Away tickets

[liamctid]

An excellent post full of honesty about the whole away ticket situation.
There will be a lot of smug Supporters Club posters denying what you’ve posted. I’ve been a member of a supporter’s club since the early 70s and I know exactly what goes on there, with independent fans and with Corporate.
But, like you said, it’s the loyalty points holders that have been targeted by the club and the reps on City Matters.

Next year they’ll just stop our allocation and give them to the other groups to control and abuse.

Unfortunately it looks like we've just got to accept this, I know when these issues first came up people from City said to contact your rep. I would love to be able to challenge this decision to the club, and I think more worryingly to know what they foresee regarding the allocating of away tickets in the long term.

I know this thread is about Away Tickets and not City Matters but I've got to say how disappointed I am with how all this has come about, specifically regarding the wording from the club on this as they have written without any evidence that people are "passing on tickets to get themselves further up the ladder". There will be rumour and innuendo spoken like fact - just like there is on here. Plenty of people are still posting their opinions on this subject whilst completely ignoring the fact, and it is a fact, that we had plenty of Premier League games go to general sale last season.

Apart from the Under 25's rep, will anyone feel like they've had any sense of victory with these changes? (And as it stands, these are the only changes from the minutes which seem to be implemented from the committee - happy to be proved wrong) I'd be interested to know, for example, how the BAME rep or the Female fans rep feel about these changes as they appear to not matter?

 

[blingy]

Unfortunately it looks like we've just got to accept this, I know when these issues first came up people from City said to contact your rep. I would love to be able to challenge this decision to the club, and I think more worryingly to know what they foresee regarding the allocating of away tickets in the long term.

I know this thread is about Away Tickets and not City Matters but I've got to say how disappointed I am with how all this has come about, specifically regarding the wording from the club on this as they have written without any evidence that people are "passing on tickets to get themselves further up the ladder". There will be rumour and innuendo spoken like fact - just like there is on here. Plenty of people are still posting their opinions on this subject whilst completely ignoring the fact, and it is a fact, that we had plenty of Premier League games go to general sale last season.

Apart from the Under 25's rep, will anyone feel like they've had any sense of victory with these changes? (And as it stands, these are the only changes from the minutes which seem to be implemented from the committee - happy to be proved wrong) I'd be interested to know, for example, how the BAME rep or the Female fans rep feel about these changes as they appear to not matter?

I’d imagine the supporters club rep will be very pleased e and rightly so as he has the SC best wishes at heart
Shame that all the other reps will be just as happy knowing there best interests have been preserved as SC members whilst everyday fan gets shafted ..

 

[GortonBlue62]

Unfortunately it looks like we've just got to accept this, I know when these issues first came up people from City said to contact your rep. I would love to be able to challenge this decision to the club, and I think more worryingly to know what they foresee regarding the allocating of away tickets in the long term.

I know this thread is about Away Tickets and not City Matters but I've got to say how disappointed I am with how all this has come about, specifically regarding the wording from the club on this as they have written without any evidence that people are "passing on tickets to get themselves further up the ladder". There will be rumour and innuendo spoken like fact - just like there is on here. Plenty of people are still posting their opinions on this subject whilst completely ignoring the fact, and it is a fact, that we had plenty of Premier League games go to general sale last season.

Apart from the Under 25's rep, will anyone feel like they've had any sense of victory with these changes? (And as it stands, these are the only changes from the minutes which seem to be implemented from the committee - happy to be proved wrong) I'd be interested to know, for example, how the BAME rep or the Female fans rep feel about these changes as they appear to not matter?

Loving your posts @liamctid but I have to disagree with your initial statement.

Do we just have to accept it?

I don't have an answer right now but at the very least we need to let the club know the strength of feeling about this.

 

[liamctid]

Loving your posts @liamctid but I have to disagree with your initial statement.

Do we just have to accept it?

I don't have an answer right now but at the very least we need to let the club know the strength of feeling about this.

I wouldn't know what to suggest as a response to it to be honest.

As I've said previously, I would set fire to myself on the Nexen Tyre Bridge if they brought in a ballot

 

[Cheshire Blue73]

Loving your posts @liamctid but I have to disagree with your initial statement.

Do we just have to accept it?

I don't have an answer right now but at the very least we need to let the club know the strength of feeling about this.

We shouldn’t accept it you are bang on. I have spoken to Supporter Services this afternoon and changed my season card from platinum to gold and expressed my disgust at the decision

 

[burnley blue mcfc]

You can probably miss every away game for the next 5 years and still get a ticket for the derby at the Swamp in 2024!

