QPR moved to Monday

[Robbie]

If all televised fixtures were announced 12 weeks before the date of the game, no-one could buy train tickets and you would appear to care about the football fan - your key customer.

Their key customer, is the people who watch SKY, not those that go to games.

Your decision to move QPR v Sheff U to a Monday night has left myself and countless others left with train tickets that now can't be used. The decision has probably knocked 2,000 off the away following and as a result,

2,000? Really? Again, 2,000? Maybe overall, but off the away following? Really?

your 'product' (horrible word) will suffer. People will eventually lose interest in attending matches because they're fed up of being messed about by Sky and people will start cancelling their Sky subscriptions because a match in a half empty ground isn't as exciting to watch.

I can't agree with this statement either,

Do I care when I watch a game on TV if the ground is half full?
Not at all, a little laugh maybe produced.

Would I cancel a SKY subscription because the grounds aren't full?
No chance

SKY would prefer for people to stop attending games in my opinion, they'd find subscriptions increased, they can also increase their premium to the pubs too.

 

[sheffielder]

We only have the option of taking a £30 hit and not going. We considered transferring for Watford game but nobody fancied the hassle and 4 trains.

fucking bravo. Would prefer us to have a 1000 more blades than have it on TV. 429 on a monday night when we need the points. We might as well just call it quits now as nothing is going to go for us

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:26 AM ----------

This has really pissed me off. I don't wanna watch it on the sodding telly, I wanted a trip to London and another decent trip/booze to Loftus Road.

People seem to have the opinion we would be better off on TV. We will probably have a thousand estimated less people going now. The team needs people there, not empy seats and no backing. It's ok because some just want to see us on TV

 

[Ollessendro]

Absolutely spot on. Surely they could implement a 12 week rule for announcing games? Even better, when a game involves a long trip for one set of fans, keep it on the same day at least - a 12:45 or a 17:20 at QPR would've been inconvenient but not impossible.

Sky also changed the date of Stoke v WBA yesterday from Feb 26th to Feb 28th - just over 2 weeks notice. To add insult to injury, they've said that if Stoke draw in the FA Cup, they'll move it back to the Saturday but kick off at a different time!

Link for comments to Sky

http://www.skysports.com/contactus/0,20299,,00.html

Be good if they got 100 comments from Blades fans today

Nice works Coops.

I sent "Dear Sir/Madam.

I have to say that I am very disappointed that you have moved the fixture at such short notice. Many United fans, including myself had already booked train tickets and were looking forward to a day out. Moving the fixture has ruined this and although we can watch the game on TV it has spoilt things for hundreds of us.

It is not just moving the game close to the time, it is also moving the day. Moving the time to 12.45 or 17.30 on the same day would not have been ideal, but it may have still worked. Moving the fixrure to a Monday night basically means it rules out the fixture for many people from Sheffield.

Regards,
Oliver. "

Few white lies in there, but it will not hurt.

I am really disappointed by this for many reasons. Firstly it is Monday night and ruins the day, secondly it will impact upon the attendance and atmosphere and thridly it screws many fellow Blades.

I live in London and will still be able to go to the match. But my mate lucky Rob will not be able to come as it is now a Monday night. That goes for many united fans. It will be a max of 2 beers before the game for me and although I look forward to seeing some London Blades I am disappointed for many. The banter, commaradery etc that we had in the Station pub at Portman Road will be missing somewhat due to this.

Mostly I was looking forward to the hate filled atmosphere. At Loftus Road you are very close to the pitch and if they give us the bottom tier (unliekly now - but they may have done if we'd sold more than 1500 tickets) we'd be spitting distance from Paddy Kenny. Need I say more?!

 

[Yossarian]

Your decision to move QPR v Sheff U to a Monday night has left myself and countless others left with train tickets that now can't be used. The decision has probably knocked 2,000 off the away following and as a result, your 'product' (horrible word) will suffer.

