City Matters thread

[jrb]

I think its more around lack of communication around criteria, my son is trying to make the 10 but was told he can have an exemption due to his circumstances and now we got an email saying it has been declined.

Just a shit show in my opinion. If he doesn't make it an they put him to a flexi, thats us done as Season ticket holders. He's been a ST for 14 years since he was 3, this is the 1st year we have had problems. I had a dream that he will be an ST for ever and he will also bring his kids like I have him.

It's simple.

The Directors want to dwindle the amount of normal season ticket holders to zero.

By general drop offs, deaths, the new 10 game attendance rule, and only Flexi-Gold season tickets being issued.

Eventually the Directors will get their way.

Hypothetical, in the future.

Johnny Ball, think of a number.

40,000 Flexi-Gold season ticket holders bringing in an extra.....

Adult - 30,000 x £120 = £3,600,000.
Child -10,000 x £48 = 480,000.
Total = £4, 080,000.

To be fair to the directors. Now.

• We have reduced the initial £150 deposit to £120. Junior deposits have been reduced from £75 to £48.
• Each time a Season Ticket Member purchases their ticket for a match, they will see a £7.50 deduction from the overall price of their ticket (£3 for juniors).
• These Season Ticket Members will earn a part of the deposit back for every match they attend.

What is the Deposit Scheme For Flexi Season Ticket Members | Man City Help Centre

Manchester City Help Centre

www.mancity.com

 

[Centurions]

If you are going to make points, make sure they are correct.

reducing season tickets", they're issuing over 4,000 new FLEXI GOLD ST's for next season with 50% ring-fenced for Junior Blues.

Flexi Gold season tickets are not the same as normal season tickets, as you know. The season ticket wording is different because they are different types of season tickets.

Another point you forgot to add.

Match day tickets were only reduced in price by the directors because of the continued fan protests over EXPENSiVE match day tickets, and by the personal intervention of Sheikh Mansour, and/or Khaldoon. If the fans hadn't protested in their 10,000's, the directors wouldn't have reduced the match day ticket prices this season. Go back and watch Khaldoon's end of season video.

By all means make valid points, but when you do, don't be economical with the truth. Be correct, fair, honest, and tell the whole story, not just parts of the story that suits your argument.

All of my points are "correct" and I didn't "forget" to add anything. FG's and ST's can be classed as Season tickets as far as I'm concerned as you're just arguing semantics.

I never said FG's were exactly the same as ST's, if they were they would all be called just ST's. What they are is a very flexible system that seems popular (just not with you). They are a gateway to a full ST if required (something you "forgot" to add).

Who denied the reason for the reduction in matchday tickets? They still got reduced did they not?

Your last paragraph is laughable.

 

[Centurions]

No.

The Directors aren't saying why.

But you will get somebody on here justifying that new and draconian rule.

Maybe the (newish) ticket compliance manager could tell us why?

From memory (I may be just plain wrong rather than not being correct, fair & honest) is it not linked to the number of STs (and presumably FG's) not used very little or at all last season? They may not have stated it as such but surely any other reasoning is pointless guessing and posturing?

 

[Manchester1894]

Can someone give me a factual rationale for the 10 game personal attendance rule that has come direct from the club during discussion with City Matters please.

And similar for matchday sales.
I've had a season ticket for 10 years, then gave it up. I've attended every season for another 10 years (albiet once of twice per season as I had two kids in that time). I've got roughly 5000 points. I couldn't buy a ticket for Leeds at the start of the season. But now as ticket sales are slow, they changed their mind two weeks out - What is the point of that? Firstly they asked me to buy a membership that cost £35 pound, then they say I can't buy it, then 3 months later say I can. How in the world does that make any sense whatsoever?

 

[Saddleworth2]

No.

The Directors aren't saying why.

But you will get somebody on here justifying that new and draconian rule.

Maybe the (newish) ticket compliance manager could tell us why?

Or maybe Lee could tell us. City Matters must have asked.

 

[Corky]

From memory (I may be just plain wrong rather than not being correct, fair & honest) is it not linked to the number of STs (and presumably FG's) not used very little or at all last season? They may not have stated it as such but surely any other reasoning is pointless guessing and posturing?