Thats if they’re not in the championship by then ;)

 

[StevieAsk]

We shouldn’t accept it you are bang on. I have spoken to Supporter Services this afternoon and changed my season card from platinum to gold and expressed my disgust at the decision

Ironically, this is the only way I can catch up on anyone. I’ll now get 490 points more than someone on gold. As the system was, being on 15000 points, I may get six or seven aways so 140 points. If you’re on 20,000+ you get all aways but maybe go to six or seven and pass the rest on and get hundreds more points than I do. You see the problem?
By the way, I disagree with gold and platinum but it looks like the club might have a few more joining cup schemes this year as now that is the only way to gain ‘loyalty’ points.

 

[sam 1980]

So the 18-25 year olds still get points

 

[ell]

Unfortunately it looks like we've just got to accept this, I know when these issues first came up people from City said to contact your rep. I would love to be able to challenge this decision to the club, and I think more worryingly to know what they foresee regarding the allocating of away tickets in the long term.

I know this thread is about Away Tickets and not City Matters but I've got to say how disappointed I am with how all this has come about, specifically regarding the wording from the club on this as they have written without any evidence that people are "passing on tickets to get themselves further up the ladder". There will be rumour and innuendo spoken like fact - just like there is on here. Plenty of people are still posting their opinions on this subject whilst completely ignoring the fact, and it is a fact, that we had plenty of Premier League games go to general sale last season.

Apart from the Under 25's rep, will anyone feel like they've had any sense of victory with these changes? (And as it stands, these are the only changes from the minutes which seem to be implemented from the committee - happy to be proved wrong) I'd be interested to know, for example, how the BAME rep or the Female fans rep feel about these changes as they appear to not matter?

The OSC and corporate reps will be delighted I imagine.

 

[trotsky]

We shouldn’t accept it you are bang on. I have spoken to Supporter Services this afternoon and changed my season card from platinum to gold and expressed my disgust at the decision

I changed mine to gold two seasons ago because it was obvious that I was getting further away from 'A-list' aways. I stopped going to Champs league group games too. The money saved allows me to get tickets in other ways - Brighton away last season was in their corporate seating. Living 130 miles away helped my decision to quit games that are on tv anyway.
The fairest system for me would be a 5 year rolling system for 3/5ths of the allocation and the rest in a ballot for seasoncard holders in their second season plus. Obviously this wouldn't be necessary for all aways- but it would give most fans at least the hope of doing a big away at least once in a season.
This emotional topic really is a no win situation for those making the decisions :-/

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Agree with others - A five year roll over system / ballot is the only fair way of doing it I think.

Away games have become a closed shop and very difficult to get tickets for. Yes there are games on open sale, but they are more often then not midweek or too far for many.

the only way to go to away games for lots of people is by knowing someone with high points - that’s not right. Nigh on impossible to catch up points wise aswell

I don’t think people should have a divine right to tickets.

It’s a difficult one to solve.

 

[Corky]

Agree with others - A five year roll over system / ballot is the only fair way of doing it I think.

Away games have become a closed shop and very difficult to get tickets for. Yes there are games on open sale, but they are more often then not midweek or too far for many.

the only way to go to away games for lots of people is by knowing someone with high points - that’s not right. Nigh on impossible to catch up points wise aswell

I don’t think people should have a divine right to tickets.

It’s a difficult one to solve.

No they don't, they need to put the year in an earn them.

Any ballot would be a disgrace and lead to touting in the extreme.

 

[wolfie1988]

Agree with others - A five year roll over system / ballot is the only fair way of doing it I think.

Away games have become a closed shop and very difficult to get tickets for. Yes there are games on open sale, but they are more often then not midweek or too far for many.

the only way to go to away games for lots of people is by knowing someone with high points - that’s not right. Nigh on impossible to catch up points wise aswell

I don’t think people should have a divine right to tickets.

It’s a difficult one to solve.

Again though, this is where the argument begins and ends.

If you're not prepared to travel to night midweek games or to games that are far away, why should you take precedence over somebody that will?

 

[howfen blue]

How do you think the people with all the points got them? I'll answer 'by going to the games that are midweek or too far for many!

 

[GortonBlue62]

I changed mine to gold two seasons ago because it was obvious that I was getting further away from 'A-list' aways. I stopped going to Champs league group games too. The money saved allows me to get tickets in other ways - Brighton away last season was in their corporate seating. Living 130 miles away helped my decision to quit games that are on tv anyway.
The fairest system for me would be a 5 year rolling system for 3/5ths of the allocation and the rest in a ballot for seasoncard holders in their second season plus. Obviously this wouldn't be necessary for all aways- but it would give most fans at least the hope of doing a big away at least once in a season.
This emotional topic really is a no win situation for those making the decisions :-/

If they adopted your 'fairest system' suggestion many of us wouldn't be so 'emotional' about this.

