Away tickets....

[Linz]

All very good and dare I say suits certain people but what about those who let's say are now 17/18 and let's say have been regulars since the age of 9 or 10 yet trail with points and stand little chance of catching up? Or those who don't already have parents that go to games? Hardly fair on them is it? Just a thought, though like we all agree, there isn't a solution that suits everyone but it's obvious this would have come up sooner or later

If they had been regulars for 9 years... and by regulars, you are talking season ticket holder... they would have 22500 points from season tickets alone. They wouldn't have got a ticket for Wednesday or Forest, but there haven't been many matches over the last couple of years that haven't gone to general sale at all, even if it's only a handful of tickets.

What everyone is complaining about is small allocations and there being more people in front of them/hypothetical seventeen year olds who have no points and are suddenly die-hard Blades who deserve to go to Forest and Wednesday over everyone else.

In fact, one could argue that those 17/18 year olds had a benefit I and many others didn't in that they have lived through a time of massively reduced prices for concession season tickets to earn those loyalty points. My first season ticket was over £200!

 

[Linz]

Sorry I didn't realise you were commenting on Linz's point about kids specifically. No, of course it's not fair and I don't agree with that at all.

I was addressing the point raised earlier about it "not being fair for kids". I don't necessarily think it should be implemented, but that is one way around it. Unless of course by kids people are just trying to pick holes in a system when what they mean is it isn't fair on them.

I wouldn't want to be accused of just thinking about myself (for whom the system works just fine).

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

My 18 year old has 45k plus points and hasn’t failed to get a ticket for one single match he wanted one for.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

Will never be a perfect answer, especially for those who don't live in Sheffield anymore, have work commitments etc that prevent a season ticket and regular attendance.

Just have to accept can't do what you always want, bit like life really, I've stopped writing to Kylie asking for a date and asking for a Blades trial too.

On the bright side I spend the cash I'd have spent on United travel, hotels, tickets and manage the brownie points with our lass and have 2 or 3 European weekends watching football a year. Started 15 years ago and had some pretty good footballing experiences.

I still get to quite a few away games a year and like many on here will go in the away end if I have to. Does mean no points though and a spiralling/ ongoing declining chance of ever getting up there with the points, but hey i still see United and have a great day out still.

Points is fair really, it's just not an equal playing field, but then it was my choice to move and not be able to afford the weekly travel to Sheffield and beyond when I did.

If there had been an answer to please all it would be cracked by now.

 

[NuddysGloves]

To put all this into perspective, if you lived in Manchester and wanted to get a Manchester United season ticket there is a waiting list of 75,000 and it generally takes 20 years to get one.

Loyalty points system of missing the occasional away game doesn't seem so bad now does it?

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Clearly the solution is complex / complicated & outwith my intellectual capacity to formulate a resolution
It is however crystal clear where the responsibility / fault lies

McCabe you twat !

 

[mattbianco1]

But the current trend (and not aiming this at anyone here), appears to be to attack those with most points

Damn you for getting tickets before me despite going to around 40% more games than me year on year!!!!

 

[Sean Thornton]

What is intriguing is the number of people who have got a gripe with the loyalty point system are generally the same people who are now struggling to get tickets for away games.

I can usually get away tickets for games as I'm quite high up with the loyalty points, but I've consistently gone to the away games and less desirable fixtures during our stint in the third division, I don't really see why I should potentially lose on tickets if they keep some behind for general sale. It sort of defeats the objective of a loyalty point system.

On the other hand I do think there should be a 5 year roll over period

Yep. Let's put some on general sale so people with lots of loyalty points can be called "selfish" for complaining that we're in the same queue as someone who decided they want to start going away once we're out of L1.

Why bother with a points system at all then? If the club are seriously considering this they need to get a grip.

 

[Sean Thornton]

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.

My son is 17. He has a tad under 40k points. Season tickets only get him around 25k of those. The rest being away games. There are plenty with more points who attend more away games. He's got up there simply by attending, easier after 6 seasons in L1 of course, but maybe some should have thought about that when they weren't bothering?

Much Bigger points hauls on long haul or midweek games needs bringing in. I can't remember anyone moaning about tickets in the Shitwasp Cup at MK Dons for example.

 

[Sean Thornton]

To all those proposing a rolling system... Or even just awarding points for home matches... what is your workable solution to the fact that you could have ten thousand people all with the same loyalty points?

EDIT: If we're thinking of the kiddiwinks, why don't we go down the route of treating U16 tickets as "add-ons"?

