Seats Being Removed

[jrb]

Now I'm thick, and I'm certainly not as claver as the chaps who walk around the club in their expensive shirts, trousers, and shoes, being paid a top 5 to 6 figure salary.

But amongst them, there must have been somebody with a bit of common sense.

Monday: Colin Bell seat relocations.
Tuesday. Family stand seat relocations
Wednesday: East Stand seat relocations
Thursday: South Stand seat relocations.
Friday: General/problems, regarding seat relocations.

Considering it's probably the quietest part of the pre-season, that shouldn't have been a problem or issue for the club.

But why should Colin Bell seat relocation people get priority over other stands? Lets say there are 500 people in the Colin Bell stand that need to relocate, what if there are only 350 "available" seats left in the Colin Bell stand? The other 150 will move to other stands, taking seats that people already sat in those stands have not been able to yet relocate to.

The only way to do this without the phone nightmare is to offer an online relocation process, log on, pick the seat you wish to relocate to from an available list, the seat is "reserved" for you whilst you fill in the relevant bollocks (like it is on Ticketmaster etc) and that's it. Ok, so it's a "first come first served" process, but most things are, and the it would have been that anyway even if they'd told you at point of renewal.

I'm not saying it should. Unfortunately there is no perfect solution. Then again, why should somebody be on a phone for 1-2 hours, only to be told all the seats in such a stand or block have already gone.

The club must have known in advance, so they could have sent out those letters long ago, instead of leaving everything until the last minute, and forcing a mass stampede via the phones and fans coming down and queuing at the ticket office.

I'm sure the club could have offered certain fans seats behind their existing seats in the same block. That would have taken out a large % of fans who have had to ring or queue up today. They could have also consulted those fans in person(via phone) over the last few weeks who are being forced to split up from a family member/s, and found them *alternative seats together*.

What is again. The matchday experience? Well, what about customer service, treating the fans properly, with just a bit of consideration?

(not directed at you) But let's f***ing think outside the box, ah! The club is supposed to be run by intelligent People, yet this is just another example, of which there have been many, where those clever people have little or no common sense, whatsoever!

 

[warpig]

phoned up t/o this morning at 8;55am, got through at 9:10am. by 9:12am had relocated two seats to a like for like position (back row on aisle) but 5 blocks up into one of the most expensive parts of the stadium with padded seats by the exec. all for the same price as my normal south stand ticket. although a ball ache to move from people who ive sat round with, can still see all my mates in the bar before and at half time. i have no complaints whatsoever, was going to move up to the third tier of new stand next season in a big group anyway. this can work work in your favour if you box clever. well done city.

Someone ahead of us was offered this. But the big stumbling block is when it comes to renewal next year. They were told those seats will be approximately £1100 and you will need to pay this next season to renew, then wait for the relocation period (the equivalent of tomorrow) to move and receive a refund!!!

Are they removing the seats permanently then?!

I thought (mainly because it hadn't affected me directly, so I hadn't actually looked into it in too much detail) that it was a temporary thing, that the seats would be unavailable whilst the additional rows were added, but once that had been done, the seats would be available again, and people could simply move back to their old seat when renewals came around next season (Stupid of me I know, but I assumed anyone forced into a move now would be logged as such and given the option to relocation back to their original seat, if they wished, at renewal, and earlier than the general "relocation window").

Email said back row was being permanently removed Matty. Thought that was strange as there is a 3 foot height differentiation between my seat and level of exec behind us. plus a cast in situ reinforced concrete wall that will need removing. Plus we were on the corner so not sure how this ties in with seat on the east stand side of the aisle which isnt being removed. In city we trust though.

 

[Matty]

Someone ahead of us was offered this. But the big stumbling block is when it comes to renewal next year. They were told those seats will be approximately £1100 and you will need to pay this next season to renew, then wait for the relocation period (the equivalent of tomorrow) to move and receive a refund!!!

Are they removing the seats permanently then?!

