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

[BarcaBlade]

Why don't they go the whole hog and ask for my passport number, shoe size and mother's maiden name whenever I book tickets?

That would be a better system for me personally. It would increase the chances of me turning up to support the Blades compared with the membership scheme.

 

[BusheyBlade]

In other words, it is conceivable that I lash out £15 for the sum total of fuck all.

That is exactly the point I made to Richard Batho yesterday. I got the impression from his response that he hadn't actually thought of that possibility yet.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

That is exactly the point I made to Richard Batho yesterday. I got the impression from his response that he hadn't actually thought of that possibility yet.

I think the club has, hence 'the ability to purchase away tickets'.

 

[Kenilworth]

blades revival didnt start untill 1986 Kenilworth

OK, OK - Just seems like I have been waiting longer for the revival then

I am sure there was something about "Blades 1981" when it first started but I am not that anoraky nor can I be arsed to look it up.

 

[BusheyBlade]

I think the club has, hence 'the ability to purchase away tickets'.

Indeed, not guarantee. If the only away games I want to go to next season all sell out to season ticket holders before getting to members, I get sod all for my £15.

 

[Rodders]

That is exactly the point I made to Richard Batho yesterday. I got the impression from his response that he hadn't actually thought of that possibility yet.

Well, it's an issue to do with the communication of information from the Club to the supporters, why would he have a clue what's going on?

 

[Linz]

This appeared on the site yesterday: Fans to benefit from membership scheme

Sheffield United today unveiled details of an exciting membership scheme for fans.

It provides a range of benefits, from ticket offers to offers and discounts on travel, leisure and parking.

All current season ticket holders automatically become members at no cost. However, non-season ticket holders can join for a fee.

With the countdown to the new season underway, Steve Lewis, Sheffield United's head of commercial, said: "The membership scheme rewards the commitment, loyalty and continued support of our fantastic fans. Our season ticket holders are automatically enrolled and for others there is a membership fee."

"We hope the membership scheme provides real and valued benefits to Blades fans," added Steve.

The Blades Membership scheme includes:

- £2 discount off all home League tickets

- Priority on purchasing away tickets (subject to required loyalty points,1 away ticket per member)

- 100 loyalty points

- Free admission to reserve/Academy games at Bramall Lane

- 10% off annual programme subscriptions

- Regular e-newsletters and quarterly Blades News

- Selected offers from Sheffield International Venues - operators of facilities such as The Sheffield City Hall and Ponds Forge

- Seasonal offers from East Midlands Trains

- 20% off general admission prices at Doncaster Racecourse

- Discounted match day car parking from Apcoa Car Parks (close to Bramall Lane)

- A number of other selected offers and events throughout the season

Each member receives a membership card (updated when used for booking over the telephone or via the website) and benefits information. Prices are: £15 adults and £10 juniors (including a Blades £5 Superstore voucher and Blades e-birthday card). A Baby Blades membership scheme is available at no cost.

Call United's ticket office on 0871 995 1889 for full details.

Clear as mud!

 

[Highbury_Blade]

So we can be absolutely clear then, all membership entitles you too (With regards to away games) is that you get priority. you DO NOT have to be a member to purchase away tickets?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

So we can be absolutely clear then, all membership entitles you too (With regards to away games) is that you get priority. you DO NOT have to be a member to purchase away tickets?

Exactly, no change from previous seasons, other than it going up by 50% !

I notice the 10% of the superstore has disappeared.

 

[BusheyBlade]

Clear as mud!

Yup, still not totally clear. It says priority on away tickets, then says 1 per member. Is that 1 priority ticket per member or 1 per member in general?

I'm going to email Richard Batho to ask him to clarify, but this does look like they've taken some sort of fan feedback on board.

 

[ashsufc1889]

So we can be absolutely clear then, all membership entitles you too (With regards to away games) is that you get priority. you DO NOT have to be a member to purchase away tickets?

Yeah you get a priority behind season ticket holders and anyone that has more "loyalty points" than you...So the benifit for away game are pretty much f_ck all!

The only true benifit i can see is the £2 off home games...As long as you go to more than 8 games of course.

 

[Selly]

Yup, still not totally clear. It says priority on away tickets, then says 1 per member. Is that 1 priority ticket per member or 1 per member in general?

I'm going to email Richard Batho to ask him to clarify, but this does look like they've taken some sort of fan feedback on board.

Or it was never intended that you would need to be a member to buy away tickets. They just worded the original statement badly. And then the person who did it went on holiday.

