Category A in the 3rd division

[axel smeets]

Agreed rattly, but I think if United are doing well, floating fans will come. But you're right again by saying that some people just won't pay for Third tier football. My father is an example. The CAT C is great in a way for the fans who really struggle to afford to come, but the club will make a loss on it. CAT A is a bleeding disgrace. I just cannot believe these prices and that the McCabe family will allow a 23000 attendance at the Sheffield derby come October 16.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

At least one cash only turnstile on each stand would be a good start. Even though I am a season ticket holder, it must be an absoloute ball ache if you decide to go on the day of the game. When I had a few years without one from 2002-2005, I'd still roll out of the pub at 2.50, walk up to the Kop, hand over a 20, and in I went. And I wasn't the only one. Knowing that there was a cash turnstile on each stand would surely encourage a bigger walk up crowd.

I suspect the problem is that if they opened "just the one" cash only turnstile nobody would buy/order tickets in advance.
Before long people would be moaning about the massive queues at ONE turnstile while all the others are nearly empty.
Is it really such a massive ball-ache to go to the Ticket Office first, pay £18 cash and then go to the turnstile?
Could I not turn up for the Colchester match at say 2:45 and be in the ground by 3:00? How big are the queues?
I genuinely don't know because I haven't paid on the day for a few years.
If I go to the Cinema or a Pop concert, I have to go to the ticket office. I don't expect to roll up and slip the usher a few quid on the way in.

 

[axel smeets]

Possibly a problem then with a cash only turnstile. I don't know about the queue size come 2.45, but a friend of mine who stewards at the lane assures me that because away fans often have to queue with our fans, in the past it has been more trouble than its worth. Perhaps United could close the ticket office at 1, move the staff round to turnstiles and start selling tickets there? Just an idea.

 

[Bert]

Heres hoping someone from the executive team at McCabe Industries reads posts like yours TB and quickly does something about it. More bums on seats has a massive knock on in both financial and more importantly from my own perspective on the pitch activities. I was listining to Citeh fans on Talk Sport yesterday moaning about their systems and how you can't just turn up and watch any longer. For them it may be understandable, for us its a shame on our club and the administrators who run it. Its Third Division football FFS, you should be able to rack up, pay £15 (cash if you like) and in you go. Does it really need to be more complicated than that?

A friend of Bert's went to see Man City last night, as you will know they were playing Napoli in the European cup, it cost him £20 whereas the night before Unitedites were paying £31 to watch a Third Division game.

If United don't sort out the prices and availability of tickets soon we are going to be well and truly in the shit and it will be entirely self inflicted.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

A friend of Bert's went to see Man City last night, as you will know they were playing Napoli in the European cup, it cost him £20 whereas the night before Unitedites were paying £31 to watch a Third Division game.

If United don't sort out the prices and availability of tickets soon we are going to be well and truly in the shit and it will be entirely self inflicted.

I agree on pricing but what's the problem with availability?

 

[raul]

I suspect the problem is that if they opened "just the one" cash only turnstile nobody would buy/order tickets in advance.
Before long people would be moaning about the massive queues at ONE turnstile while all the others are nearly empty.
Is it really such a massive ball-ache to go to the Ticket Office first, pay £18 cash and then go to the turnstile?
Could I not turn up for the Colchester match at say 2:45 and be in the ground by 3:00? How big are the queues?
I genuinely don't know because I haven't paid on the day for a few years.
If I go to the Cinema or a Pop concert, I have to go to the ticket office. I don't expect to roll up and slip the usher a few quid on the way in.

Perception can be more important than reality. If enough people suggest it's a ballache, then it is and it's a challenge for the club to solve. Furthermore, how many cinema ticket office are out the back and you then have to walk halfway round the building to get in?

 

[Bert]

I agree on pricing but what's the problem with availability?

1. SWFC tickets weren't available online

2. Membership discount not available online ie you have to phone the 087 number

3. Bert spent 39 minutes on the phone trying to buy tickets

When supporters like Bert start to get pissed off there must be something seriously wrong.

 

[alcoblade]

1. SWFC tickets weren't available online

2. Membership discount not available online ie you have to phone the 087 number

3. Bert spent 39 minutes on the phone trying to buy tickets

When supporters like Bert start to get pissed off there must be something seriously wrong.

The 0870 numbers are really annoying. If you're going to run a profit mking servive, at least ensure you don't profit from your inefficiency at your customers expense.

UTB

 

[Sothall_Blade]

1. SWFC tickets weren't available online
2. Membership discount not available online ie you have to phone the 087 number
3. Bert spent 39 minutes on the phone trying to buy tickets
When supporters like Bert start to get pissed off there must be something seriously wrong.

Fair enough. I wasn't aware of that as I already have a ticket ;-)
I expect the 1st and 3rd points are exclusive to the Wednesday match.
The 2nd point and the 0870 rip-off are just plain wrong and could be easily rectified.

 

[axel smeets]

1. SWFC tickets weren't available online

2. Membership discount not available online ie you have to phone the 087 number

3. Bert spent 39 minutes on the phone trying to buy tickets

When supporters like Bert start to get pissed off there must be something seriously wrong.

Only thing with swfc tickets not being sold online might be to prevent porcine infiltration? Everything else I agree with you 100%.

 

[Bert]

Only thing with swfc tickets not being sold online might be to prevent porcine infiltration? Everything else I agree with you 100%.

The main site says that they ARE available online but they certainly weren't when Bert tried, they may have rectified that by now but quite frankly who cares.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

The main site says that they ARE available online but they certainly weren't when Bert tried, they may have rectified that by now but quite frankly who cares.

I checked and they aren't. I expect they used the standard "template" for ticket sales and forgot to remove the "buy online" section.
More of an admin error for this one match than a fundamental problem with ticket availability.
If they sorted out the membership discount and the premium rate phone line, the other problems wouldn't matter.