The product will suffer but the audience will increase. 2,000 less fans at the ground is 2,000 more people either watching it on TV or in the pub.

 

[cooperblade]

Their key customer, is the people who watch SKY, not those that go to games.

There will be a huge crossover between the two groups. Eventually some of those people who belong in both groups will think "Do you know what, you piss me off so often by changing games that I don't want to give you £50 a month (or whatever it costs) any more". Nearly every game is available to watch for free now anyway so is a better picture really worth hundreds of pounds a year?

2,000? Really? Again, 2,000? Maybe overall, but off the away following? Really?

I honestly think so. We'll never know but I think we'd have been close to selling out. QPR is always everyone's favourite London away day and this might be the last chance for a while.

I can't agree with this statement either,

Do I care when I watch a game on TV if the ground is half full?
Not at all, a little laugh maybe produced.

Would I cancel a SKY subscription because the grounds aren't full?
No chance

SKY would prefer for people to stop attending games in my opinion, they'd find subscriptions increased, they can also increase their premium to the pubs too.

Perhaps you're right but I think it's much harder to sell a TV sport if there's no atmosphere and no-one cares enough about the sport to attend the match. Also, how would the clubs react if attendances really plummet? They'd need Sky to pay them a lot more for the rights etc. No-one benefits from empty grounds in my opinion.

I hope the Portsmouth landlady case ruins the f***ers.

 

[sheffielder]

2000 less blades supporting the Blades.
We have been talking about how we get more fans to the Lane this week, but away games are just as important. Really is annoying an expensive change for a lot of us

---------- Post added at 09:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:42 AM ----------

There will be a huge crossover between the two groups. Eventually some of those people who belong in both groups will think "Do you know what, you piss me off so often by changing games that I don't want to give you £50 a month (or whatever it costs) any more". Nearly every game is available to watch for free now anyway so is a better picture really worth hundreds of pounds a year?



I honestly think so. We'll never know but I think we'd have been close to selling out. QPR is always everyone's favourite London away day and this might be the last chance for a while.



Perhaps you're right but I think it's much harder to sell a TV sport if there's no atmosphere and no-one cares enough about the sport to attend the match. Also, how would the clubs react if ? They'd need Sky to pay them a lot more for the rights etc. No-one benefits from empty grounds in my opinion.

I hope the Portsmouth landlady case ruins the f***ers.

In america you wouldn't get on TV for a primetime NFL game unless you sell out.

ps I agree about QPR. One of the best in London for a day out, probably 2nd just after Fulham for me

 

[cooperblade]

The product will suffer but the audience will increase. 2,000 less fans at the ground is 2,000 more people either watching it on TV or in the pub.

How much more can the pubs afford to pay for Sky though? The subscriptions are already killing them so when does the benefit get passed onto Sky? You might get half the pubs willing to paying more because they've had a few more punters in and the other half cancelling it because the already extortionate price has gone up even further.

How many SUFC fans will purchase Sky on the back of the decision to move this game? Very, very few if any. Why would you? Go to the boozer or watch it on the laptop.

 

[Robbie]

hope the Portsmouth landlady case ruins the f***ers.

Agreed....

 

[Jehovah]

I didnt think they could legally televise rapes

 

[Robbie]

I didnt think they could legally televise rapes

It's not rape till there's a conviction, till then it's slander

 

[Yossarian]

If you can prove that they were asking for it, I think you can get away with calling it "aggravated penetration".

And let's face it... we're asking for it.

 

[Superblades]

Ring East Midlands Trains up and argue it with them. We managed to alter out train tickets with quite a bit of arguing to Palace just got to sort the hotels out now!

 

[themaninblack]

FFS I cant believe this. Our lass has stamped my pass, I've booked the Friday off work to drive up to Calais and I've already got my tickets for the tunnel. Thank Christ I can cancel the hotel.

