Away tickets....

[S64 Blade]

Maybe one solution would be to offer reduced banded prices for next year’s season tickets to those with the most points; so on and so forth... in lieu with a reset. For example 50k points plus get 50% off the final price, 40k 40%, so on and so forth. This numbers are plucked out of the air and would need working on to see how much this would cost, but it’s just to demonstrate the idea.

This continues to reward, albeit now financially, and then reopens the system to young fans and those, who for whatever reason, were unable to attend a lot of games 10 years ago.

This process could then reoccur every 5 years maybe.

 

[metalblade]

Tin hat time here ................ I would scrap the system all together and just count the last 5 years worth of loyalty points. Loyalty points would then only be awarded for home games attended I would not award any points for away games and official coach travel for the simple reason if we are only allocated a few thousand away tickets it is a closed shop to everyone but those with the most points no such problem if points are only awarded for home games. All some people want is a level playing field where they can build up loyalty points you can't ever hope to catch up if you are restricted to which games you can buy tickets for so only award loyalty points to home games where everyone has the same chance.
Yes it would mean some away games would have to be first come first served but even that is fairer than present where the ladder is pulled up by those with loads of points at present. It seems to me like those with the most loyalty points are the ones who whine the most if any change is suggested as they will do or say anything to protect their privileged status we will hear all the old I went to Colchester in the snow for a night game etc etc as if this makes them the most loyal ever fans, well think on this some have been doing the miles 30-40 years before the loyalty scheme was thought about when only season ticket holders got first dibs. I don't see the problem of a free for all season ticket holders first like it used to be for a couple of thousand away tickets the problems arise for semi finals play off games where over 30,000 want tickets the loyalty scheme was there to stop 30,000 descending on the ticket office when tickets went on sale (remember the queues all around the lane we have all stood in them)

 

[Foxy]

(remember the queues all around the lane we have all stood in them)

That and the queues starting while those at an away match are still on their way home.

It seems to me like those with the most loyalty points are the ones who whine the most if any change is suggested

I wonder why the only ones who stand to lose out in most scenarios are the ones unhappy with the suggestion?

well think on this some have been doing the miles 30-40 years before the loyalty scheme was thought about when only season ticket holders got first dibs

Is this exclusive from doing the same since the system was brought in? What about those who have done both?

 

[jt64]

They do it regardless, I'm not sure why.

Of course I do. I know plenty of the London Blades and I've been to virtually all of the games in that neck of the woods in midweek over the last 12 years. It's highly unlikely we'll sell out.

I don't get why they do it like they do either. Obviously there's logistical reasons to spread things out so their phones/email servers don't explode, but I'd do it like this:

Monday - Wednesday: Anyone can put in requests for tickets. If someone's in the top x number of points and we've been given x tickets, then process it immediately as you know they'd get one
Thursday: Allocate the tickets to whoever's put in a request in order of the points they have. Doing it this way also has the advantage of situations where Mr BigBlade has 40,000 points but is waiting to see if it gets down to 20,000 as he wants to sit next to Mrs NotQuiteSoBigBlade, but would take one himself if he can't, as you can see straight away if there's enough tickets for him to get one or two as needed
Friday: Anything left, general sale

Better to clog up the franking machine for a couple of hours rather than clog up the phones daily (or twice daily of recent) whenever you hit a new points tier, as long as you put in your request at any point within a 72 hour period it's fine, email servers work all the time

Tin hat time here ................ I would scrap the system all together and just count the last 5 years worth of loyalty points. Loyalty points would then only be awarded for home games attended I would not award any points for away games and official coach travel for the simple reason if we are only allocated a few thousand away tickets it is a closed shop to everyone but those with the most points no such problem if points are only awarded for home games.

That someone under your system who's never been to an away game in their life but has been a STH for the last five years would have priority over someone who's been to every away game but missed half a dozen home games under Clough due to work commitments seems backwards when we're talking about allocating away tickets. If anything, it should be done the other way around and you should get no points, or much reduced points, for home games.

 

[bladeinlondon]

Unfortunately away games are now a closed shop younger fans have little or no chance of tickets, we should be having a rolling loyalty points system so new faces can catch up. As it is it is a case of more shall have more when it comes to loyalty points.

The point is if you dont have enough points ( like me just shy of 10k) to get a ticket you cant acquire more points
Its a vicious circle and i speak as one who was a regular attender of away games in League 1 but as i was based in London was not a season ticket holder until last season

 

[Maidenhead]

So if u r right why are the club f in about putting them on general sale just a week before the game? Secondly have u any idea how many Blades live in the south east ?

When I lived in the south east I still had a season ticket, and went to some of the southern based away games.

Every home game was a 350 mile round trip and I didn't miss many, including midweek games.

