[Albion] Fans' Forum follow-up on the season ticket sharing scheme

[Wardy's twin]

I think its easy to pick holes in the club , I myself have made negative comment about the cost & process of the transfer of season tickets but in the cold light of day we should all take a step back and accept the process is not perfect but it has delivered a footballing revolution for the Albion and its fans.

 

[South west gull]

Fan buys season ticket when 16-17 games are on a Saturday. 10-12 of those games get to moved to an evening kick off. Fan can’t make evening games, leaving them with about 5-6 games to see all season. Fan wants to share his ticket with friend but doesn’t think it’s right that they should have to pay EXTRA for games they aren’t able to attend. Fan gives up season ticket and no one replaces them.

Judging by the amount of empty season ticket seats we see for evening games, this scenario could be the case with thousands.

I really hope not, but think this might lead to a massive rejection of season tickets. Surely that will lose the club more money.

Games are selling out again, now that Covid has died down. Villa sold out 4 days ago and there are aren’t many tickets on the exchange. Why? Because it’s a Saturday. You would think the club would be sympathetic to supporters when the games are moved for evening kick offs, but no.

FA Cup game: No precedent for taking 9,000 to a game like this. We’ve never had the chance! Barber also mentioned our PL average away attendance. I’m sure Morecambe considered their average away attendance when they took their allocation at Tottenham. Not sure how that’s relevant, or ever has been relevant to a big FA Cup tie. We took 35,000 to Wembley. Surely not, as we average about 27,000 fans at home. Besides, we sell out most of our away games. Piss poor answers regarding the ticketing, but must say it also looks like Tottenham were being twats.

Be here now totally agree with you on all you say.what happens if we beat spurs get man u away 8pm how many tickets do we get ?

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[Giraffe]

It is not perfect and I still think the old way of having a card that the club turned a blind eye to you sharing was better, but it's clear that Covid has contributed a lot to the lack of actual attendance this season so don't think the sharing scheme can be blamed for that as such. I don't for a minute think this was a money raising scheme. It was a way to formalise something that previously had been formal. I can absolutely see why the club have gone this route, BUT I do feel it is the wrong thing to do and going back to the old method would for most be better.

 

[South west gull]

True, but there really isn't many PL games that you can get to 'easily' unless you live within walking distance. You're likely to be either going to be stuck in traffic or on crammed public transport (or queuing for some time to get on it, or have a long walk to get it) almost anywhere. I tend to drive to the Amex and most away games - getting away from ours has been quicker - and in some cases much quicker - this season than for example Villa (awful), Norwich, Leicester (awful) and Palace (coach - horrific) for certain. Saints and Chelsea were about the same for me (longer walk, easier getaway) and West Ham took an age due to the route they sent us on from the ground.

If you read most of the posts on here after the Spurs KO time was announced, the majority point towards people not going, or at least moaning about lack of trains etc.

Most people travel to away matches by car or coach due to costs

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[Bozza]

Fan buys season ticket when 16-17 games are on a Saturday. 10-12 of those games get to moved to an evening kick off. Fan can’t make evening games, leaving them with about 5-6 games to see all season. Fan wants to share his ticket with friend but doesn’t think it’s right that they should have to pay EXTRA for games they aren’t able to attend. Fan gives up season ticket and no one replaces them.

Judging by the amount of empty season ticket seats we see for evening games, this scenario could be the case with thousands.

I really hope not, but think this might lead to a massive rejection of season tickets. Surely that will lose the club more money.

Games are selling out again, now that Covid has died down. Villa sold out 4 days ago and there are aren’t many tickets on the exchange. Why? Because it’s a Saturday. You would think the club would be sympathetic to supporters when the games are moved for evening kick offs, but no.

Of course they're sympathetic, but it's the nature of the beast we're in bed with as a Premier League club.

And, I really doubt anyone buys a season ticket with any expectation that 16-17 games a season are going to be Saturday 3pm games, or even Saturday any time games - we know that's not the way it works.

 

[faoileán]

Oh, one more point. Whilst a fair few people have said the old way of season ticket sharing - lending plastic cards to others - was fine suggesting "if it ain't broke don't fix it", I understand it wasn't quite so fine from the club's viewpoint. Whilst this sharing was against ticketing terms and conditions (and the law), in most cases this manner of sharing did not cause a problem, but there was a reasonable-sized minority of cases where problems were caused by this:

- banned fans gaining access to the stadium
- away fans in home stands causing flashpoints
- touting in a very real sense
- further incidents, some of which have put fans and club staff at risk of harm.

But surely the reasonable approach would be that you can share your season ticket with anyone who is registered with the club and has a fan number. Thereby the club knows how is in the seat but you don't have to go through all this additional cost and admin setting up friends and family.

 

[Bozza]

Interesting disconnect between how we fans see the business of running a club and how the club themselves see it.

Fans: We got £50m for Ben White and £105m PL money so what difference does £50k make?
Club: We must minimise all losses possible (which is the proper way to run a business it must be said).

Essentially it's Tony Bloom's money we're talking about here.

I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable, if face-to-face with him, in saying something like "You've put in hundreds of millions of pounds into the club already, so why I don't see why you weren't prepared to stump up another £30-50k, if required, so that more of us could go to the Spurs Cup game."

 

[doogie004]

Essentially it's Tony Bloom's money we're talking about here.

