[Albion] Anyone else considering cancelling their ST's?

[Perry's Tracksuit Bottoms]

I’ve got a slightly different perspective - after 30+ years following the Albion I finally took the plunge and bought half season tickets as an xmas present for my kids. At the time I saw it as a one-off hit, but recently I’ve been seriously toying with the idea of renewing for the full season.

In the end I decided not to. Rescheduling of games potentially makes it difficult for co-parented families like mine, we’d likely miss a load of games towards the start of the season as it’s still the summer holidays, my (teenage and teenage-ish) kids increasingly have their own things they want to do, and the money it’d cost me could pay for a half decent holiday we wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford (or possibly for fuel bills later in the year…). Oh, and I'm not too happy with our seats next to the away fans, and the idea that I had to renew first before seeking a move definitely put me off.

But the thing that really swung it for me was that the last couple of games made my daughter genuinely miserable, and I could be spending that time doing something that makes her smile.

 

[Perry's Tracksuit Bottoms]

Two tickets for Liverpool in the WSU are £104 currently. I do think I'd struggle to justify that - I could buy a pair of running shoes that will last me more than 90 minutes, for example - and dodgy streams of every game provides an easy excuse to say "I'll just watch this one at home".

This is a really good point - this season we're getting to see games that there's no way I would have shelled out for individually, and the per-match cost has worked out really nicely. I absolutely would choose to watch those games at home instead normally, so the teams I usually get to see us play against are the Norwiches and Burnleys.

For me that's more an issue about silly match-by-match prices though.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that non-league clubs are necessarily all ethical and sweetness and light, plenty going on there behind the scenes that the average fan probably won't know about.

I know, l've seen it through my involvement at several non-league clubs.

Presumably your involvement never extended as far as Lewes FC tho eh?

 

[e77]

Never considered not renewing, although I do quite a few away games and they have been much more enjoyable of late.

I think a lot of the problem is habits were broken during lockdown. At one stage literally every game was on TV and it was so easy just to sit down for a couple of hours without the worry of getting too and from the stadium. I haven't resumed going to the pub before or after matches and still go straight to the ground and back again, although friends having other commitments plays a large part in that.

Funnily enough I hardly watch any non-Brighton football now on TV, so much so I am thinking of cancelling Sky and BT Sports.

 

[dazzer6666]

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that non-league clubs are necessarily all ethical and sweetness and light, plenty going on there behind the scenes that the average fan probably won't know about.

I know, l've seen it through my involvement at several non-league clubs.

I don't see or hear much of that regarding Lewes TBF. Like any organisation might not agree with everything they do, but their moral compass is firmly pointing in the right direction

 

[Seasider78]

Renewed but have to say the PL is sucking the life out of me. We are about as well ran a club as you can possibly be and like many others our only hope is to be less shit than 3 other teams and give some of the big clubs a bloody nose every now and then.

The gulf in quality is so high we have to play pragmatic possession football just to stand a chance and with Saudi takeovers etc the gulf just gets bigger.

My main reason for going is to catch up with mates but my expectation bar for what happens on the pitch at the Amex is very low.

That is not a criticism of the club who are taking a bold and interesting approach to competing at this level but sadly the days of the top places in the league being an open shop for clubs like us are long gone.

 

[A mex eyecan]

Never considered not renewing, although I do quite a few away games and they have been much more enjoyable of late.

I think a lot of the problem is habits were broken during lockdown. At one stage literally every game was on TV and it was so easy just to sit down for a couple of hours without the worry of getting too and from the stadium. I haven't resumed going to the pub before or after matches and still go straight to the ground and back again, although friends having other commitments plays a large part in that.

Funnily enough I hardly watch any non-Brighton football now on TV, so much so I am thinking of cancelling Sky and BT Sports.

i also thinking of ditching Sky. i’ve got Freesat in TV so if i could work a way for TV to be able to record i definitely would give Sky the heave ho.

i’ve renewed, and have only restarted going to games since start of Covid, so have only been 3 times in last two seasons. Travel is the biggest bug bear for me, all 3 games have had traffics problems and indeed 2 have taken over hour and half to get parked up and coming from B Hill.

I agree though with many posters that things do seem a bit less enjoyable, maybe it’s the after effects of the pandemic, who knows. From my POV it’s a bit early to say for sure.