I thought (mainly because it hadn't affected me directly, so I hadn't actually looked into it in too much detail) that it was a temporary thing, that the seats would be unavailable whilst the additional rows were added, but once that had been done, the seats would be available again, and people could simply move back to their old seat when renewals came around next season (Stupid of me I know, but I assumed anyone forced into a move now would be logged as such and given the option to relocation back to their original seat, if they wished, at renewal, and earlier than the general "relocation window").

Email said back row was being permanently removed Matty. Thought that was strange as there is a 3 foot height differentiation between my seat and level of exec behind us. plus a cast in situ reinforced concrete wall that will need removing. Plus we were on the corner so not sure how this ties in with seat on the east stand side of the aisle which isnt being removed. In city we trust though.

That's a bit dodgy then, and pretty unfair, if you ask me. For them to be at the point they know the row is never returning, and for them to have communicated that to you now, City must have had the plans through etc before you were asked to renew. They really should have thought this through and, rather than allowing you to simple renew your existing seat (even though they knew it wouldn't actually exist), they should have specifically told you to contact them when they could explain the situation and get you a new seat sorted. There would have been some logistical issues, they wouldn't have known who would/wouldn't renew so the pool of "available seats " would have been more limited than now the window to renew is closed and the specifics known, but what they've ended up with is a bit unprofessional, and certainly not the greatest customer service.

 

[warpig]

Now I'm thick, and I'm certainly not as claver as the chaps who walk around the club in their expensive shirts, trousers, and shoes, being paid a top 5 to 6 figure salary.

But amongst them, there must have been somebody with a bit of common sense.

Monday: Colin Bell seat relocations.
Tuesday. Family stand seat relocations
Wednesday: East Stand seat relocations
Thursday: South Stand seat relocations.
Friday: General/problems, regarding seat relocations.

Considering it's probably the quietest part of the pre-season, that shouldn't have been a problem or issue for the club.

But why should Colin Bell seat relocation people get priority over other stands? Lets say there are 500 people in the Colin Bell stand that need to relocate, what if there are only 350 "available" seats left in the Colin Bell stand? The other 150 will move to other stands, taking seats that people already sat in those stands have not been able to yet relocate to.

The only way to do this without the phone nightmare is to offer an online relocation process, log on, pick the seat you wish to relocate to from an available list, the seat is "reserved" for you whilst you fill in the relevant bollocks (like it is on Ticketmaster etc) and that's it. Ok, so it's a "first come first served" process, but most things are, and the it would have been that anyway even if they'd told you at point of renewal.

I'm not saying it should. Unfortunately there is no perfect solution. Then again, why should somebody be on a phone for 1-2 hours, only to be told all the seats in such a stand or block have already gone.

The club must have known in advance, so they could have sent out those letters long ago, instead of leaving everything until the last minute, and forcing a mass stampede via the phones and fans coming down and queuing at the ticket office.

I'm sure the club could have offered certain fans seats behind their existing seats in the same block. That would have taken out a large % of fans who have had to ring or queue up today. They could have also consulted those fans in person(via phone) over the last few weeks who are being forced to split up from a family member/s, and found *them all alternative seats together*.

What is again. The matchday experience? Well, what about customer service, treating the fans properly, with just a bit of consideration?

(not directed at you) But let's f***ing think outside the box, ah! The club is supposed to be run by intelligent People, yet this is just another example, of which there have been many, where those clever people, have little or no common sense, whatsoever!

The facts are this: there has been an open relocation which is fair and transparent for everybody affected . I got through peak time in less than 20 mins time this morning . Soemone else has gone down at lunch in person and got his ticket with no queue. Suppose its easy to sit on the outside and criticise soemthing you have had no involvement in whatsoer.

 

[warpig]

Are they removing the seats permanently then?!

I thought (mainly because it hadn't affected me directly, so I hadn't actually looked into it in too much detail) that it was a temporary thing, that the seats would be unavailable whilst the additional rows were added, but once that had been done, the seats would be available again, and people could simply move back to their old seat when renewals came around next season (Stupid of me I know, but I assumed anyone forced into a move now would be logged as such and given the option to relocation back to their original seat, if they wished, at renewal, and earlier than the general "relocation window").

