Community Shield | Sat 30th Jul, 17:00 @ King Power Stadium

[Didsbury Dave]

You got a link to that 4:1 demand mate? I’ve just looked again and they opened ballot applications to all fans who had attended at least one of those 4 FA Cup games. As 3 of those games were at home, the pool of fans who could apply to go into the ballot is admittedly very large and could potentially even exceed 4:1 but it seems the first sale was to those who attended all 4 games, then the next sale dropped down to just 1 game attended subject to applying in the ballot and being successful. I’d have thought if it was 4:1 initially applying then the sales would go: 4 games attended, then 3, then 2, then 1. Also, if there were nigh on 50,000 applicants for just over 12,000 tickets you’d have thought they would’ve all sold by now and there would be no need for these additional sales windows. Unless loads of Liverpool fans who went into the ballot have passed up on the chance of buying tickets once they’ve qualified.

I would add that selling tickets through a ballot process will always generate more interest. If City sold away tickets that way, I’m sure every game would be over-subscribed. Doesn’t mean that everyone entering the ballot seriously intends to go though as entering a ballot isn’t a commitment to attend the match in question.

Gold star for seat counting services above and beyond the normal.

 

[Silva's Magic Boot]

Another 45 Cat 1 tickets just appeared in Block B3, which had been showing as sold out all week. Wonder if this is more FA returns?

 

[Bluearmy]

You got a link to that 4:1 demand mate? I’ve just looked again and they opened ballot applications to all fans who had attended at least one of those 4 FA Cup games. As 3 of those games were at home, the pool of fans who could apply to go into the ballot is admittedly very large and could potentially even exceed 4:1 but it seems the first sale was to those who attended all 4 games, then the next sale dropped down to just 1 game attended subject to applying in the ballot and being successful. I’d have thought if it was 4:1 initially applying then the sales would go: 4 games attended, then 3, then 2, then 1. Also, if there were nigh on 50,000 applicants for just over 12,000 tickets you’d have thought they would’ve all sold by now and there would be no need for these additional sales windows. Unless loads of Liverpool fans who went into the ballot have passed up on the chance of buying tickets once they’ve qualified.

I would add that selling tickets through a ballot process will always generate more interest. If City sold away tickets that way, I’m sure every game would be over-subscribed. Doesn’t mean that everyone entering the ballot seriously intends to go though as entering a ballot isn’t a commitment to attend the match in question.

Some interesting points. Didnt know Liverpool gave priority to people who attended FA Cup games over Season Tickets. It must put people off going. Imagine you've sat with your mate for years, go the game together, go away on occasion and because he was on holiday/working/skint/etc/etc and didnt go to a cup game but you did, neither end up going as wouldn't be sat together. 2 sales lost.

Not just a Liverpool issue obviously….

 

[wolfie1988]

You got a link to that 4:1 demand mate? I’ve just looked again and they opened ballot applications to all fans who had attended at least one of those 4 FA Cup games. As 3 of those games were at home, the pool of fans who could apply to go into the ballot is admittedly very large and could potentially even exceed 4:1 but it seems the first sale was to those who attended all 4 games, then the next sale dropped down to just 1 game attended subject to applying in the ballot and being successful. I’d have thought if it was 4:1 initially applying then the sales would go: 4 games attended, then 3, then 2, then 1. Also, if there were nigh on 50,000 applicants for just over 12,000 tickets you’d have thought they would’ve all sold by now and there would be no need for these additional sales windows. Unless loads of Liverpool fans who went into the ballot have passed up on the chance of buying tickets once they’ve qualified.

I would add that selling tickets through a ballot process will always generate more interest. If City sold away tickets that way, I’m sure every game would be over-subscribed. Doesn’t mean that everyone entering the ballot seriously intends to go though as entering a ballot isn’t a commitment to attend the match in question.

Yeah, basically you apply for a ticket. You're only guaranteed one if you meet top criteria of loads of cup credits. It then goes down by one cup game at a time and the ones in that pot get their chance.

It's not too dissimilar to the way we sell them but you have to pre-register that you want one.

Think their reserve list for after the 12,000 allocation was 11,000 but as you say, it's easy to apply for a ticket you have no chance of getting.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Yeah, basically you apply for a ticket. You're only guaranteed one if you meet top criteria of loads of cup credits. It then goes down by one cup game at a time and the ones in that pot get their chance.

It's not too dissimilar to the way we sell them but you have to pre-register that you want one.

Think their reserve list for after the 12,000 allocation was 11,000 but as you say, it's easy to apply for a ticket you have no chance of getting.

As soon as I read that “4 to 1” quote I knew that had come out of the mouth of a bulllshitting Liverpool fan in social media or in the pub.

They chose Liverpool because they have loads of fans and can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t choose the club with the most fans regardless of where they are from or what their background is.

 

[M18CTID]

Some interesting points. Didnt know Liverpool gave priority to people who attended FA Cup games over Season Tickets. It must put people off going. Imagine you've sat with your mate for years, go the game together, go away on occasion and because he was on holiday/working/skint/etc/etc and didnt go to a cup game but you did, neither end up going as wouldn't be sat together. 2 sales lost.

Not just a Liverpool issue obviously….

Situations like the scenario you mention are unfortunate but I kind of agree with it in a way. Liverpool do this for all cup competitions as far as I know. There's a legitimate argument that a season ticket holder who hasn't attended any FA Cup games shouldn't get priority for an FA Cup Final ticket over a non-season ticket holder who has attended some or all FA Cup games. Thousands of City fans who aren't season ticket holders attend home FA Cup games, whereas thousands of season ticket holders don't, yet if we get to the final it's the latter who gets priority over the former even though the former has supported the club in that competition and the latter hasn't.