Never underestimate the ability of some people to have incompetance cause problems...

 

[BusheyBlade]

Response from Richard Batho:

If tickets are left then they may go on general sale a few days before games. There should be a f.a.q. Section appearing soon
Regards
Richard

Or it was never intended that you would need to be a member to buy away tickets. They just worded the original statement badly.

No, that was their original intention. No membership, no away ticket.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Or it was never intended that you would need to be a member to buy away tickets. They just worded the original statement badly. And then the person who did it went on holiday.

Never underestimate the ability of some people to have incompetance cause problems...

I think the wording could have been better but the Ticket Office catagorically stated that you had to be a member to buy away tickets last week so they've definitely backtracked if that's not now the case.

 

[ashsufc1889]

I think the wording could have been better but the Ticket Office catagorically stated that you had to be a member to buy away tickets last week so they've definitely backtracked if that's not now the case.

It will probably be a case that if you want to buy a ticket for pigsbro' (or maybe even scunny and chessy) then you will need to be a member.

Possibly even G&H block for said home games too.

 

[Linz]

Yeah you get a priority behind season ticket holders and anyone that has more "loyalty points" than you...So the benifit for away game are pretty much f_ck all!

Unless the 100 extra loyalty points you get by being a member allows you to buy tickets a day earlier...

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Or it was never intended that you would need to be a member to buy away tickets. They just worded the original statement badly. And then the person who did it went on holiday.

Never underestimate the ability of some people to have incompetance cause problems...

Or just as likely, they have being deliberately spreading FUD in order to get people to sign up.

 

[Kenilworth]

So eff all benefit for anyone living away from Sheffield then?
Small minded set of morons the lot of them.
Probably means I will never get to see another Sheffield derby at the Sty.
Oh, well .f**k 'em

 

[parisblade]

So eff all benefit for anyone living away from Sheffield then?

Well there is the 2 quid off match day tickets for those of us that haven't got season tickets...

 

[Kenilworth]

Well there is the 2 quid off match day tickets for those of us that haven't got season tickets...

Justifies the 200 mile round trip a treat then.

Maybe Swiss will retire on the savings he makes on a home trip

 

[parisblade]

Justifies the 200 mile round trip a treat then.

Maybe Swiss will retire on the savings he makes on a home trip

He's got a season ticket hasn't he?

 

[Kenilworth]

He's got a season ticket hasn't he?

Oh. of course. Anyway shouldn't Lames have a capital "L"
After last terms relegation you might be better off using Le silence des Lames

 

[SwissBlade]

I think my cost per game are going to go through the roof this season, at this rate i'll probably only get back for less than half the games because my weekends home aren't going to be as easy/ flexible.

I may end up going to more away games than home games!

 

[Bergen Blade]

I'd like to give the club some credit for changing a scheme that was unfair for a certain group of fans who wouldn't benefit from the other offers involved. I'll be happy to skip the most popular away fixtures.

Is this change something we should thank Richard Batho for?

 

[dkc Blade]

I am not sure if the club should get too much credit for introducing an ill-thought-out scheme and then amending it only after fans complained.

 

[bladesadviser]

I'd like to give the club some credit for changing a scheme that was unfair for a certain group of fans who wouldn't benefit from the other offers involved. I'll be happy to skip the most popular away fixtures.

Is this change something we should thank Richard Batho for?

Like Bergen I am happy to leave the popular away matches to season ticket holders just I was against being penalised for wanting to support the club on a cold January night in Wycombe

 

[ghandi]

Like Bergen I am happy to leave the popular away matches to season ticket holders just I was against being penalised for wanting to support the club on a cold January night in Wycombe

We play Wycombe on a balmy Sept afternoon (this year at any rate)

 

[parisblade]

Oh. of course. Anyway shouldn't Lames have a capital "L"
After last terms relegation you might be better off using Le silence des Lames

Very good

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Got a reply from Ms Wylie today, basically, away tickets will go to;

1) ST holders / members based on loyalty points then
2) General Sale

the interesting thing for me is even if you have, say 10,000 loyalty points, if you are no longer a ST holder or NOT a member, you have to wait until they go on general sale. Membership is therefore being used as a way of keeping you on the 'loyalty point ladder', and therefore ahead of general sale.

 

[Kenilworth]

Very good

I thank you. The wife tells me that I am a cunning linguist.

BTW it still needs a capital 'L' - there's a good chap.