Crowd on Monday

[TJ blade]

No, we'd be better off not pricing a significant chunk of the city out of attending our matches. Those prices are before you even factor in travel costs, and food and drink. All for one 90 minute game of football.

Probably footballs not for them mate, stick to holidays abroad, & changing the car every 2 years then

 

[GymClassHero]

Here is a true story proving how difficult it is to knock up a few points…to enable someone to buy a ticket.

In late Oct, a family member returns to the UK after 20 years away, a big football fan, more of a Liverpool fan but very keen to watch us play.
So he asks me to buy him a ticket for the next match which was Stoke City at home.

The website wouldn’t allow me to buy a ticket, so I had to drive into town during my lunch break to visit the ticket office.

Me: I’m a season ticket holder and wish to buy 1 extra ticket close to where I sit on the Kop.
Ticket desk: OK no problem, what is his account number.
Me: He doesn’t have one as he’s just arrived in the country.
Ticket desk: Sorry we can’t sell a ticket because he doesn’t have 300 points.
Me: How does he acquire enough points to enable him to buy tickets.
Ticket: He needs to start attending matches where there’s no restrictions. There’s an Oxford mid week night match in a months time which gives him 150 points.
Me: That still’s not enough, what matches can he attend after that to build up more points?
Ticket: We don’t know yet because it depends if the away end is likely to sell out.

Took out my phone to check our fixture list.
It showed in Nov we had Wednesday and Sunderland at home, both had points restrictions.
Checked the December fixtures and Plymouth, Burnley and West Brom all had points restrictions.
Checked the Jan fixtures and Norwich and Hull both had points restrictions.

I worked out that to quickest time he would be able to build up enough points to buy a ticket was in March 25, near the end of the season.

So I asked to see the manager and explained that I’d been a ST older for 10 years and just wanted 1 ticket for someone who has been out of the country.
Also told her he would probably become a regular fan and possibly even a future season ticket holder.

To be fair the female manager was pleasant and agreed to set up a new account allocating 500 points.
So it was fine in the end…..but on another day I’d have not bothered going into the ticket office and also when initially refused a ticket I’d have walked away.

This is a perfect example and summary of the problem. I find it extremely frustrating that it's such an obvious flaw with the system they have in place, easily fixed if they wanted to, but it isn't/hasn't and as a result crowds are suffering.

I hear and acknowledge the issues around pricing, but the primary factor IMO is being able to buy one in the first place!

It shouldn't matter if you are a casual supporter or a die hard supporter that never misses a game (in which case getting hold of a ticket isn't an issue for you), once regularly attending fans have had their fair window of opportunity to buy a ticket, others should be able to. If they've 0 points then the most that should be expected is you to be a member to prevent the away fans in home areas issue.

I'd be fascinated to know exactly why it is the way it is currently.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

We were all first timers once…Just think if your dad/mum couldn’t afford to take you for that first match experience We should make it easier for new or casual fans to come to the lane.

 

[Harry's Game]

A lot of this might be to placate SAG and their quest to identify people persistently standing or going to stand at the back

 

[AnstonBlade1]

It is too expensive, absolutely no question about it, that's exactly why it's not sold out. They aren't so called fans who aren't going, they are genuine fans well within there rights to say fuck off I'm not paying it.

£41 on kop is disgusting for a game of championship football.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Probably footballs not for them mate, stick to holidays abroad, & changing the car every 2 years then

How many people in Sheffield on 29k a year do you think are doing that and do you think that £45 for a game of 1st division football is reasonable?

Are you aware of the current economic reality that a great many people in this city and country are facing? Folk are struggling to pay their heating and electricity bills, on top of a mortgage, let alone fork out 40 plus quid for a game of football.

 

[Balham]

I had two relatives from Sydney Australia two weeks before the wendy game in November they have lived in Australia since 1971 before then, they were regulars on the Kop. I am a season ticket holder so I phoned the ticket office told me to send an email with their names and Birthdays.I sent the email I got a reply I can have two tickets. they were staying at my house. Changed my seat from the back of the kop to Bramall Lane upper so they could sit together with me. They told me to come to the ticket office a couple of days after to purchase three tickets.I arrived at the ticket office we to the desk and told the person I was allowed to buy three tickets. The smart-arse. shook his head a said no chance. I took my mobile phone with me and showed him the email I had received. he looked at the email he looked puzzled, so I said what's up now can't you read the email, he said I can read it so I told him to take my phone and show it to your manager. So he disappeared for a good five minutes. he came back and said yes sir you have permission to buy three tickets that cost me £106 senior tickets. paid for the tickets. He handed them over to me.Left the ticket office.I saw Bettis He saw me I asked may I have a quick word with you. He said yes of course.so I introduced myself to him. I told him about the hassle I had to go through to get tickets for my relatives from Australia. I asked Him about the ticketing system not being good and I offered suggestions.He thanked me for giving him good feedback. He told me the ticket system is under review. shook my hand He seemed to be a nice fella.

All very well...but how did you shake hands with a snake when a snake doesn't have arms?

 

[Pedro Verde]

Whatever happened to "win lose or draw, we'll still come back for more"?

