SAFC - Fan Ban & Ticket Cancellations

[Fact Hunt]

At Arsenal, a friend of one was sat behind Gus Poyet’s god-daughter.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

But what happened to the ‘name on the ticket has to be the same as the person using it’ principle that keeps being quoted as a Premier League ticketing golden rule?

Easy enough to open an account in anyone's name.

The above quote is verbatim from the lad who has been banned by the club posting himself on this thread.

He states that:

"my suspicion would be that approximately 50% of away tickets are not used by the actual person the ticket is in the name of. It may be 40% or 60% however I suspect it’ll be in that ballpark figure."


Personally I was shocked at the level of that guess, but if he is acknowledging the issue himself we can at least agree it's happening?

What the club should do about it is something else entirely, but let me say from the outset that my starting point is that I am still absolutely disgusted at the sanctions imposed on him. Bloke deserves a medal the size of the town hall clock face for all he's done over the years.

Most of those would be transfers within branches between people attending. When branches put in for their 40 ring-fenced tickets, the club simply assigns one of those tickets to an account without regard to friends/family groups within the branch. Typically, the branch organiser will reassign (informally) to keep those groups together. The people attending have the requisite points, but end up with a ticket with a different name on it. Tecnhnically, each ticket dished out this way represents two breaches of the rules, and would have to be included in any misuse percentage, even though the breach is completely administrative.

 

[MadMax2]

Easy enough to open an account in anyone's name.

Very true. But away tickets shouldn’t be passed on according to the Club. So if Mr SAFC Goalkeeping Coach wants a ticket for Liverpool away to give to his non-SAFC supporting mate, how does that happen within the rules. Rhetorical question as we all know it’s one rule for supporters and another for those who ‘work’ in the game.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Very true. But away tickets shouldn’t be passed on according to the Club. So if Mr SAFC Goalkeeping Coach wants a ticket for Liverpool away to give to his non-SAFC supporting mate, how does that happen within the rules. Rhetorical question as we all know it’s one rule for supporters and another for those who ‘work’ in the game.

Exactly the same as you buying a ticket for a mate and assigning it to them as part of your network. He gives the club the names, the club opens the account for the donee, and the ticket is issued in their name. Staff members are entitled to tickets, and often more than one. That doesn't mean they get a ticket with their name on it.

 

[Disco_Pants93]

I know it's been done to death but that just doesn't sit right with me, when there's 10,000s of life long Sunderland fans who would have killed to be there

Aye, I think players will always get tickets to be fair. Think it’s been a thing for as long as I can remember

 

[MadMax2]

Exactly the same as you buying a ticket for a mate and assigning it to them as part of your network. He gives the club the names, the club opens the account for the donee, and the ticket is issued in their name. Staff members are entitled to tickets, and often more than one. That doesn't mean they get a ticket with their name on it.

And that all makes senses. However I can’t buy an away ticket for a mate and assign it to them unless they have the required BCPs. My issue I guess is how ‘lax’ the system appears to be with regard to who staff members can acquire tickets for….and perhaps how many? If the Club wasn’t being so pedantic with regard to away ticket use by fans (and their appalling decision to ban SAFC2012) I would be perfectly sanguine about staff getting tickets and using them as they see fit. However, I am in no doubt that there are those within the Club that are taking a few liberties with tickets..hence why we are ending up with so many random people in away ends this season?

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

And that all makes senses. However I can’t buy an away ticket for a mate and assign it to them unless they have the required BCPs. My issue I guess is how ‘lax’ the system appears to be with regard to who staff members can acquire tickets for….and perhaps how many? If the Club wasn’t being so pedantic with regard to away ticket use by fans (and their appalling decision to ban SAFC2012) I would be perfectly sanguine about staff getting tickets and using them as they see fit. However, I am in no doubt that there are those within the Club that are taking a few liberties with tickets..hence why we are ending up with so many random people in away ends this season?

To be honest, I think that player/staff seating should be sorted out between the clubs in dedicated areas at the home ground. If I were a player, the last thing I'd want is my family exposed to the mayhem of the average away end. Especially if the player has a bad game, away ends are not exactly shy in dishing out the brickbats.

