Away tickets

[squirtyflower]

Return train to Bournemouth showing £105. Gets in 30 minutes before KO. Taxi to the ground? National Express goes via London. Leaves Manchester about 1am arriving Bournemouth 11:30. Returns at around 18:00 getting back into Manchester 4am. Total of 27 hours. one of the biggest incentives to go through all that was to keep your points up, then you may still have to piss about picking your ticket up at the Stadium. City Matters Committee.....WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU CREATED? Empty seats at away grounds???

I won’t be there mate, just booked a holiday to Portugal for the week of the game, costs me less than going to the game.

Really strange this morning, mrs sf was going through our bank account and commented how healthy it was looking, then she realised it was due to the off season. Then came up with the idea of perhaps not bothering and spending the money elsewhere.

When I told her about ticket collection she wasn’t too enamoured. Cheers City, lots more holidays and weekend breaks coming up.

 

[bugsyblue]

If it’s true that the 18-25 allocation has come from the ‘loyalty points’ alllocation then we have been shafted.

Over the last ten years that group have gone from 80% of the away tickets to 55% of the allocation. Hence why, @bugsyblue, it may be more difficult to get tickets on your points.

Well that will 100% be the reason! 80% to 55% is a massive decrease. In my opinion sponsors should get zero away allocation. I have no problem with loyal corporate fans being able to go - if they go to every game and pay thousands more for it then they deserve it no more no less than a normal fan - but player's mates, sponsors, some **** from advertising, they shouldn't be given advantage over normal fans to away games.

 

[Corky]

As I said in the earlier post, it was harder but has got easier the last couple of years.

This is due to those on mid points fucking off aways as the allocation to points have been cut so much. If you could get to 90% of games and went to all you could in 2014, then some time around the 14/15 city in the city Chelsea game points shoot up around 2k compared to arsenal earlier in the season (both 50% discount), then find out you can only get to less than half the games a few years later, still attending all you can, it shows the number of tickets to points has been drastically cut. This type of fan isn't going to put themselves out for the low demand games after being shat on by the back door brigade who only go to certain games.

 

[Maccblue]

If it’s true that the 18-25 allocation has come from the ‘loyalty points’ alllocation then we have been shafted.

Over the last ten years that group have gone from 80% of the away tickets to 55% of the allocation. Hence why, @bugsyblue, it may be more difficult to get tickets on your points.

Look at the facts
Brighton similar allocation to West Ham started at 22000 points
Since then we have on platinum been ‘rewarded’ with 380 points
West Ham first day of sale 25000 points
Hmmmmm

 

[GortonBlue62]

Platinum Seasoncard holders will continue to receive double points, equating to a total of 490 additional points when compared to Gold Seasoncard holders across the 19 home Premier League matches and the three Cup Schemes (UEFA, FA Cup and League Cup). Double points will also be assigned for tickets purchased to home Cup matches.

Am I tired?
How do they make it up to 490 points with 19 games and points for joining cup schemes

If you're on Gold and join all three cup schemes you get 490 points (100 + 100 + 100 + 190 = 490).

If you're on Platinum and join all three cup schemes you get 980 points (200 + 200 + 200 + 380 = 980).

980 - 490 = 490.

I'm tired too, so apologies if this isn't right.

 

[squirtyflower]

Look at the facts
Brighton similar allocation to West Ham started at 22000 points
Since then we have on platinum been ‘rewarded’ with 380 points
West Ham first day of sale 25000 points
Hmmmmm

Yes I had to reread the criteria and then check my own points tally as I thought there must be something wrong somewhere.

Usually I’m in the first or second tier of tickets but now dropped to fourth for this game.

 

[GortonBlue62]

That's not 'mystery solved' mate. If one person increases their attendance and everyone else stayed the same then I'd still be getting a ticket. That's simple Maths.

Putting your pedantic "I put in the effort" nonsense to aside - genuinely don't know why you're getting all narky about this when I'm asking a genuine question - are you suggesting that lots and lost of people have decided to attend every single away game they can over the last ten years? If so then I have zero problem with me not being able to get a ticket any more. However I'd be AMAZED if this was the truth. Like other posters have suggested it's more likely to do with more corporate and sponsorship tickets being available!

And for the record I wasn't calling you a glory fan FFS so keep your knickers on.

I think the fact that we are one of the best teams on the planet has massively increased demand for away games.

Away allocations have remained roughly the same (stadiums aren't big enough).

The club are prioritizing corporate and new fans over the existing fan base.

So in that sense, yes, all other things being equal, the average fan is finding it more difficult to get away tickets.

 

[colinthewindowcleaner]

If you're on Gold and join all three cup schemes you get 490 points (100 + 100 + 100 + 190 = 490).