Win or lose we are on the booze if we draw we shall have some more

 

[Blade for Sale]

All very well...but how did you shake hands with a snake when a snake doesn't have arms?

 

[TJ blade]

How many people in Sheffield on 29k a year do you think are doing that and do you think that £45 for a game of 1st division football is reasonable?

Are you aware of the current economic reality that a great many people in this city and country are facing? Folk are struggling to pay their heating and electricity bills, on top of a mortgage, let alone fork out 40 plus quid for a game of football.

Season tickets the answer then

 

[reedy63]

Sheffsteel. what gives you the right to call me a liar you don't know me,I paid £35 for each ticket total of £105, I sold my Kop ticket to a mate.**********************=

Impressive….10 out 10 for imagination.

The Wednesday game was a high risk game and you weren’t allowed extra tickets for any reason, this was strictly enforced.
All the tickets had gone by lunchtime on the day they went on general sale…..altho odd bits of seats did keep being released every few days after.
buying 3 tickets swapping from the Kop to the BLUT cost £74 not £106. (2 x £36 seniors plus £2 to upgrade you ticket from the Kop to the BLUT).

Impressive….10 out 10 for imagination.

The Wednesday game was a high risk game and you weren’t allowed extra tickets for any reason, this was strictly enforced.
All the tickets had gone by lunchtime on the day they went on general sale…..altho odd bits of seats did keep being released every few days after.
buying 3 tickets swapping from the Kop to the BLUT cost £74 not £106. (2 x £36 seniors plus £2 to upgrade you ticket from the Kop to the BLUT).

Impressive….10 out 10 for imagination.

The Wednesday game was a high risk game and you weren’t allowed extra tickets for any reason, this was strictly enforced.
All the tickets had gone by lunchtime on the day they went on general sale…..altho odd bits of seats did keep being released every few days after.
buying 3 tickets swapping from the Kop to the BLUT cost £74 not £106. (2 x £36 seniors plus £2 to upgrade you ticket from the Kop to the BLUT).

 

[reedy63]

Sheffsteel. what gives you the right to call me a liar you don't know me,I paid £35 for each ticket total of £105, I sold my Kop ticket to a mate.**********************=



View attachment 204692View attachment 204693View attachment 204692View attachment 204693

Sheffsteel.. photo of my ticket to prove i was not lyeing

 

[Woodthorpe blade]

Yeah the weather. I have health problems that are affected by weather. Is that ok with you Worlds Biggest Blade?

Same here. If it's too cold I can't walk very well, due to neuropathy. Reyt bastard getting up stairs to Bramall lane upper

 

[reedy63]

Sheffsteel. what gives you the right to call me a liar you don't know me,I paid £35 for each ticket total of £105, I sold my Kop ticket to a mate.**********************=



View attachment 204692View attachment 204693View attachment 204692View attachment 204693

Sheffsteel here is a photo of my ticket for that game is was a month before the game i got the tickets.so I am not a liar.you can ask anyone who works in the ticket office if you want/

 

[HOT CURRIE 10]

Didn't realise it was now £7/8 a pint in town, must have almost doubled since I was last there last month.

Yeah,went for a birthday do with some friends,astonished at the prices for cat piss.

 

[HOT CURRIE 10]

What if you don't drink & are skint anyway?

If you are skint anyway,you don’t need an excuse. Money is best spent in other necessities.

 

[HOT CURRIE 10]

Here is a true story proving how difficult it is to knock up a few points…to enable someone to buy a ticket.

In late Oct, a family member returns to the UK after 20 years away, a big football fan, more of a Liverpool fan but very keen to watch us play.
So he asks me to buy him a ticket for the next match which was Stoke City at home.

The website wouldn’t allow me to buy a ticket, so I had to drive into town during my lunch break to visit the ticket office.

Me: I’m a season ticket holder and wish to buy 1 extra ticket close to where I sit on the Kop.
Ticket desk: OK no problem, what is his account number.
Me: He doesn’t have one as he’s just arrived in the country.
Ticket desk: Sorry we can’t sell a ticket because he doesn’t have 300 points.
Me: How does he acquire enough points to enable him to buy tickets.
Ticket: He needs to start attending matches where there’s no restrictions. There’s an Oxford mid week night match in a months time which gives him 150 points.
Me: That still’s not enough, what matches can he attend after that to build up more points?
Ticket: We don’t know yet because it depends if the away end is likely to sell out.

Took out my phone to check our fixture list.
It showed in Nov we had Wednesday and Sunderland at home, both had points restrictions.
Checked the December fixtures and Plymouth, Burnley and West Brom all had points restrictions.
Checked the Jan fixtures and Norwich and Hull both had points restrictions.

I worked out that to quickest time he would be able to build up enough points to buy a ticket was in March 25, near the end of the season.

So I asked to see the manager and explained that I’d been a ST older for 10 years and just wanted 1 ticket for someone who has been out of the country.
Also told her he would probably become a regular fan and possibly even a future season ticket holder.

To be fair the female manager was pleasant and agreed to set up a new account allocating 500 points.
So it was fine in the end…..but on another day I’d have not bothered going into the ticket office and also when initially refused a ticket I’d have walked away.

