Membership Scheme - Fancy going to an away game next season?

[beechblade]

'we want our fans to be our 12th man'....but only if you pay at least £500 for a st or £15 for memebership for away games....well no 12th man ere

Less than £500 if your on the Kop. Not sure about everywhere else though.

 

[raul]

Bunch of miseries. Our Club takes us into their very soul by asking us what we'd like to eat and drink at half time and this is how you repay them??

 

[ListerBlade]

It's a good deterrent to stop people going to any away games if they only intend to go to 1, 2 or 3 in the season.

I don't understand why the club would want to deter from someone going to 1,2 or 3 away games a season. I manage about 5/6 away games, and around 10 home games a season. Not because I don't want to go to more, but I can't afford all the travel as an exile, and don't have a job that would let me have every Saturday/Tuesday off work.

The club should be encouraging us to go, not deterring us.

Slightly off the topic, wasn't it mentioned that the ticket office telephone number would no longer be an 08 number? Or am I mistaken?

 

[SESKU Blade]

Will members be able to puchase away tickets for non-members? or is it the intention that everyone attending an away match must be a member? i.e. If I bought a membership card then tried to get say 4 tickets, if I gave the cust numbers of everyone who's having a ticket to allocate the loyalty points to them, are the ticket office likely to say that I can't purchase for those as they're not members?

Slightly off the topic, wasn't it mentioned that the ticket office telephone number would no longer be an 08 number? Or am I mistaken?

I'm not 100% sure but I seem to recall something being said about this and that the fans should not be calling a premium rate number to order tickets. I think it may have been one of the things asked to Batho in one of his 1st Q&A sessions.

Can anyone confirm?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

It's an 0844 number though isnt it? Hardly premium rate..

And i'd rather call a premium rate number to order my away tickets (That covers the cost of admin costs), than be forced into some shitty membership scheme that i will not reap any benefits from whatsoever.

 

[rotweissler]

Bunch of miseries. Our Club takes us into their very soul by asking us what we'd like to eat and drink at half time and this is how you repay them??

and how long will it be before you need a "True Blade" membership card to buy that food & drink?

bitter... moi?

 

[Rodders]

Yep, we should definitely look to get shut of people who only go to 3 away games a season from going again, the part-time twats.

 

[bladeinspain2]

Rodders, can be difficult and expensive for foriegn exiles.
Anyway, can you not pay at the turnstiles any more ?

 

[DEANO1889]

yet another awful decision if this is going to be the case! treating their 'customers' in this way is commercial suicide. I emailed batho last season when there were offers to non-ST holders where they got a free shirt cheap entrance etc basically asking where our reward was as ST holders for sitting through that all season. He replied saying next season there will be great benefits for having a season ticket. So instead of something actually worthwile in certain games i.e free programme, beer token, free away travel etc they basically not ripping us off like other fans. so distanced from the club at the moment is unreal, even as a renewed ST holder I find this embarrassing, what because I can afford a season ticket Im a bigger blade? Joke!? This true blades are at the lane shitte is offensive in my opinion.

 

[Linz]

Having first read about it on here, as any information is near-on impossible to find on the OS, I wondered if it was a case of it being pitched as "buy a membership to boost your chance of getting away tickets next season". But having found the relevant bit on the OS, it doesn't read that way and it seems a bit odd... no club sees income from its away game sales (unless it's a cup fixture). Don't know why United think they should.

 

[Vancouver]

Yep, we should definitely look to get shut of people who only go to 3 away games a season from going again, the part-time twats.

Well this part-time twat tries to attend at least one game a season but as you'll appreciate it can be a little tricky and time-consuming travelling 5000 miles and paying £1000 for the flight to watch a game of football.

 

[Rodders]

Indeed, which is why I made the tongue-in-cheek post at the poster above who thinks it's a good idea for people who can only manage 1,2 or 3 away games to be discouraged.
Obviously United can only be followed by the massive of massivist Blades at all times...

 

[Ollessendro]

Having first read about it on here, as any information is near-on impossible to find on the OS, I wondered if it was a case of it being pitched as "buy a membership to boost your chance of getting away tickets next season". But having found the relevant bit on the OS, it doesn't read that way and it seems a bit odd... no club sees income from its away game sales (unless it's a cup fixture). Don't know why United think they should.

I spioke to the ticket office and they told me the same as they did Highbury: you will need a membership if you want to purchase any away ticket. Even if the allocated tickets are not sold out they will (apparently) still not open them for general sale.

