Kicked off SAFC land for protesting against digital

[timeforheroes1]

Digit season ticket is fine for me and will be for most I know going to the game.
What I can’t understand is why they could have just said something along these lines:

“A physical season card will continue to be available for u12s, over 65, and registered disabled supporters free of charge, but we would encourage all of those who can, to make the switch to digital.”

because they are absolutely clueless and couldn't run a bath never mind a competent communications department

 

[chunksafc]

Digit season ticket is fine for me and will be for most I know going to the game.
What I can’t understand is why they could have just said something along these lines:

“A physical season card will continue to be available for u12s, over 65, and registered disabled supporters free of charge, but we would encourage all of those who can, to make the switch to digital.”

Even if it had said, a physical card will be available for all those with a VALID reason not to have a digital card it would have been better

 

[samaistonsrightfoot]

To be fair, the minutes from the meeting I was at make it fairly clear what the option is (or what it should be if they stick to their word)

"SD confirmed a physical season ticket will still be available if fans are unable to access a digital season ticket. The arrangements for this will be announced nearer the time."

Fully understand that the communication has been awful, and we'll be letting the club know this, but at the meeting we were told there would be a physical season ticket for those who can't go digital, we communicated that on here when fans were concerned, the minutes came out and confirmed exactly what we said, and apparently we're talking shite! Appreciate it's an emotive subject for many mind

So are the away fans being moved as well then as they said they had come to the conclusion that the away fans needed to be relocated weeks ago as well?

 

[Boris Bear]

Have you seen how the ticket office works now?

They have bare minimum staff. It’s a recipe for disaster and asking people to pull out in my case £500 when I don’t know what service I’ll be getting.

If this goes though people will walk with their feet. You lads do a great job representing us and I appreciate the work you put in but you really have to let the club know how much of a mess this new system is.

You have a lot to say when anyone dares criticise the club. Show some empathy and understanding for supporters who are not tech savvy is not to much to ask.

Honestly, I'm not defending the club (maybe you're confusing me with someone else); as usual they've handled it badly. However, the sky hasn't fallen in here though...you don't have to be hugely tech savvy as it's so easy. This is tech introduced 17 years ago, available on every currently supported iphone, Samsung phones going back to 2010, pretty much every new android phones, and most Android phones for the last 4 years.

The club have said that they will help people who can't manage but they will be exceptions. That sounds sensible as they don't want to provide a generally available exception that people could choose as an option.

 

[Thatheaderman]

Digital card for those that wish.

Same with my bank , which by the way my card lasts till 2026 and I recycle and dont get conned into drinking dozens of bottles of "spring" ( yeah right) water per week. Wonder how much the manufacturing of those millions of bottles affects the planet

I'm a good boy me

 

[chunksafc]

So are the away fans being moved as well then as they said they had come to the conclusion that the away fans needed to be relocated weeks ago as well?

Extract of the meeting minutes for you

SD concluded that there is no perfect option without risk or impact to supporters and that any move of the away supporters would result in at least 2,500 home supporters being displaced. Returning away supporters to their original location was lobbied against by supporter groups and, after further consideration following the development of Sheepfolds and new bridge, this wasn’t a viable option.
All other moves resulted in significant infrastructure spending and complexities around ingress and egress and that the only remaining option was to leave the away supporters where they were and maintain the enhanced search procedures. The club also proposes to install rail seating in the home and away ends at the end of next season.
Supporter groups identified safety as the most important factor in positioning the away fans at the recent meeting (AH). JH doesn’t think most fans realise what is happening in the North Stand. Missile throwing has been reduced because of the new strategy, but moving fans into the lower bowl will not prevent missile throwing (SD). DR noted the lack of further consultation with fans and EM that many fans were expecting a consultation process and would be disappointed that there has been none. As the fans were not moving, there was no option available for SD to take to the fans. JY noted that no fan consultation was needed as the away fans aren’t moving.
PA said that there was not a perfect solution that all fans agree on at the moment but believes that supporters will be pleased to know away fans are staying where they are. SD referred to the extensive research carried out since the supporter group meeting on the subject

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

So are the away fans being moved as well then as they said they had come to the conclusion that the away fans needed to be relocated weeks ago as well?

