[Albion] new away fan ID/ticketing system

[heathgate]

God, this puts the boot into my chances of blagging a Villa Park ticket... no longer a ST holder, probably wont go to MyAlbion+

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[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Not sure the debate here is "why do 1901 members get first dibs on away tickets" is it? That's surely obvious, they commit longer term than anyone else.

The real question is why someone who happens to be mates with with the secretary at a company that has 1901 for corporate entertainment can blag there way to any away game they like without putting anything into the club at all, or grafting their way up the loyalty ladder.


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[Bozza]

No issue with it but would hope the club also make it as easy as possible to return/relist tickets for people that have genuinely had a change of circumstances. Work/illness/family crisis do pop up.

Unless I'm missing something, the announcement and changes are an attempt to stop those who buy an away ticket with the sole intention to give it to someone else to attend the game.

If you have a ticket in hand, I can't see that the announcement does anything to add any further "risk" to moving it on if your circumstances change and you can no longer attend. The club won't want this, obviously, but it does strike me as a different scenario to those who buy a ticket with absolutely no intention of going from the outset.

But, yes, a chance to return tickets if circumstances change would be beneficial for all, particularly when it is known there is demand for any tickets that become available.

 

[chaileyjem]

There are many season tickets holders like myself who had ST’s at The Goldstone. Priestfield Stadium, Withdean and now the Amex, against many 1901 members who never had a ticket prior to the Amex. But in your eyes these financially JCL’s are outstandingly loyal, your on a wind up aren’t you ?

Of course not. Loyalty or fandom absolutely doesn't equal ££ spent. (although it does tell you something). Loyalty and the whole definition of that is a whole different issue - JCLs, legacy fans, plastics and so on (there's something rather good in that Dogma fanzine this month if you want to explore that at length!)

But if you are designing a "loyalty scheme" then you'd expect 1901 holders and ST holders to do well out of it. And you'd expect 1901 holders to have more benefits than ST holders and you'd expect ST holders to have more benefits than A+ members and so on. But of course i could move to live in Brighton and just rock up to the Albion today and buy a season ticket , having been a Man United or Leeds or Arsenal fan all my life. It doesn't define my "loyalty" to the club.

 

[jackalbion]

Not sure the debate here is "why do 1901 members get first dibs on away tickets" is it? That's surely obvious, they commit longer term than anyone else.

The real question is why someone who happens to be mates with with the secretary at a company that has 1901 for corporate entertainment can blag there way to any away game they like without putting anything into the club at all, or grafting their way up the loyalty ladder.


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100%, some people in the 1901 are genuinely some of our most loyal fans who have been to Gillingham etc, and fancy splashing a bit of cash on 1901 tickets, no problem with me. Its the guest thing that annoys me.

 

[fosters headband]

Ah yes but remember we are now nearing Pensionable age and people like us are ruining the Atmosphere at home and away games according to another thread on this board [emoji6]

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Nearing pensionable age, I wish
I have been a pensioner for fifteen years now and in the early years of my retirement I could afford to pay annually, now I have to pay monthly.
The frightening thing is with what’s happening currently I may not be able to continue paying monthly. But these corporate dudes will still be able to supply tickets to their business friends, and be recognised as extremely loyal fans, while as a loyal fan since 1957 I may have to watch my club on some dodgy stream.

 

[Bozza]

Not sure the debate here is "why do 1901 members get first dibs on away tickets" is it? That's surely obvious, they commit longer term than anyone else.

I didn't think 1901ers do get first dibs at all and it's pretty equitable with regular STHs now. There was a change to how it worked a few seasons back.
[MENTION=27447]Goldstone1976[/MENTION] will be able to provide more detail.

 

[Bozza]

If you have a ticket in hand, I can't see that the announcement does anything to add any further "risk" to moving it on if your circumstances change and you can no longer attend. The club won't want this, obviously, but it does strike me as a different scenario to those who buy a ticket with absolutely no intention of going from the outset.

Before I get a call from the club...

1. I'm not advocating people do this.
2. I fully recognise that handing on a ticket is illegal.

 

[Wardy's twin]

I just think it’s ‘unlucky, better luck next time’ it’s not as if it’s chronically happening.

maybe not chronic maybe just a couple of more obvious occasions where people have a ticket they shouldn't have had..

how do we know the club will actually do this - just issuing the statement might be enough to deter people from doing it ...

 

[Titanic]

I didn't think 1901ers do get first dibs at all and it's pretty equitable with regular STHs now. There was a change to how it worked a few seasons back.

[MENTION=27447]Goldstone1976[/MENTION] will be able to provide more detail.

