ID checks for away tickets

[NorthCountryBoy]

Thing is mate if people wanted to go to Brighton they could have, that Facebook page was full of spares as it’s a less desirable game, allot of tickets will have exchanged hands this season for popular games but won’t have made it to social media as mates will have helped mates out away from the internet, and the lads who have been helped will have been there in the crap times, it’s always going to be the popular games where people who didn’t bother back then start kicking up a fuss , was same in the championship and even league one with small allocations, demand is through the roof this season but doesn’t mean that should change something that’s worked for years, what im saying doesn’t work for every ticket/circumstance that’s never gonna be the case but on the whole the current system awards loyalty, demand will drop the longer we are in the prem and the moaners will disappear again (until we play the mags)

Brighton will go to really low points next year for starters. The ‘every game’ lot and exiles will go but I don’t see much demand beyond that.

I know lots of people who do 60%-90% of aways and most of us did Saturday to tick off the ground. That last leg to Falmer is a right chew on though and general consensus on the way back seemed to be that it’ll be a low priority trip going forward unless there’s a lot riding on the outcome of the game.

 

[Kumbuka]

It's always been possible to build your points in the past, aye you maybe had to go to less attractive games before you could go to Boro, Leeds etc. But now it's impossible to build points, which if it stays that way they will have to try to change something.

The impossibility is likely only short term though, as we’re having our best and most exciting start to a season in 25 years.

Odds are we won’t remain in 6th, there won’t be new ground novelty, more games will be moved to crap kick off times and we’ll have longer cup runs, all of which will mean more points are available in the near future.

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

I think it's fair enough that the club are trying to make sure that the people who go to matches are the actual points holders. Those with the most points deserve the tickets 100% but now there's more demand than supply they want to make sure people aren't artificially staying in that group and I don't really see the issue with that. And I'm speaking without a dog in the fight because I stopped doing weekend away games when I had my son so wouldn't even look to start again for another 5 years or so

I think the communication has been poor, and they need to look at how they handle the checks etc, but I don't think there's any issue with trying to ensure the right people are going. This wouldn't be popular but, given there's always some who can't go for legitimate reasons, I think the club should facilitate a way whereby these ticket holders can pass a ticket to someone else in their network a certain number of times per season, that person (even if they don't have enough points) is allowed to go, but no one gets the black cat point because the actual ticket holder didn't attend.

 

[Towers76]

I think it's fair enough that the club are trying to make sure that the people who go to matches are the actual points holders. Those with the most points deserve the tickets 100% but now there's more demand than supply they want to make sure people aren't artificially staying in that group and I don't really see the issue with that. And I'm speaking without a dog in the fight because I stopped doing weekend away games when I had my son so wouldn't even look to start again for another 5 years or so

I think the communication has been poor, and they need to look at how they handle the checks etc, but I don't think there's any issue with trying to ensure the right people are going. This wouldn't be popular but, given there's always some who can't go for legitimate reasons, I think the club should facilitate a way whereby these ticket holders can pass a ticket to someone else in their network a certain number of times per season, that person (even if they don't have enough points) is allowed to go, but no one gets the black cat point because the actual ticket holder didn't attend.

Agree with this although tbh for the sake of 2/3 games a season I'd let the holder keep the points. I can think of a couple of times when i've been too ill to attend, and of course you always hope by match day you'll be feeling better, but if I was to lose the point i'd probably end up going or worse still not give my ticket to someone else so that at least it gets used. The 2/3 a season cap (like the mags) would stop those who constantly abuse the system.
But more than anything can't the club go after the facebook page and those that list/sell their tickets there?

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

Agree with this although tbh for the sake of 2/3 games a season I'd let the holder keep the points. I can think of a couple of times when i've been too ill to attend, and of course you always hope by match day you'll be feeling better, but if I was to lose the point i'd probably end up going or worse still not give my ticket to someone else so that at least it gets used. The 2/3 a season cap (like the mags) would stop those who constantly abuse the system.
But more than anything can't the club go after the facebook page and those that list/sell their tickets there?

