Statement from fan groups ahead of new season

[bumbleblue]

Can I ask a quick question? If I can’t make a game and list it on the exchange and it doesn’t sell for some reason am I classed as a naughty non attendee ? So that game is counted against the 16 ?

 

[PistonBlue]

But then they've gone and limited the ticket exchange to listing a minimum of 24hrs before the game, so all this really does is make it more likely that season ticket holders will end up being classed as missing more games if they find out the night before/morning of a game they can't make it

Which backs up the theory that the club has a problem with season tickets, or at least a portion of them. It's almost as if they're actively making it difficlut for some season ticket holders to hold on to their s/t. You can call me an old cynic if you want, but I think the club would happily cull a manageable number of s/t's, 5000 say, and replace them with 5000 'tourists' who will
a) Pay more for the actual match ticket
b) Spend around £15- £25 per head on merch, programme etc
c) Spend probably another £10-£15 per head on F&B and then disappear into the night, busily doing TikTok's about what a great day they've had.
Next week another lot do it all again.

I think that's what this all about

 

[mexico1970]

Which backs up the theory that the club has a problem with season tickets, or at least a portion of them. It's almost as if they're actively making it difficlut for some season ticket holders to hold on to their s/t. You can call me an old cynic if you want, but I think the club would happily cull a manageable number of s/t's, 5000 say, and replace them with 5000 'tourists' who will
a) Pay more for the actual match ticket
b) Spend around £15- £25 per head on merch, programme etc
c) Spend probably another £10-£15 per head on F&B and then disappear into the night, busily doing TikTok's about what a great day they've had.
Next week another lot do it all again.

I think that's what this all about

The biggest problem I see with the clubs strategy is that if we have a couple of bad seasons the tourists wont bother, this isn't London and the tourists want to just see winners.

 

[PistonBlue]

Stick any S/T where there is any issue of attending 10 games etc straight onto a burner phone which you're happy to share with people who you trust - problem goes away, City won't know, seat is occupied (as far as City is concerned) and everyone happy.

will work a treat until the face recognition cameras kick in

 

[beehive_bob]

All sad to see this but no surprise...the club making good on its pledge to 'monetise the fanbase', as they described it some time ago.

 

[mexico1970]

will work a treat until the face recognition cameras kick in

Maybe they will have inspectors who go to seat numbers and scan your face like they do tickets on a train?

:)

 

[Norbiton]

Yes I am not in favour of all the changes but I have read many accounts on social media where Blues have reported that the Club has been very supportive. Particularly on health issues. I expect City to be flexible where fans attendance has been hindered by shift working. Yes if this isn't being exempted atm it should be. It's a new policy so there won't be tons of examples about.

I think it is fair to say that many Blues were shocked when we read how few games many season card holders attended in person. I certainly got the impression that City Matters were shocked at the time this became a live issue. Maybe that's a useful thought to bring into the negotiations, namely that hardly anyone was aware of the scale of the likely impact of the ten game rule.

I don't understand why season ticket holders attending fewer than ten games is an issue of any sort if they make the ticket available for games they can't make or transfer it to somebody who can. By all means insist on a certain number of games where this occurs, but if the seat is filled by a City fan it makes no difference to the club or fellow supporters. It might even serve to increase our fan base rather than insisting that it has to be the same bum on the seat for every game.

 

[Centurions]

Didn't people who had proper medical reasons for it going unused last season 3 or so games get told they couldn't renew this season? Seem to remember some uproar in May about some genuine ill people who the club refused to make an exemption for?

That was a reply to centurions but I messed up the quote buttoin!

I think there was one poster who lost (maybe) their ticket but I seem to recall that they never contacted the club. There were other posters who had contacted the club that had no issues and it was happily accepted. I may be mis-remembering some details though.

 

[Centurions]

Can I ask a quick question? If I can’t make a game and list it on the exchange and it doesn’t sell for some reason am I classed as a naughty non attendee ? So that game is counted against the 16 ?

I think that just listing it is enough, it's no longer your problem after that.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I don't understand why season ticket holders attending fewer than ten games is an issue of any sort if they make the ticket available for games they can't make or transfer it to somebody who can. By all means insist on a certain number of games where this occurs, but if the seat is filled by a City fan it makes no difference to the club or fellow supporters. It might even serve to increase our fan base rather than insisting that it has to be the same bum on the seat for every game.

To City, it's probably a lost opportunity for selling tickets at higher, match day prices.

I am live and let live myself. I don't have a particular issue with it. I know there will be Blues who are match day members who will feel aggrieved at missing out on big games to say Cityzens number only members, who've had the season card seat transferred to them.

 

[Stephen230]

Can I ask a quick question? If I can’t make a game and list it on the exchange and it doesn’t sell for some reason am I classed as a naughty non attendee ? So that game is counted against the 16 ?

Yes, just listing it counts as ' Being used' ( 16 )

Doesn't of course count as 'Attended' though. ( 10 )

 

[PistonBlue]

I think that just listing it is enough, it's no longer your problem after that.

Yes, that's how I understood it. Listing on TE qualifies as 'used' regardless if whether it sells or not.

