20/21 Seat Allocation

[BladeByChoice]

Plenty of mixed opinions on this in loads of different threads, so where do you stand?
If we renew ST's all not picked would get a match credit.
If we suspend ST's all attending would pay per game.

Closing on Monday as its likely we will get an announcement next week.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

It seems obvious to me that some/most/all PL clubs, if they have to restrict crowd numbers, will just go to a highest bidder approach. Demand will massively outstrip supply. Players, agents & loans will still need to be paid. And, they'll need as much money as they can harvest for the signings they'll need to announce. They'll just take bids starting at say £200 per ticket, per game & take it from there.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

It seems obvious to me that some/most/all PL clubs, if they have to restrict crowd numbers, will just go to a highest bidder approach. Demand will massively outstrip supply. Players, agents & loans will still need to be paid. And, they'll need as much money as they can harvest for the signings they'll need to announce. They'll just take bids starting at say £200 per ticket, per game & take it from there.

Is this a joke? You forgot the smiley winky thing.

 

[Harry's Game]

Can’t sell any season tickets for next season, as it’s impossible to say when or if the reduced capacity games will take place.

Best thing I can suggest is every season ticket holder from last season goes into a ballot and if their name comes out they get first refusal on buying a ticket, if they don’t want to attend that ticket goes back into ballot.

I don’t see how family groups can be accommodated so sadly a lot of young uns who can’t come on their own are going to have a long wait before they get to a game again.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Is this a joke? You forgot the smiley winky thing.

Obvs, it's not what I would prefer. But, that's the way to maximize revenue isn't it? Sell virtually every "reduced seat" as if it were Corporate. As I said, seems an obvious thing for PL Clubs to consider.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Obvs, it's not what I would prefer. But, that's the way to maximize revenue isn't it? Sell virtually every "reduced seat" as if it were Corporate. As I said, seems an obvious thing for PL Clubs to consider.

I think you underestimate the power of the fanbase. I suspect there would be riots outside the ground for the first game. At the Lane anyway. Don't know about the Arsenals and Chelsea's though, presumably they still have some working class fans.
If the game becomes a sport for the elite, it's dead IMHO.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Can’t sell any season tickets for next season, as it’s impossible to say when or if the reduced capacity games will take place.

Best thing I can suggest is every season ticket holder from last season goes into a ballot and if their name comes out they get first refusal on buying a ticket, if they don’t want to attend that ticket goes back into ballot.

I don’t see how family groups can be accommodated so sadly a lot of young uns who can’t come on their own are going to have a long wait before they get to a game again.

Other PL clubs are selling them though—see thread from Silent Blade about his mate at a dodgy club in London.

I do agree with you, though, HG. Seems like a misstep that would end up taking lots of time and effort to refund, etc, later in the season.

 

[Inter_blade83]

No season tickets this year, if you already have one then make it valid for next year.

Ballot every number on the system. Allow those fans the opportunity to attend, and if they can't make it to that game, go to the next one on the list. Your number then goes back into circulation. If you attend the first time, you can't until everyone else has been given the opportunity. 40 quid flat rate per ticket.

Let everyone have the opportunity to attend a game.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I think you underestimate the power of the fanbase. I suspect there would be riots outside the ground for the first game. At the Lane anyway. Don't know about the Arsenals and Chelsea's though, presumably they still have some working class fans.
If the game becomes a sport for the elite, it's dead IMHO.

Well by saying "I think you underestimate...." you're making it sound as if it's my proposal. Which of course it isn't. It just seems such an obvious way of "rationing" the reduced number of seats available. Particularly as revenue streams will become more & more important.

 

[Harry's Game]

No season tickets this year, if you already have one then make it valid for next year.

Ballot every number on the system. Allow those fans the opportunity to attend, and if they can't make it to that game, go to the next one on the list. Your number then goes back into circulation. If you attend the first time, you can't until everyone else has been given the opportunity. 40 quid flat rate per ticket.

Let everyone have the opportunity to attend a game.