If you're on Platinum and join all three cup schemes you get 980 points (200 + 200 + 200 + 380 = 980).

980 - 490 = 490.


Many thanks, it was the line ‘equating to a total of 490 additional points compared to those on Gold’ that confused me

I'm tired too, so apologies if this isn't right.

 

[bluesmith]

There was a point a few years ago when I got tickets for OT Anfield etc no problem. Think I was 3rd on the ticket criteria when they went on sale. Following season not a chance. My ticket points didn’t even get me on the list for selling criteria. There was no way the people below could have gained the points to overtake me even by going to every single game. Could be wrong but I think it was when the 20000 points mark became the first selling point. No idea how this happened and seen something similar discussed on here at the time. Know people who don’t do always but are on supporters clubs and just keep gaining the points. That’s my biggest gripe it’s a piss take

Joe's.

 

[berryblue]

I won’t be there mate, just booked a holiday to Portugal for the week of the game, costs me less than going to the game.

Really strange this morning, mrs sf was going through our bank account and commented how healthy it was looking, then she realised it was due to the off season. Then came up with the idea of perhaps not bothering and spending the money elsewhere.

When I told her about ticket collection she wasn’t too enamoured. Cheers City, lots more holidays and weekend breaks coming up.

That's more tickets for the 18s - 25s if they can be arsed going to Bournemouth!

 

[Corky]

The biggest losers to this age discrimination are 16 and 17 year olds unless the junior pull through now applies to u18?

Anyone who has access to any 18-25 will be using them to try an jump the queue, it has just created another problem. It means there is a chance i can get 3 more tickets for the West Ham game; fantastic system.

If the person who is 18-25 qualifies anyway I wonder which pot they go from? Will they all be put together? It will look odd when half are over 30 if so.

 

[Andyleg]

Instead of fighting against each other perhaps we need to do something to send the club a message?

Problem is, and I am not singling anyone out, if you know you are guaranteed a ticket you are not going to fight the system.

We have let more and more supporters become marginalised and shafted by the points system because we were OK with our place in the queue.

The fight should have started when the squeeze on mid to high point earners began. Instead we (and I include me) were annoyed but accepted the status quo because we were still guaranteed a ticket. Now the club is squeezing things further we are beginning to realise our loyalty means the square root of fuck all.

The time to organise has never been more apparent … sadly we'll do what we've always done and say I'm alright Jack!!!

55% of tickets to supporters on a much heralded loyalty point system is a disgrace … surely we can all agree on that?

 

[Corky]

Instead of fighting against each other perhaps we need to do something to send the club a message?

Problem is, and I am not singling anyone out, if you know you are guaranteed a ticket you are not going to fight the system.

We have let more and more supporters become marginalised and shafted by the points system because we were OK with our place in the queue.

The fight should have started when the squeeze on mid to high point earners began. Instead we (and I include me) were annoyed but accepted the status quo because we were still guaranteed a ticket. Now the club is squeezing things further we are beginning to realise our loyalty means the square root of fuck all.

The time to organise has never been more apparent … sadly we'll do what we've always done and say I'm alright Jack!!!

55% of tickets to supporters on a much heralded loyalty point system is a disgrace … surely we can all agree on that?

All fan organisations feed out of the clubs hand. Mentioned this years ago when I wasn't affected, even the first to mention a rolling points system for future fans in 2008:

https://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/magic-of-the-cup.99600/page-2#post-1505101

Was anyone else seeing a problem with the system then when demand was still pretty low and it was £40 away at West Brom 11 years ago? I was an the system benefited me.

They left it too late and made the allocation to points so low it is now almost impossible to reform. However if they did want to reform the system they should have got some strategic thinkers together and openly do a call for ideas, but allow the 1k hardcore who go to nearly all games and equal say compared to the rest of the season ticket holders as they have earned it.

City became very fashionable as the away ticket prices were reduced, now everyone want a piece of the action, and the action is becoming more endangered than the black rhino with the club's medium term aim to fuck off points to allow expensive home season tickets to be sold.

 

[cptaidan88]

If it’s true that the 18-25 allocation has come from the ‘loyalty points’ alllocation then we have been shafted.

Over the last ten years that group have gone from 80% of the away tickets to 55% of the allocation.

You're forgetting European games where Thomas Cook will get a plane full of tickets (circa 200) regardless of total allocation. That's another 5-33% depending on who we play, generally near 10%.

We also have our wonderful representatives to thank for that.

So less than half the tickets (sometimes considerably less) are going to points.

 

[bluesmith]

You're forgetting European games where Thomas Cook will get a plane full of tickets (circa 200) regardless of total allocation. That's another 5-33% depending on who we play, generally near 10%.

We also have our wonderful representatives to thank for that.

