M18CTID said:
"Maybe it could be added on to the price of the season ticket as an optional extra ? Then its our choice (or gamble) to pay it.......if your like me and would always go to each home cup game anyway, it makes sense to pay the extra."
I really hope the club tries something different next year to get the ground full for cup games. The bribe of excessive loyalty points to join the cup scheme didn't exactly work this season, and this seems as good an idea as any.
The problem with the current cup scheme is that you are hit with several unpredictable charges to your bank account on dates out of your control, and a lot of people just can't budget that way. It will probably be even worse next year, whether we make the Champions League or Europa League.
If we had two types of season ticket (complete or league-only) no-one could grumble at being 'forced' to buy cup tickets. It would also allow priority for any cup final tickets to be given to those who go to cup games.
I think Barcelona offer a complete season ticket at 25% extra cost to a league-only one, which seems about right to me. If we're in Europe and asked to pay £125 extra on a £500 season ticket for all our cup games I'd see that as a bargain.
The 'gamble' part could be easily solved if the club gave the following guarantee: If the cost of individual home cup match tickets ends up being less than the extra charge, the difference will be refunded at the end of the season.