There was a 14 game usage requirement last season, it is now 16 games.

 

[jrb]

All of my points are "correct" and I didn't "forget" to add anything. FG's and ST's can be classed as Season tickets as far as I'm concerned as you're just arguing semantics.

I never said FG's were exactly the same as ST's, if they were they would all be called just ST's. What they are is a very flexible system that seems popular (just not with you). They are a gateway to a full ST if required (something you "forgot" to add).

Who denied the reason for the reduction in matchday tickets? They still got reduced did they not?

Your last paragraph is laughable.

No, but you didn't mention why the cost of match day tickets was reduced by the Directors, which is important. The directors didn't do that out of the goodness of their hearts.

Because if it wasn't for the fans protests against expensive match tickets prices, and the tone deaf attitude of the directors towards the fans, the match day ticket prices wouldn't have been reduced by the directors. The fans would still be paying exorbatent match day ticket prices this season. Don't praise the directors for this seasons match day ticket prices, praise the fans.(and Sheikh Mansour)

As for season tickets, I've highlighted above what Flexi-Gold season tickets are all about, and the eventual goal of making every season ticket a Flexi-Gold season ticket. When the directors can easily,, without any problems, make 4000 new normal season tickets available for the fans.

Thankfully like many current seasons ticket holders I will keep hold of my normal season ticket until I stop going to the matches, either due to old age or due to death. :-) After that City can do what they want with my normal season ticket.

Think what you want about the last paragraph, I'm not arsed.

 

[ftg89]

A few things I’m not clear about… I have emailed the club, spoke to them on the phone and tweeted them. All with different responses…

I am a flexi gold season ticket holder, I am looking to do the 16 game minimum to upgrade to gold.
I have done 6/6 so far. I’m doing the Leeds and Sunderland games.
I know already that I can’t do West Ham on the 20th. I will buy the game though during the window tomorrow (in case plans change)

I know I can’t let someone sign in and download my season ticket, they made that clear on the phone for safety and security reasons.

If I transfer to a friend and family, does that count as one of my 16? Ive been told it does count and I’ve been told it doesn’t…

If nobody can go on my friends and family, I can’t obviously give it back to the club on the exchange as a FG, will the club accept that I’ve brought it, they have my money so will it count as one of my 16?

If anybody could clear this up, I would be very grateful!

 

[Centurions]

No, but you didn't mention why the cost of match day tickets was reduced by the Directors, which is important. The directors didn't do that out of the goodness of their hearts.

Because if it wasn't for the fans protests against expensive match tickets prices, and the tone deaf attitude of the directors towards the fans, the match day ticket prices wouldn't have been reduced by the directors. The fans would still be paying exorbatent match day ticket prices this season. Don't praise the directors for this seasons match day ticket prices, praise the fans.(and Sheikh Mansour)

As for season tickets, I've highlighted above what Flexi-Gold season tickets are all about, and the eventual goal of making every season ticket a Flexi-Gold season ticket. When the directors can easily,, without any problems, make 4000 new normal season tickets available for the fans.

Thankfully like many current seasons ticket holders I will keep hold of my normal season ticket until I stop going to the matches, either due to old age or due to death. :-) After that City can do what they want with my normal season ticket.

Think what you want about the last paragraph, I'm not arsed.

Why would I mention it? It was in reply to your fellow 1894 member who made a load of "points" that were simply wrong. I presume you're going to correct him yourself or do incorrect facts not count when it suits your agenda? He didn't mention the reduction of the matchday prices either, would you rather they hadn't reduced them?

TBH you sound a bit bitter that you can't moan about it anymore (what am I saying, of course you can).

 

[jrb]

Why would I mention it? It was in reply to your fellow 1894 member who made a load of "points" that were simply wrong. I presume you're going to correct him yourself or do incorrect facts not count when it suits your agenda? He didn't mention the reduction of the matchday prices either, would you rather they hadn't reduced them?

TBH you sound a bit bitter that you can't moan about it anymore (what am I saying, of course you can).

I've already explained why.

You've obviously read my posts.

You don't know me or what I'm feeling. Keep on guessing.

