Amex seating +3 - The who you know game.

[Easy 10]

I and others dont have a problem with getting bums on seats and the fact the seats will be filled is amazing.


The main issues arise with + 3 people sitting somewhere random and not with the group that have assisted them, the jonny come lately's who just suddenly fancy going being ahead of the heart and soul of the club.

Thats the conflict in your post. You want bums on seats, but not JCL's. Or at least not JCL's ahead of other loyal Albion fans. And everyone can understand the reasoning behind that of course.

But the fact of the matter is, many of the JCL's would not be investing in a season ticket at the Amex were they not being given the opportunity to sit with a group of mates who are long-standing supporters of the club. The Albion would, in all likelihood, not be seeing their money at all, save perhaps for the odd match here and there.

I can categorically state that the 'newbies' in our group would NOT bother getting a season ticket at the Amex if it had to be elsewhere in the ground from where our group are sitting. They just wouldn't bother. Its as much a social thing as anything else. So thats £400-£500 per person the club would be LOSING if they hadn't given the Priority 1's the opportunity to "recruit" new fans for the club.

Its not ideal from a fairness point of view. But fairness don't pay the bills does it.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Thats the conflict in your post. You want bums on seats, but not JCL's. Or at least not JCL's ahead of other loyal Albion fans. And everyone can see the reasoning behind that of course.

But the fact of the matter is, many of the JCL's would not be investing in a season ticket at the Amex were they not being given the opportunity to sit with a group of mates who are long-standing supporters of the club. The Albion would, in all likelihood, not be seeing their money at all, save perhaps for the odd match here and there.

I can categorically state that the 'newbies' in our group would NOT bother getting a season ticket at the Amex if it had to be elsewhere in the ground from where our group are sitting. They just wouldn't bother. Its as much a social thing as anything else. So thats £500 the club would be LOSING if they hadn't given the Priority 1's the opportunity to "recruit" new fans for the club.

Its not ideal from a fairness point of view. But fairness don't pay the bills does it.

100% this.

 

[AMEXican Wave]

The truth is that anyone who has got their seats, or will get them very shortly, thinks the +3 is a great idea ( we have to fill the stadium etc. ), whereas anyone who is further down the line, prehaps due to fate of current seat block, thinks it's a bad idea ( I won't be able to get a seat near the front of west upper / back of west lower / halfway line etc ).

That's how it is. Personnally I think there would have been merit in anyone wishing to take up a +3 going in as priority 5, but they didn't choose to do that.

If the club has any sense it will open up waiting lists for season ticket seat moves to oversubscribed areas for future seasons, and maybe even make money charging for it...

 

[Dominoid]

If the club has any sense it will open up waiting lists for season ticket seat moves to oversubscribed areas for future seasons, and maybe even make money charging for it...

Sounds like a great idea, maybe that would be an ideal compromise?

 

[Simster]

Thats the conflict in your post. You want bums on seats, but not JCL's. Or at least not JCL's ahead of other loyal Albion fans. And everyone can understand the reasoning behind that of course.

But the fact of the matter is, many of the JCL's would not be investing in a season ticket at the Amex were they not being given the opportunity to sit with a group of mates who are long-standing supporters of the club. The Albion would, in all likelihood, not be seeing their money at all, save perhaps for the odd match here and there.

I can categorically state that the 'newbies' in our group would NOT bother getting a season ticket at the Amex if it had to be elsewhere in the ground from where our group are sitting. They just wouldn't bother. Its as much a social thing as anything else. So thats £400-£500 per person the club would be LOSING if they hadn't given the Priority 1's the opportunity to "recruit" new fans for the club.

Its not ideal from a fairness point of view. But fairness don't pay the bills does it.

Maybe you misread what he said? His issue is not with JCL +3s who sit with the STH allowing them to jump the queue. His issue is with the fact that these people can jump the queue and then sit wherever they like, well away from their designated STH if they wish.

 

[The Peanut Roaster]

Sounds like a great idea, maybe that would be an ideal compromise?

I can see reasoning behind buying a psl now in certain areas............

Wrong quote. Boz, sort it out please!

 

[Napper]

M .Perry offered those with +4's to leave the room and sort it firt on my presentation. Not seen anyone mention but speaking tot he bloke that served me , there was scope if I had the forms to shoe horn in........unofficially of course !!

Worth asking though if anyone needs more than the + 3

 

[Easy 10]

Maybe you misread what he said? His issue is not with JCL +3s who sit with the STH allowing them to jump the queue. His issue is with the fact that these people can jump the queue and then sit wherever they like, well away from their designated STH if they wish.

Thats part of his rant, but going from the first post it seems to be a general whinge at the concept of the +3's, with JCL's being given the opportunity to queue-jump regardless of whether they end up sitting with the P1 or not. Mendoza was the one who focussed in on the "scattered" +3's as being the more irksome aspect of it.

 

[Hotchilidog]

The club are damned if they do and damned if they don't on this one. Bottom line is ALL current ST's will get a seat, and most will be able to sit with their mates, if they have any of course. What is wrong with that. There will be an additional 11,000 new ST's at Falmer as opposed to the 4000 currently at withdean, most of these will probably be long standing Albion fans with possibly a sizeable minority curious newbies but who despite that are willing to make a commitment to the club, it is inevitable that this will happen. 10 years ago I was a JCL and now I am Priority 1 applicant for a seat at Falmer. I'd like to think that there will be some people starting on the same Albion journey that I did all those years ago and get as hooked as I did.