I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable, if face-to-face with him, in saying something like "You've put in hundreds of millions of pounds into the club already, so why I don't see why you weren't prepared to stump up another £30-50k, if required, so that more of us could go to the Spurs Cup game."

The Main issue with the spurs up game is the late/lack of notice regarding actual allocation. That’s what’s annoyed most


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[BeHereNow]

Be here now totally agree with you on all you say.what happens if we beat spurs get man u away 8pm how many tickets do we get ?

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5,000 probably, but I think that would be right considering the distance and kick off time, we did the same a few years ago when there was a nationwide blizzard going on.

Didn’t someone from the club say ‘Tottenham wasn’t selling well because it went to members’? Surely that’s bollocks? Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think their was a tier system in place for this game. It was just season ticket holders (so not even members) who got tickets. Loads of season ticket holders were holding back because of the club’s communication that we could have up to 9,000 tickets, meaning it would’ve sold out much quicker if they didn’t say that Wasn’t selling quick enough We sold 5,700 within 4 days.

 

[Bozza]

The Main issue with the spurs up game is the late/lack of notice regarding actual allocation. That’s what’s annoyed most

...and the club have readily conceded that communication could have been better around that, and I'm sure it will be next time.

What I don't really understand, looking at things beyond these specific discussion points, is how a small number of people do seem to genuinely think that the club, owned and bankrolled by a lifelong fan, who comes from a family of lifelong fans, is on a mission to make things as difficult/expensive for supporters wherever they can.

That just doesn't marry up with how I see the club being administered, and I certainly don't agree with every decision made.

 

[Blue3]

I am really sad you feel that way, as I do not relate to that point of view of at all. I am a fan, and I always will be.

It’s how the club views us

 

[BeHereNow]

Of course they're sympathetic, but it's the nature of the beast we're in bed with as a Premier League club.

And, I really doubt anyone buys a season ticket with any expectation that 16-17 games a season are going to be Saturday 3pm games, or even Saturday any time games - we know that's not the way it works.

I think if they were that sympathetic, they wouldn’t charge the season ticket holder extra for an evening game they couldn’t attend.

I have a season ticket holding friend who can’t make midweek evening games. By 16-17 games on a Saturday, I meant that fans buy the ticket believing that those matches will be played around the original dates, mainly on the Saturday or Sunday. Like you say, it’s not the way it works. Without the ticket scheme, I think people can justify the cost, with the scheme, I don’t think they can, hence why my friend is giving his up. Pretty much it’s a combination of more evening games and less flexibility (without having to pay extra) and I suspect he isn’t the only one.

 

[Hotchilidog]

It’s how the club views us

I do not share that view, and it is not how I feel. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree

 

[Springal]

I think if they were that sympathetic, they wouldn’t charge the season ticket holder extra for an evening game they couldn’t attend.

I have a season ticket holding friend who can’t make midweek evening games. By 16-17 games on a Saturday, I meant that fans buy the ticket believing that those matches will be played around the original dates, mainly on the Saturday or Sunday. Like you say, it’s not the way it works. Without the ticket scheme, I think people can justify the cost, with the scheme, I don’t think they can, hence why my friend is giving his up. Pretty much it’s a combination of more evening games and less flexibility (without having to pay extra) and I suspect he isn’t the only one.

How did your friend cope in the Championship when there was 13 midweek games a season? So assuming 6/7 of those were at home? Nearly 1/3rd

 

[BeHereNow]

Did the club worry about taking the 6,000 allocation at Villa in the cup when we were at Withdean? Or the allocation at Stoke? Did they sit there and think ‘We might have 1,000+ unsold tickets, so we won’t take the lot’? Clearly they didn’t and they didn’t really have a pot to piss in then, but they understood that football is nothing without the fans. Tottenham could be one of the greatest nights in our history and could’ve been backed by a massive away crowd, but they cared more about the money. Depressing.

 

[Springal]

Did the club worry about taking the 6,000 allocation at Villa in the cup when we were at Withdean? Or the allocation at Stoke? Did they sit there and think ‘We might have 1,000+ unsold tickets, so we won’t take the lot’? Clearly they didn’t and they didn’t really have a pot to piss in then, but they understood that football is nothing without the fans. Tottenham could be one of the greatest nights in our history and could’ve been backed by a massive away crowd, but they cared more about the money. Depressing.

Beating Spurs in the FA Cup 4th Round when we are flying in the PL wouldn't even be in the Top 20 moments in our history.

And Tony Bloom had taken over by the time we played Villa & Stoke in the FA Cup. Much bigger draw when we were used to Carlisle, Hartlepool etc.....

 

[BeHereNow]

How did your friend cope in the Championship when there was 13 midweek games a season? So assuming 6/7 of those were at home? Nearly 1/3rd

Which season was this?

 

[BeHereNow]

Beating Spurs in the FA Cup 4th Round when we are flying in the PL wouldn't even be in the Top 20 moments in our history.

And Tony Bloom had taken over by the time we played Villa & Stoke in the FA Cup. Much bigger draw when we were used to Carlisle, Hartlepool etc.....

Certainly would be in our recent history. No doubt about that.

 

[Bozza]

Which season was this?

2016/17

League games on Monday-Friday: 20
Home: 13
Away 7

(I didn't count the two Easter fixtures)

 

[Springal]

Which season was this?

Most of them.