Away tickets

[squirtyflower]

The Supporters Clubs and cup schemes intrigues me. I wonder what percentage of supporters club members are also on the cup scheme is and shouldn't the percentage allocated to supporters club decrease for away games if it is less?

I still don't see the need for the supporters club allocations. I can understand the corporate and internal allocations, even if I don't like the former, but the supporters club one doesn't wash with me. I've heard things like they put coaches on but how does that work for Euro away games. They don't put planes on. We're all fighting for the same cause at the end of the day and a fairer system should start with doing away with the supporter club allocation and increasing the pot available to points. Until that happens, a ballot or new system shouldn't even be discussed.

Good post
I’d never thought about whether they check the member is in the cup scheme or not, seems to take away one of the perks of being in the cup scheme.

And there was a plane chartered by a branch to an away game in Europe!

 

[Mhh1960]

I have been following england for around 35yrs now and if i remember rightly all my points (caps) dissapeared when the new Wembley was built & now they have a rolling system which they started recently where years drop off. They use caps not points & due to the change my son is on exactly the same points as me at the age of 20. I Expect i will get I wouldn't watch them if they were in my back garden but a number of us blues do.Just a thought as reading a number of comments i see this happening. Lastly i was dissapointed Newport got through last night as i wont get a ticket for the next round just like i dont for Utd Liverpool Chelsea etc but hey ho times change & i accept it.Will still get to 10 aways at least if you include Charity shield & league cup.

 

[Ardwick Green Blue]

The core issue really isn't away tickets in my view - this is just a means to an end. As the club doesn't make any money on away tickets (in theory anyway) then why are they bothered about who gets them and who doesn't? The answer to that is because they want to increase the proportion of bigger spending groups, corporate, tourists & younger supporters, and if that means alienating older supporters, even to the point of them jacking it in, then that is a price well worth paying. Loyal support for decades counts for nothing when viewed from a business and marketing perspective.

 

[wolfie1988]

The core issue really isn't away tickets in my view - this is just a means to an end. As the club doesn't make any money on away tickets (in theory anyway) then why are they bothered about who gets them and who doesn't? The answer to that is because they want to increase the proportion of bigger spending groups, corporate, tourists & younger supporters, and if that means alienating older supporters, even to the point of them jacking it in, then that is a price well worth paying. Loyal support for decades counts for nothing when viewed from a business and marketing perspective.

Yes but I'm only 30 and none of this helps me! And that's despite having a young son who I fully intend to get a season ticket when he's old enough to want to go.

 

[RACHACE]

My post was in response to someone saying they couldn’t get to an occasional game.
However there is one today that went to zero points, so the opportunity is there, and it has been eight times this season, which is more than occasional.
The fact people choose not to is their right but they shouldn’t then pontificate to others who do

Was it? It want apparent from where I quoted your response from. Either way, it’s still a good point that nowadays you could do every away game you qualify for and you will not catch up with those above you.

Not unless the club give some resources into policing the system, scrap the allocation given to SC’s and reduce the amount given to corporate.

Personally I think that those that have been going for years and have 20k points should be protected and they are under the current points system. (Providing they’re still going of course, which most, if not all are)

If the current system is policed by city then I still believe that you can catch up to get to a level where you’ll qualify for 90% of the games. Small allocations being the only real issue.

Can the club be arsed doing that though? A percentage going to ballot might be easier and more cost effective for them. Then that gives some supporters clubs an extra bite at the cherry as I’m pretty sure all members will be applying in the ballot regardless of whether they’re going or not.

Any away ticket system needs to be monitored and policed by the club or else it’s pointless talking about integrity or fairness.

 

[Mhh1960]

To be fair no one knows yet what will happen. There has been no mention i have seen on here of our regular overseas fan base some of whom go to more games at great expense than some season ticket holders that sit near me.

 

[simmo]

The success of the team has had a significant effect on the ticketing.

When it was first implemented in loyalty points it was a step forward to having to queue in the wet for hours on a Saturday morning. It was more a first come first served.

The points idea served it purpose in its day recognising continued support for those who now have 20k plus points.

Move onto 2019 and it’s ticket points not loyalty points. One and the same but a key definition change by the club. Probably changed to capture the areas of ticket distribution. Not all ticket requests go to loyalty solely by attendance, built up over time as was the format when points commenced.

There is no easy fix. Midweek away games provide an opportunity to obtain a ticket if circumstances permit. I go under that category myself. Weekend games have a much higher uptake and the allocation can easily be sold. Only Cardiff I think was an exception. If the allocation is the same but more parties have a cut, someone is always going to miss out or not be in agreement to a change.

A suggestion I would make is to incentivise season ticket prices when reaching specific points milestones. Still recognising the points but offering something back to someone who has spent thousands to accumulate say 20k plus points. The club has all the data and the cut off could be set at the previous season end. Easy to implement for everybody to understand. The club don’t need to do it but it would be a gesture that truly does recognise long term loyalty.