£40 is a bit steep

 

[Punk Blade]

ST renewal optional.
Existing ST seats protected for a year (so if you choose not to renew, you can have your seat back as an early bird renewal for 21/22).
Those that choose to renew are allocated games to fit reduced capacity/social distancing guidelines, and a fair split between match categories so everyone gets some big games like Liverpool and Man City and some not so big games like Burnley and Brighton.
If ST take up is lower than reduced capacity then all ST renewals get all games and remaining capacity is sold in the usual way with loyalty points on a game by game basis. If ST take up is higher than capacity then sorry, no new fans for 20/21 - I don’t want this to ever be the case but we’re living in crazy times.
No loyalty points awarded for 20/21 tickets.
ST renewals offered free service to stream the home games they aren’t allocated; ST non-renewals offered discounted full season streaming package for all home games.

Actual seat allocations per game to meet distancing guidelines will be a very complex calculation, so good luck to the club in doing that.

As an aside, if we’re confident of staying up another year and it fits the budget then I would be in favour of sacrificing some capacity to spend the year expanding/upgrading the kop and/or south stand for, say, 38k capacity ready for 21/22.

 

[The Blade]

I just want to keep my seat for when things are back to normal. I think the club need to guarantee this at least whatever happens next?

 

[Harry's Game]

ST renewal optional.
Existing ST seats protected for a year (so if you choose not to renew, you can have your seat back as an early bird renewal for 21/22).
Those that choose to renew are allocated games to fit reduced capacity/social distancing guidelines, and a fair split between match categories so everyone gets some big games like Liverpool and Man City and some not so big games like Burnley and Brighton.
If ST take up is lower than reduced capacity then all ST renewals get all games and remaining capacity is sold in the usual way with loyalty points on a game by game basis. If ST take up is higher than capacity then sorry, no new fans for 20/21 - I don’t want this to ever be the case but we’re living in crazy times.
No loyalty points awarded for 20/21 tickets.
ST renewals offered free service to stream the home games they aren’t allocated; ST non-renewals offered discounted full season streaming package for all home games.

Actual seat allocations per game to meet distancing guidelines will be a very complex calculation, so good luck to the club in doing that.

As an aside, if we’re confident of staying up another year and it fits the budget then I would be in favour of sacrificing some capacity to spend the year expanding/upgrading the kop and/or south stand for, say, 38k capacity ready for 21/22.

The only problem I can see with that system of allocating tickets is the local lockdowns that will drop in and out over the winter, be a bummer if your allocated game was behind closed doors.

 

[Punk Blade]

The only problem I can see with that system of allocating tickets is the local lockdowns that will drop in and out over the winter, be a bummer if your allocated game was behind closed doors.

I suppose the best they could do is offer a credit on 21/22 ST, but if it’s one of your A* games it’s a shame.

I think the club has to do its best to be fair to ST holders first and foremost, and as fans, be it ST holders or not, we have to accept we aren’t going to get an ordinary 19 game season. If football is being played and we can afford to buy a ticket then we’re not doing too badly.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Well by saying "I think you underestimate...." you're making it sound as if it's my proposal. Which of course it isn't. It just seems such an obvious way of "rationing" the reduced number of seats available. Particularly as revenue streams will become more & more important.

I'm probably an idealist who thinks a football club should be there for all its community. I understand these are strange times though so I wouldn't put it past some clubs to go for this approach. One not too far away from us across the city for example.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I'm probably an idealist who thinks a football club should be there for all its community. I understand these are strange times though so I wouldn't put it past some clubs to go for this approach. One not too far away from us across the city for example.

I don't want to go too deep. Because it gets ugly, quickly. But, I do find this dilemma fascinating. In general (not specific to how to ration reduced capacity) - to be there for your Community, you will usually have to sacrifice revenue & therefore be less competitive. As you say, it is becoming more usual for Clubs to take the line - if you, as fans, want us to be competitive (challenge for promotion eg) then you have to help us by pumping money in with higher ticket prices. Of course, the PL (with fans) generates an enormous revenue WITHOUT ticket revenue. It's just, in these mad times, it wouldn't surprise me if a PL team "had to" ten times ify ticket prices as they are forced to reduce capacity. I'm out now - as I'm in danger of derailing this thread. Not my intention.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

I'm probably an idealist who thinks a football club should be there for all its community. I understand these are strange times though so I wouldn't put it past some clubs to go for this approach. One not too far away from us across the city for example.

