[Albion] Europa League Round of 16 tickets on sale

[Tooting Gull]

Exactly.

The "closed shop" debate only ever comes up when there's a big glory game and someone who rarely goes feels hard done by that they're at the back of the queue for tickets.

Like many on here, I'm a STH, but my away day attendance has waned considerably over the past couple of seasons, yet I still got a ticket for all three European away games, and my away day appetite has come back so I was at Arsenal, West Ham and I'm making the trip to Stoke tomorrow.

I won't have a chance of Luton nor Bournemouth and rightly so - there's a whole load of people, like you in fact Jack, who trek the country every other weekend in support of the club, who all deserve those holy grail tickets.

But this afternoon's debate came about because of @Tooting Gull mentioning the points cut-off for non-STH for this specific game and concern for those who lie between 1 and 180 points. They've been able to buy since 2pm and there must still be c3,000 tickets left. To me at least, that suggests the club have got it right.

None of us have access to the club's data on A+ members and points held, but the threshold's suggest the club wanted to reward the most frequently-attending A+ fans with the pick of seats, then allow all those who have been to any game ever a chance ahead of the speculative joiners (0 points). Without having access to the club's data, it feels like a sound methodology, doesn't it?

Quick question - are you a STH? I could easily ask the same question of a lot of posters on this thread.

Because frankly if you are, your opinion on what is and isn't fair for Albion Plus members is practically irrelevant.

We know our situations, and challenges for getting tickets. We don't advise the club on how to allocate tickets between those with STs. But we do have a much better idea of what is or isn't fair for our group. It's practically two different sets of supporters these days anyway, in terms of tickets.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Exactly - the current system seems fair to me. I had quite a lot of points, then dropped out of membership for two years and started again from the floor.

This year I've been to plenty of home games and to Wolves, Villa and (tomorrow) Stoke away. I can't get tickets for London away matches, but I'll be getting closer to that next season hopefully. Hoping to go to Sheffield United, so if you're a STH please don't buy them!

Sorry, I am an STH and I'm probably going to Sheffield! It would have been a definite until it was moved to the Sunday, making it a total ballache to do by train.

Realistically I can't do every away for family and budget reasons and I've found myself prioritising the longer distance games this season. I was at West Ham, but not Palace, Arsenal or Chelsea whereas I have done Everton, Wolves, Forest and had tickets for Villa before the train strike knackered that one. Similarly, am binning off Spurs if I go to Sheffield.

Some of the older grounds with better atmospheres are up north, the beer's cheaper and it's a good laugh on the train. The fact that these are also 15 point games is a bonus. In fact, I'm gutted we're not going to Stoke really!

 

[Iggle Piggle]

WRT to away tickets, most games are selling out to season ticket holders at the minute. Everton and Man City were the last 2 league games to go to Albion +. There is clearly higher demand for tickets and this must be due to the possibility of European Away days. We are taking the best part of 4,000 to Stoke and I'm sure a fair few of those are due to 15+ ST points being issued. We only took a 1,000 or so to West Brom which was a comparable 3rd round fixture just 2 seasons ago. When European fixtures go and we start scoring "nil" more regularly on the road (Yes, I have watched the last 2 away games), fans can have the pick of Away fixtures outside of London with Albion +. This is the unfortunate side effect to pay for success in terms of a more limited ability to obtain tickets.

FWIW, I went to "If you can't beat them, join them" 2 seasons ago and got a ST. From a starting point of next to nothing (you get Zero Season ticket points in the home end and sat on your hands), I'm over 200 with half a season to go. I've only missed Palace, City, Chelsea & Ajax away with Palace and Ajax being the only tickets I couldn't have got my hands on due to limited number of points I'd had. The chances are there to buy tickets from a low base (appreciating a ST helps massively) but it is not a closed shop in the way say West Ham is. I think they give a point a game or something ridiculous. No scheme with limited space will ever be ideal but it is as about as good as it gets in terms of rewarding attendance with an ability to climb the ladder.

 

[Bozza]

Quick question - are you a STH? I could easily ask the same question of a lot of posters on this thread.

