyal than someone who's only been going since we got to the premier league.. That's the rules of the scheme...

There will always be 2 sides to this story forever.... ... Should we be rewarded because we went 30 years ago, I don't think so.... Just the way it is...

I'm in the same "bracket" as you by the way.. I've been everywhere watching this club for 30 years....do I deserve a ticket more than anyone else? - Maybe some, maybe not others... I think Generally this system is actually quite fair. I'm sure there's tweaks that could be made, but generally the system is more fair than unfair IMO.

It is indeed. I'm not moaning, I got a ticket. But I do think the random queuing system was fairer.

Or better still, let's have an actual queue down Queens Road, and the earlier you get there, the further towards the front of the queue you are. That will test people's loyalty.

 

[Hamilton]

It would also make it very unfair on the vast majority of fans who have next to no chance on a game like this, even though they’ve been season ticket holders for decades. Not everyone has Saturdays off and can go to away matches - it’s a narrow definition of ‘loyalty’. I’m imagine that’s why they protected the very top points holders and made the small amount remaining more of a lottery.

Then what is the point of loyalty points beyond the dedicated home and awayers? I’ll manage about 4 away games a season, but if those points don’t count for anything when it really matters, what’s the point?

 

[WATFORD zero]

It is indeed. I'm not moaning, I got a ticket. But I do think the random queuing system was fairer.

Or better still, let's have an actual queue down Queens Road, and the earlier you get there, the further towards the front of the queue you are. That will test people's loyalty.

Proper Queues

 

[London Irish]

I'm swayed because a fair few of the people I know who qualify for all these matches had next to no interest in the Albion before the club moved to the Amex. Just a passing interest in their local club but they'd go to watch Premier League football instead. Don't begrudge them their tickets - it is what it is - but I'm glad to have at least been in the mix. I think the loyalty points approach works across a normal season as there are 20+ games and it's usually possible to get to a few. For this, with potentially only 3 matches and possibly for the only time in our history, I don't think the system works so well. It would be interesting to know how many people with high loyalty points don't attend home games (thereby contributing precisely nothing to the club). Maybe not many at all but I do suspect some prioritise away matches for the craic - and the bonus of being able to get to the glamour cup ties.

I probably fall into the category of moaning old git when it comes to what the club does generally but can't see a fairer way of doing it than the current loyalty points system - everyone who pays the minimum of attention knows where they stand when it comes to access to limited allocations and can plan accordingly to increase their chances if that's what they want to do. I missed out on these tickets but fully accept that those who got them ahead of me deserved to. I know what I have to do to increase my chances for the later rounds or next year's Euro cup run

 

[Hamilton]

It is indeed. I'm not moaning, I got a ticket. But I do think the random queuing system was fairer.

Or better still, let's have an actual queue down Queens Road, and the earlier you get there, the further towards the front of the queue you are. That will test people's loyalty.

Agree.

The ticketing system- as in the technology- may well be fair, but it is important that people see that it is fair, which is why a queuing system is right.

I also can’t understand the tiering. I’m on 250 points at the moment. Had tier two been at 255 then I’d at least have seen that as fair enough and that those with the most points were going.

And this should have happened yesterday and not when most people were at work.

 

[jackalbion]

I'm swayed because a fair few of the people I know who qualify for all these matches had next to no interest in the Albion before the club moved to the Amex. Just a passing interest in their local club but they'd go to watch Premier League football instead. Don't begrudge them their tickets - it is what it is - but I'm glad to have at least been in the mix. I think the loyalty points approach works across a normal season as there are 20+ games and it's usually possible to get to a few. For this, with potentially only 3 matches and possibly for the only time in our history, I don't think the system works so well. It would be interesting to know how many people with high loyalty points don't attend home games (thereby contributing precisely nothing to the club). Maybe not many at all but I do suspect some prioritise away matches for the craic - and the bonus of being able to get to the glamour cup ties.