 

[SwissBlade]

FFS I cant believe this. Our lass has stamped my pass, I've booked the Friday off work to drive up to Calais and I've already got my tickets for the tunnel. Thank Christ I can cancel the hotel.

Chunnel tickets can be changed for another date

 

[TheSwollengland]

There is supposed to be an interface between the fans and the club who apparently is a member of this forum and yet there is no official response to these justifiable complaints on the OS and no unofficial response on here .

So much for increased communication !

 

[Ollessendro]

Coops (and anyone else who feels strongly about this)

In addition to complaining to SKY (coops link on previous page) I think this should be raised with the club. I suggested in the following ways:
- write to Birch and/or the fans communication manager
- raise with Foxy/Linz and aks them to raise through BIFF
- contact anyone else you feel like (http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/KeyPersonnel/0,,10418,00.html)

 

[Grecian2000]

I don't see what the club would do about this.

Sky decide when the game is played and the clubs accept large sums of cash for this to happen. Are we going to opt out of the Sky contract? I think not.

Write to Sky, as people have done, and, more importantly, cancel your Sky contract (that gets their attention like nothing else does) if you feel that strongly about it.

 

[Bladesway]

Coops (and anyone else who feels strongly about this)

In addition to complaining to SKY (coops link on previous page) I think this should be raised with the club. I suggested in the following ways:
- write to Birch and/or the fans communication manager
- raise with Foxy/Linz and aks them to raise through BIFF
- contact anyone else you feel like (http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/KeyPersonnel/0,,10418,00.html)

Ey a mass moan via various channels will change things won't it. I'm afraid the days of us having any say whatsoever shot off down the crapper like a little beige number as soon as we dropped our drawers en masse to Sky.

---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:10 PM ----------

I don't see what the club would do about this.

Sky decide when the game is played and the clubs accept large sums of cash for this to happen. Are we going to opt out of the Sky contract? I think not.

Write to Sky, as people have done, and, more importantly, cancel your Sky contract (that gets their attention like nothing else does) if you feel that strongly about it.

No chance, I'll miss the cricket

 

[Jehovah]

Compared to a handful of complaints against the number of people tuning into watch, I would do naff all.

 

[Wapping Blade]

There is supposed to be an interface between the fans and the club who apparently is a member of this forum and yet there is no official response to these justifiable complaints on the OS and no unofficial response on here .

So much for increased communication !

Have you Emailed, Facebooked, Twittered or Phoned in your concerns?

 

[raul]

Grecian will walk you through the twitter minefield Swolly.

 

[TheSwollengland]

Have you Emailed, Facebooked, Twittered or Phoned in your concerns?

I would hope youre being ironic/sarcastic here but if not ,its my understanding that said club rep posts on here and does so to such an extent we are not supposed to have a go at him incase we offend
but further to our question ,yes I did tweet him to see if the club or him as an individual had a view on the inconvenience caused to fans by moving the game at such relatively short notice

I await a response

 

[Wards]

Sadly, your average football fan according to Sky looks something like this

They dont give a flying fuck about the poor buggers who make 300 mile round trips!

 

[TheSwollengland]

Still no response ,guess communication is a variable thing

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

Gutted this is moved. QPR away is a beer swilling united fans dream away game. Now cannot go due to work. Saturday in shepherds bush nowt finer. FFS :rant:

 

[TheSwollengland]

Still waiting

 

[Foxy]

Still waiting

Out of interest what are you waiting for?

Regarding your comments above, the rules are... you aren't allowed to abuse anyone, regardless of who they are, that's not how we do things on here.

 

[yamyamblade]

If you want your rail tickets refunding or transferring better look on official site

 

[cooperblade]

If you want your rail tickets refunding or transferring better look on official site

Absolutely splendid effort from all concerned. Massively appreciated.



(Sky, you're still ****s though)

 

[Wards]

Good gesture by EMT, and highly appreciated I'm sure.

But yes, Sky are still utter shitgibbons.