European away games ticketing policy

[cleavers]

Quite rightly you will point out tickets do go on sale for the less desirable matches but attendance to those games alone is unlikely to help a young fan gain a Derby ticket in the forseeeable future.

Playing devils advocate bit here, but if you're a young City supporter who wants to watch us away from home, why should getting a 'derby' ticket be any more important ?

Speaking personally I wouldn't give that lot the shit off my shoe, haven't set foot in there in at least 10 years, and I haven't missed it once. I would much sooner go to say West Brom, than Old Trafford, yet both are equally important in winning the league, so no, I don't see why not getting a ticket for that shithole, is a disincentive to going to other away games.

And I very much speak as someone who's on 'middle points' (who now bizarrely seem to be a target for some), and who picks and chooses my away games these days.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Playing devils advocate bit here, but if you're a young City supporter who wants to watch us away from home, why should getting a 'derby' ticket be any more important ?

Speaking personally I wouldn't give that lot the shit off my shoe, haven't set foot in there in at least 10 years, and I haven't missed it once. I would much sooner go to say West Brom, than Old Trafford, yet both are equally important in winning the league, so no, I don't see why not getting a ticket for that shithole, is a disincentive to going to other away games.

And I very much speak as someone who's on 'middle points' (who now bizarrely seem to be a target for some), and who picks and chooses my away games these days.

I was about to make a similar point.
Old Trafford is an overrated, horrible stadium, often providing a dangerous bottleneck outside the away end.
The night game when Aguero scored a late winner was particularly spiteful.
I didn't go the other week, and won't be bothering in the LC.

 

[lancs blue]

I was about to make a similar point.
Old Trafford is an overrated, horrible stadium, often providing a dangerous bottleneck outside the away end.
The night game when Aguero scored a late winner was particularly spiteful.
I didn't go the other week, and won't be bothering in the LC.

All that is true but it's fucking brilliant being there when we beat them. Maybe it's my age (61) and younger fans think differently but the derbies are still the first fixtures I look for in June.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I think it is harder to catch up now. This season away games are selling out at high points. ive told my lad to jack in Platinum as it's just a waste of money. He is on about 12000 I think and looks like it's not going to be enough for West Brom! He gets tickets when he needs em anyway of the FB site

 

[whitenoise]

A simple solution would be to halve the number of loyalty points fans earned before this season. Die hard Blues would still be at te front of the queue and younger fans would have more chance of catching up eventually. People will still have got some reward for paying Platinum for tickets points (even though atoning ia just a money generating scheme).

Blues would have an international / away game City ID card to confirm proof of identity for spot checks on European aways.

I haven't digested this suggestion yet, but an alternative that would have exactly the same effect would be to double points you earn from next season onwards without touching points gained. Then maybe double them again every five years. As I say I haven't really thought this through but wouldn't it immediately reward people going to (for example) Swansea away in the League Cup four days before we play them in the PL and a week before Celtic,

If the club halve points we already have, we'll all kick off, If the club double points earned for attending from next year onwards we can bitch a bit but get on with it.

Still doesn't sort the problem of how many tickets are not going to loyalty points holders through what ever means, but if it avoids any type of ballot it has to be preferable to match going supporters not those who just want to go to the swamp once a season (God knows why).

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I was about to make a similar point.
Old Trafford is an overrated, horrible stadium, often providing a dangerous bottleneck outside the away end.
The night game when Aguero scored a late winner was particularly spiteful.
I didn't go the other week, and won't be bothering in the LC.

Most of us stayed inside the swamp for a good 20 minutes celebrating. Maybe it was easier for the rags to pick off people who left after the final whistle?

I recall a rag telling me Sergio's goal and I replied was it the ball he picked up on the halfway line. She changed her tune to calling Arsene Wenger a paedo for whatever reason.

Most of us would have wanted to support City at the swamp, particularly when we were younger. I agree that going there has lost its appeal but I hate not being at the Derby as well.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I haven't digested this suggestion yet, but an alternative that would have exactly the same effect would be to double points you earn from next season onwards without touching points gained. Then maybe double them again every five years. As I say I haven't really thought this through but wouldn't it immediately reward people going to (for example) Swansea away in the League Cup four days before we play them in the PL and a week before Celtic,

If the club halve points, we'll all kick off, If the club double points earned from next year onwards we can bitch a bit but get on with it.