I think what needs to be taken into account is a lot of the people in the top bracket are quite young, so will have been building points since the Amex, as they weren't old enough to go before then. A lot of the people I know who are in the top bracket fall into that category, as well as the older heads who don't miss a game.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Here's my suggestion:

- Invite all fans that want to go to apply for the ticket lottery with a closing date (we sort of had this with the expression of interest)​

- Set the tiers and have more of them (I think the 220 scooped up a mighty group which was always going to lead to a bun fight) to reward people with more loyalty points
- Set Tier One so that they can all get a ticket if they want one
- Any remaining tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- If tickets still remain, tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random
- and so on until all the itckets have gone
- email all in the lottery to let them know if they got a ticket​

Removes the ticket site scrum and the stress. Evryone knows the rules and has the same chance of getting a ticket. "Loyal" fans get a better chance of getting a ticket (eg someone with 259 would be in a higher tier than someone with 220). We all know where we stand

 

[trueblue]

I probably fall into the category of moaning old git when it comes to what the club does generally but can't see a fairer way of doing it than the current loyalty points system - everyone who pays the minimum of attention knows where they stand when it comes to access to limited allocations and can plan accordingly to increase their chances if that's what they want to do. I missed out on these tickets but fully accept that those who got them ahead of me deserved to. I know what I have to do to increase my chances for the later rounds or next year's Euro cup run

As I said, don't have an issue with those people in tier 1 getting tickets. There's not going to be a system that works for everyone. It's just unfortunate this system works badly for me because of the need to make a living. I hope they continue to gear tier 2 at a level that gives a chance to home fans who can only get to a few away games each season. That seems fair to me - but won't to those who had 250 points. Just the way it is.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I quite like Wimbledon Centre Court ticketing. You apply and get entered into a lottery. They email you once that has been drawn to let you know if you have got a ticket. Albion could do this on a tier by tier basis. Would be far less stressful for everyone and less demanding on the tech to hold up to the inevitable pressure at 9am. Also removes any sneaky backdoor tactics of Tier Ones.

Not sure how that works with loyalty tiers and pre-reg?

The pre-register gives a pool of interested people. The home club gives a number of properly available (i.e. not taken by club or UEFA) tickets. The cut off for guarantees is the nth person's loyalty points where n = number of tickets. A proper lottery is different to that. I'm not sure having a lottery for Europe and loyalty for domestic is a good idea. And then what happens with difficult domestic games? Only 1100 or so for an easy away at Bournemouth. What if we get somewhere really small in FA Cup 3rd round? Cup semi? Cup final? Must win away game at end of season to get in Europe / stay up?

There will always be more people wanting to go to big games than tickets available. Last season I could barely see anything at Palace because we got the very last tickets at the back of the Arfur. I could have got decent view tickets at the front but my son was in the next window. Our points difference? 1. One. ONE. That was the way the cookie crumbled though.

(Yes, I know I'm writing this as someone lucky enough to get tickets here but it's taken work, money and arguments with her indoors to get both our points up and even now we're only on 274 and 275.)

 

[trueblue]

I think what needs to be taken into account is a lot of the people in the top bracket are quite young, so will have been building points since the Amex, as they weren't old enough to go before then. A lot of the people I know who are in the top bracket fall into that category, as well as the older heads who don't miss a game.

Sure. The ones I know aren't young. They just supported other teams. I see a lot of people their age at away games.

 

[dazzer6666]

Here's my suggestion:

- Invite all fans that want to go to apply for the ticket lottery with a closing date (we sort of had this with the expression of interest)​

- Set the tiers and have more of them (I think the 220 scooped up a mighty group which was always going to lead to a bun fight) to reward people with more loyalty points​

- Set Tier One so that they can all get a ticket if they want one​

- Any remaining tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- If tickets still remain, tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- and so on until all the itckets have gone​

- email all in the lottery to let them know if they got a ticket​

Removes the ticket site scrum and the stress. Evryone knows the rules and has the same chance of getting a ticket. "Loyal" fans get a better chance of getting a ticket (eg someone with 259 would be in a higher tier than someone with 220). We all know where we stand

220 was a bit daft for this game in particular - way too wide. For most away games something like that is fine because the majority of our long term STHs don't go to away games (and evidenced by the number of games that see relatively few sales in T2 and scoot through the next tiers), but the EL games are a special case. Having around 2-300 left for this morning was very predictable, so the next tier should have better reflected that perhaps. Would be interesting to know exactly how many were in T2 for this particular game

 

[trueblue]

Then what is the point of loyalty points beyond the dedicated home and awayers? I’ll manage about 4 away games a season, but if those points don’t count for anything when it really matters, what’s the point?

