City attacking face value sites - cultural war on supporters ?

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

None of this is going to end well. Actively engaging your core support is a ridiculously bad move by the club. Long term, loyal fans (or legacy fans in corporate speak) will just drift away and those people will be hard to win back. I’m not one of those - and I’ve heard a lot more than I’m comfortable with - saying this is my last season ticket, but I’m absolutely in the ‘ see how it goes’ phase. Never thought I’d ever be in that phase either to be honest.

So many fans are saying this will be their last season. And it’s frightening/very sad whatever way you look at it

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I'm not defending the club here but whether we like it or not, selling football tickets without authority from the club is a criminal offence, regardless of whether they're at, above or below face value. That's the position and I'm a bit surprised the club has let it go on as long as this.

There's also pressure from the PL to adhere to their Rule R.16 which requires member clubs to ensure, as far as practically possible, they know who is in the stadium and have their contact details. This is what's behind the restriction on transferring tickets.

The club therefore is acting within the law of the land and the rules set by the organisation which regulates the competition we play in.

Having said that, I think the rules are ridiculous and football fans are yet again being discriminated against in a way that fans of other sports aren't. I don't have to provide my contact details if I go to a concert, the cinema or a pub.

I think we'd all agree that we don't want tickets ending up in the hands of touts, including the legal ones like viagogo. But there's surely a happy medium where it's not like something out of 1984.

There's two issues here that we as fans need to attack. The biggest is Rule R.16 and I contacted the FSA over this. It's excessive and draconian and needs to be challenged by a broad coalition of fan groups. We also need to challenge the club's over-zealous approach to enforcing R.16, which is somewhat hypocritical when they rarely bother enforcing the rule that requires them to turn up on time for the second half.

My suggestion is that 1894 Group works with the OSC and City Matters, and the FSA, to challenge Rule R.16 withfan groups from other PL clubs, collate data on how those other clubs are dealing with this issue and challenge any inconsistency in City's approach.

Given there was repeated problems in the stands last year with rival fans I'd suspect GMP have also had a word somewhere. Like you say, I don't think this is fair or reasonable, but this is the context the club are operating in and there's some pretty low hanging fruit they can go for. I honestly didn't even know it was illegal to sell on tickets till a few months ago.

 

[Craig]

Given there was repeated problems in the stands last year with rival fans I'd suspect GMP have also had a word somewhere. Like you say, I don't think this is fair or reasonable, but this is the context the club are operating in and there's some pretty low hanging fruit they can go for. I honestly didn't even know it was illegal to sell on tickets till a few months ago.

Hmm, who is more likely to sell a ticket to a rival fan!

 

[Blue Maverick]

Given there was repeated problems in the stands last year with rival fans I'd suspect GMP have also had a word somewhere. Like you say, I don't think this is fair or reasonable, but this is the context the club are operating in and there's some pretty low hanging fruit they can go for. I honestly didn't even know it was illegal to sell on tickets till a few months ago.

Ah don’t worry when face recognition comes in that will sort obviously apart from all the day trippers who but off viagogo

 

[Blue Maverick]

None of that is reasonable, but the club could argue season tickets have always been non-transferable (unless by the official route) so they are merely upholding their own terms and conditions. Their actions are ridiculous but they are sticking to the rules.

Didn’t fucking mind it when it suited them to get bums on seats before we started to dominate.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Timmy it’s Timmy he’s a little lamb with a lot to learn

Buy the ticket regardless of the price otherwise only got yourself to blame if away fans get in

Ten of our heroes will attack a neutral fan - but ok for him to barge into 4 Feyenoord fans

The man is a human contradiction.

I can offer help mate. I’m a qualified Mental Health First Aider.

Btw the Feyenord fans were taking liberties and in case your maths are a bit rusty, ten on to one is a bit different to one against four.

 

[jrb]

So many fans are saying this will be their last season. And it’s frightening/very sad whatever way you look at it

I know 2 lads who gave their season tickets up and have never been back since.

I’ve dropped out of the CL cup scheme like many fans have this season.

I’ve also dropped out of the Carabao Cup scheme.

That would have been money going directly to City, which it isn’t anymore.

TBH, it was a ballache going midweek as I’m up in the morning at 4am for work, but I stuck at it for the CL games until this season.

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

I know 2 lads who gave their season tickets up and have never been back since.

I’ve dropped out of the CL cup scheme like many fans have this season.

I’ve also dropped out of the Carabao Cup scheme.

That would have been money going directly to City, which it isn’t anymore.

TBH, it was a ballache going midweek as I’m up in the morning at 4am for work, but I stuck at it for the CL games until this season.

It’s a habit and once it’s broken it’s hard to go back. A once enjoyable habit is now turning into a chore. Because the board are on this gravy train of new fans I don’t think they realise how hard it will be to get the old fans back when it goes tits up.

 

[RegMuffin]

Nothing stops neutral or away fans buying a ticket from the many tickets partners that City line the pockets of.

The hypocrisy of the club is absolutely staggering.

 

[mexico1970]

It’s a habit and once it’s broken it’s hard to go back. A once enjoyable habit is now turning into a chore. Because the board are on this gravy train of new fans I don’t think they realise how hard it will be to get the old fans back when it goes tits up.

It has already started mate, there were time last season that they couldn't give tickets away and the tourists couldn't be bothered filling the seats.

As you say it's going to get worse and the clubs mad idea to build even more seats in unbelievable.

 

[jrb]

It has already started mate, there were time last season that they couldn't give tickets away and the tourists couldn't be bothered filling the seats.

As you say it's going to get worse and the clubs mad idea to build even more seats in unbelievable.

The last 3 homes games and the fan protest games showed and proved that.