Your Season Ticket will be counted as “used” if you:

• Attend the match and have your ticket scanned at the stadium
• Transfer your ticket to another City fan
• List your ticket on the Ticket Exchange (up to 6 hours before kick-off)
• Donate your ticket to City in the Community

What is the Club's 16 match policy for Season Ticket Members in 2025/26? | Man City Help Centre

Manchester City Help Centre

www.mancity.com

 

[artfuldodger]

Can I ask a quick question? If I can’t make a game and list it on the exchange and it doesn’t sell for some reason am I classed as a naughty non attendee ? So that game is counted against the 16 ?

[td]

16 Match Policy​

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[/td]​

[td]

This season, we are asking Season Ticket Members to utilise their Season Ticket for a minimum of 16 of the 19 Premier League home matches. Of these, Season Ticket Members must personally attend at least 10 matches, while they can transfer their ticket or list it on the Ticket Exchange for the remaining matches. Tickets listed on the Exchange that do not sell still count towards ticket utilisation. ​

[/td]​

 

[jrb]

Maybe waiting for the misinformation posted about the OSC at the end of last season to be corrected.


Good post mate. Unfortunately, it was also assisted by some other posters who mocked flexi-golders for only attending a minimum of 10 games per season.

You’ll have a long wait Tim. ;-)

One thing is for sure Tim, a group of the the OSC hierarchy, who, we don’t know because they didn’t put their names to their votes, decided on behalf of thousands of OSC members, who they didn’t canvas in England and around the world, that the OSC wouldn’t be supporting the fan protests.

Even you as BM’s, PR, for the OSC ;-), must admit that was wrong and unacceptable.

That’s not how the OSC should work or behave.

Don’t forget Tim, I am an OSC member.

Then we had the equally ridiculous situation of City Matters claiming they negotiated the ticket price reductions with the club without mentioning the fans and the fans protest. Maybe City Matters didn’t want to irk the club by mentioning the fan protests?

There are some City Matters Reps who are too close to the club, and who also have too much influence over the other City Matters Reps in my opinion.

 

[artfuldodger]

The 10 game rule would be achievable for most if they could guarantee that all games are played at 3pm on a Saturday - but they can't. I go to the games with my son & brother (who lives nearly 300 miles away). He gets to a few games a season & a couple of away games if points go down to his level - including Champs League away games. He can't make plans to get to Manchester booking train tickets when they're cheaper as the games are then changed for TV. You're then knackered as you've made travel arrangements. Same goes for midweek games. In previous seasons we have transfered his ticket to my friends or my sons friends for them to attend. Now we can't do that unless we have named them. So, we'll have to list it on the exchange. I want to sit with like minded City fans not some 'You-Tuber' or 'Vlogger' who spends all game looking at their phone ( told one once to put his phone down & watch the game), just so they can say they were at the match.

A friend of mine who is also a season ticket holder has contacted the club about their situation. Health issues which sometimes stops them attending at short notice. The club said that they were not 'after' supporters like that they wanted the ones that only attend a couple of games per season (we know which games they are).

If that s the case then deal with them...don't lump the rest of us with this inane rule.

That’s the point I made to City regarding my son and shift work. He’d happily use his whole annual leave to watch city. He’s booked this Saturday off. But towards the end of the season, when games move so much, it’s impossible. He’s got his shift rota now for the whole of this year and next. He could plan every game. But how many will move?

 

[Saddleworth2]

Stick any S/T where there is any issue of attending 10 games etc straight onto a burner phone which you're happy to share with people who you trust - problem goes away, City won't know, seat is occupied (as far as City is concerned) and everyone happy.

Not so easy when you live hundreds of miles away.

 

[bumbleblue]

Thanks to those who replied to my question, I get it now. Thanks again, much obliged.

 

[jrb]

We won’t have any City season ticket holders from abroad soon.

Or do they get special exemption from the 10 game ban rule?

Obviously we’ll never know as the club will keep that information conditional.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Not so easy when you live hundreds of miles away.

Exactly this. I live 150 miles from the stadium, have had a ST for over 40 years and I feel like they would prefer me not to renew.
My son lives even further away (and has to rely on Avanti) so can't always make it, especially weekdays. He's had a ST since he was 11, in 2007 and he's a very likely candidate for being 'unrenewable" especially if fixtures are rearranged at ridiculously short notice.
Still, if they were to remove him I'd be gone as well, so that would be 2 tickets they could try to sell every week.
They'd better hope that, once Pep leaves, they don't suffer from the 'Ferguson effect' because there won't be thousands of Scandinavians, Irish and Cockneys desperate to get in.

It'll be like fucking Spotify where they'll be emailing ex ST holders with 'special offers' to rejoin and 10 matches free if you agree to a 3 year ST...

 

[wearethesouthstand]

I asked because City Matters are the group that has regular discussions with the club and since Alex left its radio silence. I want to know what the hell they are doing about the issues listed in your excellent note , if anything. Guess the only option is to email the season ticket rep and find out.
Keep up the good work mate.

I asked because City Matters are the group that has regular discussions with the club and since Alex left its radio silence. I want to know what the hell they are doing about the issues listed in your excellent note , if anything. Guess the only option is to email the season ticket rep and find out.
Keep up the good work mate.

Well we all engage with the club to some degree

However they are a new group and not even had their first official meeting win the club yet. The chair Lee is a serving policeman so he will be busy but we are sure they will update as and when they can.

Alex was the gold standard of course but everyone has day jobs.