So... Tickets go on sale at 60000 LPs for adult tickets - 10000 for U16s add-on.

Someone with 60k points could buy an adult ticket with his points on the first day of sale.

Or.. he could wait until it's 50000 LPs to use his 60k points to buy an adult and an U16.

Or... Wait until 40k to buy 1 adult and two U16s.

The upgrading of U16 tickets would have to be policed/banned but it deals with the children issue.

I'm sorry but I've no suggestions for the " I want to go to Wednesday but can't" problem.

"I'm sorry but I've no suggestions for the " I want to go to Wednesday but can't" problem"


Will someone please think of the children with only 40 loyalty points?

 

[S41 BLADE]

This subject really gets me annoyed, I've got over 55k loyalty simply because I've always followed the blades home & away for years, including going to 95% of all away games in the good and the bad times for the last 20 years. That's why the loyalty point system is very fair for fans like myself & others who take time off work, plan holidays around football etc to follow the blades home & away, even to far away places in midweek in the freezing cold that's why it makes perfect sense that fans with the most loyalty points get first option. The fans who moan about not being able to get tickets need to start going to games like Cardiff on a Tuesday night etc when tickets were still available or the Boro game that was on tv where tickets where still available etc, not just demanding tickets for more glamorous games!!! If you start doing this and being a season ticket holder you'll soon start building up the points.

 

[Maidenhead]

This subject really gets me annoyed, I've got over 55k loyalty simply because I've always followed the blades home & away for years, including going to 95% of all away games in the good and the bad times for the last 20 years. That's why the loyalty point system is very fair for fans like myself & others who take time off work, plan holidays around football etc to follow the blades home & away, even to far away places in midweek in the freezing cold that's why it makes perfect sense that fans with the most loyalty points get first option. The fans who moan about not being able to get tickets need to start going to games like Cardiff on a Tuesday night etc when tickets were still available or the Boro game that was on tv where tickets where still available etc, not just demanding tickets for more glamorous games!!! If you start doing this and being a season ticket holder you'll soon start building up the points.

Absolutely correct!

 

[cooperblade]

This subject really gets me annoyed, I've got over 55k loyalty simply because I've always followed the blades home & away for years, including going to 95% of all away games in the good and the bad times for the last 20 years. That's why the loyalty point system is very fair for fans like myself & others who take time off work, plan holidays around football etc to follow the blades home & away, even to far away places in midweek in the freezing cold that's why it makes perfect sense that fans with the most loyalty points get first option. The fans who moan about not being able to get tickets need to start going to games like Cardiff on a Tuesday night etc when tickets were still available or the Boro game that was on tv where tickets where still available etc, not just demanding tickets for more glamorous games!!! If you start doing this and being a season ticket holder you'll soon start building up the points.

The only issue I'd have with that is that, in my opinion, the people most disadvantaged by the system are the younger supporters. How many 12 year olds can go to Cardiff on a Tuesday night? It's not always as easy as just "go to more games".

I think where the system falls down is that a 12 year old who started going at 7 and has been to every game for the last 5 years will have fewer points than someone who has been to 50% of the games for the last 11 years. Longevity of support is over-valued a bit in the current system (which suits me personally as I went to more matches 10 years ago than I do now).

 

[String]

somebody somewhere could design an algorithm to deal with all this....

Its a difficult one....I personally think that finding a way of bringing young fans into the equation is highly desirable. Most agree the away games bring an important experience into the football mix (so important it seems as these threads illustrate). When nurturing kids into the culture of the blades, football, life (!?), an away game is invaluable in 'bringing them through' from children into loyal adult supporters.

A season ticket father (me 45) and season ticket son (8) want to attend together and relish that beautiful thing of watching United win away at some place or other and grab some chips on the way home.... I hope to get tickets for QPR and we have that experience in a couple of weeks if the current system allows.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

somebody somewhere could design an algorithm to deal with all this....

Its a difficult one....I personally think that finding a way of bringing young fans into the equation is highly desirable. Most agree the away games bring an important experience into the football mix (so important it seems as these threads illustrate). When nurturing kids into the culture of the blades, football, life (!?), an away game is invaluable in 'bringing them through' from children into loyal adult supporters.

A season ticket father (me 45) and season ticket son (8) want to attend together and relish that beautiful thing of watching United win away at some place or other and grab some chips on the way home.... I hope to get tickets for QPR and we have that experience in a couple of weeks if the current system allows.