Surely I should have been given double loyalty points as every home game was in effect an away game for me?

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

When I lived in the south east I still had a season ticket, and went to some of the southern based away games.

Every home game was a 350 mile round trip and I didn't miss many, including midweek games.

Surely I should have been given double loyalty points as every home game was in effect an away game for me?

I like that!

What multiplying factor should we now use for an 80 mIle round trip?

 

[spongebobblade]

Pigs and Forest were 50 points. The games you mention were awarded more points so she will be catching up. The system was only brought in during our premier league season and we only had two decent seasons after that. The young ones would have had very cheap season tickets bought for them and awaymatches would also be cheap and I know of some who bought under 5 tickets for away games as they were a fiver or less

I wonder how many young ones who want these points went to the Leicester and Walsall games at home this season where 150 points were available or the Checkatrade games ( or JPT)over the last few seasons ? Plenty of chances to catch up.

They will catch up as fans won't go. It will take time but not everyone in the top brackets for points will go to every away game especially this season when the costs are so high.

Any system will not be perfect but at least the system mainly rewards, at the moment, the fans who followed the team away from home during those horrible trips to places like Carlisle, Gillingham on a Tuesday night or a midweek trip to Southend to witness some of the worst performances in living memory.

Firstly the system was brought in in 2003 which Linz confirmed during the summer. That's now 14 years ago. If you read my post 15 I've still not quite caught up from almost 12 years ago! How long do you expect for the younger generation to catch up? My post 22 explains how my daughter tries but barely gets any closer. Not every goes to every game, but many younger ones use older peoples points to go to the games here and now therefore just boosting there totals. Posters on here have kindly let her use there points when it's impossible to get tickets. It's a vicious circle and a handful of long distance games a season makes very little impression. She does the friendlies, cup games etc but so do an awful lot of others. We have all witnessed plenty of shit over the last few years away. That part of the argument may apply to some but certainly not all.
Now would be a perfect time to change to a rolling 5 year system. It will benefit and reward all those who stuck with us through the league 1 shite we endured. So what have the highest loyalty points holders got to fear?

 

[Claire Graham]

Does anyone else think it makes a difference that SUFC 'Head of Ticketing' is a big Wednesday fan? m.facebook.com/carrie.sampson.524 Not sure if this is a possitive, negative or makes no difference!

 

[bartman]

Firstly the system was brought in in 2003 which Linz confirmed during the summer. That's now 14 years ago. If you read my post 15 I've still not quite caught up from almost 12 years ago! How long do you expect for the younger generation to catch up? My post 22 explains how my daughter tries but barely gets any closer. Not every goes to every game, but many younger ones use older peoples points to go to the games here and now therefore just boosting there totals. Posters on here have kindly let her use there points when it's impossible to get tickets. It's a vicious circle and a handful of long distance games a season makes very little impression. She does the friendlies, cup games etc but so do an awful lot of others. We have all witnessed plenty of shit over the last few years away. That part of the argument may apply to some but certainly not all.
Now would be a perfect time to change to a rolling 5 year system. It will benefit and reward all those who stuck with us through the league 1 shite we endured. So what have the highest loyalty points holders got to fear?

I think a rolling system as you suggest may be the only way to resolve this or even a rolling system where you only get points for away games ( provided you are a season ticket holder or member)

 

[spongebobblade]

I think a rolling system as you suggest may be the only way to resolve this or even a rolling system where you only get points for away games ( provided you are a season ticket holder or member)

Or minimal points for home league games. I'm certainly not advocating stopping those who go constantly or on a regular basis but just think it's time the younger generation and those who have watched the last few years of crap are given at least a fair crack of the whip

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It’s about rewarding loyalty isn’t it? And that means continuing to go watch games, all types of games, even when the team isn’t playing well.

That’s what being a “supporter” means. So those who do that most will benefit most. To me that’s seems fair. It advantages the older supporter of course but eventually the younger ones will be in the same situation.

If they continue to “support”.

Been going now for over 40 years so no, I don’t see why I should compete for a ticket with someone who hasn’t put the same shift in as me.

And I have 4 season tickets but the other three in my family are in the same boat as many of those on here who can’t get a ticket for away games. That’s just how it is. I don’t complain I can’t get s ticket for wife and kids just because they haven’t amassed enough loyalty points as me and they don’t expect it either!

 

[wimbledon blade]

We never saw this thread under Adkins, Clough, Weir, Adams, Carver or Blackwell. Then, all of a sudden, a miracle worker aka Chris Wilder appears, and everyone wants to go !! Go figure !

Honestly, if you weren't there to see the the truly crap games, whether they were on a cold rainy Tuesday or a sunny Saturday away to Yeovil, what makes you think you deserve to have tickets you want ,
now when we're winning ???