Right enough aye, if they say you can pass a ticket on 3 times a season then they might as well let people keep the point. I just mean that would remove the complaint a lot have whereby you can get ill or whatever and suddenly be penalised, whilst also meaning no one could complain that it's contributing to points hoarding. But you're right, 3 times a season or whatever is nowt

Definitely agree they should be going after the Facebook pages and the likes as a priority, although that's probably hard to do. I don't think many people have an issue with our ticket system, or have an issue with people who genuinely expect to go to a game having a change of plans and passing it to a mate so the ticket doesn't go unused. The issue is just with people who consistently rack up 15 points a season or whatever but actually only attend 5 games. I don't know how widespread that is, although I do know a couple of people who do it so it definitely happens.

Now we're in the fortunate position of being good and there being high demand, the club will just be looking to make sure the system remains fair. I do think they'll be concerned that if demand doesn't drop over the coming years we'll have a generation of newer fans who are turning 16, 17 etc who will really struggle to ever become the next batch of regular attendees because it'll be almost impossible for them to start building points. This seems a sensible starting point of trying to make sure those getting tickets are actually attending. They just need to look at how they communicate it and what they do in terms of not making it a ball ache for the people "chosen". If they do it for a while and "catch" very few people out, then they'll probably drop it unless it's being pushed by the PL as it'll prove it's not a huge issue.

I'm not totally against this if it's managed properly. If the idea of putting a certain % of tickets into a ballot raises its head again I'd be much more against that

 

[brains]

I think it's fair enough that the club are trying to make sure that the people who go to matches are the actual points holders. Those with the most points deserve the tickets 100% but now there's more demand than supply they want to make sure people aren't artificially staying in that group and I don't really see the issue with that. And I'm speaking without a dog in the fight because I stopped doing weekend away games when I had my son so wouldn't even look to start again for another 5 years or so

I think the communication has been poor, and they need to look at how they handle the checks etc, but I don't think there's any issue with trying to ensure the right people are going. This wouldn't be popular but, given there's always some who can't go for legitimate reasons, I think the club should facilitate a way whereby these ticket holders can pass a ticket to someone else in their network a certain number of times per season, that person (even if they don't have enough points) is allowed to go, but no one gets the black cat point because the actual ticket holder didn't attend.

Very sensible and balanced post. Agree with most of it, but think the person they pass the ticket onto should accrue a point. There's some absolutely barmy posts and points of view in this thread though.

 

[BarnesPark]

It's always been possible to build your points in the past, aye you maybe had to go to less attractive games before you could go to Boro, Leeds etc. But now it's impossible to build points, which if it stays that way they will have to try to change something.

Fair point, but always remember that you don’t “have to go” to a single game to build points.

 

[johnlights]

Fair point, but always remember that you don’t “have to go” to a single game to build points.

Just drop the club a message, tell them want games you fancy and they'll take a ticket from a top earner.
Thet OK with you?

 

[Newcastle Fan]

Much has been made of how shite our away support was at your place last week (I agree, I was in the away end)

The usual reasons given are the significant proportion that go to corporate, and the "ballot"

But the reality is that far and away the biggest reason our away support has nose dived is that a loud minority of season ticket holders who never fancied attending away games when we were shite, kicked up a fuss about being "locked out' of away games after the takeover.

The club introduced strict ID checks, that meant any season ticket holder caught giving their ticket out would lose all their loyalty points (remember ours don't reset).

Now on paper it's hard to disagree with, seems fair enough.

In reality the same season ticket holders who offer nothing to the atmosphere at home games are now attending away games for the first time in their lives, as points are dropping much lower.

The "daft lads" that used to get tickets on the bus, are now the ones locked out.

 

[BarnesPark]

Just drop the club a message, tell them want games you fancy and they'll take a ticket from a top earner.
Thet OK with you?

Why would I do that? As I’ve said before many times, the priority should be given to the fans attending the most away days.

No need to be so reactionary. I was only pointing out that as long as the current system remains unenforced, there is no need to attend an away game to gain a point which is a fact.

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

Much has been made of how shite our away support was at your place last week (I agree, I was in the away end)

The usual reasons given are the significant proportion that go to corporate, and the "ballot"

But the reality is that far and away the biggest reason our away support has nose dived is that a loud minority of season ticket holders who never fancied attending away games when we were shite, kicked up a fuss about being "locked out' of away games after the takeover.

The club introduced strict ID checks, that meant any season ticket holder caught giving their ticket out would lose all their loyalty points (remember ours don't reset).

Now on paper it's hard to disagree with, seems fair enough.