Did I feel bitter when the fan protests worked and forced the directors to reduce the match day ticket prices? No I didn't. :-)

The fact that I took part in the protests from the very start along with the other 1894 lads, and other like minded City fans, the eventual outcome, and the decision by the directors to reduce match day ticket prices, filled me with pride and joy, and still does to this day, especially seeing 10,000's of City fans come together on the concourses, supporting the protests, and wanting cheaper matchday tickets for all City fans, which was what the protests were about, amongst other things.

I bet you were one of the ones on BM slagging 1894 and the protests off? Go on, surprise me you weren't, and I'll apologize to you.

 

[Centurions]

I've already explained why.

You've obviously read my posts.

You don't know me or what I'm feeling. Keep on guessing.

Did I feel bitter when the fan protests worked and forced the directors to reduce the match day ticket prices? No I didn't. :-)

The fact that I took part in the protests from the very start along with the other 1894 lads, and other like minded City fans, the eventual outcome, and the decision by the directors to reduce match day ticket prices, filled me with pride and joy, and still does to this day, especially seeing 10,000's of City fans come together on the concourses, supporting the protests, and wanting cheaper matchday tickets for all City fans, which was what the protests were about, amongst other things.

I bet you were one of the ones on BM slagging 1894 and the protests off? Go on, surprise me you weren't, and I'll apologize to you.

I wasn't 100 %, apology accepted.

BTW, I don't disagree about prices, the "preferred" ticket touts or the confusion over changes to the ticket T&C's. But I won't ignore posts (not yours) that repeat ad nauseum "facts" that simply aren't. They do nobody any favours whatsoever.

I'm waiting with baited breath for the "start of the year" when City make much more information available re. the expansion.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I think its more around lack of communication around criteria, my son is trying to make the 10 but was told he can have an exemption due to his circumstances and now we got an email saying it has been declined.

Just a shit show in my opinion. If he doesn't make it an they put him to a flexi, thats us done as Season ticket holders. He's been a ST for 14 years since he was 3, this is the 1st year we have had problems. I had a dream that he will be an ST for ever and he will also bring his kids like I have him.

My sons have stopped going this year as City wouldn't give thema season ticket. For the last 10 years we have had 3 generations of my family at the game, 5 of us in total. Now there's just me. City broke the lifelong chain this summer through similar policy to yours, and caused by my dad's sudden broken hip.

 

[jrb]

I wasn't 100 %, apology accepted.

BTW, I don't disagree about prices, the "preferred" ticket touts or the confusion over changes to the ticket T&C's. But I won't ignore posts (not yours) that repeat ad nauseum "facts" that simply aren't. They do nobody any favours whatsoever.

I'm waiting with baited breath for the "start of the year" when City make much more information available re. the expansion.

Apologies.

I’m glad to read that.

At the end of the day whether you agree with some of the 1894 lads or not, they have the best interests of the fans at heart. They will campaign for the fans on matters they think are not right, just like the City Matters Reps do. I appreciate the City Matters Reps have face to face dialogue with the club at the meetings. Whether people like it on not 1894 and other fan groups can get the fans to stand up for the fans, which in my opinion isn’t a bad thing, and it gives the fans a voice and a say on matters that effect them. When 10,000’s of City fans stay on the concourse protesting, whilst the game has started, the directors have to take notice of that.

Posters on here often accuse me of being bitter(cough), negative, and anti-directors, etc. Yes, I have issues with some of the decisions that the directors have taken, I’m not alone in that amongst City fans, especially the previous cost of match tickets, and now the more draconian ticket rules. But I have also given the directors praise for backing our managers financially, delivering trophies, the investment in the Etihad, in the club itself(via Sheikh Mansour), and the way the club has been run.

Like everyone else I want the Etihad full of City fans. I want the new North stand to be a roaring success.(excuse the pun) I want the team to be successful on the pitch. The club to be successful off the pitch. I want the club and the fans to become closer again, to work with each other, and to get back to what the relationship used to be between the club and the fans.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Can someone give me a factual rationale for the 10 game personal attendance rule that has come direct from the club during discussion with City Matters please.

People can't complain about away fans buying tickets in home areas and touts, and also complain about the club trying to ensure people use the tickets held in their name. We know that unauthorised sales of tickets are a huge problem at all the big clubs.

