North Stand expansion - seating, ticketing etc

[Manchester33]

I would have thought Flexi gold is a good idea if you can't make the game & if you can't it gets sold on
Many people buy season tickets then bin games like last night.it there choice though .but it can be if and or I size never fits all

So if you're saying 1 size never fits all, why would you support the club ONLY offering FlexiGold? They have no plans to offer seasoncards.

Ignore the seat being filler or not. You pay £150 extra to have an 'option' of not buying a ticket to some games... You'd have to miss loads for it to work out in your favour. That's definitely not catered towards the majority of young fans who are being denied the chance to buy a seasoncard!

That also disregards the point that with an SC I can list it on the exchange or pass it on to a mate.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

So if you're saying 1 size never fits all, why would you support the club ONLY offering FlexiGold? They have no plans to offer seasoncards.

Ignore the seat being filler or not. You pay £150 extra to have an 'option' of not buying a ticket to some games... You'd have to miss loads for it to work out in your favour. That's definitely not catered towards the majority of young fans who are being denied the chance to buy a seasoncard!

That also disregards the point that with an SC I can list it on the exchange or pass it on to a mate.

I don’t think anyone is supporting the Club only offering flexi-golds. I think a lot of us are fed up with people hoarding season cards and depriving families from getting tickets together. That’s a bigger problem IMHO.

 

[Manchester33]

Flexi-goods were mainly introduced to get youngsters on the season card ladder. The families I know with flexi-golds enjoy having them. Hopefully, the up front charges can be reduced. It’s about £50 juniors when you knock off the City junior membership fee but the tickets are much cheaper than match day individual tickets.

It’s also a route for adults who have struggled to get on the season card ladder. Some of these Blues would have got on the season card ladder if they hadn’t been brainwashed that Supoorters Clubs were a bad thing, as a small number of season cards continued to be released through Branches / the OSC until recent years.

I think there needs to be a route to a full season card where flexi-gold season card holders can show they are turning up for virtually every game. The current average attendance of season card holders is 14 home games per season.

There are bigger issues like more affordable match day tickets.

Sorry Tim, really disagree with you. Especially on the bold paragraph.

It was not introduced to get youngsters on the seasoncard ladder. It's a money grab for the club to:

1 - inflate seasoncard prices by £150 each.
2 - control the resale of tickets so SC holders don't pass them onto their mates for significantly less than the face value match day ticket prices.

There is no such thing as a seasoncard ladder. There are no new seasoncards being offered to fans so the ladder does not exist. The club does not have plans to release new seasoncards (other than flexigold memberships).

The figure of 14 home games per season is outdated. That figure (confirmed to me by members of the City Matters group) is from before the pandemic! Before e-tickets. It doesn't take into consideration the ticket exchange. It's flat out wrong!

Me and you did not have to PROVE that we can attend every game. My first Seasoncard was at Maine Road at a time where the club were desperate for fans to take them up. I'm lucky that my Dad took me as a kid and 'got me on the ladder'. There is no way for me to get my two sons 'on the ladder' going forward and that is absolutely wrong and completely undermines football fan culture in the UK (something those running our club do not understand).

If the club goes ahead with this crazy flexigold policy, the chickens will come home to roost and the club will lose its core base of support.

 

[MrCheeseGrater]

It was not introduced to get youngsters on the seasoncard ladder. It's a money grab for the club to:

1 - inflate seasoncard prices by £150 each.
2 - control the resale of tickets so SC holders don't pass them onto their mates for significantly less than the face value match day ticket prices.

Everything here is spot on. As a member who is trying to get a season ticket I am someone who will be directly effected by the Club's decision to only release Flexi Golds. There is no reason why I should pay £150 extra for a season ticket compared to others for the same seat.

Imagine the uproar if the Club put all existing season tickets up £150 next summer? For many new Flexi Gold season ticket holders, most of whom have only chosen to get a Flexi because there is no other type of season ticket available, this is the reality.