I'm in the same situation as you.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Here's my suggestion:

- Invite all fans that want to go to apply for the ticket lottery with a closing date (we sort of had this with the expression of interest)​

- Set the tiers and have more of them (I think the 220 scooped up a mighty group which was always going to lead to a bun fight) to reward people with more loyalty points​

- Set Tier One so that they can all get a ticket if they want one​

- Any remaining tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- If tickets still remain, tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- and so on until all the itckets have gone​

- email all in the lottery to let them know if they got a ticket​

Removes the ticket site scrum and the stress. Evryone knows the rules and has the same chance of getting a ticket. "Loyal" fans get a better chance of getting a ticket (eg someone with 259 would be in a higher tier than someone with 220). We all know where we stand

You've answered my reply with this post. Fair enough

 

[trueblue]

Here's my suggestion:

- Invite all fans that want to go to apply for the ticket lottery with a closing date (we sort of had this with the expression of interest)​

- Set the tiers and have more of them (I think the 220 scooped up a mighty group which was always going to lead to a bun fight) to reward people with more loyalty points​

- Set Tier One so that they can all get a ticket if they want one​

- Any remaining tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- If tickets still remain, tickets are available for the next tier​

- All in the next tier get a ticket unless there are too many in the lottery who qualify. If so, names drawn at random​

- and so on until all the itckets have gone​

- email all in the lottery to let them know if they got a ticket​

Removes the ticket site scrum and the stress. Evryone knows the rules and has the same chance of getting a ticket. "Loyal" fans get a better chance of getting a ticket (eg someone with 259 would be in a higher tier than someone with 220). We all know where we stand

You confuse 'availability to go to away games' with 'loyalty'. 220+ was fine.

 

[Black Rod]

Hit refresh bang on 9am. The button changed from Sold Out to Buy. Selected a block, hit 'Best Available' to avoid wasting time selecting an individual seat and sailed straight through payment

The key is speed. It will be sit anywhere inside the away end anyway, so don't worry about where you are sitting. Just get any ticket which will get you into the ground.

 

[RandyWanger]

Hopefully some will be returned

 

[chimneys]

The tier 1 had already used their allocation so it was just a basket With a different owner. Maybe they just got lucky. But fundamentally as others have said it's crazy that tier ones can get in 30 mins before.

We couldn't! Christ it’s like listening to Trump!! No matter how many times you say it, you are still wrong!

 

[trueblue]

Hit refresh bang on 9am. The button changed from Sold Out to Buy. Selected a block, hit 'Best Available' to avoid wasting time selecting an individual seat and sailed straight through payment

The key is speed. It will be sit anywhere inside the away end anyway, so don't worry about where you are sitting. Just get any ticket which will get you into the ground.

The "best available' tip is worth knowing. I'll bear it in mind for the knockout phase!

 

[Seaview Seagull]

Generally speaking I think the loyalty scheme is the right way to deal with away ticketing. I recognized being in tier 2 with my wife in tier 3 we were unlikely to get tickets for Ajax. Just one thing concerns me a bit. Effectively the same individuals get tickets for all three of these "special" games. Perhaps it would be "fairer" if those who got tickets for Marseille were put down into tier 2 for Ajax so a wider group of fans got the chance to experience the "special" games? Just a thought- it would not affect me as the wife being in tier 3 would scupper our chances anyway.

 

[Seaview Seagull]

Then what is the point of loyalty points beyond the dedicated home and awayers? I’ll manage about 4 away games a season, but if those points don’t count for anything when it really matters, what’s the point?

I think you missed a vital point. Going to away games is about supporting our team not just getting points for loyalty.