Will we sell out?

[S64 Blade]

I keep seeing that the club waiting too late for general sale means it’s apparently too late to sort travel arrangements.

Do our fan base not drive or own cars? Just seems like it’s another excuse to me, if someone is that desperate to go, they’ll find a way to get there.

Not everyone has a car. Nor does everyone want to drive 3+ hours each way.

If people are desperate to go, there’s a high likelihood they’ll already have a season ticket. General sale will predominantly be for the fair weather fans and as such, if it’s in any way difficult, they’re not going to break their usual routine of not making every effort to go to a United game.

There’s absolutely no reason to over complicate selling tickets beyond giving season ticket holders and then members first dibs on the first day of sale.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

 

[54yrblade]

Get a brew on to read this one.

It's not the ticket office's fault.

It is the fault of Bettis, the board and, to a lesser degree, the SAG for failing to communicate clearly around how and why the sales of tx is being managed. This isn't rocket science, unless it's being run by the Musk bloke.

Reasons people will miss the semi final and Wembley:

*Cost
*Poor planning & communications by SUFC
*Life priorities
*Wembley isn't what the FA/ PL pretend it is. It's utterly soulless and the FA Cup semis should be in 'real' football grounds elsewhere
*The PL is not a dream destination any more. VAR, Sky, kick off times and corporate product mindset has killed real passion for the top division
*Crap home atmosphere, for how long now?
*Kick off time & travel issues
*Boring football and little excitement this season. Totally get where we are but it's not a patch on some seasons before
*Wilders behaviour. It's grated on some of us and, frankly, has been cringeworthy at times. However, good to see he's looking better now. Maybe those above have had a word?

Think that's covered it. If you're going, enjoy it, stay safe and hope we get the cash in the bank, but I'm not getting giddy about a promotion. Truth is, loads of us won't be over concerned and that saddens me.

We've reached a tipping point that few of the main players at the top of the game have been willing to see or address for years now because it's not about the supporters any more. The ticketing messaging, or lack of it, backs that up.

We shouldn't be kept in the dark about a good % of our ground being effectively locked off for us, particularly those who like that area.

I've been fortunate enough to do a few Euro football trips and it's a breath of fresh air. More fan centric, crackling atmospheres, public transport bang on, good food, great service. The Bundesliga is light years ahead of the PL because they put fans first. My wife's been coming to the Lane since '84 and she has finally seen what the game can be over there. Now she understands what it can be, she's far more into it all.

If those at the top of the game and clubs can't run a p*ss up in a brewery then maybe get folk in who do understand it.

So no, it's definitely not the fault of the ticket office team. Thank you for your work under difficult circumstances folks! Some of us get it.

Thank you for attending my Sunday morning therapy session.

And it's only 5.30am ......

 

[Bell4]

Punters

Culture Carrying Punters

 

[Bell4]

As long as me and my new mate Deano get sorted - i couldn’t give a toss

 

[FTPE]

As a season ticket holder, I want priority for the big matches so I have a better chance of getting a seat in the area I want to sit at a price I want to pay.

The day trippers can wait a day or two.

That makes zero sense to what I said. You still get priority. It just means you can take a friend, be that another fan with 300,000 loyalty points, or a new fan that might support us for the next 50years.

 

[FTPE]

I can't get my head round why people keep repeating this

If 23000 people buy two tickets that's 46000 tickets
so only 18 thousand season ticket holders would be able to go ( with mates ) and 5000 would miss out not to mention everyone else

What sort of a fucked up system is that ?

You think every ST holders goes to Wembley? Most don't go to Bramhall Lane.

 

[Frank the tank]

The issue of having too many ST holders for two each is quite easy to solve, IMO.

If the allocation is 36k and we have 23k ST holders, for example, you sell them at two tickets per ST holder initially until 26k tickets have been sold. At this point, switch to one ticket per ST holder until a specified date for General Sale. When 26k have been sold, that's a maximum of 10k ST holders left who haven't got one (and that's if every ST holder bought two) and still 10k left at that point.

Then they will get bombarded with complaints ts from people who want two tickets but weren't in the first 13 thousand .star headline headlines ,radio phone ins and Internet stories and they would have every right to be missed off
What's the point in having some season ticket if you don't get preferential treatment

And do t say people wouldn't co.plain it's all unitedites ever do

 

[Frank the tank]

You think every ST holders goes to Wembley? Most don't go to Bramhall Lane.

Where ?

 

[relish]

Well what is the reason they have held back sales of the BLUT? Does the ticket office still think it is like the FA cup where 25% has to go to away fans if possible as they did when they handed Forest a huge boost giving them all the lane end two years ago? That is what it smacks of to me, every time we have a big game we have this garbage because the club is run by a bunch of amateurs who don't seem to have learned anything from that mistake. And Chris wants a full house they are taking the piss.

The reason they held back the BLUT was because they (rightly, it seems) expected demand for tickets to be relatively low. Same reason they often don’t open the Kop for cup games: the cost of opening a stand for a small number of fans doesn’t make financial sense. That will also be the reason that they have only opened one block now, instead of having a handful of people spread right across the stand.