Because frankly if you are, your opinion on what is and isn't fair for Albion Plus members is practically irrelevant.

We know our situations, and challenges for getting tickets. We don't advise the club on how to allocate tickets between those with STs. But we do have a much better idea of what is or isn't fair for our group. It's practically two different sets of supporters these days anyway, in terms of tickets.

Yes I am - if you go back to that post and look you'll see I literally say that.

And, yes, I agree - the club have very clearly drawn a big line between STH and A+ and as I'm currently fortunate enough to sit above that line I'm far less experienced and invested in A+ distribution. But, I am interested, and I do speak to senior club management quite regularly, and I'm not shy in passing on comments I've picked up from other fans on here, even if I know the message may now be well received. I very much try my best to help all fans, whilst recognising that you can't please all of the people all of the time.

But, again, this was based on what you said, which was:

I hope Albion Plus members/individual matchday fans get what they want and deserve....​

​

... What if you had 150 points AND had bought the 3-game package for the group games, which as we all know was before the draw and all the plum ties? I genuinely hope anyone in that situation doesn't miss out.​

​

So, as someone sitting outside the A+ population, all 1+ pointers have had over two hours to buy tickets now, and we know that most tickets sell when a window newly opens. So, to me at least, it looks like the people who were rightly concerned about should probably be OK.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Yes I am - if you go back to that post and look you'll see I literally say that.

And, yes, I agree - the club have very clearly drawn a big line between STH and A+ and as I'm currently fortunate enough to sit above that line I'm far less experienced and invested in A+ distribution. But, I am interested, and I do speak to senior club management quite regularly, and I'm not shy in passing on comments I've picked up from other fans on here, even if I know the message may now be well received. I very much try my best to help all fans, whilst recognising that you can't please all of the people all of the time.

But, again, this was based on what you said, which was:

I hope Albion Plus members/individual matchday fans get what they want and deserve....​

​

... What if you had 150 points AND had bought the 3-game package for the group games, which as we all know was before the draw and all the plum ties? I genuinely hope anyone in that situation doesn't miss out.​

​

So, as someone sitting outside the A+ population, all 1+ pointers have had over two hours to buy tickets now, and we know that most tickets sell when a window newly opens. So, to me at least, it looks like the people who were rightly concerned about should probably be OK.

That's fair based on this afternoon, and whatever the discussions on here if all those in that position got in, then that's the main thing for me. But I still think that is in spite of the way the club has done it, rather than because of it. Albion Plus are being squeezed generally. Although we don't like to admit it as a fanbase, we certainly do have 'tourist' and 'second club' fans. Price of success, but it's not helping. And even if we in that group can't go every week, if you've been supporting the club for 40-45 years, you're never going to completely go away and 'not want to go'.

 

[tstanbur]

I don't really understand many of the arguments in this thread.

If you are an Albion Plus member and keep an eye on the "on sale" dates/times you can go to every single home match that you want, would have been fine going to the FA Cup semi and got great seats for all of the home European games so far.

There's some away games that aren't possible but many season ticket holders aren't eligible for those too.

I was in the 188+ points bracket today but waited for the 1+ point sale at 2pm - still got 5 tickets next to each other at the back of WSL. Very happy with those.

 

[Billy the Fish]

This is the unfortunate side effect to pay for success in terms of a more limited ability to obtain tickets.

In terms of our standing as a club though, it's a very fortunate side effect.

It's pushing our away attendances right up. When demand starts to outstrip supply, it means we end up with 1000s supporting the team wherever and whenever they play.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

In terms of our standing as a club though, it's a very fortunate side effect.

It's pushing our away attendances right up. When demand starts to outstrip supply, it means we end up with 1000s supporting the team wherever and whenever they play.

I don't disagree it's better all round for the club. We finally seem to be taking the full amount of tickets away as an allocation, we have full away ends with an atmosphere and the players and management seem to appreciate it in press comments and through their actions after the games

It's only an unfortunate side effect if you can't get a ticket. Having been on the wrong side of that numerous times (Home end for the Villa not winning the Championship game being the worst) I do get how frustrating it can be for exile fans in particular.