They’ve already sold a “load”, haven’t they? And not just on those bonkers 5 or 10 year deals, or whatever they were. Their regular renewals were offered pre-lockdown too, I think, so they could include the revenue in the accounts for this financial year?

Correct me if I’m wrong (I’m a finance knownowt), but might this mean there’s a massive double whammy heading their way, porkside? Not only will a big chunk of next year‘s ST revenue contribute nothing to next season’s income. Now they’re going to have pay a lot of that money back in refunds during the next financial year.

Might it be that our porky friends end up registering negative income from STs next year?

 

[jt64]

ST renewal optional.
Existing ST seats protected for a year (so if you choose not to renew, you can have your seat back as an early bird renewal for 21/22).

Voted the first option, but this would work for me as well, I'd pass on this season if I knew I could be guaranteed a ST for 21/22, as I can't see a PL game being an enjoyable experience while TPTB are still in full virus first everything else 735th mode

 

[BadgersBigToe]

Obvs, it's not what I would prefer. But, that's the way to maximize revenue isn't it? Sell virtually every "reduced seat" as if it were Corporate. As I said, seems an obvious thing for PL Clubs to consider.

Think you’ve had the carrier bag open too long under the noon sun.

 

[Davalon]

It seems obvious to me that some/most/all PL clubs, if they have to restrict crowd numbers, will just go to a highest bidder approach. Demand will massively outstrip supply. Players, agents & loans will still need to be paid. And, they'll need as much money as they can harvest for the signings they'll need to announce. They'll just take bids starting at say £200 per ticket, per game & take it from there.

Nonsense.

 

[Inter_blade83]

£40 is a bit steep

If you're only allowing 12k in, charging 40 quid would equate to 2 seats at season ticket prices, or there abouts.

Make up a little on the shortfall without charging loads.

I've always been against anything more than 20/25 a game, but for this short time I wouldn't mind paying 40 a game, especially if it's only one in 3 or 4 you get to go to.

You'd pay more at most premier league grounds in a normal situation.

 

[SwissBlade]

Shit way to do it but allow season ticket renewals and rotate. It’s a farce anyway if you let 30% in you may as well let 100% in as others will still turn up and they’ll be the ones that ignore all government advice.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

No season tickets this year, if you already have one then make it valid for next year.

Ballot every number on the system. Allow those fans the opportunity to attend, and if they can't make it to that game, go to the next one on the list. Your number then goes back into circulation. If you attend the first time, you can't until everyone else has been given the opportunity. 40 quid flat rate per ticket.

Let everyone have the opportunity to attend a game.

Majority of Utd fans live in Sheffield not Kuwait.
£40 a ticket, so basically you are saying well off fans only will be able to attend.
The rich Utd fans will have an advantage anyway, they can always try and buy a corporate ticket.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Is there a “retain my seat high up the stand on a pedestal” option ?

.

UTB

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

Me, some mates for pre match drinks, and some others for a bit of atmosphere. Sorted.

 

[Inter_blade83]

Majority of Utd fans live in Sheffield not Kuwait.
£40 a ticket, so basically you are saying well off fans only will be able to attend.
The rich Utd fans will have an advantage anyway, they can always try and buy a corporate ticket.

It was 40 pounds for a cat A* game on the kop last season...

 

[Broomhall Blade]

It was 40 pounds for a cat A* game on the kop last season...

The majority of United fans didn't pay that though they had season tickets, which worked out a lot less then £40.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Stick an option in for “I’m bored of answering”

 

[Inter_blade83]

The majority of United fans didn't pay that though they had season tickets, which worked out a lot less then £40.

So if there's no season tickets, then 40 quid every 3 games would be affordable.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

So if there's no season tickets, then 40 quid every 3 games would be affordable.

Not really because what happens about the other two games ?
Chances are they will be broadcasted which there will be some kind of charge.