It's completely unfair and a blatant money grab.

 

[jrb]

There is no way for me to get my two sons 'on the ladder' going forward and that is absolutely wrong and completely undermines football fan culture in the UK (something those running our club do not understand).

Mate.

The club does understand. The directors do understand. They all know how the next generation of boys and girls become City fans. They all know dads and mums take their children to City football matches, and that’s how children become match going City fans of the future.

Danny Wilson has been as City since Maine Road. He’s a football fan. He knows the progression from going to the match as a child with your dad, mum or both. He knows the progression of going on your own or with your mates in your teens. At that age you are hooked and you are a City fan for life until you die. It’s exactly the same in Spain, at Barcelona. Ask Soriano. It’s the same in every country around the world where football is played.

The difference now is the people running City. (and other clubs) They are more interested in generating revenue and making money over bringing through the next generation of City fans. That’s what club owners want. Directors are tasked with doing that. To generate an increase in match day revenue, to prioritise new and wealthier adult City fans, football tourists, day trippers, etc, over families and children.

Wait until City play Salford City in the FA Cup. The ground will be full of families all wearing City shirts and scarfs because they will get an opportunity to buy discounted match tickets, and will be able to sit next to each other, something that doesn’t happen for a PL game or a champions league game.

The expanded North stand and the flexi-gold season tickets have been created for one sole purpose, which is to increase match day revenue. Little or no thought has gone into attracting families and future young generations of City fans.

Untied are going even further, charging £66 for a match ticket, regardless of your age. Imagine taking your child to a match at United and having to pay £132! Wow! The club owners and directors have gone fucking mad! And have lost all sense of reality.

Going forward it’s only going to get worse. Season ticket and match day ticket prices will keep on increasing in price. Clubs will withdraw concessions for fans. Clubs will continue finding new ways of squeezing more and more money out of the fans until many fans either give up going or pick and choose games they can get a ticket for and can afford. That sadly will be the future of football going forward at City and in this country..

 

[Tim of the Oak]

There is no way for me to get my two sons 'on the ladder' going forward and that is absolutely wrong and completely undermines football fan culture in the UK (something those running our club do not understand).

Mate.

The club does understand. The directors do understand. They all know how the next generation of boys and girls become City fans. They all know dads and mums take their children to City football matches, and that’s how children become match going City fans of the future.

Danny Wilson has been as City since Maine Road. He’s a football fan. He knows the progression from going to the match as a child with your dad, mum or both. He knows the progression of going on your own or with your mates in your teens. At that age you are hooked and you are a City fan for life until you die. It’s exactly the same in Spain, at Barcelona. Ask Soriano. It’s the same in every country around the world where football is played.

The difference now is the people running City. (and other clubs) They are more interested in generating revenue and making money over bringing through the next generation of City fans. That’s what club owners want. Directors are tasked with doing that. To generate an increase in match day revenue, to prioritise new and wealthier adult City fans, football tourists, day trippers, etc, over families and children.

Wait until City play Salford City in the FA Cup. The ground will be full of families all wearing City shirts and scarfs because they will get an opportunity to buy discounted match tickets, and will be able to sit next to each other, something that doesn’t happen for a PL game or a champions league game.

The expanded North stand and the flexi-gold season tickets have been created for one sole purpose, which is to increase match day revenue. Little or no thought has gone into attracting families and future young generations of City fans.

Untied are going even further, charging £66 for a match ticket, regardless of your age. Imagine taking your child to a match at United and having to pay £132! Wow! The club owners and directors have gone fucking mad! And have lost all sense of reality.

Going forward it’s only going to get worse. Season ticket and match day ticket prices will keep on increasing in price. Clubs will withdraw concessions for fans. Clubs will continue finding new ways of squeezing more and more money out of the fans until many fans either give up going or pick and choose games they can get a ticket for and can afford. That sadly will be the future of football going forward at City and in this country..