I'm OK with the concept of ensuring tickets are used by the person who buys them, but that doesn't mean I agree with the somewhat draconian way the club are doing this. It also doesn't help the club's case that they'll seemingly sell tickets to any Tom, Dick or Harry via "official partners".

 

[LEXSTARproject]

We need a hard reset regarding what is going on. We are slowly becoming like West Ham fans

We have two sides that think they are doing right, but are not looking at the bigger picture

Our chairman praises the fans; we are at the core of everything the club does

Then his directors go on then do the opposite of what the chairman wants

Like most fans, we all thought the new North Stand was going to be the Blue Wall, an actual atmospheric home end.

For this to work, we need our most vocal fans in the lower tier right behind the goal(all safe standing), like the Kop at Liverpool, the Strafford End at Manchester Utd. Without this, the new North Stand is not going to work.

Look at the Holmesdale Fanatics at Crystal Palace, they were not in the right section of their ground, so they went on strike until they got moved to behind the goals at their stadium.

The question is, are the 1894 along Kippax Corner prepared to move to the lower tier of the New North Stand, to help create a vocal end?

Do we need the 10,000 fans to demonstrate again to force the club to give us the North Stand an atmospheric home end, a Blue Wall, and also to get rid of flexi gold and other ticket issues

City matters try their best to resolve matters, but we need a clear plan of what we want

 

[Saddleworth2]

People can't complain about away fans buying tickets in home areas and touts, and also complain about the club trying to ensure people use the tickets held in their name. We know that unauthorised sales of tickets are a huge problem at all the big clubs.

I'm OK with the concept of ensuring tickets are used by the person who buys them, but that doesn't mean I agree with the somewhat draconian way the club are doing this. It also doesn't help the club's case that they'll seemingly sell tickets to any Tom, Dick or Harry via "official partners".

Use them personally or put them on the clubs own exchange. Both ensure no empty seats. What the hell is wrong with that unless the club are selling to away fans on the exchange.
Well clearly nobody including you can give a straight answer to why the club has introduced this.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Use them personally or put them on the clubs own exchange. Both ensure no empty seats. What the hell is wrong with that unless the club are selling to away fans on the exchange.
Well clearly nobody including you can give a straight answer to why the club has introduced this.

I agree with you that people should use them or put them on the exchange. The reason is that some people aren't using their tickets or putting them on the exchange.

I'm no longer on City Matters but when I was, the club told us that only about 20% of unused tickets were being put on the exchange. We had numerous discussions about how to rectify this, and Flexi-Gold was one of the outcomes.

That's the reason why they're insisting on 10 game personal attendance, but I don't think any of us really like the rather heavy-handed way they've gone about this.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I agree with you that people should use them or put them on the exchange. The reason is that some people aren't using their tickets or putting them on the exchange.

I'm no longer on City Matters but when I was, the club told us that only about 20% of unused tickets were being put on the exchange. We had numerous discussions about how to rectify this, and Flexi-Gold was one of the outcomes.

That's the reason why they're insisting on 10 game personal attendance, but I don't think any of us really like the rather heavy-handed way they've gone about this.

Then they know individually who leaves their seats empty and should target them instead of those of us that never do.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Then they know individually who leaves their seats empty and should target them instead of those of us that never do.

Exactly.

 

[CityMatters-LeeB]

It’s a shame that some Blues got a bit hysterical about a few dozen away fans in the home end, with no significant trouble since Celtic in the CL.

Maybe City Matters could establish how many Match Day members we have. It might be between 50k and 100k (just a guess) with some in other parts of the world who want to be associated with City and don’t have realistic prospects of getting to our games.

We have enough fans to fill most or all of the expanded North Stand if the bulk of tickets are affordable. I had a membership to get my play off final ticket ticket vs Gillingham so they are nothing new. I encouraged Blues I knew to fill their boots with the half price memberships and they have been able to snap up tickets for our home games.

Yes City are very poor at communications. That said, We can stay in protest mode 24/7 (and the protests were really good) or we can have a more balanced approach where we recognise match day tickets prices have been reduced (sometimes still too expensive) and we will have our biggest expansion in season cards for over a generation.
.

I can clarify exact number of match day members, but it’s definitely over 100k and closer to 125k