The fact that the club is discriminating against a huge proportion of its core away support is the most shocking aspect of this.

 

[Fame Monster]

No they don't, they need to put the year in an earn them.

Any ballot would be a disgrace and lead to touting in the extreme.

Why would it lead to more touting than exists now?

I actually think it would lead to less. If season ticket holders get the rare chance to go to a fairly high-priority away game, I doubt they'd be selling it on anymore than someone who's been 8 or 9 out of the last 10 seasons.

 

[liamctid]

Away games have become a closed shop and very difficult to get tickets for. Yes there are games on open sale, but they are more often then not midweek or too far for many.

What do people consider to be too far?

This actually underlines another issue which no ones mentioned - people who come on here/elsewhere saying "I used to be able to get to a few aways a season but now it's too hard/points whores are taking all the tickets", I'm guessing more often than not that you were relying on Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn to be your days out. Get there within an hour and we've got 6,000 tickets so if you really want one, you'll probably get one.

 

[colin's bell helmet]

Agree with others - A five year roll over system / ballot is the only fair way of doing it I think.

Away games have become a closed shop and very difficult to get tickets for. Yes there are games on open sale, but they are more often then not midweek or too far for many.

the only way to go to away games for lots of people is by knowing someone with high points - that’s not right. Nigh on impossible to catch up points wise aswell

I don’t think people should have a divine right to tickets.

It’s a difficult one to solve.

A limit of tickets based on points and then a number of tickets based on a ballot. I know mates who get away tickets all season long yet don't attend home games....and they have done for the last 10yrs. Something needed to change.

 

[edinburgh123]

I'm unsure of these changes as a whole. I'm not convinced ticket collections will work logistically (Celtic away springs to mind). I'm not sure that removing ticket points for away games changes anything. I do, however, think that the 18-25 y/o allocation is a good idea. I think people with higher points get irritated that people with fewer ticket points qualify for tickets ahead of them in some cases, and I can understand that. Unfortunately, people aged 18-25 are too young to have accumulated the number of away games as those who're 35+. I don't think the younger generation of fans should be indirectly punished because they simply weren't old enough to start going when the ticket point system was introduced. I also feel that our away support has been getting worse in recent years. Whether or not this is to do with differences in expectation or not, I'm not sure. But I do think these younger fans are in the age bracket that would probably create more noise on the whole.

As a rule of thumb, I don't think we as fans should be blaming each other. We all want the same thing. Away tickets have only become an issue with the huge influx of corporate tickets. There are people complaining that a bunch of young lads (who all have season cards) are going to get 5% of the tickets, when 5 or 6x that amount are given out to corporates and sponsors. Even the supporters clubs get abuse and I'm sure there's good branches and bad branches, however they're going to people who contribute to a SC and who're making the effort to support City on the whole.

We need to change the focus from squabbling amongst ourselves about a tiny piece of the pie, to reclaiming that pie from businesses and wealthy people who use the club as a means to entertain their clients (who couldn't care less about our club).

I know for a fact we have supporters with boxes and corporate tickets who can get 10 tickets to any away game they want. That's why Old Trafford and Anfield sell out at such high points. All those people with those points are going to the less attractive games as well. It's the corporates who claim their tickets for the big games.

I am pretty sure you are wrong wrt Corporate. They can APPLY for 10 tickets but don't necessarily get them. If the demand in Corporate outstrips supply (which I accept it doesn't probably most times) then there is a ballot. I totally agree with the sentiment and the fact that it isn't fair and an average person in Corporate is less likely to do Newcastle away though and thats the problem, but certainly there were a number of games last year I believe demand outstripped supply in Corporate and then there was a ballot.

 

[GortonBlue62]

A limit of tickets based on points and then a number of tickets based on a ballot. I know mates who get away tickets all season long yet don't attend home games....and they have done for the last 10yrs. Something needed to change.

So you know people who have a season card, don't go to home games, and do all aways?

I'm betting this particular demographic, if it isn't a figment of your imagination, is tiny and insignificant.

Nothing needed to change because points whoring is exaggerated, plenty of youngsters do plenty of aways and old buggers like me will eventually fade away.

Something only needed to change if you're (speaking generically, not aimed at you) too lazy to do the hard away days to earn your place at the glamour away games.