Fuming!

[machiavellian]

Not sure what you're going on about here, I think you're tying me in with something Corky was debating earlier in the thread? My points have been wider, more on the changes the club are making in a wider sense which indirectly or directly affect our (everyone's) ability to attend.

And you've fundamentally misunderstood me if you think I'm "criticising the people who can't afford the bigger cost by labelling them fair-weather fans", (or intentionally trying to misrepresent what I've posted).

None of my posts have been criticising anyone who can't afford to be a regular at away games, if anything I've been defending them.

I think you've misunderstood me, I had a slight pop at those who grew bored of us during the Pearce era, but for those people that was entirely irrespective of finances.

My point about the club distinguishing between those 'deserving' of a ticket for a high profile game, probably shouldn't have used the term 'fair-weathers', but it was simply to highlight the two extremes of the scale.

And with regards to the 'new faces' in the away end for big games debate which you touched upon, this is due to the club handing out tickets as part of corporate packages with meals and the like all included for the 'glamour' games. Which, as I mentioned in respect of the undermining of the loyalty point scheme via the club's alterations, is symptomatic of the club taking a different, more unsavory approach to us, and by association - revenue.

I am making implied assumptions but they are valid ones. Firstly, why does anyone give a shit about loyalty points? To get away tickets for high-profile games. That's it, that's the sole purpose of them from a fan's point of view. Secondly, you say loyalty points are a way of differentiating the loyal fan from the fair-weather fan. Where do those differentiating themselves from the rest of the pack pick up their loyalty points. It's not at home because of the sheer amount of season ticket holders all getting the same loyalty points from home games per season. Nope, it's made up at away games. Away games are more expensive. This is pretty self-explanatory. The loyalty points system therefore has always been based on the ability to afford to go to away games.

You're neglecting the fact that we were taken over by Sheikh Mansour 3 years ago.

Let's get away from loyalty points potentially 'rewarding' a supporter by enabling you to qualify for a ticket for a high profile away game, and think about the more rudimentary considerations.

Ever since the takeover people have been keenly aware of their point totals, because (most assumed) they ensured that they wouldn't be left behind once we began to go places, that when the attendances began to increase and tickets became more hard to come by they'd be recognised as they had the insurance, so to speak, of a considerable amount of loyalty points.

We've all been keenly aware that attendances would increase, and demand for tickets would increase.

The loyalty point system took up a greater significance than it ever had previously from the 1st of September 2008. It became about much more than away tickets from then on, it was (and is) fundamental in ensuring those who'd been there through the darker times weren't left behind amidst a great surge in demand for tickets from new admirers - a la Chelsea.

But now there are so many discrepancies, so many inconsistencies, that someone who's been held a seasoncard for the past 3 years and made a few cup games and aways, could be not so far off a regular who held a season ticket since the system's inception around 10 years ago, but rarely attends away fixtures and / or had to take a year or two out (for whatever reason) when loyalty points were being thrown around like confetti.

For example there is an old fella behind me at CoMS who's held a season ticket for almost 30 years, he has rarely ever attended away fixtures, and while his points total used to fairly reflect his time supporting City (besides 20 fucking unrecognised years), it no longer does - particularly since the club have been so wildly inconsistent in the awarding of points over the past few years.

It won't be long until blues like him are left behind as relatively new seasoncard holders will overtake him if they attend a few choice fixtures he doesn't and he stays on 'Gold' while they opt for 'Platinum'.

Loyalty points have always been a reflection on how many games you've attended and for how long over the past 10 years, but since the club are fiddling with points for games and even introducing "E Programmes" with loyalty points, there is no longer a consistency. And as Corky implied previously, you could attend a specific game last season and receive the same amount of points as someone who attended 5 fixtures a few years previously.

There are too many discrepancies.

The loyalty point system is no longer a fair reflection of who is the most 'loyal', and it truly has become about money (and I vehemently dispute the fact that it was always about money, it simply wasn't). You took exception to my comment, stating ironies, but nonetheless I believe it'll only continue to worsen as the club continue to cynically use it to play upon fans' fears of 'being left behind' to increase revenue - until, it has been stretched and undermined so far, that they'll have no choice but to replace it.

And that, ultimately, is my greatest fear, as such a scenario would dramatically increase the likelihood of our match-going fanbase going the way of Chelsea's.

Which would be pretty fucking shit.

 

[SWP's back]

If the club use loyalty points to squeeze money out of fans, why would they ever replace them? They simply won't.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Even better is that you are still not guaranteed your own seat when you are in the cup scheme.

;-)

superbia members can reserve your seat as a foot rest

. . .an' platinum members can reserve it as a commode!

 

[Dubai Blue]

You won't get any joy out of this lot mate. They're too busy taking trying to be funny and slagging other blues off to see what's happening here.