 

[Rodders]

If it's a case of managing supply / demand, the time to launch a members-only application for away tickets would have been in the Premiership I'd have thought. As the Club are grasping for £15 a time, it makes you think Bladesway's post a couple of months ago about the dark cloud of Admin may not have been that far off the mark.....

 

[ghandi]

If it's a case of managing supply / demand, the time to launch a members-only application for away tickets would have been in the Premiership I'd have thought. As the Club are grasping for £15 a time, it makes you think Bladesway's post a couple of months ago about the dark cloud of Admin may not have been that far off the mark.....

And what was pointed out then is why on earth would McCabe allow SUFC to be placed into admin where he would have no chance of recovering his investment?

 

[Grecian2000]

If we fail to sell out any away game then surely the Home team should sue us to fuck as we appear to be deliberately trying to sell less tickets than we could.

Is there nothing this club will not try to do to minimise the number of fans who support it? Some of its decisions over the last three years really do beggar belief.

 

[bladeinspain2]

Just rang Oldham ticket office (gr8 expense from Spain) and the lady said if our allocation is not sold out you can pay on the day at the turnstile, home fans too can pay on the day.

 

[raul]

This bloke seems to have a plan Guesty

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/04/peter-ridsdale-plymouth-argyle-owner

 

[DEANO1889]

exactly teams in league one who look at the blades as a decent payday with a good following especially if top6 (hopefully) will not stand for this and will simply make tickets available on the day at turnstiles. a cheap low blow by the club to their fans who've stuck by through thick & thin.

 

[bladesadviser]

You have to wonder at what point did someone think "I know lets try to reduce our away following in League 1 next season because we don't really need support at our very sucessful football club"

We are hardly Barcelona fighting for tickets at an away match at Valencia

 

[Rodley]

It's piss poor from United. What on earth are they thinking?!

 

[BusheyBlade]

Having first read about it on here, as any information is near-on impossible to find on the OS, I wondered if it was a case of it being pitched as "buy a membership to boost your chance of getting away tickets next season". But having found the relevant bit on the OS, it doesn't read that way and it seems a bit odd... no club sees income from its away game sales (unless it's a cup fixture). Don't know why United think they should.

Have you got the link please Linz, I can't find the story!

I must say, if this is true it's ridiculous. I was planning on going to a number of away game next season, and although £15 isn't a huge amount to have to pay, it's not really the money that's the issue.

 

[muttsnuts]

Its pretty obvious that the demand for away tickets next season will be bigger than most grounds can cater for, and for that reason the only fair way of allocating tickets is to offer them to the true supporters, i.e those that have bought season tickets or stumped up cash for the members scheme. Too many people in this world that expect 'summat for nowt'.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Its pretty obvious that the demand for away tickets next season will be bigger than most grounds can cater for, and for that reason the only fair way of allocating tickets is to offer them to the true supporters, i.e those that have bought season tickets or stumped up cash for the members scheme. Too many people in this world that expect 'summat for nowt'.

They've already got that system in place, with the points system. Invariably season ticket holders get first choice on tickets for away games and so on.

This scheme, IMO, is nothing to do with fair allocation of tickets!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

They've already got that system in place, with the points system. Invariably season ticket holders get first choice on tickets for away games and so on.

This scheme, IMO, is nothing to do with fair allocation of tickets!

As pointed out, the 'gamble' for those only looking to attend a few away games would be buying a membership card and still not being able to get a ticket.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Its pretty obvious that the demand for away tickets next season will be bigger than most grounds can cater for, and for that reason the only fair way of allocating tickets is to offer them to the true supporters, i.e those that have bought season tickets or stumped up cash for the members scheme. Too many people in this world that expect 'summat for nowt'.

I don't think it will. Most grounds in league 1 have the capacity to house at least 1000 away fans.

 

[Linz]

Have you got the link please Linz, I can't find the story!

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/HomeMatches/0,,10418~2383330,00.html

...And from Monday 11th July, fans of all ages can also become a member for a one-off payment of £15 for adults or £10 for juniors.

Blades members will receive £2 off match day ticket prices, which will take only eight matches to recoup the cost of membership, plus a range of specially designated offers such as ten percent discount in the Club Superstore; the ability to buy away match tickets, offers for SIV venues across the city, 20 percent discount at Doncaster Racecourse and discounted parking in the city centre....

Its pretty obvious that the demand for away tickets next season will be bigger than most grounds can cater for, and for that reason the only fair way of allocating tickets is to offer them to the true supporters, i.e those that have bought season tickets or stumped up cash for the members scheme. Too many people in this world that expect 'summat for nowt'.

I dunno about that to be honest. I'm sure the novelty of visiting new grounds will boost our away attendance, but I'd say that there was a "hardcore" of around 300 and the rest are floating fans.

