[Albion] Club selling your seat, is this right?

[Justice]

What more are you hoping for? My friend hasn’t been able to attend every game due to having to look after his kids, a couple of times it was a last minute decision which meant the ticket exchange wasn’t used, he missed the Man City game as his train was cancelled.
Now, with very little warning, they’ve sold his seat for games he was planning to attend. He’s contacted the club to ask why, and to see if his tickets can be reinstated for those fixtures and he’s been told no.
That’s the story, nothing to hide, just a bit crappy from the club to be honest. He’s absolutely gutted.

You could. Understand it if every game was a sell out, we can’t sell out a game against Palace these days.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

There will be a lot of people biting their tongue if they don't toe the line.

It's the thin end of the edge

 

[dazzer6666]

What more are you hoping for? My friend hasn’t been able to attend every game due to having to look after his kids, a couple of times it was a last minute decision which meant the ticket exchange wasn’t used, he missed the Man City game as his train was cancelled.
Now, with very little warning, they’ve sold his seat for games he was planning to attend. He’s contacted the club to ask why, and to see if his tickets can be reinstated for those fixtures and he’s been told no.
That’s the story, nothing to hide, just a bit crappy from the club to be honest. He’s absolutely gutted.

How many games has he missed vs attended ? Also, you have a better chance of avoid the gestapo email simply by putting your ticket on the exchange, even if it is essentially right up to ko. If the seats the’ve put up for sale have already been sold I can see why they won’t reinstate them - but they should perhaps let him have a replacement at ST cost rather than full price.

Just think for the club to go to as far as selling his seat on the exchange it’s more than missing one or two games and a single email warning

 

[Hamilton]

What more are you hoping for? My friend hasn’t been able to attend every game due to having to look after his kids, a couple of times it was a last minute decision which meant the ticket exchange wasn’t used, he missed the Man City game as his train was cancelled.
Now, with very little warning, they’ve sold his seat for games he was planning to attend. He’s contacted the club to ask why, and to see if his tickets can be reinstated for those fixtures and he’s been told no.
That’s the story, nothing to hide, just a bit crappy from the club to be honest. He’s absolutely gutted.

I’m confused.

So he’s already forked out the cash for the season ticket but the club are now selling his tickets and told him he has to buy new tickets for the rest of the season?

This all sounds very illegal. No doubt there’s some Barberesque bit of small print that says we don’t own any tickets but just the right to enter the stadium with the clubs permission.

I preferred it when we bought something and it was ours. We knew what we were buying.

Well, if true then I expect to see more disgruntled threads.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

How many games has he missed vs attended ? Also, you have a better chance of avoid the gestapo email simply by putting your ticket on the exchange, even if it is essentially right up to ko. If the seats the’ve put up for sale have already been sold I can see why they won’t reinstate them - but they should perhaps let him have a replacement at ST cost rather than full price.

Just think for the club to go to as far as selling his seat on the exchange it’s more than missing one or two games and a single email warning

He’s probably attended half of the home games this season, and he accepts that he hasn’t always listed his seat due to last minute circumstances, but the single email correspondence has really peeved him, and the utter lack of help has left quite a bitter taste, as you say, the minimum they could do is offer a ticket at cost but they’re not interested. I see the club’s point of view that they want bums on seats, but from my friend’s side he’s thinking that he’s spent several thousands on season tickets and now having missed 4 or 5 games they’re punishing him. And again, not wanting to labour the point, a solitary email isn’t good enough, a text or a phone call could have avoided this whole debacle.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I’m confused.

So he’s already forked out the cash for the season ticket but the club are now selling his tickets and told him he has to buy new tickets for the rest of the season?

This all sounds very illegal. No doubt there’s some Barberesque bit of small print that says we don’t own any tickets but just the right to enter the stadium with the clubs permission.

I preferred it when we bought something and it was ours. We knew what we were buying.

Well, if true then I expect to see more disgruntled threads.

That’s it, there’s a minimum attendance requirement which he’s fallen short of due to personal circumstances ie being a responsible parent. He’s then discovered they’ve sold his seat for games he was planning on attending and has to buy more for the matches. He’s since removed tickets that had been listed on the exchange by the club.