I too have a preferred seat in mind for the new stadium but will now almost certainly have to modify my plans, but that is just the way the cookie crumbles, you can only guarantee your preferred seat if you are first in the queue, otherwise you take your chances. As someone else on here as said come opening day when we are all sat in our fabulous new stadium we will forget this row ever happened. I've now stopped fretting about my seat and am now back to panicing about the inexorable rise of SCC behind us in the league.

 

[byf]

Thats the conflict in your post. You want bums on seats, but not JCL's. Or at least not JCL's ahead of other loyal Albion fans. And everyone can understand the reasoning behind that of course.

But the fact of the matter is, many of the JCL's would not be investing in a season ticket at the Amex were they not being given the opportunity to sit with a group of mates who are long-standing supporters of the club. The Albion would, in all likelihood, not be seeing their money at all, save perhaps for the odd match here and there.

I can categorically state that the 'newbies' in our group would NOT bother getting a season ticket at the Amex if it had to be elsewhere in the ground from where our group are sitting. They just wouldn't bother. Its as much a social thing as anything else. So thats £400-£500 per person the club would be LOSING if they hadn't given the Priority 1's the opportunity to "recruit" new fans for the club.

Its not ideal from a fairness point of view. But fairness don't pay the bills does it.

But it is happening isnt it, there are +3's given the option to go anywhere they want and that is wrong imho.

I think you should be given priority ahead of me, youve been loyal for years and nows your chance to make use of that but should your JCL'S be ahead of me just for knowing you, no way!

There is no real fair way, but I feel the club have shi* on the Cat.4's, I get the part about your mates wouldnt come if they couldnt sit with you...but then you should have been offered something by the club that goes along the lines of:

1. If a catorgory 1 season ticket holder is inviting fans who arnt even registered on the albion ticket system, then they have to wait until season ticket holders in Cat 4 who are only taking their own seats have chosen first.

That way, the season ticket holders arnt poo'd on.

 

[Billy the Fish]

as much as the +3 will ensure 'queue jumping' by some let's say 'less deserving', It will add to the atmosphere considerably. a problem at Withdean is people sitting on their own, at least groups of 4/8 'lads' sitting together might make a bit of noise.

Totally agree and I think is quite a big issue that's being overlooked.

If the club had gone the other way and not allowed STHs to buy extra tickets you'd have a situation of loads of strangers sitting together and people being separated from their mates.

 

[Easy 10]

But it is happening isnt it, there are +3's given the option to go anywhere they want and that is wrong imho.

I think you should be given priority ahead of me, youve been loyal for years and nows your chance to make use of that but should your JCL'S be ahead of me just for knowing you, no way!

There is no real fair way, but I feel the club have shi* on the Cat.4's, I get the part about your mates wouldnt come if they couldnt sit with you...but then you should have been offered something by the club that goes along the lines of:

1. If a catorgory 1 season ticket holder is inviting fans who arnt even registered on the albion ticket system, then they have to wait until season ticket holders in Cat 4 who are only taking their own seats have chosen first.

That way, the season ticket holders arnt poo'd on.

And the result of that method would be the Priority 1 season ticket holder wouldn't be prepared to sacrifice their place in the queue to wait for their non-registered newbie mate. He'd just get in as early as possible to get the best seat. And his non-registered newbie mate then probably wouldn't bother getting a season ticket as he'd be sitting with a bunch of strangers.

Sure, your method is fairer to those STH's further down the line who are not Priority 1. But it would, without a shadow of a doubt, directly result in FEWER season tickets being sold.

There is a balance to be struck between fairness and economics, and I think on the whole the club have done what they can to get it right. But they were never, ever going to find a method that suits everyones personal circumstances or that pleases everyone.

You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs, but at least its a splendid omlette, and ultimately everyone who wants to enjoy this omlette WILL be able to do so if they want to. There will be plenty of omlette for everyone.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

But it is happening isnt it, there are +3's given the option to go anywhere they want and that is wrong imho.

What is your proposal for +3's who are being introduced by existing STHs who have bought 1901 tickets at the Amex?

 

[Everest]

You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs, but at least its a splendid omlette, and ultimately everyone who wants to enjoy this omlette WILL be able to do so.

Will there be forks?

 

[Huple]

I`m not a STH and I`m in the upper west at the front 3 rows back. Thats not fair is it ?

 

[Easy 10]

Will there be forks?

Only for 1901-ers I believe.

Ruffians just use their fingers anyway.

 

[DJ Leon]

We should have built a 70,000+ stadium. It sounds as if we could sell 50,000 season tickets!

 

[Dirty Dave]

How many 'Bandwaggon Jumpers' do you think will want to spend £400 quid on a team they dont really support?

I think more so with the monthly direct debit option. That is a very good and cost effective way of buying a season ticket. So perhaps there will be 'smaller' Albion supporters who perhaps aren't fussed about watching the Albion much, but prepared to pay £35 a month to have a guaranteed seat should they want to go

 

[AMEXican Wave]

We should have built a 70,000+ stadium. It sounds as if we could sell 50,000 season tickets!

We can't. It's just we could sell the seats at the front of west upper / by the halfway line / on the aisles 25 times over.