 

[lancs blue]

Situations like the scenario you mention are unfortunate but I kind of agree with it in a way. Liverpool do this for all cup competitions as far as I know. There's a legitimate argument that a season ticket holder who hasn't attended any FA Cup games shouldn't get priority for an FA Cup Final ticket over a non-season ticket holder who has attended some or all FA Cup games. Thousands of City fans who aren't season ticket holders attend home FA Cup games, whereas thousands of season ticket holders don't, yet if we get to the final it's the latter who gets priority over the former even though the former has supported the club in that competition and the latter hasn't.

That Cup priority for S/T holders has traditionally been used as a selling point for season tickets by City. I don't know if Liverpool did something similar in the past.

 

[Beaker]

Situations like the scenario you mention are unfortunate but I kind of agree with it in a way. Liverpool do this for all cup competitions as far as I know. There's a legitimate argument that a season ticket holder who hasn't attended any FA Cup games shouldn't get priority for an FA Cup Final ticket over a non-season ticket holder who has attended some or all FA Cup games. Thousands of City fans who aren't season ticket holders attend home FA Cup games, whereas thousands of season ticket holders don't, yet if we get to the final it's the latter who gets priority over the former even though the former has supported the club in that competition and the latter hasn't.

This I agree with but I know lots of people won’t. I’ve always thought that for cup fixtures people who have attended early rounds should get priority for semi’s / final’s irrespective of whether they’re a season ticket holder. Season ticket holders shouldn’t be able to skip the early rounds but then jump to the front of the queue later on. I’m a season ticket holder who doesn’t attend all cup fixtures by the way so it’s not in my interest to do this, just think it’s fairer.

 

[M18CTID]

As soon as I read that “4 to 1” quote I knew that had come out of the mouth of a bulllshitting Liverpool fan in social media or in the pub.

They chose Liverpool because they have loads of fans and can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t choose the club with the most fans regardless of where they are from or what their background is.

To be fair, Corky is pretty knowledgeable on these things and I'd be surprised if he got the info from a Liverpool fan spouting off on social media but I think there's been a bit of confusion. I found this on Liverpool's website regarding number of ballot applications and this could be where Corky got it from:

Since the ballot opened on Thursday July 7, a total of 27,785 qualifying supporters registered to be in with a chance of securing a ticket for the FA Community Shield against Manchester City.

Fans will be notified of the outcome of the ballot today, with successful supporters then able to purchase their tickets from Friday July 15.

22,486 of the supporters who registered for the ballot and recorded three of the four games therefore have a 28.5 per cent chance of being successful for a ticket.

So 27,785 qualifying fans who registered for the ballot which is a bit more than 2:1 rather than 4:1 but weirdly only 28.5% of 22,486 fans who registered and had attended 3 of the 4 FA Cup games will be successful. That's much closer to the 4:1 figure, yet it's clear they didn't have anything like 4 times as many applications as their allocation. That said, the blurb goes on to state that only 77% of the 12,055 tickets will go to general supporter allocation. 2% goes to "Commercial partners - contractual obligations", 10% goes to "Matchday officials/first-team players/Media" (seems a tad on the high side), and 11% to "Contractual supporter allocation; to include seasonal hospitality members and priority rights holders". Now if anyone is wondering what priority rights holders are, this is the amusing bit. As I understand it. these are people who sold their shares to Hicks and Gillett when they bought the club and in return have a lifetime guarantee that gives them priority for tickets to away games and cup finals. As far as I know, this is legally binding so it can never be reversed - not by FSG or anyone else for that matter!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

To be fair, Corky is pretty knowledgeable on these things and I'd be surprised if he got the info from a Liverpool fan spouting off on social media but I think there's been a bit of confusion. I found this on Liverpool's website regarding number of ballot applications and this could be where Corky got it from:

Since the ballot opened on Thursday July 7, a total of 27,785 qualifying supporters registered to be in with a chance of securing a ticket for the FA Community Shield against Manchester City.

Fans will be notified of the outcome of the ballot today, with successful supporters then able to purchase their tickets from Friday July 15.

22,486 of the supporters who registered for the ballot and recorded three of the four games therefore have a 28.5 per cent chance of being successful for a ticket.

So 27,785 qualifying fans who registered for the ballot which is a bit more than 2:1 rather than 4:1 but weirdly only 28.5% of 22,486 fans who registered and had attended 3 of the 4 FA Cup games will be successful. That's much closer to the 4:1 figure, yet it's clear they didn't have anything like 4 times as many applications as their allocation. That said, the blurb goes on to state that only 77% of the 12,055 tickets will go to general supporter allocation. 2% goes to "Commercial partners - contractual obligations", 10% goes to "Matchday officials/first-team players/Media" (seems a tad on the high side), and 11% to "Contractual supporter allocation; to include seasonal hospitality members and priority rights holders". Now if anyone is wondering what priority rights holders are, this is the amusing bit. As I understand it. these are people who sold their shares to Hicks and Gillett when they bought the club and in return have a lifetime guarantee that gives them priority for tickets to away games and FA Cup finals. As far as I know, this is legally binding so it can never be reversed - not by FSG or anyone else for that matter!

Operating in enemy territory. You're like the Seat Counting SAS.

Coming back to the home front, we might get a day or so of Returns coming up spoiling our work.

EDIT: It's happening: 197 just appeared.