 

[dazzer6666]

I don't really understand many of the arguments in this thread.

If you are an Albion Plus member and keep an eye on the "on sale" dates/times you can go to every single home match that you want, would have been fine going to the FA Cup semi and got great seats for all of the home European games so far.

There's some away games that aren't possible but many season ticket holders aren't eligible for those too.

I was in the 188+ points bracket today but waited for the 1+ point sale at 2pm - still got 5 tickets next to each other at the back of WSL. Very happy with those.

3.5 hours in and there’s close to 3,000 tickets left available to any A+ member with 1 point+
Club have got this one correct (again)

 

[Stat Brother]

and my away day appetite has come back so I was at Arsenal, West Ham and I'm making the trip to Stoke tomorrow.

Seemingly the rest of us might as well stay at home.

 

[PeterT]

I don't disagree it's better all round for the club. We finally seem to be taking the full amount of tickets away as an allocation, we have full away ends with an atmosphere and the players and management seem to appreciate it in press comments and through their actions after the games

It's only an unfortunate side effect if you can't get a ticket. Having been on the wrong side of that numerous times (Home end for the Villa not winning the Championship game being the worst) I do get how frustrating it can be for exile fans in particular.

I feel your pain. Having to sit in amongst Villa fans must have been torturous. I’m sure they outed you the moment you didn’t start hurling vitriolic abuse at families in the away end?! Or singing about winning trophies before colour TV was a thing ……

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I feel your pain. Having to sit in amongst Villa fans must have been torturous. I’m sure they outed you the moment you didn’t start hurling vitriolic abuse at families in the away end?! Or singing about winning trophies before colour TV was a thing ……

Fortunately, I was able to hold my own with conversation as I work in the area and I remember there was something or other on the Birmingham game we kept our eyes on. I only gave the game away when Stockdale did his party piece and buried my head in my hands whilst everyone else directed wanker signs at the away end.

Great season. Shite ending.

 

[drew]

Regarding the point division for A+ members for the Europa League, I can understand why those with less than 188 were worried about getting a ticket before 2pm and the thinking that there should have been more tiers within that group might, at that time have seemed a worry. However, the fact there are still so many tickets available 4 hours after that window opened clearly shows the club got it right. Anyone with just one point has had ample opportunity to get a ticket.

 

[drew]

The biggest games would be Dublin (say, 13k), Wembley (38k) and Europe (5k at a big stadium). With three ballot chances (one with a 1 in 3 chance, one with a 1 in 6 chance), the chances of a ticket for a such a person would be about 100 times better than someone who goes 5 times a season.

The risk is that when the halcyon days disappear and we're back to league one, there will be a rump of people who no longer go "because we're shite these days" and the club will presumably need those who were there last time we were in league one but owing to circumstance were somewhat locked out of big games when at the top of the pile. You wonder how many of them will think they now have better things to do as they are out of the habit.

Anyway I had said I was out. Little point in continuing this really as most STHs who express an opinion will disagree with me, and understandably so.

Hell of a lot of assumptions there. Firstly, that those of us going to away games and in the top tier are pretty much JCLs and will disappear if or when the good times disappear. From my perspective, I didn't stop going when we got relegated from the old Division 1, and didn't stop going when we nearly dropped out of the league. You also seem to assume that there are those that don't go now because they are awaiting for the good times to end at which point they will start going to away games again (or even home games).

 

[Simster]

Hell of a lot of assumptions there. Firstly, that those of us going to away games and in the top tier are pretty much JCLs and will disappear if or when the good times disappear. From my perspective, I didn't stop going when we got relegated from the old Division 1, and didn't stop going when we nearly dropped out of the league. You also seem to assume that there are those that don't go now because they are awaiting for the good times to end at which point they will start going to away games again (or even home games).