I take your point mate. Ultimately they couldn't agree a suitable place for away fans (I don't agree with the lack of further measures to protect fans in the north stand though), and in the end the safety team have supported this, so in terms of them being moved there's not much we can do to push back, other than to pass on the very valid criticisms around supporter safety. This is a different thing though, they've made a commitment to not exclude anyone and there's no good reason why they should row back on that. They might do, but if they do we will certainly do everything we can as a supporters trust to highlight it, criticise them for it, and tell them they need to rethink because we can't be excluding fans or making life difficult for them just because they haven't got an NFC enabled smart phone!

 

[ATS]

To be fair, the minutes from the meeting I was at make it fairly clear what the option is (or what it should be if they stick to their word)

"SD confirmed a physical season ticket will still be available if fans are unable to access a digital season ticket. The arrangements for this will be announced nearer the time."

Fully understand that the communication has been awful, and we'll be letting the club know this, but at the meeting we were told there would be a physical season ticket for those who can't go digital, we communicated that on here when fans were concerned, the minutes came out and confirmed exactly what we said, and apparently we're talking shite! Appreciate it's an emotive subject for many mind

The majority of fans won't read the minutes from the meeting though or read this board. How are they supposed to know SD has said this? All the majority of fans have to go off is the official announcement which is as clear as mud.

 

[Pete]

Digital card for those that wish.

Same with my bank , which by the way my card lasts till 2026 and I recycle and dont get conned into drinking dozens of bottles of "spring" ( yeah right) water per week. Wonder how much the manufacturing of those millions of bottles affects the planet

I'm a good boy me

Why can people not grasp that this not what is currently being said....

The majority of fans won't read the minutes from the meeting though or read this board. How are they supposed to know SD has said this? All the majority of fans have to go off is the official announcement which is as clear as mud.

Even if he did, where is the official confirmation?

 

[Thatheaderman]

Why can people not grasp that this not what is currently being said....

Even if he did, where is the official confirmation?

I'm making a statement that it should be for those who wish mate. Just like my bank do.

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

The majority of fans won't read the minutes from the meeting though or read this board. How are they supposed to know SD has said this? All the majority of fans have to go off is the official announcement which is as clear as mud.

Completely agree, I think the communication has been at least bordering on pathetic. I'm just responding to someone who suggested that the fans reps who said there would be an option for those without a smartphone were talking shite, when we blatantly weren't! But yes, the club needs to make sure the option of a physical card is fully communicated, especially since a lot of those who genuinely need it will be the ones who aren't on here or the club website!

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

Honestly, I'm not defending the club (maybe you're confusing me with someone else); as usual they've handled it badly. However, the sky hasn't fallen in here though...you don't have to be hugely tech savvy as it's so easy. This is tech introduced 17 years ago, available on every currently supported iphone, Samsung phones going back to 2010, pretty much every new android phones, and most Android phones for the last 4 years.

The club have said that they will help people who can't manage but they will be exceptions. That sounds sensible as they don't want to provide a generally available exception that people could choose as an option.

It’s perhaps easy for you and me but trust me it’s not for everyone.

As supporters we need to show empathy and understanding to many of our supporters who have difficulties imho.

Many of whom will just walk away.

 

[Boris Bear]

It’s perhaps easy for you and me but trust me it’s not for everyone.

As supporters we need to show empathy and understanding to many of our supporters who have difficulties imho.

Many of whom will just walk away.

Many won't walk away at all...the vast majority are able to transact in this way.

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

Many won't walk away at all...the vast majority are able to transact in this way.

Plenty will and are you happy with that?

Club are appalling but what’s worse is supporters like you thinking that’s acceptable.

I’m alright Jack fk everyone else is not a good trait.

 

[Boris Bear]

Plenty will and are you happy with that?

Club are appalling but what’s worse is supporters like you thinking that’s acceptable.

I’m alright Jack fk everyone else is not a good trait.

