Here's my thoughts on seasoncard relocation:
Firstly, and above everything else, seasoncard holders have (apart from those on value seasoncards) chosen the area of the stadium in which their normal seats are located.
There are many factors that go into that choice, be it the cost, the view, the atmosphere, the facilities, the neighbours etc. It is unlikely (apart from "fancying a change") that those factors are different for cup games compared to premiership games.
My seat is in the bottom half of CBL3 level with the edge of the penalty area, and given a scenario where I have to move, and there being no cost implication, I am happy to move to EL3, the rear of EL2 or CBL2. I get frustrated with seats in an end, as I find it hard to judge the flight of the ball for most of the match, and I don't handle standing for very long any more.
I think that there are other fans who have to relocate that have found that the areas that they have been relocated to, don't "fit in" to that area and have ended up enjoying the match less than normal, and sometime spoiling the enjoyment of those around them.
If the club is to keep a price differential for different areas of the ground, I would say that the club ought to cap the price of the tickets for relocates to the price of their normal area.
The club should also endeavour to keep their stand closure and relocation policy mindful of the type of fan that is being moved, and allow them to move to an equivalent area of the stadium.
For example: FA cup games where South Stand seasoncard holders are relocated, that they have the opportunity to either move round to the same level of Colin Bell in the corner, or to the singing sections of the East stand for those that want the banter with the away fans at no increase in cost (as the end level 1 seats are the cheapest in the stadium) or to the north stand who want the perspective from behind the goal.
If the club feels that for operational reasons they want to close sections of the ground, that they close the second and third tiers of the Colin Bell and move the season card holders to the east stand. This will keep those that want the stadium looking full on TV happy, and allow those that are relocated, an immediate location to move to, rather than, as has happened for Reading, a move to an area they consider unsuitable, or a wait to see if a suitable area is reopened.
The idea of filling the stadium from the bottom to create a better atmosphere, really only works if the gaps are filled with like minded fans. I'm not the stand and wave an inflatable type, and for the villa match I was frustrated by having a small child waving a flag in front of me, as I couldn't see the play. In the same way, I'm sure that I'd frustrate those in front of me, if I were to be relocated to one of the more "atmospheric" areas of the stadium, due to my wanting to watch the game rather than do the poznan!
Had I not already bought my CBL3 usual season card seat online as soon as tickets went on sale, I'd have had a dilemna as to what to do about tickets for the match. I was relocated to NL1 by the club, before the deadline that the club had set (Monday 17:30). I was seriously considering not attending the game, even though I had paid for it, as I couldn't really afford the price increase to move to level 2. If the club had kept the price of the tickets the same for relocates, or opened EL3 straight away, I wouldn't have had to spend a lot of time on the phone, trying to get things sorted out.
As always YMMV
