Statement from fan groups ahead of new season

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Yes funny that isn’t it. When we have an early round of the FA cup I get offered an extra 3 tickets. Last season I got a ticket for my wife to the Salford and Plymouth games and very close to where I sit.

For mid-week games and early rounds of the two domestic cups they will be desperate to sell tickets.

They have lost the plot with regards to respecting long term loyal fans.

They haven't lost the plot at all, they know exactly what they are doing. The have lost respect from long-term loyal fans.

 

[Gogootz]

RE: the club needing to know the named person in your seat for "safety and security" so not allowing you to transfer to other ST holders - when I've purchased additional tickets for matches, I've never had to give names for them, even with the open training session the other week I bought four and didn't have to type in a name for each ticket. So that's clearly bollocks isn't it?

 

[OntarioBlue]

RE: the club needing to know the named person in your seat for "safety and security" so not allowing you to transfer to other ST holders - when I've purchased additional tickets for matches, I've never had to give names for them, even with the open training session the other week I bought four and didn't have to type in a name for each ticket. So that's clearly bollocks isn't it?

It’s a bit like the new turnstiles having cameras but “there are no plans to use them”

 

[jrb]

It’s a bit like the new turnstiles having cameras but “there are no plans to use them”

Apart from staff. Arf!

 

[Wallaceinthecheapseats.]

I really don't like the way it's going now.Theres a massive disconnect between the hierarchy and long term loyal season ticket holders and the way they've gone about monetizing this new stand .They don't give a shit about the time and effort and sheer loyalty that the core support has put in.
I won't be moving from my seat in ss3 to go in there, I also won't be giving up the season ticket because its what they want.Its going to come to a head at some point .I can feel it bubbling away.Facial recognition next ,all this new malarkey with the amount of games you have to attend and the changes in how you transfer.Complete disregard for the older less tech savvy LOYAL supporters.
I just feel things will eventually come to a head.
It will bite them on the arse eventually if they carry on down this route.
You cannot carry on alienating your core support without some pushback.

 

[Centurions]

I really don't like the way it's going now.Theres a massive disconnect between the hierarchy and long term loyal season ticket holders and the way they've gone about monetizing this new stand .They don't give a shit about the time and effort and sheer loyalty that the core support has put in.
I won't be moving from my seat in ss3 to go in there, I also won't be giving up the season ticket because its what they want.Its going to come to a head at some point .I can feel it bubbling away.Facial recognition next ,all this new malarkey with the amount of games you have to attend and the changes in how you transfer.Complete disregard for the older less tech savvy LOYAL supporters.
I just feel things will eventually come to a head.
It will bite them on the arse eventually if they carry on down this route.
You cannot carry on alienating your core support without some pushback.

They haven't even built the new stand yet so I can't see how they've monetized it?

 

[Wallaceinthecheapseats.]

They haven't even built the new stand yet so I can't see how they've monetized it?

The way I've worded it may have come across wrongly,It's not going to be full of season tickets at 450 quid like the south stand level 3 is it.

 

[Centurions]

The way I've worded it may have come across wrongly,It's not going to be full of season tickets at 450 quid like the south stand level 3 is it.

I've no idea bud, we'll all have to wait and see on that. I suspect they're going to have to backtrack on some things this season regardless. That may have an impact on their thinking for next seasons prices (in a positive way hopefully).

 

[Wallaceinthecheapseats.]

I've no idea bud, we'll all have to wait and see on that. I suspect they're going to have to backtrack on some things this season regardless. That may have an impact on their thinking for next seasons prices (in a positive way hopefully).

I really hope your right my friend but I fear that they are just looking at the pound notes.Still excited for the new season and a victory against spurs.Up the blues!!!

 

[Stephen230]

RE: the club needing to know the named person in your seat for "safety and security" so not allowing you to transfer to other ST holders - when I've purchased additional tickets for matches, I've never had to give names for them, even with the open training session the other week I bought four and didn't have to type in a name for each ticket. So that's clearly bollocks isn't it?

The person who mentioned this said it was a Premier League rule, so it wouldn’t apply for cup games.

I suspect it’s just an excuse to pass the buck but has there been any league games in recent times where non members could buy or ST holders get additional tickets?

 

[Asa's left peg]

It does feel like a big feck you, having caved into the pressure last season. The ultimate changes in kick off times that will certainly happen will catch a few also.

On a more personal note (being an FOC) is the difference now in attending matches from the past - is just too involved. I'm not saying I can't do it, it's I can't be arsed. The amount of hoops to be jumped through and the massive effort to queue to get to the stadium, and get away from, from little more than 15 miles away, is ridiculous. My kids are season ticket holding Mancs but live in Nottingham and London, so it's quite a commitment for them.

I will be one that is caught by this. Due to issues with my spine (from playing too much football, ironically) I haven't been a regular but the ticket has always been used (usually by another season ticket holder / family member). They will make at least double on mine due to the concession price.

Ultimately, (as others have said) I don't know how or why this is being done. They (I suppose that term says it all) must be sure that they can sell a shit load of tourist packages if this is the route that want to go, In a couple of years time, when Pep or the next Manager turns around calls for the crowd to get behind the team when we are 2 nil down against Spurs, they will be very disappointed.

 

[Tbilisi]

Season ticket download limit, twice per season. WTF is that all about? My dad accidentally deleted his during a phone data transfer, so just re-downloaded it. Suppose he loses the phone or it's stolen I take it he's fucked?

I fucked up my downloads and hit my limit....emailed the club and they took it back to zero so I could start again, they were helpful.