In reality the same season ticket holders who offer nothing to the atmosphere at home games are now attending away games for the first time in their lives, as points are dropping much lower.

The "daft lads" that used to get tickets on the bus, are now the ones locked out.

Sorry, I'm probably being thick but I don't really follow. I can understand the corporate allocation making the atmosphere worse. But how does making sure the tickets go to the right people spoil the atmosphere? That suggests the issue of people flogging tickets on must have been pretty widespread if it's impacted the atmosphere to that degree.

From the outside looking in, I'd assume the biggest issue with NUFC atmosphere would be down to the points never expiring. When you were shit a lot of older lads probably gave up going, so you'd get a younger support who, in many cases, are more likely to chant etc. Now you're decent, a lot of the older people who have had families etc have decided to go again, but aren't really at the age where they'll be on the piss all day or wanting to jump about singing all match (some still will, but generally people do that less as they get older). Could easily see that affecting atmosphere, tied with an increase in corporate, but don't really understand how making sure the ticket holder is the one attending would have such a major impact

 

[Newcastle Fan]

Sorry, I'm probably being thick but I don't really follow. I can understand the corporate allocation making the atmosphere worse. But how does making sure the tickets go to the right people spoil the atmosphere? That suggests the issue of people flogging tickets on must have been pretty widespread if it's impacted the atmosphere to that degree.

From the outside looking in, I'd assume the biggest issue with NUFC atmosphere would be down to the points never expiring. When you were shit a lot of older lads probably gave up going, so you'd get a younger support who, in many cases, are more likely to chant etc. Now you're decent, a lot of the older people who have had families etc have decided to go again, but aren't really at the age where they'll be on the piss all day or wanting to jump about singing all match (some still will, but generally people do that less as they get older). Could easily see that affecting atmosphere, tied with an increase in corporate, but don't really understand how making sure the ticket holder is the one attending would have such a major impact

It's a fair question. Absolutely there was widespread flogging of tickets to mates. Off the top of my head I can think of four lads my age who used to go to pretty much every away under the sun but didn't have a season ticket, who managed to get tickets off people they knew each week. They can't get an away ticket for love nor money now.

Now on paper most people would agree that the season ticket holders deserve first dibs, and even typing it out it's hard to justify the old approach, but the checks have had a genuinely massive impact on atmosphere. The same folk that sit arms folded all game at St James are now in the away ends.

Id completely agree on the points never expiring also being a massive contributing factor as well like, for reason you outline in the second paragraph.

 

[scott934]

The impossibility is likely only short term though, as we’re having our best and most exciting start to a season in 25 years.

Odds are we won’t remain in 6th, there won’t be new ground novelty, more games will be moved to crap kick off times and we’ll have longer cup runs, all of which will mean more points are available in the near future.

I don't agree tbh, this is crowds nowadays. We sold 40k season tickets and then started a waiting list, home games are selling out within an hour of going on sale. Demand is through the roof for PL football.

Games aren't even making 15+ points nevermind people just starting out, people will know this and continue to buy their tickets next season. Which I'm glad about, much better to be well supported than not, but the demand is going nowhere imo.

Fair point, but always remember that you don’t “have to go” to a single game to build points.

Aye true, I should say that you only have access to the non-popular tickets when you first start out.

 

[DC88]

Much has been made of how shite our away support was at your place last week (I agree, I was in the away end)

The usual reasons given are the significant proportion that go to corporate, and the "ballot"

But the reality is that far and away the biggest reason our away support has nose dived is that a loud minority of season ticket holders who never fancied attending away games when we were shite, kicked up a fuss about being "locked out' of away games after the takeover.

The club introduced strict ID checks, that meant any season ticket holder caught giving their ticket out would lose all their loyalty points (remember ours don't reset).

Now on paper it's hard to disagree with, seems fair enough.

In reality the same season ticket holders who offer nothing to the atmosphere at home games are now attending away games for the first time in their lives, as points are dropping much lower.

The "daft lads" that used to get tickets on the bus, are now the ones locked out.

You’ll know better than me but are they actually that strict now? I know they was a year or 2 ago whenever they started the checks but I mentioned earlier in this thread that I know a few lads early to mid 30’s who get to most aways these days. Were at the derby last week and I know for a fact they haven’t got 100+ points that were needed to get a ticket.