It’s no coincidence that either or both Sheikh Mansour and Khalddon intervened and told the Directors to reduce ticket prices for this season. The directors wouldn’t have done that off their own backs. Both Mansour and Khaldoon watching on TV back in Abu Dhabi must have been annoyed and horrified at hearing about and seeing the fan protests and all the empty seats at the start of those games on live TV, being shown around the world. There must have been some bruised egos in the boardroom.

 

[mexico1970]

The last 3 homes games and the fan protest games showed and proved that.

It’s no coincidence that either or both Sheikh Mansour and Khalddon intervened and told the Directors to reduce ticket prices for this season. The directors wouldn’t have done that off their own backs. Both Mansour and Khaldoon watching on TV back in Abu Dhabi must have been annoyed and horrified at hearing about and seeing the fan protests and all the empty seats at the start of those games on live TV, being shown around the world. There must have been some bruised egos in the boardroom.

They back down over some issues as you say mate, then they erect more hurdles for supporters who want to just go to the game. They are suggesting that the tourists and away fans are getting their tickets from blues when the club are selling them through their own preferred touts the cheeky bastards.

Imagine putting up with this shit if you went to the pictures or the theatre? No fucker would go.

 

[jrb]

They back down over some issues as you say mate, then they erect more hurdles for supporters who want to just go to the game. They are suggesting that the tourists and away fans are getting their tickets from blues when the club are selling them through their own preferred touts the cheeky bastards.

Imagine putting up with this shit if you went to the pictures or the theatre? No fucker would go.

Sadly lies play a big part in running a football club.

We all have to remember these people are clever and powerful business people, and they will do what they have to do to drive revenue, even at the expense of the fans.

Ultimately the directors pushed the fans too far last season, so they had to climb down on certain things, whilst levelling that out by bringing in new things this season.

There was no way City were going to take that Financial hit on freezing season ticket prices, and cheaper match tickets, and not try and recoup some of that lost match day revenue.

 

[mexico1970]

Sadly lies play big part in running a football club.

We all have to remember these people are clever and powerful business people, and they will do what they have to drive revenue, even at the expense of the our fans.

Ultimately the directors pushed the fans too far last season, so they had to climb down on certain things, whilst levelling that out by bringing in new things this season.

There was no way City were going to take that Financial hit on freezing season ticket prices, and cheaper match tickets, and not try and recoup some of that lost match day revenue.

Have they removed the people already that will fight the club or are there too many thumbs up pay anything and say nowt in the seats now?

 

[halfcenturyup]

I said at the end of last season that pressure on the club management should have been kept up, but it's gone quiet after a temporary price freeze.

Those blaming Mansour and Khaldoon, don't be so ridiculous. They won't know the ins and outs of fan engagement and I am sure they get bombarded with the result of questionnaires that show how happy everyone is.

You saw last season how quickly things change when Mansour and Khaldoon are actually made aware of the issues. Keep up the pressure, for all our sakes.

 

[mind your car Mr?]

Daz Clarke page under threat from City now, we should not be silent on this surely - this very forum has had fans get tickets for fellow supporters at face value or less for many years - it’s fans using this site and others on Facebook that helps fill the ground on a wet Wednesday night against Sunderland or whoever…

That’s bums on seats and extra revenue for the club once people are inside buying food drink merchandise- that’s more noise helping the team - creating a passionate home atmosphere.

It’s an attempt to rid the club of season ticket holders over time. A great replacement which we must fight. It’s an attempt to change the culture within the stadium and a loosening of the generational links.

Without a continuation of the core support the club loses its’ soul.

And why ? Because some idiot here wants to boost their CV for 2/3 wants to impress khaldoon and get a promotion before moving off somewhere else?

Surely we and I mean this board should not be passive or silent here .

The context here is that these sites ensure a Blue / his family gets a ticket. They don’t go to away fans.

Club are doing this when :

1 no guarantees of filling the seats in an increased capacity

2 no guarantees the seats sold by 9 reseller partners are going to Blues each time - yet obsessed with Blues selling to blues at face value and not trusting the vast majority of fans who use these sites for good reason.

Galatasaray at home - 15000 of their fans got into old Trafford. What can we expect when they come to ours?

who's daz clarke?

 

[Really_here]

So many fans are saying this will be their last season. And it’s frightening/very sad whatever way you look at it

Long time since I went to a game but I wouldn't blame them, reading this thread I've staggered how such a simple concept has become so complicated. In my simplistic view if you buy a season ticket you are guaranteed a seat and should you choose to not go/give/sell it to someone else than that's your business and bugger all to do with anyone else. You've paid the club for that seat and that's an end of it.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

Well my mate who posts on here, is retired and now spends a lot of his time in warmer climes.

He thinks this will be his last season, not because he's going to jack in the 2 season tickets he's had for the best part of 50 years, but because he doesn't think he'll get to the minimum 10 games and will probably have it taken off him.

Come on City there has to be some middle ground here.

 

[Wallaceinthecheapseats.]

Another one here whose jacked the champions league scheme.Felt more like Disney land on the C.l.nights didn't recognise anyone around me and to be honest ,sick of the clueless nobheads with the phones out .
Brothers dropped it,nephews dropped it and mates have dropped it.All season ticket holders.
They are in for a very rude awakening when someone like gala come to town.
In the other cup schemes though purely if we get tasty cup aways

 

[jrb]

Have they removed the people already that will fight the club or are there too many thumbs up pay anything and say nowt in the seats now?

There are too many fans to remove.

Apparently the ESL1 concourse which is bigger and wider than the SSL1 and CBL1 concourses was also rammed full of fans protesting.

Look at all those fans protesting on just 1 concourse.