I’m just saying this in case it helps you. Nicki in our Branch got her two teenage sons (approx 12 and 13 year old) two value gold season cards in South Stand L1. They can all stand together at the match now along with their Uncles as a family unit.

I know you despise these Flexi-golds, I’m just pointing out what’s possible.

 

[cyberblue]

So if you're saying 1 size never fits all, why would you support the club ONLY offering FlexiGold? They have no plans to offer seasoncards.

Ignore the seat being filler or not. You pay £150 extra to have an 'option' of not buying a ticket to some games... You'd have to miss loads for it to work out in your favour. That's definitely not catered towards the majority of young fans who are being denied the chance to buy a seasoncard!

That also disregards the point that with an SC I can list it on the exchange or pass it on to a mate.

So if you're saying 1 size never fits all, why would you support the club ONLY offering FlexiGold? They have no plans to offer seasoncards.

Ignore the seat being filler or not. You pay £150 extra to have an 'option' of not buying a ticket to some games... You'd have to miss loads for it to work out in your favour. That's definitely not catered towards the majority of young fans who are being denied the chance to buy a seasoncard!

That also disregards the point that with an SC I can list it on the exchange or pass it on to a mate.

I never said I support only Flexi gold .Fans should have a choice ,season ticket.flexi gold or pay as you go without the ludicrous £35 membership card

 

[jrb]

I’m just saying this in case it helps you. Nicki in our Branch got her two teenage sons (approx 12 and 13 year old) two value gold season cards in South Stand L1. They can all stand together at the match now along with their Uncles as a family unit.

I know you despise these Flexi-golds, I’m just pointing out what’s possible.

I’ve never said Flexi-Gold can’t help. As you’ve rightly pointed out,
if Flexi-Gold is made available properly to families, then it can help them sit together.(North stand expansion)

What I despise, and I think most City fans will do about Flexi-Gold, is the £150 surcharge which has been added to it by the club for no other reason than increasing season ticket revenue. It’s a money making scam by the club, end off!

I stand corrected on this. If a family of four, father, mother, and 2 children got 4 Flexi-gold season tickets together in the new North stand, that would be an additional £600 a season on top of buying match day tickets 3 weeks in advance of the match. Are there any Flexi-Gold season ticket discounts for children?

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I’ve never said Flexi-Gold can’t help. As you’ve rightly pointed out,
if Flexi-Gold is made available properly to families, then it can help them sit together.(North stand expansion)

What I despise, and I think most City fans will do about Flexi-Gold, is the £150 surcharge which has been added to it by the club for no other reason than increasing season ticket revenue. It’s a money making scam by the club, end off!

I stand corrected on this. If a family of four, father, mother, and 2 children got 4 Flexi-gold season tickets together in the new North stand, that would be an additional £600 a season on top of buying match day tickets 3 weeks in advance of the match. Are there any Flexi-Gold season ticket discounts for children?

The situation with the families in my Branch is that the adults tend to already have season cards and the flexi-golds have been bought for the juniors. City have ensured they can sit / stand together.

In the scenario you give, I think the minimum extra cost - if the adults were already season cards holders and the kids match day members - is about £100. The annual / fixed cost of the junior flexi goods is £75 each. Less the £25 each or is it (£20 each) of the price of the 2 existing junior match day memberships.

Obviously, if one of the adults didn’t have a season card say then they would be another £150 (less what peole pay for match day membership / £35).

I could take or leave the flexi-golds but I think they work quite well in the family unit where the adults are already season cards holders.

I’ve said for years that the direction of travel has to reward flexibility / not full Season cards holder attendance. My preference would be to also to reward loyal attendance.

 

[jrb]

The situation with the families in my Branch is that the adults tend to already have season cards and the flexi-golds have been bought for the juniors. City have ensured they can sit / stand together.