Lad I know from Houghton advertised he was going on Facebook all week and he doesn’t even get to any home games.

 

[Kumbuka]

I don't agree tbh, this is crowds nowadays. We sold 40k season tickets and then started a waiting list, home games are selling out within an hour of going on sale. Demand is through the roof for PL football.

Games aren't even making 15+ points nevermind people just starting out, people will know this and continue to buy their tickets next season. Which I'm glad about, much better to be well supported than not, but the demand is going nowhere imo.

Aye true, I should say that you only have access to the non-popular tickets when you first start out.

Tbh I half agree, as crowds for us and at loads of other clubs are the highest they’ve been in years, but people are still fickle.

2 seasons ago around 70% of games went to season ticket holders with no points, in what was a poor season (but one we were still around the playoff spots at the turn of the year). Whilst I expect us to have reasonable success over the next few years, there’s a reasonable chance this may be “boring”, and could put people off attending long term. Without being too negative, it’s realistic that we may not surpass any of the Big 6, Mags, Villa, Everton etc. consistently, still making us a mid to lower prem team at best.

 

[Forrest Gump]

What they gonna do against the mags

 

[Towers76]

It's a fair question. Absolutely there was widespread flogging of tickets to mates. Off the top of my head I can think of four lads my age who used to go to pretty much every away under the sun but didn't have a season ticket, who managed to get tickets off people they knew each week. They can't get an away ticket for love nor money now.

Now on paper most people would agree that the season ticket holders deserve first dibs, and even typing it out it's hard to justify the old approach, but the checks have had a genuinely massive impact on atmosphere. The same folk that sit arms folded all game at St James are now in the away ends.

Id completely agree on the points never expiring also being a massive contributing factor as well like, for reason you outline in the second paragraph.

I stood watching the Newcastle buses pull in to the SOL car park and all the fans getting off and queuing up to be marched to the turnstiles. What struck me was the average age of the fans. Very few seemed to be under 30. Now that may be because those lads decided to make their own way to the match rather than getting the bus (and probably half seemed empty) but it just struck me at the time that the average age was a lot higher than i was expecting

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

I don't agree tbh, this is crowds nowadays. We sold 40k season tickets and then started a waiting list, home games are selling out within an hour of going on sale. Demand is through the roof for PL football.

Games aren't even making 15+ points nevermind people just starting out, people will know this and continue to buy their tickets next season. Which I'm glad about, much better to be well supported than not, but the demand is going nowhere imo.

Aye true, I should say that you only have access to the non-popular tickets when you first start out.

That's the thing for me. Tickets are in short supply now, so those who can get them currently will be very keen to stay in that bracket. Which is fine as long as they're attending, but more than ever it'll be tempting to buy tickets and pass them on to mates (especially as more mates than ever will probably be asking for them!). So it absolutely makes sense for the club to do something to make sure the right people are attending. Their only issue, imo, is making sure they communicate it well and are clear about how they're going to do it so that fans aren't caught out, and they need to make sure people aren't punished for the one or two times something comes up that prevents them attending. The club's only issue should be with people who regularly dish their number out so that they can go to the highest interest games without putting the miles in, and stopping that should be something the vast majority can get behind

 

[Mackem Al]

It's always been possible to build your points in the past, aye you maybe had to go to less attractive games before you could go to Boro, Leeds etc. But now it's impossible to build points, which if it stays that way they will have to try to change something.

Absolute rubbish. The people with high points now got them by going to away games when others couldnt be arsed or "had other things to do". If that means they (those with few or zero points) are now at the back of the queue when it comes to going to high profile Premier League games while we are sitting in the top half of the table, then thats tough shit and i dont know what they expect.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Agree with this although tbh for the sake of 2/3 games a season I'd let the holder keep the points. I can think of a couple of times when i've been too ill to attend, and of course you always hope by match day you'll be feeling better, but if I was to lose the point i'd probably end up going or worse still not give my ticket to someone else so that at least it gets used. The 2/3 a season cap (like the mags) would stop those who constantly abuse the system.
But more than anything can't the club go after the facebook page and those that list/sell their tickets there?

Although it may have been started with the best intentions, that Facebook page is becoming a nightmare and frankly it’s just fuelling the fire around tickets.

Even today you are seeing posts about Leeds tickets - despite the fact they cannot be forwarded.