I didn't join the CL cup scheme for financial reasons- baby on the way, made redundant a while ago, and trying to start my own business. Had a s/t for 25 years but don't even get a chance to get my regular seat for the CL, they automatically allocate it to a scheme member apparently. By the way, I haven't missed a home cup game for donkeys years, I just cannot allow the club to have access to my account.

The club now think none of those 25 years matter as I can't give them free access to my bank account. It stinks as far as I'm concerned.

Cheers

Pretty sad when someone is made to feel a lesser blue, or is labelled a 'moaner', X Y Z, because he voices his discontent towards something which has a negative impact on his attendance to games.

None of these measures have a negative impact on anyone's ability to attend a game; they impact on their ability to sit on the particular seat that is reserved for them for Premier League games. I really can't understand why this is such an issue. Mr. PM can just sit somewhere else; I'm sure it won't kill him.

 

[SWP's back]

You won't get any joy out of this lot mate. They're too busy taking trying to be funny and slagging other blues off to see what's happening here.

I didn't join the CL cup scheme for financial reasons- baby on the way, made redundant a while ago, and trying to start my own business. Had a s/t for 25 years but don't even get a chance to get my regular seat for the CL, they automatically allocate it to a scheme member apparently. By the way, I haven't missed a home cup game for donkeys years, I just cannot allow the club to have access to my account.

The club now think none of those 25 years matter as I can't give them free access to my bank account. It stinks as far as I'm concerned.

Cheers

Pretty sad when someone is made to feel a lesser blue, or is labelled a 'moaner', X Y Z, because he voices his discontent towards something which has a negative impact on his attendance to games.

None of these measures have a negative impact on anyone's ability to attend a game; they impact on their ability to sit on the particular seat that is reserved for them for Premier League games. I really can't understand why this is such an issue. Mr. PM can just sit somewhere else; I'm sure it won't kill him.

Unfortunately, Mr PM suffers from a terrible affliction known as being ficticious.

 

[oakiecokie]

You won't get any joy out of this lot mate. They're too busy taking trying to be funny and slagging other blues off to see what's happening here.

I didn't join the CL cup scheme for financial reasons- baby on the way, made redundant a while ago, and trying to start my own business. Had a s/t for 25 years but don't even get a chance to get my regular seat for the CL, they automatically allocate it to a scheme member apparently. By the way, I haven't missed a home cup game for donkeys years, I just cannot allow the club to have access to my account.

The club now think none of those 25 years matter as I can't give them free access to my bank account. It stinks as far as I'm concerned.

Cheers

Pretty sad when someone is made to feel a lesser blue, or is labelled a 'moaner', X Y Z, because he voices his discontent towards something which has a negative impact on his attendance to games.

None of these measures have a negative impact on anyone's ability to attend a game; they impact on their ability to sit on the particular seat that is reserved for them for Premier League games. I really can't understand why this is such an issue. Mr. PM can just sit somewhere else; I'm sure it won't kill him.

He`s now been placed on "suicide watch !!"

 

[Tattooedcityfan]

hope its not block 111, row r seat 282, ahem.....

My mate Shittykecks has got that one mate.

he hasn't mate, its the seat i've been relocated to for the champions league games! my seat is block 109 row a normally, but been moved because first 2 rows have to be kept clear.

 

[GXCity]

Can someone confirm that loyalty points were scrapped when we moved to The Etihad from Maine Road and everyone started on zero?

We didnt have loyalty points at Maine Road. We had 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, 4th year and Regular season ticket holders. I seem to remember you got a loyalty point boost when we moved to COMS depending on which year you were in.

 

[SWP's back]

Can someone confirm that loyalty points were scrapped when we moved to The Etihad from Maine Road and everyone started on zero?

We didnt have loyalty points at Maine Road. We had 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, 4th year and Regular season ticket holders. I seem to remember you got a loyalty point boost when we moved to COMS depending on which year you were in.

So the current system that goes back 10 years is better (at stopping those horrid JCL's) than the "good old" system that only went back 5 years then.

Glad we got sorted.

 

[GXCity]

Can someone confirm that loyalty points were scrapped when we moved to The Etihad from Maine Road and everyone started on zero?

We didnt have loyalty points at Maine Road. We had 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, 4th year and Regular season ticket holders. I seem to remember you got a loyalty point boost when we moved to COMS depending on which year you were in.

So the current system that goes back 10 years is better (at stopping those horrid JCL's) than the "good old" system that only went back 5 years then.

Glad we got sorted.

I would say it is better as you could go to every game home and away and you could have had your ST for 20 years, but if somebody had their ST for 5 years and got in the queue at the TO before you, they would get the ticket for The Swamp or a cup final before you.