 

[Bill]

My post was in response to someone saying they couldn’t get to an occasional game.
However there is one today that went to zero points, so the opportunity is there, and it has been eight times this season, which is more than occasional.
The fact people choose not to is their right but they shouldn’t then pontificate to others who do

bang on.

 

[Jordie]

The success of the team has had a significant effect on the ticketing.

When it was first implemented in loyalty points it was a step forward to having to queue in the wet for hours on a Saturday morning. It was more a first come first served.

The points idea served it purpose in its day recognising continued support for those who now have 20k plus points.

Move onto 2019 and it’s ticket points not loyalty points. One and the same but a key definition change by the club. Probably changed to capture the areas of ticket distribution. Not all ticket requests go to loyalty solely by attendance, built up over time as was the format when points commenced.

There is no easy fix. Midweek away games provide an opportunity to obtain a ticket if circumstances permit. I go under that category myself. Weekend games have a much higher uptake and the allocation can easily be sold. Only Cardiff I think was an exception. If the allocation is the same but more parties have a cut, someone is always going to miss out or not be in agreement to a change.

A suggestion I would make is to incentivise season ticket prices when reaching specific points milestones. Still recognising the points but offering something back to someone who has spent thousands to accumulate say 20k plus points. The club has all the data and the cut off could be set at the previous season end. Easy to implement for everybody to understand. The club don’t need to do it but it would be a gesture that truly does recognise long term loyalty.

That's a lovely idea but will never happen, it would cost the club money.[/QUOTE]

 

[GortonBlue62]

The success of the team has had a significant effect on the ticketing.

When it was first implemented in loyalty points it was a step forward to having to queue in the wet for hours on a Saturday morning. It was more a first come first served.

The points idea served it purpose in its day recognising continued support for those who now have 20k plus points.

Move onto 2019 and it’s ticket points not loyalty points. One and the same but a key definition change by the club. Probably changed to capture the areas of ticket distribution. Not all ticket requests go to loyalty solely by attendance, built up over time as was the format when points commenced.

There is no easy fix. Midweek away games provide an opportunity to obtain a ticket if circumstances permit. I go under that category myself. Weekend games have a much higher uptake and the allocation can easily be sold. Only Cardiff I think was an exception. If the allocation is the same but more parties have a cut, someone is always going to miss out or not be in agreement to a change.

A suggestion I would make is to incentivise season ticket prices when reaching specific points milestones. Still recognising the points but offering something back to someone who has spent thousands to accumulate say 20k plus points. The club has all the data and the cut off could be set at the previous season end. Easy to implement for everybody to understand. The club don’t need to do it but it would be a gesture that truly does recognise long term loyalty.

Whatever the club call it, the system works it rewards long term loyalty.

There's no easy fix because there's no real problem other than people thinking they're entitled to attend big away games ahead of people who are more entitled than they are.

I don't want 'incentivising', I want to watch City play away.

I will not have enough points for Bournemouth and (probably) Newport, tough shit.

 

[RACHACE]

Whatever the club call it, the system works it rewards long term loyalty.

There's no easy fix because there's no real problem other than people thinking they're entitled to attend big away games ahead of people who are more entitled than they are.

I don't want 'incentivising', I want to watch City play away.

I will not have enough points for Bournemouth and (probably) Newport, tough shit.

Do you think it’s a fair set up? Do you believe that one day your loyalty will be rewarded and you’ll get tickets for the games you’re currently missing out on?

 

[Bill]

Whatever the club call it, the system works it rewards long term loyalty.

There's no easy fix because there's no real problem other than people thinking they're entitled to attend big away games ahead of people who are more entitled than they are.

I don't want 'incentivising', I want to watch City play away.

I will not have enough points for Bournemouth and (probably) Newport, tough shit.

this is what's wrong, when a long time blue can't get a ticket. ok I give you Newport but Bournemouth should be giving us more tickets. I don't mean just Bournemouth or just City, I mean the league should set a minimum of 3000 seats for away fans. if they want to play with the big boys they have to comply.

 

[BM Blue]

this is what's wrong, when a long time blue can't get a ticket. ok I give you Newport but Bournemouth should be giving us more tickets. I don't mean just Bournemouth or just City, I mean the league should set a minimum of 3000 seats for away fans. if they want to play with the big boys they have to comply.

The various leagues have their own rules ranging from pitch sizes, quality of floodlights, dressing rooms etc, there is no reason why the Premier League couldn't introduce a minimum stadium capacity of say 25,000 or failing that have to provide for a minimum number of away fans (2,500 to 3,000).