Still doesn't sort the problem of how many tickets are not going to loyalty points holders through what ever means, but if it avoids any type of ballot it has to be preferable to match going supporters not those who just want to go to the swamp once a season (God knows why).

Yes I agree that doubling the points or having a rolling 5 or 10 year period counting would be less controversial.

On your second point, part of the answer to the Celtic problem was negotiating a big enough allocation.

I think the Club's review will be very complex e.g. as they are trying to increase corporate ticket holders and limited their options going forward by giving away ticket preference to Joe's. Joe's could expand again on the North sides of CB2 and ES2.

The Club might reduce Supporter Club allocations and seek to remove unauthorised ticket sites like the Facebook tickets page and the tickets forum on this site but I don't think these options would make a big difference and result in more empties at aways that don't sell out.

 

[Bill]

All that is true but it's fucking brilliant being there when we beat them. Maybe it's my age (61) and younger fans think differently but the derbies are still the first fixtures I look for in June.

same age but the first thing I look for is the last game of the season then the xmas fixtures.
can't stand the swamp and go grudgingly to the prem game. the league cup can fuck off.

 

[whitenoise]

Yes I agree that doubling the points or having a rolling 5 or 10 year period counting would be less controversial.

On your second point, part of the answer to the Celtic problem was negotiating a big enough allocation.

I think the Club's review will be very complex e.g. as they are trying to increase corporate ticket holders and limited their options going forward by giving away ticket preference to Joe's. Joe's could expand again on the North sides of CB2 and ES2.

The Club might reduce Supporter Club allocations and seek to remove unauthorised ticket sites like the Facebook tickets page and the tickets forum on this site but I don't think these options would make a big difference and result in more empties at aways that don't sell out.

I only ask for transparency on the distribution, I've commented earlier in this thread (or one of the many similar ones) that supporters clubs, corporate or points whores aren't a problem on their own, put the three together and independant fans lose out. I think abuse of the system will mean the end of passing on tickets sooner later, it's unfortunate that a few will inconvenience the many. I spoke to a bloke in Plzen who was pissed and said he always buys a ticket to maintain his points whether he's going or not. I scraped in on the first day of sale for that one by ten points, I'd have no chance now.

As much as the ticket collection is a pain in the arse, I don't see any other way to stop it other than random turnstyle checks which isn't possible because of the aggro either our club staff or the hosting clubs staff would have to put up with.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Most of us stayed inside the swamp for a good 20 minutes celebrating. Maybe it was easier for the rags to pick off people who left after the final whistle?

I recall a rag telling me Sergio's goal and I replied was it the ball he picked up on the halfway line. She changed her tune to calling Arsene Wenger a paedo for whatever reason.

Most of us would have wanted to support City at the swamp, particularly when we were younger. I agree that going there has lost its appeal but I hate not being at the Derby as well.

Yep.
I've done virtually every game at United since the late 70s, and strangely our record wasn't too bad, even when we were hopeless.
I only remember the one drubbing, but considering the huge gulf in quality, there were plenty when I feared the worst, particularly the 0-0 when we had Jordan and Willo Flood etc

I'm usually in the 1st quota for away games, but nowadays, every game is critical.I can stay in the top echelon by prioritising the other games.

However, it's not just the result or the derby day experience. I just hate the place, and if I'm brutally honest, I've shouted some pretty horrible things, which looking back, make me cringe with embarrassment.

 

[whitenoise]

Can I just add my point "I only ask for transparency on the distribution" is so I get some idea of when I'm getting fucked off by the club so my seat at away games can go to corporates so I know when I can stop putting £15 in a jar every week for my season ticket.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I only ask for transparency on the distribution, I've commented earlier in this thread (or one of the many similar ones) that supporters clubs, corporate or points whores aren't a problem on their own, put the three together and independant fans lose out. I think abuse of the system will mean the end of passing on tickets sooner later, it's unfortunate that a few will inconvenience the many. I spoke to a bloke in Plzen who was pissed and said he always buys a ticket to maintain his points whether he's going or not. I scraped in on the first day of sale for that one by ten points, I'd have no chance now.