What's the lowest STH points a 1901 can have? Are some of them not in the 1st band?

 

[Wardy's twin]

Before I get a call from the club...

1. I'm not advocating people do this.
2. I fully recognise that handing on a ticket is illegal.

if they phone why not ask them why the exchange system can't be used to help legitimate ticket transfers...

 

[Bozza]

if they phone why not ask them why the exchange system can't be used to help legitimate ticket transfers...

I would be pretty sure it's the logistics involved with physical tickets.

Typically host clubs provide the stock of branded, printed and numbered tickets which our club then distribute.

To facilitate an exchange of a physical ticket would involve the return of it to the club and then the sale and re-distribution. With the erratic postal service involved twice, there could be lengthy delays involved, and there's no guarantee the "seller" will get the ticket back to the club in time for a sale and re-distribution.

In short, I can't see it as a viable proposition until such time as universal e-ticketing comes into play, if it ever does.

 

[blockhseagull]

But that would mean those not informed in advance would know they don’t have to go through ID checks which would give a longer window for them to pass on tickets. Far better to leave it as late as possible.

They still need to tell people.. even if it’s an email the week of the match to tell them. Not everyone has 45 mins plus spare to keep ringing up to check if they have been lost in the post or one of the randomly held back tickets.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I didn't think 1901ers do get first dibs at all and it's pretty equitable with regular STHs now. There was a change to how it worked a few seasons back.
[MENTION=27447]Goldstone1976[/MENTION] will be able to provide more detail.

Nope you're right, just looked it up on the club site. Their loyalty bonus works based on years renews and they automatically get cup points because they automatically have a ticket.



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[Wardy's twin]

I would be pretty sure it's the logistics involved with physical tickets.

Typically host clubs provide the stock of branded, printed and numbered tickets which our club then distribute.

To facilitate an exchange of a physical ticket would involve the return of it to the club and then the sale and re-distribution. With the erratic postal service involved twice, there could be lengthy delays involved, and there's no guarantee the "seller" will get the ticket back to the club in time for a sale and re-distribution.

In short, I can't see it as a viable proposition until such time as universal e-ticketing comes into play, if it ever does.

The exchange system could just record transfer of the 'ownership' and then new owner gets the ticket reprinted on they day, assuming its last minute . It all depends on the scale of the transfers I guess , if its because of changes in plans due to unseen circumstances i would hope it is less than 5% so 150 at most for games where we take 3000. This would help genuine fans as much as stop the problem. I guess etickets will come soon ...

 

[Justice]

Why would staff at the away grounds want the extra work load on a busy match day? Imagine the grief you would get from some fans who have had a few and forgotten ID or whatever.

 

[Bozza]

The exchange system could just record transfer of the 'ownership' and then new owner gets the ticket reprinted on they day, assuming its last minute . It all depends on the scale of the transfers I guess , if its because of changes in plans due to unseen circumstances i would hope it is less than 5% so 150 at most for games where we take 3000. This would help genuine fans as much as stop the problem. I guess etickets will come soon ...

You're right - it could, but that would require the host club's buy-in to take on extra administrative burden. As others have said on here: ticket offices as kick-off approaches at Premier League clubs can be quite frantic places already.

(Which is one aspect of the random-picking-up process, I'd already thought of, the Albion may be having to pay host clubs to pick up that part of the process for them)

 

[amexer]

Is this really such a big problem. How many of away tickets do people think are purchased to pass on 10/20 or is it 100s

 

[Justice]

They are loyal fans no doubt, but no more so than many STH,s
But I still think it’s wrong they are allowed to give away tickets for away games to anyone they like(some may have never been to an Albion game before) when a STH can’t
Double standards never looks good
And as for the ability to pay for tickets five years in advance makes them more loyal than someone who can only buy a ST paying monthly, is frankly bo*****s

There is a reason why Arsenal/Manure have a ballot it’s fair.

 

[Arthur]

There are some very ill informed views on 1901 members on here.

1901 members don't get first dibs on away tickets. They are in the exact same loyalty scheme as everyone else. I am a 1901 member and I fall into the All season ticket holders category for most away games. If it sells out before that I don't get any special privileges.

1901 members don't have to pay for a 5 year season ticket in advance. They can pay monthly by direct debit like everyone else. I think there is a slight difference as the DD is spread over 12 months rather than 10 for all other season tickets (that may have changed). They do have to commit to a 5 year term though.

Some 1901 memberships are allocated to companies and not individuals. But as I mentioned above those accounts need to build up loyalty points like every other account.

Away tickets aren't free for 1901 members.