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Everyone keeps mentioning Bournemoith, but I remember a night match at Dean Court in 1987, with a cash turnstile, and less than 1200 blues in attendance.
In fact, I don't recall any all-ticket away matches that season. (apart from the cup ties at Everton, Blackpool, and possibly Huddersfield)

Everything has since changed for the better, but whilst qualifying for a Bournemouth ticket, I still think the current self-perpetuating system is flawed.
Not necessarily for this specific fixture, but certainly when a supporter who couldn't be arsed travelling to Oxford and Leicester, has priority for Burton, mainly because he attended games 15 years ago.
Meanwhile, an 18 year old fan who travelled to Oxford and Leicester can't get a ticket.
That type of anomaly could easily be rectified, if the domestic cups had their own loyalty schemes

 

[squirtyflower]

this is what's wrong, when a long time blue can't get a ticket. ok I give you Newport but Bournemouth should be giving us more tickets. I don't mean just Bournemouth or just City, I mean the league should set a minimum of 3000 seats for away fans. if they want to play with the big boys they have to comply.

Was saying the same last night whilst watching Newport
A condition of being in the Premier League should be that the away allocation is a minimum of 3000

 

[Wilmslow Road]

this is what's wrong, when a long time blue can't get a ticket. ok I give you Newport but Bournemouth should be giving us more tickets. I don't mean just Bournemouth or just City, I mean the league should set a minimum of 3000 seats for away fans. if they want to play with the big boys they have to comply.

Totally agree with that Bill in the case of Bournemouth. Thy have been in the top flight for long enough to do something with the Ground.
Even if they fill in the corners and moved their support up a bit it would give us a few hundred more.
League should make them give us 2000 min.

 

[Jordie]

Whatever the club call it, the system works it rewards long term loyalty.

There's no easy fix because there's no real problem other than people thinking they're entitled to attend big away games ahead of people who are more entitled than they are.

I don't want 'incentivising', I want to watch City play away.

I will not have enough points for Bournemouth and (probably) Newport, tough shit.

Just to clarify, are you saying you don't want points for away games?

 

[squirtyflower]

Was it? It want apparent from where I quoted your response from. Either way, it’s still a good point that nowadays you could do every away game you qualify for and you will not catch up with those above you.

Not unless the club give some resources into policing the system, scrap the allocation given to SC’s and reduce the amount given to corporate.

Personally I think that those that have been going for years and have 20k points should be protected and they are under the current points system. (Providing they’re still going of course, which most, if not all are)

If the current system is policed by city then I still believe that you can catch up to get to a level where you’ll qualify for 90% of the games. Small allocations being the only real issue.

Can the club be arsed doing that though? A percentage going to ballot might be easier and more cost effective for them. Then that gives some supporters clubs an extra bite at the cherry as I’m pretty sure all members will be applying in the ballot regardless of whether they’re going or not.

Any away ticket system needs to be monitored and policed by the club or else it’s pointless talking about integrity or fairness.

Yes.
It started when the City Matters rep posted to someone else about stopping people going to the occasional away game.
I then posted there had been 8 occasional away games, so far, that had gone to zero points. The posts escalated from there.

No matter how much some people say it is, it really isn’t about denying someone going to the occasional away game. It’s about not getting tickets for the really big games.
And your issue with that, and I agree, is the people who will be at those games who do not have the points to be there.

 

[GortonBlue62]

Do you think it’s a fair set up? Do you believe that one day your loyalty will be rewarded and you’ll get tickets for the games you’re currently missing out on?

It isn't perfectly fair but then what is.

I sit in 105 at the Etihad. City have decided that my row (and the rows behind it) are worth a £100 more than the rows in front. So the guys that sit one row in front of me pay £100 less for essentially the same view. It's actually even worse than that because they don't do aways and therefore don't pay the Platinum tax. So for essentially the same view of the game I'm paying £150 more. Someone drew a line / made a rule and I missed out. Again, that's just tough titty, my bad luck.

I did believe that I would eventually 'catch up' - in the same way I now qualify for Anfield and Old Trafford, when 3 or 4 years ago I didn't. How did I do that? By understanding how the system works and going to every away game I qualified for. Of course now that there will be no away points (thanks @Prestwich_Blue) I'm stuck, I won't be moving up or down the heirarchy.

My goal is watch City away, I'm not asking for any favours from the club. I'm not asking for someone with more points to submit to a ballot to improve my chances. What I am asking is that they recognize that the system they put in place works - the people with the points get to go to the games. There was an implicit understanding between the club and the fans that away ticket priority would be given to the people who put in the effort. If the club want to renege on that 'contract' now fine - I obviously can't take my business elsewhere - but they will have to recognize that is a shocking betrayal of trust. And @Prestwich_Blue needs to understand that he can't please everyone - he needs to abandon the self serving whiners who thinks it's unfair that they can't catch up.

I've already gone on too long, but it's not strictly true that I won't be at Bournemouth and Newport, there are ways and means as always. I won't be getting the 40 points though - and that always takes the edge off (I'm kidding) :-)

 

[BM Blue]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but, why not do something similar to the Champions League where the away club has to provide some top rated seats, but as an additional allocation. The Corporates could then only apply for those tickets if they so chose leaving the original allocation to the rest of us! I can't say I've ever seen any of these CL seats available to purchase through our ticket site......