City, how different to the Glazers?

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Have read some of the threads with regards the Cup Direct scheme.

Hear me out, it's clear to a blind man our owners are much more in touch with the fans than those leprechauns.

However, and here's the nub.

The reaching of an FA Cup Final and subsequent indications of what City perceive to be the correct criteria for prestige games.

The Glazers quite rightly copped flak for introducing an automatic cup ticketing scheme, loaded on top of the season ticket.

The demand was there, they have United fans over a barrel.

I believe we are even more so and the owners will allow events to keep their noses clean from the fall-out.

We are a supporter base desperate for success. Nobody holds a gun to your head following City.

But do you believe, as I do, the allocation of FA Cup Final tickets is the precursor, akin to blackmail.

Either you find the monies (on top of your season ticket) or you will be on the outside looking in as the good times roll.

Demand outstripping supply, but ultimately, City increasing their coffers and attendances during cup runs, without the bad PR.

If we secure Champions League football, City will be a lifestyle choice, a case of the haves v have nots.

A different type of fan following City, much as what happened at United?

Would an increased capacity solve some of this issues?

 

[Danamy]

The introduction of the Cup Scheme has been a cute move by City this season.

Put this to co-inside with a good cup run and they'll be laughing next season as every man and his dog will be jumping on the band wagon.

 

[blueinsa]

The only hope for many will be an increased capacity and an owner who will make sure that there is still an affordable season card option.

Only a matter of time before we adopt a ballot system for away tickets as well, especially so in the prestige competitions.

 

[DSonBlue]

Another negative post, T - but your observations this time are based on fact.

It's true that as a club becomes successful it gains new fans, new status, and therefore the ability to make more money.

HOWEVER, don't you think it's understandable that Abu Dabi want to start recovering at least some of the MASSIVE amounts of dosh they've invested in the club?

I'm not saying I like the trend, specifically that the die hards who have supported City through thin and thin might miss out on some of the high profile games in the coming years.

However I (and others lke me) have long accepted that the price of success - and god know we all deserve a bit by now - is that sometimes we might have to watch games on TV instead of being there.

Besides, making a comparison with the Glazers is quite frankly disrespectful toward our owners; they have done their level best to destroy Utd's position as one of the most lucrative in the world since the takeover!

What does everyone else think?

PS. I think it's widely accepted that the fiasco over tickets for the Cup Final is down to the FA moneygrabbers - they're the ones with little interest in the fans being there, and more in corporate income after all (not ADUG)..

 

[Bigga]

Is it me or is City still a business...??

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

The introduction of the Cup Scheme has been a cute move by City this season.

Put this to co-inside with a good cup run and they'll be laughing next season as every man and his dog will be jumping on the band wagon.

For those who can afford to, though mate.

That's the argument. City have a different supporter base, or they did, to United.

The Cup direct scheme by City was a cute ploy by them this season.

A sort of loss leader scenario, just waiting to be demonstrated by a successful cup run.

I hope an increased capacity would result in glory-hunting corporate types helping to subsidise large sections of other support.

But I won't hold my breath. We have yet to see the money making machine crank up in any way.

United get 50,000 plus gates for shite cup games for a variety of reasons, one is also having a gun to their heads.

...and they still go to a ballot!

 

[squirtyflower]

The introduction of the Cup Scheme has been a cute move by City this season.

Put this to co-inside with a good cup run and they'll be laughing next season as every man and his dog will be jumping on the band wagon.

it wasn't introduced this season though, this misnomer has been peddled lots on here recently

i've been in the cup scheme for three years and it has been going even longer than that
i didn't join for the points, i joined because it saved me £10 every time we had a cup home game, as i'm someone who goes to all home games
sometimes the booking fee was as much as my two youngest kids' tickets together so it made sense to join
the points are a bonus

 

[Danamy]

The only hope for supporters is they take the same line as teams around Europe in Germany etc...

The bigger capacity keeps the prices down to what people can afford to fill the ground e.g:

Full ground £30 ticket rather than half empty £60

 

[fbloke]

The inevitable (yeah I know its City we are talking about!) success that was to follow the investments creates a problem common to ALL 'big' clubs in England - Wembley is simply not big enough.

City being outside looking in - to use your phrase Tolm' - masked the fact that many City fans we always going to be going without tickets for finals. All that has happened is that we now, as fans are stumbling out of the dark days and into the light.

The Cup Direct scheme is a great idea but only as long as the tickets are used. I would hope that a tweak is made in that you only get the additional advantages of being in the Cup Scheme if the seats are filled as well.

When the stadium is expanded and there are more match going Blues to feel entitled to the cup final tickets the problem will become worse.

One reason why I have been banging on about big screens at COMS for big games so even more revenue can be generated (FFPR) and more of us can share something akin to a matchday experience together.

None of the other 'big' clubs have ever bothered but at least City have trialed the idea with City Square.

Expect bigger 'off site' efforts in the years to come.

 

[squirtyflower]

The introduction of the Cup Scheme has been a cute move by City this season.

Put this to co-inside with a good cup run and they'll be laughing next season as every man and his dog will be jumping on the band wagon.

For those who can afford to, though mate.

That's the argument. City have a different supporter base, or they did, to United.

The Cup direct scheme by City was a cute ploy by them this season.

A sort of loss leader scenario, just waiting to be demonstrated by a successful cup run.

I hope an increased capacity would result in glory-hunting corporate types helping to subsidise large sections of other support.

But I won't hold my breath. We have yet to see the money making machine crank up in any way.

United get 50,000 plus gates for shite cup games for a variety of reasons, one is also having a gun to their heads.

...and they still go to a ballot!

again, NOT started this year, and the 'cute', therefore, is a redundant barb