If people had been snapping up tickets early on and it was selling well, the BLUT would have been opened earlier.

If they’re going to keep a stand shut due to lack of demand, I would much rather it was the BLUT than the Kop.

 

[Frank the tank]

Wilder begging the fans to fill the stadium indicates to me he has seen the reaction of our new owners who thought they had bought a club they could take to the Premier League and keep there are now realising they've been sold a pup
Transfer targets probably being downgraded as we speak

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Wilder begging the fans to fill the stadium indicates to me he has seen the reaction of our new owners who thought they had bought a club they could take to the Premier League and keep there are now realising they've been sold a pup
Transfer targets probably being downgraded as we speak

I mean, you regularly have a pop at people (often rightly), for making stuff up...

 

[Frank the tank]

I mean, you regularly have a pop at people (often rightly), for making stuff up...

Seen it all before mate
The same fans who regularly have a pop at the club for having no ambition as usually the ones that kill any ambition the owners have

 

[finlaytheblade]

Get a brew on to read this one.

It's not the ticket office's fault.

It is the fault of Bettis, the board and, to a lesser degree, the SAG for failing to communicate clearly around how and why the sales of tx is being managed. This isn't rocket science, unless it's being run by the Musk bloke.

Reasons people will miss the semi final and Wembley:

*Cost
*Poor planning & communications by SUFC
*Life priorities
*Wembley isn't what the FA/ PL pretend it is. It's utterly soulless and the FA Cup semis should be in 'real' football grounds elsewhere
*The PL is not a dream destination any more. VAR, Sky, kick off times and corporate product mindset has killed real passion for the top division
*Crap home atmosphere, for how long now?
*Kick off time & travel issues
*Boring football and little excitement this season. Totally get where we are but it's not a patch on some seasons before
*Wilders behaviour. It's grated on some of us and, frankly, has been cringeworthy at times. However, good to see he's looking better now. Maybe those above have had a word?

Think that's covered it. If you're going, enjoy it, stay safe and hope we get the cash in the bank, but I'm not getting giddy about a promotion. Truth is, loads of us won't be over concerned and that saddens me.

We've reached a tipping point that few of the main players at the top of the game have been willing to see or address for years now because it's not about the supporters any more. The ticketing messaging, or lack of it, backs that up.

We shouldn't be kept in the dark about a good % of our ground being effectively locked off for us, particularly those who like that area.

I've been fortunate enough to do a few Euro football trips and it's a breath of fresh air. More fan centric, crackling atmospheres, public transport bang on, good food, great service. The Bundesliga is light years ahead of the PL because they put fans first. My wife's been coming to the Lane since '84 and she has finally seen what the game can be over there. Now she understands what it can be, she's far more into it all.

If those at the top of the game and clubs can't run a p*ss up in a brewery then maybe get folk in who do understand it.

So no, it's definitely not the fault of the ticket office team. Thank you for your work under difficult circumstances folks! Some of us get it.

Thank you for attending my Sunday morning therapy session.

And it's only

 

[MTBlade]

They haven’t held any back for Coventry as they’re playing Sunderland. They haven’t even sold out the bottom tier as Bristol only have 2007 tickets.

Oops

 

[finlaytheblade]

Must agree with most of this!

 

[54yrblade]

Must agree with most of this!

Cheers pal. Maybe, when we stop being wonderfully thankful for being delivered a second rate product and those above start listening, then we'll get somewhere

 

[FTPE]

Where ?

I meant they go that little they don't spell it right..
Doesn't matter, but genuinely I bet (especially during holiday time) there's hundreds if not thousands of ST holders not attending games. My dad has one and I bet he attends 60%-70% of home games. A lot of ST holders are older, they have disposable income and they don't want to lose their seat. But, come the winter, when there's 8oclock kickoffs or games are on TV, a lot give it a miss. That's obviously why gates are announced much higher than what seems to be in the ground.

I've no proof or actual figures, I just think plenty of ST holders will give these games a swerve.

 

[Frank the tank]

I meant they go that little they don't spell it right..
Doesn't matter, but genuinely I bet (especially during holiday time) there's hundreds if not thousands of ST holders not attending games. My dad has one and I bet he attends 60%-70% of home games. A lot of ST holders are older, they have disposable income and they don't want to lose their seat. But, come the winter, when there's 8oclock kickoffs or games are on TV, a lot give it a miss. That's obviously why gates are announced much higher than what seems to be in the ground.

I've no proof or actual figures, I just think plenty of ST holders will give these games a swerve.

Season ticket holders who go.that little they don't know how to spell the name of the ground...OK mate

 

[finlaytheblade]

Must agree with most of this!

No reason we can't do what other clubs do for Wembley games as someone said earlier if we get there!.Why should we be different if other clubs allow 2,3,4,5 or even six tickets to fans why shouldn't we! Would give families a better chance to sit together!.
Not saying that is the right way just do what the rest do! Why should we be different.
Big matches at Bramall Lane! with no season ticket holders resident in the blut !
This gives us the chance to allow fans who want to bring a friend or family members to a game to sit together as there is no chance of doing this anywhere else !
could be one reason of a few why they held it back to experiment with this.
Fans moan about not being able to sit together this is an opportunity to try this..
Don't want the American style of closed shop leagues!, but! fresh ideas regarding fan base will be welcomed I'm sure.