My biggest moan is that paying for premium area seating in LWS only to find all the seats now squashed together and the 60-70mm gap between the seats has now gone. Everyone around grumbling about all being rammed in. It appears another little club induced dodge to get more money in, no matter how it’s done.

You guys and gals have listed lots of other little issues, bottle tops, crash helmets, bags and more that all highlight people being squeezed for every Penny the club can get out of fans pockets. That can’t help the feel good factor.

Anyhow, think it’s too early for me to consider chucking in my ST, for now it’s good to get back to seeing my mates and the Albion. Hopefully all the negative vibes will dissipate quickly.

 

[Commander]

I think a lot of the problem is habits were broken during lockdown. At one stage literally every game was on TV and it was so easy just to sit down for a couple of hours without the worry of getting too and from the stadium.

This is very true. I never used to particularly like watching Brighton on TV, but I got used to it in the lockdown. I've just put my Liverpool ticket on the ticket exchange because it's on TV and it means my entire Saturday won't be taken over by the football. I would never have dreamed of doing that a few years ago.

 

[dazzer6666]

i also thinking of ditching Sky. i’ve got Freesat in TV so if i could work a way for TV to be able to record i definitely would give Sky the heave ho.

i’ve renewed, and have only restarted going to games since start of Covid, so have only been 3 times in last two seasons. Travel is the biggest bug bear for me, all 3 games have had traffics problems and indeed 2 have taken over hour and half to get parked up and coming from B Hill.

I agree though with many posters that things do seem a bit less enjoyable, maybe it’s the after effects of the pandemic, who knows. From my POV it’s a bit early to say for sure.

My biggest moan is that paying for premium area seating in LWS only to find all the seats now squashed together and the 60-70mm gap between the seats has now gone. Everyone around grumbling about all being rammed in. It appears another little club induced dodge to get more money in, no matter how it’s done.

You guys and gals have listed lots of other little issues, bottle tops, crash helmets, bags and more that all highlight people being squeezed for every Penny the club can get out of fans pockets. That can’t help the feel good factor.

Anyhow, think it’s too early for me to consider chucking in my ST, for now it’s good to get back to seeing my mates and the Albion. Hopefully all the negative vibes will dissipate quickly.

If you're still on a Sky box (not Q) it works with a lot of the free to air channels so you can still record (Sky Q doesn't)
Failing that, just get a Freesat recording box - can get one for the price of a month's Sky subscription

 

[Weststander]

I've never been up there, but I always imagined that the view from front-row WSU seats must be almost as good as 1901, but for half the price. Hence they were like gold dust and the first seats snapped up back in 2011 by fans that held season tickets for several consecutive years pre-Amex. I certainly wouldn't want to be giving them up lightly!

I had two seats in the same block as [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] from 2011, front row, by the aisle. At the time, like gold dust.

Then after just one month, my very young son lost all interest, he couldn't hack the defeats/draws and lack of goals .... the Buckley double the big exception.

I held onto to them for ages, selling my son's to various nsc'ers on a game by game basis for no profit, then later on entire season's bases to a mate of the guys next on from us.

In the end, bored by Garcia's passing it around the back football and TB's decision to drastically cut squad quality, I called it a day.

The WSU front row thing caused my procrastination, almost painful .

But no regrets in the end, I loathed taking 4 hours out to watch tedious football.

 

[Bozza]

This is a really good point - this season we're getting to see games that there's no way I would have shelled out for individually, and the per-match cost has worked out really nicely. I absolutely would choose to watch those games at home instead normally, so the teams I usually get to see us play against are the Norwiches and Burnleys.

For me that's more an issue about silly match-by-match prices though.

Yep. Giving each fixture an equal value (ie ignoring category A, B and C games), then the Liverpool game is costing me around £53 for myself and my son. That feels decent-enough value and is half what match tickets cost now, although that's not helped by the remaining tickets being exchange tickets, so I'd have to pay full adult price for my 11-y-o son.

 

[Justice]

Football in the old days was entirely different if we lost it cost a fiver and you trundled of home. Championship £20 not bad for the players we had on show Knockhaert often worth the admission price alone.