I agree,the points system is a rubbish method some of the time,especially the 1 ticket per person when it comes down to important matches eg Wembley,when other opponents can purchase 10 ! Mates have problems sometimes as one or two got fed up with last season,they go to the ticket office,same as you,see someone in charge and not a problem. It’s a pain for them to get there but worth it.

 

[reedy63]

shelf steel are you man enough to admit you were wrong to call me a liar or are you a coward?

 

[reedy63]

Sheffsteel, just as i thought you are a coward who thinks he can say what he wants, Keyboard Warrier, think what you say before opening your gob.

 

[Bladesman101]

But you're moaning and judging people for moaning and being judgemental

But you’re moaning about me moaning about… never mind

 

[Maidenhead]

Same here. If it's too cold I can't walk very well, due to neuropathy. Reyt bastard getting up stairs to Bramall lane upper

I have the opposite problem.

Whenever I go away and have to stand for 90 minutes my knees seize up and whilst going up stairs is OK, I can't go down them.

Result is that if the exit is below me I have to hang on to the Blade in front or risk taking a tumble, which has already happened a couple of times this season.

No wonder I'm a miserable bastard when people insist on standing in seated areas

 

[JJBlade]

The club, SYP and the city council have done everything it can to kill the atmosphere at Bramall Lane

Any attempt at trying to create a good atmosphere will lead to further sanctions

Maybe they'll make the club sell half a ticket per person and you have to buy the full ticket on two different occasions at least a week apart

 

[Sheffsteel]

Sheffsteel here is a photo of my ticket for that game is was a month before the game i got the tickets.so I am not a liar.you can ask anyone who works in the ticket office if you want/

No I believe you….apologies.

Altho surely some of it was made up.
Maybe the Bettis bit? Only joking….you’ve proved a point and of course I apologise.

I suppose when a club introduces a system there’s always going to be scenarios where it looks wrong and unfair.
Just think the club are using a sledge hammer to crack a nut…..they’d probably say better to be safe than sorry
And it’s only casuals and new fans that are being effected.

 

[ancientblade]

Same here mate, seems our so called fans are saying it's to expensive, probably why fans of other clubs never take us seriously, maybe the new owners will also realise it eventually, and think bolloxs to this let some fucker else run it!

sorry tj i have to disagree with you for once the sole reason its not sold out is because of united's outrageous pricing for the game think its a good move for the club to have discussion with a fans group im sure our pricing policy will be on the agenda

 

[TJ blade]

sorry tj i have to disagree with you for once the sole reason its not sold out is because of united's outrageous pricing for the game think its a good move for the club to have discussion with a fans group im sure our pricing policy will be on the agenda

I can understand your statement mate, and agree with the discussions with the fans group, but the point I should have made is, certain fans harp on about increasing the capacity, which I understand, but while we don't sell out it defies logic! I get the prices, and don't agree to a certain extent with it, but if we want to be ambitious and get established in the top division it's maybe something we might have to except within reason.

 

[William Large]

For years the ticket prices at the lane have been really good but have started to take the piss over the last couple of years (in keeping with most other clubs I guess).
I am non season ticket holding scum as due to work I would miss too many games for it to make sense buying one. I get as often as I can but with young kids it’s not as often as I like and as much as I love the blades the prices do put me off.
Maybe if I were 20 years younger with less responsibilities I wouldn’t care less about the price but not everyone is in that position.
I couldn’t really give a flying fuck if someone thinks I am a ‘lesser blade’. Everyone is in different circumstances and whilst I agree that it would be disappointing not to sell out on Monday, the only reason would be the price of the ticket for which the fans are not at fault.

 

[reedy63]

Thanks, Sheffsteel you have apologised that is good enough for me.

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

But if there needs to be a booking fee then surely it’s more logical to apply a £1 booking fee when someone purchases tickets at the ground, as staff are needed.

Buying tickets or merchandise on-line saves the club money….if everyone bought on-line….then they’d hardly need any staff.

Is a booking fee taxed differently than a ticket?

 

[ancientblade]

I can understand your statement mate, and agree with the discussions with the fans group, but the point I should have made is, certain fans harp on about increasing the capacity, which I understand, but while we don't sell out it defies logic! I get the prices, and don't agree to a certain extent with it, but if we want to be ambitious and get established in the top division it's maybe something we might have to except within reason.

were charging premier league prices for championship football i mean £46 for the silly streetwise corner the club are taking the piss and how is charging £18 for kids under 14 fair weve priced loads of families out of going to the lane and i welcome this latest move by a fan group to have talks with the clubs hierarchy we were taking the piss out of wednesday fans a few years ago about chansiris outrageous pricing at the sty but weve taken exactly the same route and its simply not fair

 

[relish]

The price is clearly too high for a Championship match. I'm not surprised many can't afford to go.
In general, I don't have a problem with the need to have an account to buy tickets, nor with the need to have a prior purchase history for big games. But requiring 650 points seems to be setting the bar unnecessarily high - surely requiring 200 would achieve the same thing in terms of keeping away fans out of home areas?

I see it is also 650 points for the Bristol City match. Ridiculous.