I don't want to appear rude, but this is the third time you've replied to my posts to tell me I've said things I clearly haven't. First, you told me that the fact it isn't a closed shop is "a flaw in my proposal". Even if that is true that it isn't a closed shop, that isn't a flaw in my proposal at all (unless you can tell me why?). The second time you suggested l was giving priority to those who don't go, which isn't true either. The opposite is true (just not as starkly as with the current arrangements). And now thirdly, this:

I've not made either of the assumptions you say I'm making. I've said there might be a rump of people who might stop going if we drop away, not that every away fan is a JCL. And that simply stands to reason, surely? And I have absolutely no idea where you get your second assumption that there people waiting for the good times to end- it doesn't make any sense at all, given what I've written. The only thing I've assumed is that the club would need some of those lapsed fans if we fell away, because some of those only used to the good times would lose interest.

 

[jackalbion]

That's fair based on this afternoon, and whatever the discussions on here if all those in that position got in, then that's the main thing for me. But I still think that is in spite of the way the club has done it, rather than because of it. Albion Plus are being squeezed generally. Although we don't like to admit it as a fanbase, we certainly do have 'tourist' and 'second club' fans. Price of success, but it's not helping. And even if we in that group can't go every week, if you've been supporting the club for 40-45 years, you're never going to completely go away and 'not want to go'.

I mean just from my personal experience friends of mine are Albion+ and they think the way it works is pretty reasonable and attend what they can away from Home. The thing I worry about with a ballot is that it becomes a money making exercise like at Arsenal, which this season is a total farce. A friend of mine pays £20 a season to be put in a ballot for home games with no guarantee on ever getting a ticket. At arsenal you simply can’t get season tickets as the list is so long, so he just bought match by match for years and went to almost every home game (although their pricing structure works very differently). Now they’ve gotten very good and everyone wants to go again and they’ve introduced a ballot and despite his loyalty when they finished (god forbid) 7th, he gets absolutely no advantage over someone who bought a membership last week. With no cap on memberships so the club just sell as many as possible, so chances just decrease and you get less for your money. I don’t think the demand calls for a system like that for us, for times I’ve had friends visit short notice I’ve never failed to get them a ticket as close as Matchday, through the ticket exchange with a season ticket guest ticket.

 

[drew]

I don't want to appear rude, but this is the third time you've replied to my posts to tell me I've said things I clearly haven't. First, you told me that the fact it isn't a closed shop is "a flaw in my proposal". Even if that is true that it isn't a closed shop, that isn't a flaw in my proposal at all (unless you can tell me why?). The second time you suggested l was giving priority to those who don't go, which isn't true either. The opposite is true (just not as starkly as with the current arrangements). And now thirdly, this:

I've not made either of the assumptions you say I'm making. I've said there might be a rump of people who might stop going if we drop away, not that every away fan is a JCL. And that simply stands to reason, surely? And I have absolutely no idea where you get your second assumption that there people waiting for the good times to end- it doesn't make any sense at all, given what I've written. The only thing I've assumed is that the club would need some of those lapsed fans if we fell away, because some of those only used to the good times would lose interest.

You say 'even if that is true that it isn't a closed shop' which suggest to me, and forgive me if I'm wrong, that you don't believe it isn't. As for the flaw, that is that there are those that currently go to every game and who, under your scheme will miss out to someone who just fancies a trip to one of the glamour games. During covid, the club used a ballot system and despite having had a season ticket ever since the Amex opened, also at Withdean, probably went to most games at Gillingham and had season tickets at the Goldstone, I didn't get a ticket in the ballots as I was in tier 3 or 4 for all the ballots apart from the final one when more people were allowed in against Man City. Do you honestly think it fair that people that put in the miles to go to the likes of Burnley, Sheffield etc then have pot luck to get a ticket with someone who can't be bothered to do those games but wants Arsenal or Tottenham away?

As for the assumption, I should have said you assumed a 'lot' etc etc. Despite that, I would suggest that those that go to most away games are the ones most likely to continue to go when times possible get a bit less glamourous.

Still, pretty certain we'll never agree.

 

[spence]

3.5 hours in and there’s close to 3,000 tickets left available to any A+ member with 1 point+
Club have got this one correct (again)

Needs another count up

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Bought my seat at OAP price today.
Only had the option to pay full price in the previous STH window

Recent birthday?

 

[Dave the hatosaurus]

Needs another count up

2,429 at the mo none left in the north, some in most of the other blocks