 

[tedebear]

He’s probably attended half of the home games this season, and he accepts that he hasn’t always listed his seat due to last minute circumstances, but the single email correspondence has really peeved him, and the utter lack of help has left quite a bitter taste, as you say, the minimum they could do is offer a ticket at cost but they’re not interested. I see the club’s point of view that they want bums on seats, but from my friend’s side he’s thinking that he’s spent several thousands on season tickets and now having missed 4 or 5 games they’re punishing him. And again, not wanting to labour the point, a solitary email isn’t good enough, a text or a phone call could have avoided this whole debacle.

Thats exactly the point. The club owns the season ticket and you have an expectation under that contract to be able to use it. I couldn’t read anywhere that said if you don’t use it, then the club can resell it at their discretion, which they have done by listing his ticket for several matches on the exchange without his agreement or knowledge, forcing him if he wants to go to buy other tickets. Thats the part I think smells wrong. I completely agree with it being reused, I don’t agree with the way it’s being done.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Disappointed this hasn’t turned out to be a similar situation to that Millwall fan that tried to buy his own seat for a cup match a few years back

 

[crookie]

I haven't and I'm sure I'm older than @Beach Hut. I'm wondering whether the club are now using AI and have come to the conclusion that certain people need reminding more than others

Not sure about that. I got the email, attend most games, and always list my ticket if I can't

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I'm sure there's more to the OP's story without the full details of which it is difficult to reach a decision. However, the usual anti club crew have.

For some to say the club have forgotten where we have come from is a joke. TB knows exactly where we have come from, he funded it. You can recognise your history but you still have to finance the current and plan for the future. We are not currently trying to fight off relegation from the bottom of League Two whilst our ground is sold from under our feet. We are aiming for Europe and the opportunity for the club to be even more established in the top flight.

Do I agree with everything the club do, no. But this seems to be making a mountain out of a molehill and the usual suspects are piling in.

This, with Christmas bells on.

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

That’s it, there’s a minimum attendance requirement which he’s fallen short of due to personal circumstances ie being a responsible parent. He’s then discovered they’ve sold his seat for games he was planning on attending and has to buy more for the matches. He’s since removed tickets that had been listed on the exchange by the club.

The situation - as you've described it - is very odd indeed. The club obviously want season ticket holders to attend as many games as possible. They have two systems in place for those that can't attend (exchange and transfer of ticket) to try and ensure that the seat doesn't go empty and another fan can attend. I have seen communications about non-attendance, but not for a while, and I can't remember what the wording or 'rules' are. But I would have expect the club to at least make contact with a STH - if the ST wasn't being used - to try and understand what was going on and to discuss options. One email - which unfortunately has gone into junk - really isn't good enough. I'm one of those annoying people on here that often defends the club on decisions they make. But this, I am really struggling with.

I also don't think it fair that they've said he'll have to buy another ticket at the full match day price. I'm going to both Brentford and Everton. If I wasn't, I'd have offered to transfer my ticket for just the price I would get on the exchange. Maybe an option if someone else on here can't attend either game and haven't sold ticket on the exchange as yet. Maybe not a perfect solution if he usually sits with friends ... but just an idea.

And finally, I would submit a formal complaint laying out the circumstances etc. And then depending on the response from Supporter Services, I might look at taking it further. It's not on.

 

[amexer]

a lot of confusion on here. Maybe club should consider plastic cards

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

What more are you hoping for? My friend hasn’t been able to attend every game due to having to look after his kids, a couple of times it was a last minute decision which meant the ticket exchange wasn’t used, he missed the Man City game as his train was cancelled.
Now, with very little warning, they’ve sold his seat for games he was planning to attend. He’s contacted the club to ask why, and to see if his tickets can be reinstated for those fixtures and he’s been told no.
That’s the story, nothing to hide, just a bit crappy from the club to be honest. He’s absolutely gutted.

I suspect the whole story unravels if we explore this bit fully.

 

[dsr-burnley]

This isn't Liverpool. Also, if other members of the family were interested in the Albion, wouldn't they already be going! As others have said, passing it on to any member of the family means they are jumping the queue of those that have paid to be on a waiting list.