From what little I've seen, most recently at Sunderland, a few people were there on their mates points i.e. Mate 1 can't come so points get used by mate 2 who buys two tickets for his use. Both mates 1 and 2 are a winner as both get points added to their tally and mate 1 takes his friend/ family member.

Yep it's not ethical and someone will miss out who deserves through attendance to be there instead. However, as I've said before that's life and you will never have a totally fair system that doesn't beat mates, connections and who you know.

We all know Harry Maguire got tickets for the pigs that meant whoever just missed out through their Blades loyalty couldn't go. How? He knows McCabe and phoned him. Not fair but it's life.

Just look at Boris, if he got there on ability that had nothing to do with Eton or family then our lass could be the next cosmonaut....

No one has come up with a better system, yes it's flawed but there is no better way. Back to queuing around Cherry St anyone ??

 

[ben balde]

I notice that the Leeds and QPR tickets are now down to 30,000 pts and are still rated as good availibility.Looks like these are going to be yet more games people with low points will be able to go to, just like middlesbrough cardiff,and bolton which did not sell out, its no good moaning about the process of obtaining tickets if all you want to do is pick and choose which games you want to go to. There have been loads of games over the last couple of years when tickets have not sold out. you just have to accept if you are not, are cannot go to every game then there will be times when you can't get tickets. Moan about the system all you want but dont moan if you are not prepared to go to Cardiff on a tuesday night and somebody who does can go to that glamour match that you want to go to, makes me smile every time on long trips and mid week games when there are plenty of tickets on general sale you dont see this complaining. the loyalty points system is fair and rewards loyalty.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

Have to say it seems hard for us Blades who can only make 3/4/5 away games a season to make a biggish away day, Then again you've got to take your hat off to blades who hardly miss any.

 

[FlamingLip]

all clubs have their challenges. A mate of mine (hudds fan) was queuing for a Liverpool ticket yesterday. their online system broke, phone lines down and even though was in line early at the ground, he missed out. Apparently they ballot a certain % of tickets like a raffle to aid new fans I imagine. He was fuming given he's a ST for over 15 years.

 

[Eyeball]

I'm the one who looks like Pike

Don’t tell him your name!!!

 

[Piffle and Tosh]

My son is 17. He has a tad under 40k points. Season tickets only get him around 25k of those. The rest being away games. There are plenty with more points who attend more away games. He's got up there simply by attending, easier after 6 seasons in L1 of course, but maybe some should have thought about that when they weren't bothering?

Much Bigger points hauls on long haul or midweek games needs bringing in. I can't remember anyone moaning about tickets in the Shitwasp Cup at MK Dons for example.

NO not more Shitwasps ,I had just forgotten them

 

[NuddysGloves]

I notice that the Leeds and QPR tickets are now down to 30,000 pts and are still rated as good availibility.Looks like these are going to be yet more games people with low points will be able to go to, just like middlesbrough cardiff,and bolton which did not sell out, its no good moaning about the process of obtaining tickets if all you want to do is pick and choose which games you want to go to. There have been loads of games over the last couple of years when tickets have not sold out. you just have to accept if you are not, are cannot go to every game then there will be times when you can't get tickets. Moan about the system all you want but dont moan if you are not prepared to go to Cardiff on a tuesday night and somebody who does can go to that glamour match that you want to go to, makes me smile every time on long trips and mid week games when there are plenty of tickets on general sale you dont see this complaining. the loyalty points system is fair and rewards loyalty.

Completely agree with this, but do you think the amount of points available for these matches is fair? I'm going to QPR away, had to book the afternoon off work to get down in time and the next morning off work because it will be ridiculously late getting back, £30 ticket (plus petrol etc) for 3 and a half hours there and back on a Tuesday night and we get 150 points? Seems a little bit harsh to me.

I think if they offered more points for these long distance midweek trips then the extra reward might convince a few more fans to buy tickets, so they get more loyalty points and the club gets more sales. Seems like a win win to me.

 

[Maidenhead]

Completely agree with this, but do you think the amount of points available for these matches is fair? I'm going to QPR away, had to book the afternoon off work to get down in time and the next morning off work because it will be ridiculously late getting back, £30 ticket (plus petrol etc) for 3 and a half hours there and back on a Tuesday night and we get 150 points? Seems a little bit harsh to me.

I think if they offered more points for these long distance midweek trips then the extra reward might convince a few more fans to buy tickets, so they get more loyalty points and the club gets more sales. Seems like a win win to me.

That's 3 times as many points as you get for going to Leeds on a Friday night and paying more for a ticket to watch a game that's live on TV.