In the scenario you give, I think the minimum extra cost - if the adults were already season cards holders and the kids match day members - is about £100. The annual / fixed cost of the junior flexi goods is £75 each. Less the £25 each or is it (£20 each) of the price of the 2 existing junior match day memberships.

Obviously, if one of the adults didn’t have a season card say then they would be another £150 (less what peole pay for match day membership / £35).

I could take or leave the flexi-golds but I think they work quite well in the family unit where the adults are already season cards holders.

I’ve said for years that the direction of travel has to reward flexibility / not full Season cards holder attendance. My preference would be to also to reward loyal attendance.

If City ensure families can sit together with current season tickets and new Fkexi-Gold season tickets, that’s fair enough.

Hypothetical question. Which might happen with the expanded North stand.

If a family of four, Dad, Mum, and 2 Children wanted to buy 4 new Flexi-Gold season tickets together in the expanded North stand(level 2), how much would they have to pay upfront to get the 4 Flexi-Gold season tickets? Thanks.

 

[Beaker]

If City ensure families can sit together with current season tickets and new Fkexi-Gold season tickets, that’s fair enough.

Hypothetical question. Which might happen with the expanded North stand.

If a family of four, Dad, Mum, and 2 Children wanted to buy 4 new Flexi-Gold season tickets together in the expanded North stand(level 2), how much would they have to pay upfront to get the 4 Flexi-Gold season tickets? Thanks.

By my reckoning £450. Not that it makes it any better but I believe, and stand to be corrected on this, that you can pay it in ten instalments, like you can with a bog standard season ticket.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

If City ensure families can sit together with current season tickets and new Fkexi-Gold season tickets, that’s fair enough.

Hypothetical question. Which might happen with the expanded North stand.

If a family of four, Dad, Mum, and 2 Children wanted to buy 4 new Flexi-Gold season tickets together in the expanded North stand(level 2), how much would they have to pay upfront to get the 4 Flexi-Gold season tickets? Thanks.

If the adults were existing season cards holders holders then those season cards transfer across with the adults. If not then the adult fees would be £150 per person and the juniors £75 each, less the cost of no longer having to buy match day memberships.

There’s an argument for saying not just Blues / season cards holders who’ve transferred from other parts of the ground should be entitled to a full season card if they are in the designated singing area and say they commit to attend virtually all the games. There doesn’t have to be a one size fits all if sensible solutions can be negotiated with the Club. Obviously, you then get new flexibility-Golders in other parts of the ground asking for a full season card etc.

 

[ysmsa]

Flexi Gold is bad for fans. It's a money grab from the club (otherwise, they would just offer new season card holders the choice of Flexigold or a standard season card - I know which one I'd take).

Asking fans to pay £150 more than a normal season card is wrong.

Asking fans to log in and buy a ticket for each game proves it's not a season card; it's a membership that guarantees discounted matchday tickets.

Having to log in three weeks before a game and not being able to transfer or cancel the purchase afterwards is not flexible.

It's a terrible idea, and it comes at the expense of proper season cards, which are the lifeblood of a fanbase.

Says you, I fuckin love it.

The junior FG I have secured for my lad is brilliant. Been to every game bar last night, our choice.
Sat in the same seat next but 1 to me and I've saved a fortune

The Derby has cost me £15 for his ticket.

How many S/T holders didn't turn up last night, fuckin loads mate.

 

[jrb]

It’s starts getting messy doesn’t it. Spreading the cost of Flexi-Gold season ticket payment over a season. Then buying match tickets 3 weeks in advance or not. Should I buy 1, 2, 3 or 4 tickets. Do I know what’s going to happen during those 3 weeks leading up to the match, especially with the kids? Hmmm.

Regardless of how it’s done. 1 example. Allowing a family to buy a family bundle season ticket at a set price, with a one off payment or spread interest free over 10 instalments at the start of the season. Done. We’ve all got a season tickets for the new season. Phew! Yes! :-)

 

[ysmsa]

By my reckoning £450. Not that it makes it any better but I believe, and stand to be corrected on this, that you can pay it in ten instalments, like you can with a bog standard season ticket.