 

[Mowgli]

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Looks like club still turning the screw on accounts

 

[tunstallhill]

Aye, I think players will always get tickets to be fair. Think it’s been a thing for as long as I can remember

It has been and it will continue to be. Doesn't make it right . f***ing stinks in my opinion

 

[Disco_Pants93]

It has been and it will continue to be. Doesn't make it right . f***ing stinks in my opinion

I’ve never really minded players getting tickets to be honest. I think it happens everywhere and was / is just seen as a perk

 

[DonaldDownTheWing]

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Looks like club still turning the screw on accounts

Annoying. I had their notifications on which always helped for knowing when away tickets were going on sale.

 

[tunstallhill]

I’ve never really minded players getting tickets to be honest. I think it happens everywhere and was / is just seen as a perk

Don't mind players getting perks but not at that expense of proper fans - especially away ends that are so popular we could sell them out twice

If they want a free perk then give them a some merchandise from the club shop and a seat in coorperate at a home game. There are millions of perks they will get and could get, away tickets should be off limits

 

[Zak's Dad]

I would suggest that it’s complete nonsense.

Like I said mate, I was shocked, I merely quoted the bloke who'd been banned because this is what HE told the club in a meeting.

Easy enough to open an account in anyone's name.


Most of those would be transfers within branches between people attending. When branches put in for their 40 ring-fenced tickets, the club simply assigns one of those tickets to an account without regard to friends/family groups within the branch. Typically, the branch organiser will reassign (informally) to keep those groups together. The people attending have the requisite points, but end up with a ticket with a different name on it. Tecnhnically, each ticket dished out this way represents two breaches of the rules, and would have to be included in any misuse percentage, even though the breach is completely administrative.

I'm sure there's an absolutely understandable explanation for what's happening, I was just highlighting it because this appears to be what the club are hanging the breach on.

It feels like the sea change is a result of not only new rules but also a misunderstanding by those applying them of what actually happens when you impose change on complex situations without thinking through the outcomes.

 

[Essayeffsee]

Annoying. I had their notifications on which always helped for knowing when away tickets were going on sale.

Useful for away tickets because ticket office so incompetent.

Another useful resource for fans dumped.

 

[Provider]

Exactly the same as you buying a ticket for a mate and assigning it to them as part of your network. He gives the club the names, the club opens the account for the donee, and the ticket is issued in their name. Staff members are entitled to tickets, and often more than one. That doesn't mean they get a ticket with their name on it.

What on earth are you talking about?

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

What on earth are you talking about?

How friends and family of staff can get tickets in their own name.

 

[Barney Mackem 13]

No doubt about it. I know a few who’ve been to 90%+ of games this season, who won’t do anywhere near that next season, me included.

And me, and I know others wont be doing anywhere near as many next season. Once you have been to Anfield, Old Trafford etc once, the novelty soon wears off

 

[Rip Van Fish]

Poor lads need to make ends meet.

Bobby Charlton always did

 

[Barney Mackem 13]

I don't think anyone is in denial that some tickets are not being used by correct points holder but your comment said there was LOADS yesterday.
So what is classed as loads? I would say 25% would be the minimum to class it as loads and I think the point the other lad is trying to get at is how do you know that many people are using others numbers?
I was there and saw many familiar faces again. Whether these people have correct points or not I can't confirm, all I do know is I see many of the same faces at all away games.

Is exactly right, I have been going away regularly since the 90s, was at Newcastle through having enough points on MY OWN ticket!
And I saw the usual faces, most faces I saw from the Championship and League One days, and saw the same faces yesterday.

Now I am not saying the passing on of tickets does not go on as we all know it does; however, "LOADS" is absolute rubbish - Define loads -
Thousands?? Hundreds? Or shall we agree it is less than hundreds?

I'll say something, and as most away day regulars will agree with, demand will drop off next season, so for the closed shop gang, your time to shine will come. I wonder what the next whinge will be.... Ha

 

[mackem1989]

Is exactly right, I have been going away regularly since the 90s, was at Newcastle through having enough points on MY OWN ticket!
And I saw the usual faces, most faces I saw from the Championship and League One days, and saw the same faces yesterday.

Now I am not saying the passing on of tickets does not go on as we all know it does; however, "LOADS" is absolute rubbish - Define loads -
Thousands?? Hundreds? Or shall we agree it is less than hundreds?

I'll say something, and as most away day regulars will agree with, demand will drop off next season, so for the closed shop gang, your time to shine will come. I wonder what the next whinge will be.... Ha

It’s usually always the same faces you see at away games. I have to agree with that yes there will always be the odd few but I always recognise loads