That's their choice. You went from saying it's not easy for everyone to saying many will walk away...they just won't.

Who's not showing empathy/saying I'm alright Jack? Again you're getting outraged and exaggerating

 

[RichD]

I'm late getting to the party so not sure about all the facts, so here it goes..was this brought up when the club had meetings with fan groups like RAWA etc ?

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

I'm late getting to the party so not sure about all the facts, so here it goes..was this brought up when the club had meetings with fan groups like RAWA etc ?

As far as I'm aware the decision to move to digital season cards had been taken by the club prior to the most recent meeting with rawa and others, and without consultation (which is fine, they aren't duty bound to consult, although it would have given the chance for us to feedback that many fans wouldn't be happy with the lack of a phased introduction).

The decision was communicated at the last meeting. At that point I raised the issue of how people with young children would get access if the child didn't have a smart phone and was told that the parent would be able to have the ticket on their phone.

Someone else raised the other obvious issue of how they ensure people who don't have a smart phone are catered for. The club mentioned there would be a physical season ticket available for those who required it.

The Club then released the information to the fans, but made no mention of the two obvious issues which people were always going to be concerned about. The lack of a FAQ type section is a misstep imo. There should have been full information released about the alternative for those who can't use a digital ticket, information about how to loan a ticket out for the match (which they know people do) and any number of other queries. Instead even the most recent release seems very short on detail

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

That's their choice. You went from saying it's not easy for everyone to saying many will walk away...they just won't.

Who's not showing empathy/saying I'm alright Jack? Again you're getting outraged and exaggerating

All I can speak on is what I know. 4 regular attenders will not be attending next season because of the crazy new system if it’s not revoked. That’s not me being pig ignorant like some on here that is fact.

I’m passionate about this because I can see the damage it will do. For people like you who don’t see an issue you really are not opening your eyes.

I love the club but can be critical when I see it’s in the wrong you on the other just won’t have a word said against it.

We need constructive criticism as this is alienated a lot of fans and many unlike me won’t come on here and kick off and complain they will just walk.

 

[Roker Scoreboard]

As far as I'm aware the decision to move to digital season cards had been taken by the club prior to the most recent meeting with rawa and others, and without consultation (which is fine, they aren't duty bound to consult, although it would have given the chance for us to feedback that many fans wouldn't be happy with the lack of a phased introduction).

The decision was communicated at the last meeting. At that point I raised the issue of how people with young children would get access if the child didn't have a smart phone and was told that the parent would be able to have the ticket on their phone.

Someone else raised the other obvious issue of how they ensure people who don't have a smart phone are catered for. The club mentioned there would be a physical season ticket available for those who required it.

The Club then released the information to the fans, but made no mention of the two obvious issues which people were always going to be concerned about. The lack of a FAQ type section is a misstep imo. There should have been full information released about the alternative for those who can't use a digital ticket, information about how to loan a ticket out for the match (which they know people do) and any number of other queries. Instead even the most recent release seems very short on detail

Not a dig at you personally marra as you're on the ball with replies and giving as much info as you can..... But what's the point of the fans forum group if they make big fan impacting decisions like this, without consultation or even running it past the group?

 

[Boris Bear]

All I can speak on is what I know. 4 regular attenders will not be attending next season because of the crazy new system if it’s not revoked. That’s not me being pig ignorant like some on here that is fact.

I’m passionate about this because I can see the damage it will do. For people like you who don’t see an issue you really are not opening your eyes.

I love the club but can be critical when I see it’s in the wrong you on the other just won’t have a word said against it.

We need constructive criticism as this is alienated a lot of fans and many unlike me won’t come on here and kick off and complain they will just walk.

That's fine but not sure why you are talking about 'supporters like me'. You don't speak for me, I'm not defending the way the club couched this at all but I also don't think the sky is falling in here. The vast vast majority of supporters will feel no hardship from this, some will prefer it and those who genuinely can't deal with this change (rather than those who just don't like it) will get some support from the club.

Why are the 4 regular attendees not attending? Are they intimidated by the tech?