I hate to say it we don’t have any exciting players no match winners or game changes fast pacy wingers to get you out of your comfy plastic chair. As Bozza posted £100 for a pair of tickets against Liverpool is insane to watch our lot huff and puff and miss the target. When the last two windows past by with another we will make do it’s not really surprising some have had enough. Three seasons of the same 8-10 goals for Maupay the same count the fingers on one hand home wins is really starting to take it’s toll. Jose was the last exciting player we had and that seems a long time ago now.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Good idea. In 6 months time we should have a thread “those who regretted cancelling their ST”

There will be plenty available if anyone changes their mind.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

This thread is a good source of potential recipients for any STHs on here that can't make matches and would like to pass tickets on........would be useful to have a list of those that have cancelled STs but bought A+ for next season

Excellent idea. I hope someone more motivated than me does it. I am one of the people who would be on the list.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Finally, I'm also renewing because I do wonder how many games I'd make if I fell back to going for selected matches. Two tickets for Liverpool in the WSU are £104 currently. I do think I'd struggle to justify that - I could buy a pair of running shoes that will last me more than 90 minutes, for example - and dodgy streams of every game provides an easy excuse to say "I'll just watch this one at home".

Yes, I agree with this. I would imagine that the games I choose to go to next season will be the Category C ones.

 

[Bozza]

This is very true. I never used to particularly like watching Brighton on TV, but I got used to it in the lockdown. I've just put my Liverpool ticket on the ticket exchange because it's on TV and it means my entire Saturday won't be taken over by the football. I would never have dreamed of doing that a few years ago.

Time becomes a big factor, doesn't it, and I think the pandemic has made us all think about how we "spend" this finite resource.

If I'm driving and have a Bridge parking spot, attending a home game probably takes up around five-and-a-half hours, door-to-door from Worthing. From my house to the A27 Hollingbury junction is generally a breeze, in both directions, but the bit from the A27 to the Bridge and then getting out the Bridge after the game is an absolute ballache, although still preferable to the train when I have my son with me, which is most games now.

That's a big difference from watching it on the box, where you are immediately available to do something else at the final whistle and not dreading the Bridge gridlock.

 

[Commander]

Time becomes a big factor, doesn't it, and I think the pandemic has made us all think about how we "spend" this finite resource.

If I'm driving and have a Bridge parking spot, attending a home game probably takes up around five-and-a-half hours, door-to-door from Worthing. From my house to the A27 Hollingbury junction is generally a breeze, in both directions, but the bit from the A27 to the Bridge and then getting out the Bridge after the game is an absolute ballache, although still preferable to the train when I have my son with me, which is most games now.

That's a big difference from watching it on the box, where you are immediately available to do something else at the final whistle and not dreading the Bridge gridlock.

Yep. Watching on TV means I can go to my son's football training in the morning, not have to sprint off in a rush afterwards, and do something with my family in the afternoon having still managed to watch the game.

It also means I won't have three pints in the middle of the day and be a sleepy mess by 3pm. Actually I might still do that anyway, thinking about it.

 

[Mellotron]

Definitely getting tempted, for the first time since we came to the Amex.

I can’t make evening games and am finding it really bloody hard to justify the price and being away from the wife and 2 little uns for the majority of a day.

Hoping to go into the family stand once my boy is another couple of years older. In the meantime I might have to let it lapse.

The ST sharing shambles isn’t the main reason, but it has been a contributory factor.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Definitely getting tempted, for the first time since we came to the Amex.

I can’t make evening games and am finding it really bloody hard to justify the price and being away from the wife and 2 little uns for the majority of a day.

Hoping to go into the family stand once my boy is another couple of years older. In the meantime I might have to let it lapse.

The ST sharing shambles isn’t the main reason, but it has been a contributory factor.

I think you're too late - the deadline was 5pm today.

 

[Beach Hut]

Renewed and in my mind we are still punching above our weight in Premier League terms.

I think all the issues have been raised but my take is Covid has had a huge impact with people not being allowed to go, circumstances changed, finances changed etc and then we now have huge price hikes just to live in energy price hikes.

What I do not understand is what some fans really thought would happen in the Premier League, it is really tough, it is really only about 5 or 6 clubs the rest just make up the numbers. It is survival of the fittest on budgets far more inferior than certain clubs. To me, the biggest underachievers at present are Man Utd and Everton where millions has been spent recently to achieve not a lot.

The club are trying to make as many shrewd investments as possible to make their objected goal possible however players from abroad who are quite young will take a while to adjust and ultimately if we ever did have a 20 goal a season striker he would no doubt be sold on if that good as White was and probably Bissouma will be.