Email said back row was being permanently removed Matty. Thought that was strange as there is a 3 foot height differentiation between my seat and level of exec behind us. plus a cast in situ reinforced concrete wall that will need removing. Plus we were on the corner so not sure how this ties in with seat on the east stand side of the aisle which isnt being removed. In city we trust though.

That's a bit dodgy then, and pretty unfair, if you ask me. For them to be at the point they know the row is never returning, and for them to have communicated that to you now, City must have had the plans through etc before you were asked to renew. They really should have thought this through and, rather than allowing you to simple renew your existing seat (even though they knew it wouldn't actually exist), they should have specifically told you to contact them when they could explain the situation and get you a new seat sorted. There would have been some logistical issues, they wouldn't have known who would/wouldn't renew so the pool of "available seats " would have been more limited than now the window to renew is closed and the specifics known, but what they've ended up with is a bit unprofessional, and certainly not the greatest customer service.

Got the email just before the last home game so was a bit of notice. The email explained why the seat was being removed and the process for relocation. Have had to wait this long for the normal s/t renewals to end so they knew what seats were available. Like I say is a bit of a ball ache moving from people I've got to know, but I'm happy with the deal I've got and the way it has been organised.

 

[WhittlesBlue]

Got moved from back row of block 212, me my brother and dad all had to be moved, 50 mins on the phone this morning we have ended up in block 201, which im not happy about wanted to stay in the same or around the same block as the other brother and friends (who sit in the row in front) but arent being moved, now im sat nearly in the family stand with no atmosphere.

 

[Matty]

Email said back row was being permanently removed Matty. Thought that was strange as there is a 3 foot height differentiation between my seat and level of exec behind us. plus a cast in situ reinforced concrete wall that will need removing. Plus we were on the corner so not sure how this ties in with seat on the east stand side of the aisle which isnt being removed. In city we trust though.

That's a bit dodgy then, and pretty unfair, if you ask me. For them to be at the point they know the row is never returning, and for them to have communicated that to you now, City must have had the plans through etc before you were asked to renew. They really should have thought this through and, rather than allowing you to simple renew your existing seat (even though they knew it wouldn't actually exist), they should have specifically told you to contact them when they could explain the situation and get you a new seat sorted. There would have been some logistical issues, they wouldn't have known who would/wouldn't renew so the pool of "available seats " would have been more limited than now the window to renew is closed and the specifics known, but what they've ended up with is a bit unprofessional, and certainly not the greatest customer service.

Got the email just before the last home game so was a bit of notice. The email explained why the seat was being removed and the process for relocation. Have had to wait this long for the normal s/t renewals to end so they knew what seats were available. Like I say is a bit of a ball ache moving from people I've got to know, but I'm happy with the deal I've got and the way it has been organised.

I can't remember, was that before or after the renewal window had opened? That's my only real issue with this, if City knew a seat wouldn't be available it's not really acceptable to sell that seat to someone without letting them know a change/move would be required. I can see the need to wait for the renewal window to close, as it gives you the full set of available seats to pick from, however I think people should have been given the option of relocating early and picking from the seats that weren't part of the renewal window (i.e. non-season ticket seats from last season). If you don't want to do that, and chose to wait, then fair enough, but at least you were given the option.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Got moved from back row of block 212, me my brother and dad all had to be moved, 50 mins on the phone this morning we have ended up in block 201, which im not happy about wanted to stay in the same or around the same block as the other brother and friends (who sit in the row in front) but arent being moved, now im sat nearly in the family stand with no atmosphere.

I find the atmosphere is what you make it, parts of the family stand in level 1 are pretty vocal, even saw 5 year olds joining in the Zabaleta song for the Wet Sham game, all the words! When I tried level three I couldn't believe it when nobody around me sang Blue Moon before the game, nor clapped the players on/off the pitch, but I'm guessing other parts of L3 are better and I was just unlucky.