 

[Tbilisi]

I really don't like the way it's going now.Theres a massive disconnect between the hierarchy and long term loyal season ticket holders and the way they've gone about monetizing this new stand .They don't give a shit about the time and effort and sheer loyalty that the core support has put in.
I won't be moving from my seat in ss3 to go in there, I also won't be giving up the season ticket because its what they want.Its going to come to a head at some point .I can feel it bubbling away.Facial recognition next ,all this new malarkey with the amount of games you have to attend and the changes in how you transfer.Complete disregard for the older less tech savvy LOYAL supporters.
I just feel things will eventually come to a head.
It will bite them on the arse eventually if they carry on down this route.
You cannot carry on alienating your core support without some pushback.

Its lunacy with 8000 seats to fill.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

The one that I'm wondering about having had a similar deep read of the T&C's is whether a ticket transferred to a "friend" has to be used to count. So if for example you were not sure whether you could make a game could you transfer it to a "friend's" account that might not get used if the "friend" didn't turn up? It won't help with the 10 game rule, but would with the 16. Obviously the "friend" would need to be added to the non-member's list on your account, but it might keep the ticket available if you were in the end able to use it

Well, I don't really have the answer to that one.
But the logic of the situation is, I think, coldly electronic. Someone has to be going through that turnstile for a minimum of sixteen games. When it beeps, that's registered to your supporter number profile on their system. Ten of those sixteen times has to be you. Given that there are nineteen home matches, you're given the leeway of three matches in which your seat may be empty (although I don't really know why anyone would want to do that, unless they fully intended to go and had a last minute problem — which does happen, to be fair, in life…)
People using burner phones is a way round it. Obviously, the club are wise to that — it's being discussed right on here! and in any case, they're not stupid — hence the talk about facial recognition. In any case, it's not an option for me. I'd have to get that phone some 700 kms or so to whoever was using it. And then they'd have to get it back to me.
From a personal point of view, I think the whole situation is fucking stupid, given that, as I said, my seat was literally never empty. And it was not occupied by someone from Ecuador taking selfies of themselves for most of the match. Others have mentioned contingencies — lads and lasses away at uni for a couple of years, quite serious illness which you nevertheless will get through but which poleaxes you for a season, say — which are perfectly legitimate.

There are some lazy people, but the club is using a sledgehammer against, in many cases, loyal blues. Pep says regularly when a big match is coming up “We need our people”. Yeah, well, that cuts both ways, friend…

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

The club can fuck off, what's with all these barriers?

It has to be about profit.

Control

 

[Tim of the Oak]

The way I've worded it may have come across wrongly,It's not going to be full of season tickets at 450 quid like the south stand level 3 is it.

They have prioritised rail seats and - in fairness - premium seats - so there will be a wide price range mate.

 

[franksinatra]

Yes the club, with their ticket policies, are just using another line of attack to alienate the long standing fanbase.

If last season is anything to go by I will probably be affected by the 10 game rule and once the club tells me there revoking my ticket that will be me never setting foot in the ground again after 40 years as a regular.

At the moment the situation works really well. As I live 250 miles away midweek games/rearranged games and two home matches back to back can be a problem. A lad who sits next to me uses my ticket when I’m not there so the seat is always full, a proper blue (his dad) gets to use it and a fellow season ticket holder gets to enjoy the match with his dad for a number of games of the season.

Last year, esp at the back end, I think either 3/4 matches got moved to midweek. For us distant blues that’s 2 days off work, plus 90 quid in petrol plus other associated costs. This season with more matches on Sky, and already 3 games booked in for midweek at home, we will be lucky to have 10 games over the weekend.

But the club know all this but want a new type of fan in the ground, those who care little but spend a lot.

 

[Always Ali]

I really don't like the way it's going now.Theres a massive disconnect between the hierarchy and long term loyal season ticket holders and the way they've gone about monetizing this new stand .They don't give a shit about the time and effort and sheer loyalty that the core support has put in.
I won't be moving from my seat in ss3 to go in there, I also won't be giving up the season ticket because its what they want.Its going to come to a head at some point .I can feel it bubbling away.Facial recognition next ,all this new malarkey with the amount of games you have to attend and the changes in how you transfer.Complete disregard for the older less tech savvy LOYAL supporters.
I just feel things will eventually come to a head.
It will bite them on the arse eventually if they carry on down this route.
You cannot carry on alienating your core support without some pushback.

They've already had pushback....and 100% don't like it! Hence the fucking around with ticket transfer "policy".

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Yes the club, with their ticket policies, are just using another line of attack to alienate the long standing fanbase.

If last season is anything to go by I will probably be affected by the 10 game rule and once the club tells me there revoking my ticket that will be me never setting foot in the ground again after 40 years as a regular.

At the moment the situation works really well. As I live 250 miles away midweek games/rearranged games and two home matches back to back can be a problem. A lad who sits next to me uses my ticket when I’m not there so the seat is always full, a proper blue (his dad) gets to use it and a fellow season ticket holder gets to enjoy the match with his dad for a number of games of the season.

Last year, esp at the back end, I think either 3/4 matches got moved to midweek. For us distant blues that’s 2 days off work, plus 90 quid in petrol plus other associated costs. This season with more matches on Sky, and already 3 games booked in for midweek at home, we will be lucky to have 10 games over the weekend.

But the club know all this but want a new type of fan in the ground, those who care little but spend a lot.

It is all another stage in the sad and seemingly constant disconnect with supporters who deserve better following years of loyalty and support of the team and club, but money is now king.

We are not alone in this, but after years where the club felt "special to many of us" with regard to the relationship with fans, we are now simply just like every other club - customers !

 

[Blue Since 76]

If you've got both season tickets on your phone alternate which one you sell and which one you use to scan in on. Hopefully that should get both to 10 attendances.

Not sure I look under 21, so a risk I get banned for using it