There is always the possibility that people who are not interested in the Albion now, might become interested if they get a free ticket? I know for certain the equivalent at Burnley, where a season ticket holder can lend the card to any Tom, Dick or Harry, has fringe benefits - there are three season ticket holders now who first went on my ticket as a freebie and became hooked. Chances are they wouldn't have bothered if they had had to go through the registration rigmarole.

What the club also needs to remember is that there is a possibility that Brighton may not always be at the top of the league, and may indeed drop to the Championship, and may have more seats than they can fill. If families have been alienated because there is no provision for the second child to get a ticket, or indeed for the new spouse to get a ticket, then who will fill the seats? It's important to keep the loyalty of ticket holders who will support the club through thick and thin, as well as those who will support the club when things are going well.

A bit of charity to those veterans who held season tickets at the Goldstone Ground and for all the years between wouldn't come amiss, either.

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

I suspect the whole story unravels if we explore this bit fully.

I do wonder if we have the full story as it does seem that the action taken by the club is premature, given what we've been told.

I've just had a quick scan of the T&Cs for this season - Men’s First Team Season Ticket – Terms & Conditions (Season 2024/25)

The only bit I can find about attendance is on ST renewals - which states that they might not allow a renewal if the ST holder has attended 'less than 25% of matches'.

'

 

[Dave the OAP]

There is always the possibility that people who are not interested in the Albion now, might become interested if they get a free ticket? I know for certain the equivalent at Burnley, where a season ticket holder can lend the card to any Tom, Dick or Harry, has fringe benefits - there are three season ticket holders now who first went on my ticket as a freebie and became hooked. Chances are they wouldn't have bothered if they had had to go through the registration rigmarole.

What the club also needs to remember is that there is a possibility that Brighton may not always be at the top of the league, and may indeed drop to the Championship, and may have more seats than they can fill. If families have been alienated because there is no provision for the second child to get a ticket, or indeed for the new spouse to get a ticket, then who will fill the seats? It's important to keep the loyalty of ticket holders who will support the club through thick and thin, as well as those who will support the club when things are going well.

A bit of charity to those veterans who held season tickets at the Goldstone Ground and for all the years between wouldn't come amiss, either.

Strikes me that the club are paranoid as to who is coming into the stadium.

they must control every part of our “ football experience”

 

[jrbha]

I do wonder if we have the full story as it does seem that the action taken by the club is premature, given what we've been told.

I've just had a quick scan of the T&Cs for this season - Men’s First Team Season Ticket – Terms & Conditions (Season 2024/25)

The only bit I can find about attendance is on ST renewals - which states that they might not allow a renewal if the ST holder has attended 'less than 25% of matches'.

View attachment 194093

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25% is very generous imo. I know Leeds is 80% and Manchester United season ticket holders must attend 16 out of 19 home games.

 

[Brian Fantana]

I suspect the whole story unravels if we explore this bit fully.

This.

The club 100% aren't taking this level of action for a handful of matches this season not attended or not listed.

 

[rippleman]

Loyal long-term fans - OUT

Football tourists - IN

It's all about the money stoopid!

 

[drew]

There is always the possibility that people who are not interested in the Albion now, might become interested if they get a free ticket? I know for certain the equivalent at Burnley, where a season ticket holder can lend the card to any Tom, Dick or Harry, has fringe benefits - there are three season ticket holders now who first went on my ticket as a freebie and became hooked. Chances are they wouldn't have bothered if they had had to go through the registration rigmarole.

What the club also needs to remember is that there is a possibility that Brighton may not always be at the top of the league, and may indeed drop to the Championship, and may have more seats than they can fill. If families have been alienated because there is no provision for the second child to get a ticket, or indeed for the new spouse to get a ticket, then who will fill the seats? It's important to keep the loyalty of ticket holders who will support the club through thick and thin, as well as those who will support the club when things are going well.

A bit of charity to those veterans who held season tickets at the Goldstone Ground and for all the years between wouldn't come amiss, either.

And why should they get a free ticket ahead of people paying for a membership?

And don't dredge up the 'veterans of Goldstone' argument. The stadium sells out so there is demand. The club allow the transfer of tickets but within the terms and conditions.