So less than half the tickets (sometimes considerably less) are going to points.

Correct, take an extreme example Plzen away. 600ish tickets available, 350 lost to 18/25s and Thomas cook, 250 left for players, staff, corporates, supporters club and... Nope none left.

 

[Corky]

It will be difficult to vent my displeasure to our rep as we don't play United away until March and I'm not sure we'll see him before then.

The way it is going I am not confident of getting tickets for that match. Give 150 to 18-25s and push up points needed by 3k, exactly what i said would happen and the CM rep called it "paranoid shite".

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Instead of fighting against each other perhaps we need to do something to send the club a message?

Problem is, and I am not singling anyone out, if you know you are guaranteed a ticket you are not going to fight the system.

We have let more and more supporters become marginalised and shafted by the points system because we were OK with our place in the queue.

The fight should have started when the squeeze on mid to high point earners began. Instead we (and I include me) were annoyed but accepted the status quo because we were still guaranteed a ticket. Now the club is squeezing things further we are beginning to realise our loyalty means the square root of fuck all.

The time to organise has never been more apparent … sadly we'll do what we've always done and say I'm alright Jack!!!

55% of tickets to supporters on a much heralded loyalty point system is a disgrace … surely we can all agree on that?

The mid (those I would say are on 14-18000 now) points people were told to “shut up, you should be dedicating yourself to the cause more, I've put the time and the miles in, you don’t have more of a right to a ticket than me” by the high pointers.

But now even high pointers are losing out and now it’s hitting home how shit the club have been about all this.

Many mid pointers have been complaining for years about the rise of corporates, sponsors, friends of players, friends of employees, Vloggers who got a ticket for their girlfriend who’s at her first ever away game and it’s an opening day away fixture, the Mam+Dad+Sisiter of that annoying Braydon kid, Supporters Clubs and ticket tout sites where City dish them out to be sold at a huge upscaling...

There are now around 1500 tickets available each away game for Loyalty Point earners.

Pitiful City, just pitiful!

 

[Eccles Blue]

I’ve seen mentions of the criteria for the West Ham game but not received notification from the club so can someone point me in the direction of said criteria please? I go on the website & it shows me that it is restricted sale but won’t let me go any further!! :-) Thankyou

 

[cptaidan88]

The way it is going I am not confident of getting tickets for that match. Give 150 to 18-25s and push up points needed by 3k, exactly what i said would happen and the CM rep called it "paranoid shite".

Well if you do get one, and you see him you can ask how he manages to get a ticket to that game when he doesn't seem to go to many (if any) others.

Seems well placed to be making decisions on the ticketing problem we apparently have. Obviously not going to make any changes which negatively impact himself though.

 

[Andyleg]

All fan organisations feed out of the clubs hand. Mentioned this years ago when I wasn't affected, even the first to mention a rolling points system for future fans in 2008:

https://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/magic-of-the-cup.99600/page-2#post-1505101

Was anyone else seeing a problem with the system then when demand was still pretty low and it was £40 away at West Brom 11 years ago? I was an the system benefited me.

They left it too late and made the allocation to points so low it is now almost impossible to reform. However if they did want to reform the system they should have got some strategic thinkers together and openly do a call for ideas, but allow the 1k hardcore who go to nearly all games and equal say compared to the rest of the season ticket holders as they have earned it.

City became very fashionable as the away ticket prices were reduced, now everyone want a piece of the action, and the action is becoming more endangered than the black rhino with the club's medium term aim to fuck off points to allow expensive home season tickets to be sold.

Oh I totally agree with you. The issue isn't, and never has been, supporters reselling. It has been the squeeze on availability to those who have earnt the loyalty.

I tend to agree that the club needs to embrace younger supporters and don't think I would have any problem if the 5% was simply 5% of the allocation. We do know where none of the 5% will be taken from though.

The thing that gets my goat, and I do think we are singing from the same page here, is that this was apparent years ago. Once you start raising the bar a little at a time it is only a matter of time before it reaches the top. Far too many of our support were comfortable with their place in the queue just 3/4 years ago .... some of those are now looking over their shoulders as they appear to be getting the squeeze for West Ham.

The time to fight was the moment 'any' of our loyal support started to get frozen out. Problem is that unless you see City's long term planning you genuinely don't give a shit as long as you (and that's a general you as in any of us) are ok.

City Matters were mana from heaven for the club. Regardless of their intentions the club statement today has laid all responsibility for the changes at their door and suggested we are all in agreement. What we can do as supporters? I haven't the foggiest …. but rest assured those sitting comfy on 24k, and away from the corporate areas, they're coming for your away ticket next.

It may be too late but unless something is done we'll be balloting for all non corporate away tickets before too long