Sure you'll be fine.

 

[warpig]

That's a bit dodgy then, and pretty unfair, if you ask me. For them to be at the point they know the row is never returning, and for them to have communicated that to you now, City must have had the plans through etc before you were asked to renew. They really should have thought this through and, rather than allowing you to simple renew your existing seat (even though they knew it wouldn't actually exist), they should have specifically told you to contact them when they could explain the situation and get you a new seat sorted. There would have been some logistical issues, they wouldn't have known who would/wouldn't renew so the pool of "available seats " would have been more limited than now the window to renew is closed and the specifics known, but what they've ended up with is a bit unprofessional, and certainly not the greatest customer service.

Got the email just before the last home game so was a bit of notice. The email explained why the seat was being removed and the process for relocation. Have had to wait this long for the normal s/t renewals to end so they knew what seats were available. Like I say is a bit of a ball ache moving from people I've got to know, but I'm happy with the deal I've got and the way it has been organised.

I can't remember, was that before or after the renewal window had opened? That's my only real issue with this, if City knew a seat wouldn't be available it's not really acceptable to sell that seat to someone without letting them know a change/move would be required. I can see the need to wait for the renewal window to close, as it gives you the full set of available seats to pick from, however I think people should have been given the option of relocating early and picking from the seats that weren't part of the renewal window (i.e. non-season ticket seats from last season). If you don't want to do that, and chose to wait, then fair enough, but at least you were given the option.

It was before. But renewal and relocation are two different entities, so it doesnt matter a great deal (if you see what I mean). But no, I hadn't paid for next years s/t then so was not 'miss sold' the seat if you like.

That may be different to those on tier 1 who had their letters late, which I'm just picking up on a few pages back. Apologies. Cannot see the club pulling a stunt like that intentionally, especially considering how they have gone about the tier 2 relocations. could be soemthing the contractor or ANother external factor has dropped onto the club and they've had to deal with at the last minute. we Just don't know what goes on behind he scenes.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

That's a bit dodgy then, and pretty unfair, if you ask me. For them to be at the point they know the row is never returning, and for them to have communicated that to you now, City must have had the plans through etc before you were asked to renew. They really should have thought this through and, rather than allowing you to simple renew your existing seat (even though they knew it wouldn't actually exist), they should have specifically told you to contact them when they could explain the situation and get you a new seat sorted. There would have been some logistical issues, they wouldn't have known who would/wouldn't renew so the pool of "available seats " would have been more limited than now the window to renew is closed and the specifics known, but what they've ended up with is a bit unprofessional, and certainly not the greatest customer service.

Got the email just before the last home game so was a bit of notice. The email explained why the seat was being removed and the process for relocation. Have had to wait this long for the normal s/t renewals to end so they knew what seats were available. Like I say is a bit of a ball ache moving from people I've got to know, but I'm happy with the deal I've got and the way it has been organised.

I can't remember, was that before or after the renewal window had opened? That's my only real issue with this, if City knew a seat wouldn't be available it's not really acceptable to sell that seat to someone without letting them know a change/move would be required. I can see the need to wait for the renewal window to close, as it gives you the full set of available seats to pick from, however I think people should have been given the option of relocating early and picking from the seats that weren't part of the renewal window (i.e. non-season ticket seats from last season). If you don't want to do that, and chose to wait, then fair enough, but at least you were given the option.

If you're happy warpig then that's fine but I bet there are plenty that aren't, including the woman with the 6-year old who was told one of them was moving. But your story seems to be different to be a different situation to other peoples' so it seems that three things have been going on from what I can see.

People have been moved from the front row, the back row and aisle seats. You had plenty of notice if you got an email back in May but some only found out about it on Friday it seems, which I think is very shabby. I agree with Matty that people affected should have been given the option first of going to one of the 5,000 seats not allocated to a season ticket.