 

[nopigfansintown]

We never saw this thread under Adkins, Clough, Weir, Adams, Carver or Blackwell. Then, all of a sudden, a miracle worker aka Chris Wilder appears, and everyone wants to go !! Go figure !

Honestly, if you weren't there to see the the truly crap games, whether they were on a cold rainy Tuesday or a sunny Saturday away to Yeovil, what makes you think you deserve to have tickets you want ,
now when we're winning ???

Oh, but we did...

 

[spongebobblade]

It’s about rewarding loyalty isn’t it? And that means continuing to go watch games, all types of games, even when the team isn’t playing well.

That’s what being a “supporter” means. So those who do that most will benefit most. To me that’s seems fair. It advantages the older supporter of course but eventually the younger ones will be in the same situation.

If they continue to “support”.

Been going now for over 40 years so no, I don’t see why I should compete for a ticket with someone who hasn’t put the same shift in as me.

And I have 4 season tickets but the other three in my family are in the same boat as many of those on here who can’t get a ticket for away games. That’s just how it is. I don’t complain I can’t get s ticket for wife and kids just because they haven’t amassed enough loyalty points as me and they don’t expect it either!

And there lies the problem...... "If they continue to support"....... they would love to as they have over the last 5 years but a lack of tickets have now put paid to that by people who earned there points in our last championship days and now want to go again. Unfortunately our success will now put paid to them catching up.

 

[Blade82]

Oh, but we did...

For isolated fixtures but not every bloody week like now.

For what it’s worth, my view on it is; even if it was a rolling points system the people at the top now would still be at the top, because they go every week and have done for a long time! It’s the fairest way to do it.

The only sensible argument I can see, and agree with, is that young uns struggle to catch up.

My suggestion would be to allocate 10% of an away allocation to u21s, which then go back on general sale to anyone if not sold.

There would still be loopholes like there are now, but at least the club would been seen to be doing something to look after the kids ,who are the future, whilst also showing respect to the fans who’ve earned their loyalty points fair and square over the years and not removing points.

 

[PaulHalfway]

The system works and is fair, Wednesday forest and derby only giving us 2500 tickets will always be a problem as these are the local games that we all want to go to. Whichever way you try to set up a system there will be thousands disappointed as these games are massively over subscribed
Equally we have not sold out at 3 away games so far this season and probably wont at Leeds and QPR so plenty of games on offer over the season where tickets go on general sale and any fan can go. Derby could have sold 5000 at BL but we only gave them 2500, I work in Derby on occasions, they were very disappointed how few tickets we gave them, they sold out there allocation on day 1 of sale, so its the same problem for all the big clubs in this area

 

[nopigfansintown]

For isolated fixtures but not every bloody week like now.

For what it’s worth, my view on it is; even if it was a rolling points system the people at the top now would still be at the top, because they go every week and have done for a long time! It’s the fairest way to do it.

The only sensible argument I can see, and agree with, is that young uns struggle to catch up.

My suggestion would be to allocate 10% of an away allocation to u21s, which then go back on general sale to anyone if not sold.

There would still be loopholes like there are now, but at least the club would been seen to be doing something to look after the kids ,who are the future, whilst also showing respect to the fans who’ve earned their loyalty points fair and square over the years and not removing points.

Yes, and it will become more and more a frequent topic of conversation the longer the system keeps rolling. Every year serves to make it more obvious that it has become a two two tier system, in which tier two has little - if any chance - of breaking into tier one.Most clubs have a cut off point for points, to incentivise current ticket sales, and allow people to break into the higher echelons. I could stop attending matches for four or five years, and have more points for the 2021/22 derby, than my son who has been a virtual ever present since the relegation season (if he continued going). That's a problem, that will only become more pronounced.Dread to think how many years a new starter would have to do now. A derby ticket sold out at 40k. That's around eight years worth of points without missing a game, just to get level. At the same time, those with 40k already will have continued collecting points....
I made these points on the BladesUnited forum when the system came in place by the way.You didn't have to be Nostradamus..

 

[bartman]

Yes, and it will become more and more a frequent topic of conversation the longer the system keeps rolling. Every year serves to make it more obvious that it has become a two two tier system, in which tier two has little - if any chance - of breaking into tier one.Most clubs have a cut off point for points, to incentivise current ticket sales, and allow people to break into the higher echelons. I could stop attending matches for four or five years, and have more points for the 2021/22 derby, than my son who has been a virtual ever present since the relegation season (if he continued going). That's a problem, that will only become more pronounced.Dread to think how many years a new starter would have to do now. A derby ticket sold out at 40k. That's around eight years worth of points without missing a game, just to get level. At the same time, those with 40k already will have continued collecting points....
I made these points on the BladesUnited forum when the system came in place by the way.You didn't have to be Nostradamus..