As much as the ticket collection is a pain in the arse, I don't see any other way to stop it other than random turnstyle checks which isn't possible because of the aggro either our club staff or the hosting clubs staff would have to put up with.

I don't mind the checks. I just think this could be more efficient to ensure less queuing.

 

[whitenoise]

I don't mind the checks. I just think this could be more efficient to ensure less queuing.

Totally agree, the club fucked up leaaving us outside in the rain and the time it took. They will learn. I'm not happy about the whole "review" - if this ends up in ballots I'm out. I know enough red dippers that have been home and away for 30+ years who miss out half a dozen times a season. I'd rather knock it on the head totally than wait for a lottery.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Can I just add my point "I only ask for transparency on the distribution" is so I get some idea of when I'm getting fucked off by the club so my seat at away games can go to corporates so I know when I can stop putting £15 in a jar every week for my season ticket.

I think there should be more transparency. IMHO, tickets for sponsors aren't so bad when they are putting significant investment into the Club, rather than just paying for a padded seat.

Likewise, information on Supporters Clubs would be more helpful if it showed whether the tickets allocated could have been obtained through Members's ticket points (although Supporters Clubs are entitled to have their own processes for allocating their tickets).

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Totally agree, the club fucked up leaaving us outside in the rain and the time it took. They will learn. I'm not happy about the whole "review" - if this ends up in ballots I'm out. I know enough red dippers that have been home and away for 30+ years who miss out half a dozen times a season. I'd rather knock it on the head totally than wait for a lottery.

I think we need to keep reminding the Club what a bad idea the possible ballots are. It wouldn't solve any of the issues that they wish to address.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Yep.
I've done virtually every game at United since the late 70s, and strangely our record wasn't too bad, even when we were hopeless.
I only remember the one drubbing, but considering the huge gulf in quality, there were plenty when I feared the worst, particularly the 0-0 when we had Jordan and Willo Flood etc

I'm usually in the 1st quota for away games, but nowadays, every game is critical.I can stay in the top echelon by prioritising the other games.

However, it's not just the result or the derby day experience. I just hate the place, and if I'm brutally honest, I've shouted some pretty horrible things, which looking back, make me cringe with embarrassment.

I was an NHS conference at the swamp a few years ago. Two hours into the event I put my hand up during a speech before leaving. I apologised for going but explained that two hours was the longest I event spend in the place

 

[whitenoise]

I think we need to keep reminding the Club what a bad idea the possible ballots are. It wouldn't solve any of the issues that they wish to address.

I'm terrified that the club read this thread and think it's representative of our match going support. I don't think it is.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Totally agree, the club fucked up leaaving us outside in the rain and the time it took. They will learn. I'm not happy about the whole "review" - if this ends up in ballots I'm out. I know enough red dippers that have been home and away for 30+ years who miss out half a dozen times a season. I'd rather knock it on the head totally than wait for a lottery.

You don't really miss it when you get out of the habit of not going every week. I can't be arsed with away games anymore. Went to Palace last year and it was a long day. I just don't get the same buzz out of it like I used to.

I doubt The club will give a shit who has the tickets. If they could get 3000 fans paying £2k plus a year for padded seats with the guarantee of an away ticket, I'm sure they would.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I'm terrified that the club read this thread and think it's a general consensus of our away support. It's not.

I've only come across one advocate of the ballot and that was a guy whose used to.buying his way around and jumping queues.

People like that, who've not been to enough games, get two chances. Firstly, they take their chances in the ballot. Secondly, if they are not drawn out, there will be more tickets available on the black market to buy at inflated prices.

 

[Bill]

You don't really miss it when you get out of the habit of not going every week. I can't be arsed with away games anymore. Went to Palace last year and it was a long day. I just don't get the same buzz out of it like I used to.

I doubt The club will give a shit who has the tickets. If they could get 3000 fans paying £2k plus a year for padded seats with the guarantee of an away ticket, I'm sure they would.

Away games are becoming a bit of an effort. I think it's an age thing. As I said many times people like me will stop going and the kids then get their turn.