Here are the away capacities from footballgroundguide...

Bournemouth - The normal allocation for this area is 1,500, but this can be increased to 2,000 if required.

Brentford - This covered two tiered stand has 600 seats in its upper tier and room for around 1,000 fans below in the terrace.

Bury - Just over 2,000 away supporters can be accommodated.

Carlisle - If a particularly large following is expected then the Petterrill End terrace can also be opened which houses around 1,700 supporters... not sure of the "normal" allocation.

Charlton - Up to 3,000 away fans can be accommodated.

Chesterfield - Away supporters are mostly housed in the Printability Stand at the north end of the stadium, where up to 2,112 supporters can be seated. If demand requires it then additional seating can also be made available in the Midlands Co-operative Community Stand.

Colchester - Away fans are normally housed at one end of the stadium in the North Stand, where up to 2,000 supporters can be accommodated.

Exeter - The St James terrace at one end of the ground, houses 1,053 fans and is open to the elements.

Hartlepool - way fans are in the Rink End Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 967 can be seated.

Huddersfield - Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the Pink Link (South) Stand, where up to 4,000 supporters can be accommodated.

Leyton Orient - Around 1,000 fans can be accommodated in this area.

MK Dons - Away supporters are located in the North East corner of the stadium where around 3,000 fans can be accommodated.

Notts County - The normal allocation for this area will be around 1,300

Oldham - The stand is split between a larger section on side, which houses 3,000 fans and a smaller section on the other side which houses 1,600 supporters. It is intended with the development of the stadium that this season the stand will be shared between home and away fans. For most games away supporters will be given the smaller section, whilst for some clubs that have a larger following then the bigger section will be allocated.

Preston - Normally the allocation for away fans is approximately half of this stand (3,000 seats) and it is shared with home supporters. However for teams with a large away support, then the whole end can be allocated, raising the allocation to 6,000.

Rochdale - Up to 3,650 supporters can be accommodated in it and normally away fans are confined to the centre of the stand.

Scunthorpe - Away fans are housed in the AMS Stand (aka the South Stand) at one end. This is all seated and can house 1,650 supporters. If demand requires it, then extra seats can be made available in the south corner of the West Stand.

Pigs - Whole Leppings Lane I'd imagine...

Stevenage - Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the Buildbase South Stand, where up to 1,400 supporters can be housed.

Tranmere - Can hold up to 2,200 fans.

Walsall - Away supporters are housed in the Dains Stand at one end of the ground, where around 2,000 away supporters can be accommodated.

Wycombe - Away fans are mostly located at one end of the ground in the Dreams Stand, where just over 2,000 supporters can be accommodated.

Yeovil - Up to 1,750 supporters can be housed in this area. Additionally 300 seats are allocated to away fans in the Cowlin Stand, which is covered.

 

[raul]

Muttsnuts,are you ill?If I want to go to an away game I expect to have to pay for a ticket.I don't expect to have to pay to earn the right to buy a ticket. Did you for example just buy your ST or did you stump up fifteen quid for the priv of buying one ? At what point is that wanting something for nothing ?

 

[Selly]

Muttsnuts,are you ill?If I want to go to an away game I expect to have to pay for a ticket.I don't expect to have to pay to earn the right to buy a ticket. Did you for example just buy your ST or did you stump up fifteen quid for the priv of buying one ? At what point is that wanting something for nothing ?

This, irrespective of discounts on matchday tickets making the cost irrellevant, why should one have to pay for the ability (not a guarantee) of buying an Away ticket.

Anyway if they expect most fans to earn more in discounts then they should either:

- Remove the need to buy a membership to get an away ticket (as chances are most people will have one anyway)
- Remove the membership thing totally and just ask people to register for Away tickets.

I appreciate that for the majority of people this will be revenue neutral, or they will end up in profit, but for those of us who rarely make it to BDTBL these days (Me, Highbury, Bergen, Vancouver, Sunderland) they are essentially asking us to stump up £15 for, potentially, nothing, as all the tickets may have gone by the time we get a chance to buy them anyway.

 

[Balham]

From the Box Office:

I can confirm that if you are not a season ticket holder you do have to become a member to apply for away tickets. Membership will cost £15, and will also allow you to buy reduced home match tickets and also give a discount in the shop.

I hope this helps.

Regards Lynn

Ticket Office

Update:

Yes, away tickets will be limited to one per member/season ticket holder.

Regards

Lynn

Frankly, United, this is a disgrace. Why would you turn down support? I've been to away games with fans of other clubs and they've always enjoyed the day out with the Blades.

Balham = pissed off.