Correct on everything but it is unlikely your bog standard family of 4 will be offered the chance of 4 FG's together.

 

[jrb]

Says you, I fuckin love it.

The junior FG I have secured for my lad is brilliant. Been to every game bar last night, our choice.
Sat in the same seat next but 1 to me and I've saved a fortune

The Derby has cost me £15 for his ticket.

How many S/T holders didn't turn up last night, fuckin loads mate.

How many match day tickets didn’t sell last night?

At least with normal season tickets the money is banked if the normal season ticket money is paid upfront at the start of the season. The club makes interest off that money. Any season tickets no shows can put their seat on the seat exchange, so the fan and the club makes extra money if the ticket sells.

Buying match tickets 3 weeks in advance of a match via the Fkexi-Gold season ticket does NOT Guarantee the City fan will turn up. What is does guarantee is £150 extra is banked by the club for no reason apart from increasing season ticket revenue, and giving a City fan the opportunity to buy a Fkexi-Gold season ticket.

Let City fans buy normal season tickets like 1000’s of other City fans STILL DO.

 

[ysmsa]

So if you're saying 1 size never fits all, why would you support the club ONLY offering FlexiGold? They have no plans to offer seasoncards.

Ignore the seat being filler or not. You pay £150 extra to have an 'option' of not buying a ticket to some games... You'd have to miss loads for it to work out in your favour. That's definitely not catered towards the majority of young fans who are being denied the chance to buy a seasoncard!

That also disregards the point that with an SC I can list it on the exchange or pass it on to a mate.

Young fans pay £75 and get the tickets dirt cheap.

I think it's a good idea but the freeze on S/T's won't last forever

 

[jrb]

Young fans pay £75 and get the tickets dirt cheap.

I think it's a good idea but the freeze on S/T's won't last forever

Correction. Their parents pay an extra £75. 2 young fans, £150. Why are young fans being charged £75? What for? The privilege to get a Flexi-Gold season ticket so they can watch City?

There is absolutely no need to charge (parents) children a £75 upfront cost to buy a Flexi-Gold season ticket. I really don’t understand how people are easy with that concept, and make excuses for it.

 

[jrb]

Let me give you another example.

Let’s say I move to the new safe standing section on NSL2, and my new season ticket costs X. I get talking to the person next to me, and their Flexi-Gold season ticket cost £150 upfront, plus the costs of the matches, is that fair?

 

[ysmsa]

How many match day tickets didn’t sell last night?

At least with normal season tickets the money is banked if the normal season ticket money is paid upfront at the start of the season. The club makes interest off that money. Any season tickets no shows can put their seat on the seat exchange, so the fan and the club makes extra money if the ticket sells.

Buying match tickets 3 weeks in advance of a match via the Fkexi-Gold season ticket does NOT Guarantee the City fan will turn up. What is does guarantee is £150 extra is banked by the club for no reason apart from increasing season ticket revenue, and giving a City fan the opportunity to buy a Fkexi-Gold season ticket.

Let City fans buy normal season tickets like 1000’s of other City fans STILL DO.

I reckon far more S/T holders pay over 10 instalments interest free so the money isn't banked at the start of the season.

For years S/T holders not turning up for the less attractive fixtures has been an issue. The Club are trying something else and they only released a small number FG's anyway and they sold out.

S/T will be available again at some point and people have to be patient

FG is brilliant for those who use it as it is intended (me) but I bet there are people who have bought one and only go to a few if any games and won't be able to renew it next year.

The choice of purchasing the same seat every game is highly attractive, far better than pissing about looking for seats on the planner and sitting god knows where.

S/T aren't cheap BTW, even missing a couple of games bumps up your actual individual match day price a fair bit.