So what is a better solution that doesn't penalise those that go to every away game ?

 

[Liverpool blade]

I think the current system is the best as I've stated previously. I moved away from Sheffield in 98 due to marriage and my wife's job. I'd had a season ticket for many years leading up to that point and travelled to 95% of away games. It's only now when I've managed to get weekends off and get a season ticket. I know that I'm unlikely to be able to get to many away games unless I get a friend who has 30000 + points to get me a ticket if he's not going. I accept this situation and I just thank my lucky stars that I'm able to go to bdtbl on a regular basis now. I know many other blades on this forum will be in a similar situation?. It's all part of life. I never stopped being a blade putting myself in danger wearing a blades shirt in Newcastle for 9 years. For some reason the Geordies didn't li

 

[Liverpool blade]

Sorry meant to finish by saying that for some reason the Geordies didn't like anyone in a red and white shirt!!. Who'd have thought it!!. Utb In wilder we trust.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I'd implement a cut off point. Those who go every game will still be at the top, and could even stop going for a number of years and still get back to the top pretty quickly. The balancing act is rewarding loyalty whilst making it achievable for new Blades to get to the top.I don't think I should be able to move abroad for four or five years, and still be able to nip back for the derby (# as long as I activate my points with a membership etc).

 

[BushBlade]

So what people are saying, is that we should just fuck off those fans who've been going to away games regularly for years so that others can take their kids?

There's a limited number of tickets and changing the way they're allocated won't increase that number. So for every 'new' supporter, someone else loses out. There's no 'fair' way of doing it but I can't see anything more fair than the current system, even though I lose out. Maybe it's time all the money in the game is used to increase the capacities of all the stadiums in the top two divisions instead of pissing it away on agents's fees and stupid wages for second rate players.

 

[Fanny magnet]

I think the current system is the best as I've stated previously. I moved away from Sheffield in 98 due to marriage and my wife's job. I'd had a season ticket for many years leading up to that point and travelled to 95% of away games. It's only now when I've managed to get weekends off and get a season ticket. I know that I'm unlikely to be able to get to many away games unless I get a friend who has 30000 + points to get me a ticket if he's not going. I accept this situation and I just thank my lucky stars that I'm able to go to bdtbl on a regular basis now. I know many other blades on this forum will be in a similar situation?. It's all part of life. I never stopped being a blade putting myself in danger wearing a blades shirt in Newcastle for 9 years. For some reason the Geordies didn't li

Shit ....they got liverpoolblade

 

[Fanny magnet]

Sorry meant to finish by saying that for some reason the Geordies didn't like anyone in a red and white shirt!!. Who'd have thought it!!. Utb In wilder we trust.

Ah you're ok
Good
Carry on

 

[S64 Blade]

So what people are saying, is that we should just fuck off those fans who've been going to away games regularly for years so that others can take their kids?

Surely there are people who fall into both categories?

The system works fine, but cannot go on indefinitely as anyone under the age of 21 is likely to struggle to get a ticket and that will only be more exacerbated as the years progress.

There's solutions out there to readjust and mean those with a lot of points currently are rewarded, but without having the information of how many people are on what points, the demographics etc. no one on this board can make a foolproof solution.

 

[Liverpool blade]

Ah you're ok
Good
Carry on

Thanks for the concern. The scousers are a special set of people and are less hostile to a red and white shirt. I was telling my mates last week what it was like being a blade and traveling to places like Southend on a Friday night and Portsmouth on a very wet Tuesday night!!. They can barely get home tickets yet alone away tickets due to demand. Thankfully I'm a blade and don't have that problem!.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Thanks for the concern. The scousers are a special set of people and are less hostile to a red and white shirt. I was telling my mates last week what it was like being a blade and traveling to places like Southend on a Friday night and Portsmouth on a very wet Tuesday night!!. They can barely get home tickets yet alone away tickets due to demand. Thankfully I'm a blade and don't have that problem!.

I live in Liverpool too mate

 

[Liverpool blade]

I live in Liverpool too mate

Bloody hell. I thought there was only me?. I live in woolton and get the train to home games. Keep in touch blade. Utb. In wilder we trust.

 

[BushBlade]

Surely there are people who fall into both categories?

The system works fine, but cannot go on indefinitely as anyone under the age of 21 is likely to struggle to get a ticket and that will only be more exacerbated as the years progress.

There's solutions out there to readjust and mean those with a lot of points currently are rewarded, but without having the information of how many people are on what points, the demographics etc. no one on this board can make a foolproof solution.

The are no solutions that don't involve people who are currently entitled to tickets being no longer entitled. If my car is full, I can't get anyone else in unless someone gets out.