How many points would you like exactly for QPR?

I'm sure that you will have a significant number of London and South East Blades standing in your corner

As it happens our club makes nothing out of away ticket sales so there isn't really much incentive for them to incentivise them.

I'm going to both btw, see you around

 

[I should coco]

As it happens our club makes nothing out of away ticket sales so there isn't really much incentive for them to incentivise them.

Are you sure about that?

I thought they got a handling/booking fee?

 

[Maidenhead]

Are you sure about that?

I thought they got a handling/booking fee?

You may be right in that, but I would imagine that it would be minimal.

I do know that home teams have been keeping home league game gate receipts for many years.

 

[NuddysGloves]

That's 3 times as many points as you get for going to Leeds on a Friday night and paying more for a ticket to watch a game that's live on TV.

How many points would you like exactly for QPR?

I'm sure that you will have a significant number of London and South East Blades standing in your corner

As it happens our club makes nothing out of away ticket sales so there isn't really much incentive for them to incentivise them.

I'm going to both btw, see you around

I think 250 points for a long midweek trip would be a fair amount to offer when it's me taking time off work etc to go.

I'm sure people in London etc would benefit from this but it's the minority of games plus they always complain about how far they travel to watch us at home etc so little brucey bonus for them!

The club making nothing doesn't really matter because it costs them nothing to offer more loyalty points so they are in the same position whether they do or don't (plus they do make money from the booking fees so by offering more points they could make at least another £10 )

I'm going to both as well, see you around

 

[Sean Thornton]

I think 250 points for a long midweek trip would be a fair amount to offer when it's me taking time off work etc to go.

I'm sure people in London etc would benefit from this but it's the minority of games plus they always complain about how far they travel to watch us at home etc so little brucey bonus for them!

The club making nothing doesn't really matter because it costs them nothing to offer more loyalty points so they are in the same position whether they do or don't (plus they do make money from the booking fees so by offering more points they could make at least another £10 )

I'm going to both as well, see you around

In this instance I think 250 points is fine and I wouldn't jib at 300 for those who go.

 

[spongebobblade]

I notice that the Leeds and QPR tickets are now down to 30,000 pts and are still rated as good availibility.Looks like these are going to be yet more games people with low points will be able to go to, just like middlesbrough cardiff,and bolton which did not sell out, its no good moaning about the process of obtaining tickets if all you want to do is pick and choose which games you want to go to. There have been loads of games over the last couple of years when tickets have not sold out. you just have to accept if you are not, are cannot go to every game then there will be times when you can't get tickets. Moan about the system all you want but dont moan if you are not prepared to go to Cardiff on a tuesday night and somebody who does can go to that glamour match that you want to go to, makes me smile every time on long trips and mid week games when there are plenty of tickets on general sale you dont see this complaining. the loyalty points system is fair and rewards loyalty.

Will be at Leeds, did Boro, Bolton, Forest but as much as I'd like to go to Cardiff/ QPR losing money at work isn't an option. This brings us back to the debate about the EFLs admission that they deliberately make it difficult for supporters.

 

[Pedro Verde]

I dont have a problem with our supporters getting 300 points for a midweek game in Cardiff or London
Was really looking forward to going to Cardiff but theres no way I can get to mid week away games
which as stated above why do the EFL make it so difficult with these long distance away games mid week
Iam able to go to L666s (and Burton) but think 150 points should be allocated for this game as its on TV and its a lot of dosh. Theres plenty of tickets still available for L666s so I do hope that all these people moaning about not getting tickets for away games are going to try and get a ticket for this game because if you dont I suggest you STFU about the loyalty point system

 

[Inter_blade83]

I'm coming back for Christmas, 3,000 miles to come and see the blades at villa and preston.

What's the best option of trying to get a ticket apart from favours from mates?

Will the club make exceptions on loyalty points for those expats?

Surely I'm a bigger blade than someone who lives on Shoreham? (I'm joking by the way) lol

 

[Kentblade]

I'm coming back for Christmas, 3,000 miles to come and see the blades at villa and preston.

What's the best option of trying to get a ticket apart from favours from mates?

Will the club make exceptions on loyalty points for those expats?

Surely I'm a bigger blade than someone who lives on Shoreham? (I'm joking by the way) lol

We all think we are bigger Blades!
What about loyalty shown since 1946,difficult now to get away tickets as travel to the Lane restricted by health reasons.
There will never be a fair system as we all tend to look at ourselves.
UTB