 

[FTPE]

Wilder begging the fans to fill the stadium indicates to me he has seen the reaction of our new owners who thought they had bought a club they could take to the Premier League and keep there are now realising they've been sold a pup
Transfer targets probably being downgraded as we speak

It does sound a bit desperate to me. I know a lot of people don't care and call it 'pig activities' but I find it embarrassing that we can't sell out for a Play off semi. That's why I'm stressing about our Wembley turnout already too.

 

[YES Blade]

That makes zero sense to what I said. You still get priority. It just means you can take a friend, be that another fan with 300,000 loyalty points, or a new fan that might support us for the next 50years.

1 per season ticket holder = 23k eligible to buy
2 per season ticket holder = 46k eligible to buy

If more people are eligible on day one then season ticket holders clearly get less priority. Pretty obvious really.

If a season ticket holder is unlucky when they log on and are at the back of the queue, they might be in a situation where only £80-£100 tickets are left and they can’t afford to go!

But who gives a fuck about the current loyal fan base, just sell the tickets to anyone!

 

[LondonBlade89]

It does sound a bit desperate to me. I know a lot of people don't care and call it 'pig activities' but I find it embarrassing that we can't sell out for a Play off semi. That's why I'm stressing about our Wembley turnout already too.

Many things in life to stress about, this isn’t one. We’re a well-supported club. The recent appearances in the Premier League, the sheer atrocity of our last time there, the travel required down to London, the squeeze on finances everyone is facing now. All of these things mean we’ll possibly sell fewer tickets than if we hadn’t been to the Premier League in decades (because frankly I think excitement trumps everything). But nothing about this is a long-term barometer of our club.

 

[Sandygate Blade]

Wilder begging the fans to fill the stadium indicates to me he has seen the reaction of our new owners who thought they had bought a club they could take to the Premier League and keep there are now realising they've been sold a pup
Transfer targets probably being downgraded as we speak

I don't think they'll base the future investment on these 2 matches. They'll look at the fact that we've just recorded the 4th highest home average attendance in the league with one of the smallest away allocations. This after an absolute shit show of a season the year before.

Our support is consistent rather than one that suddenly turns out for one game a season.

 

[FriethBlade]

1 per season ticket holder = 23k eligible to buy
2 per season ticket holder = 46k eligible to buy

If more people are eligible on day one then season ticket holders clearly get less priority. Pretty obvious really.

If a season ticket holder is unlucky when they log on and are at the back of the queue, they might be in a situation where only £80-£100 tickets are left and they can’t afford to go!

But who gives a fuck about the current loyal fan base, just sell the tickets to anyone!

Yes to start off with im not a season ticket holder and the way i think it should work if we want to get as many people there as possible is this. Give season ticket holders an exclusive period of say 3 days and let them buy 4 tickets per season ticket holders so they can sit with wjo they want to sit with etc What this will do is sell a lot of tickets quickly and allow people to sit together. It won't mean there is 23k x 4 likely tickets sold as one person will buy for 3 other season ticket holders or maybe a couple of family members.

Then the rest need to be sold with limited delay down the points total. For example me and my 2 boys have different amounts of points so I have to wait until tje one with the least qualifies before I can buy.

We won't sell out whatever ticketing policy is in place so at least make it easier and quicker for people who DO WANT TO GO to get tickets, arrange transport and accommodation if necessary.

 

[Foxy]

If we get there, if we are so sure we won't sell out, why can't people arrange transport and accommodation safe in the knowledge there will be tickets available?

 

[EddieColquhoun]

when they handed Forest a huge boost giving them all the lane end two years ago?

Forest didn't have ALL the Lane End.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

So you really think every ST holder needs two tickets then? Trust me it won't happen and should we get to Wembley there will be more than enough tickets to go round again the problem is both at the lane for the Bristol game or any Wembley appearance is how much dithering the ticket office does before ticket go on general sale. I know some ST holders with 60k+ LP's need to have their ego's massaged so the can have that warm fuzzy feeling of being a massive Blade but people with modest amounts of LP's will still be able to get a ticket should we get to Wembley.

Not every ST ticket holder, no.
But it's obvious loads would buy tickets for the Mrs, dad, nephew etc etc etc , and want to buy them sat together.
As an example, my father in law is Wednesday fan and goes with his grandson, both ST holders. For their playoff against Barnsley, 6 of them went , other 4 never go to matches, just went for the experience and weekend.

 

[metalblade]

Forest didn't have ALL the Lane End.

If you want to split hairs they had all but the Westfield corner.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

I keep seeing that the club waiting too late for general sale means it’s apparently too late to sort travel arrangements.

Do our fan base not drive or own cars? Just seems like it’s another excuse to me, if someone is that desperate to go, they’ll find a way to get there.

The people who would buy on General sale aren't 'desperate to go' . There is a sizeable chunk of people who will take it or leave it depending on price and difficulty.