[Albion] Season Ticket Farce @PaulBarber

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The danger now is that you can watch every game on certain boxes etc on your TV on your Sofa and COVID Safe with no hassles of waiting to show a pass to get in, a crowded train and also currently a terrible atmosphere in the ground, with a couple of cans from Tesco's which will be half the price of The Amex.
You can cherry pick your Saturday 3.00pm home games if you fancy it and pay £20.00 to join Albion plus and if you fancy a few away games, as most now go down to that level and the majority of away games are at decent times so you can have a jolly on the train etc with your mates.

That's what quite a few on here will be thinking now and I'm one of them.

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Completely agree.

Away games are bloody excellent fun and at the minute, I enjoy them more than the Amex due to the shite that's ongoing with this farce of a scheme and everyone being scared of COVID.

That being said, I'm actually going on Boxing Day now as due to unforeseen circumstances our plans have changed as a family.
 


I think bringing the scheme during Covid Times is the exact wrong time to bring it in. Look at our demographics, we have a lot of elderly fans, mainly in the East Stand I would guess. With all the fear porn coming from the government and media, of course a lot of them weren’t going to turn up, but that’s not to say that many of them wouldn’t lent their tickets to someone else if they didn’t have to pay extra to do so. The low crowd was mainly a result of being worried about this new variant (despite the scientist who found it said it’s a much less severe form of Covid, more akin to a cold) the kick off date/time and the scheme just made it even worse.

The mate I go with has only made it to a couple of games this season, mainly due to the change in kick off times, normally he would’ve lent it to someone else, so I had someone to go with. For the most part I’ve gone to games on my own this season and frankly it’s taken it’s toll. He won’t be renewing, that’s because he’s not feeling he’s getting his money’s worth, he doesn’t want to have to use a smartphone to get in (from next season) and really didn’t like the reply he got from the club when he emailed them about it. I can’t be bothered to go on my own anymore, this in itself wouldn’t be enough to stop me going, but the lack of banter with away fans (because they are so far from the North Stand) is leaving me to think that I won’t be renewing next season. I’ve had a season ticket since Withdean, I used to go with a group of fans who were all old school Goldstone Brighton, none of them go now, it’s just depressing.

To expect a season ticket holder to pay EXTRA for a game they won’t attend is just bonkers and not very fan (or should I say ‘customer’) friendly. Personally, although Barber has got a lot right over the years, I think he’s had a bit too much of something and it’s effecting his professional judgment.

Agree completely. Interesting about the away fans and North Stand, I'd love see a section put up next to the away fans, that's like the North.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,985
Burgess Hill
I have no inside knowledge, but the club are acutely aware of the concerns many have had, and still have, with regard to attending games this season, so I'd be very surprised if a fan-friendly approach is not taken on this.

Yet any STH who couldn’t make a game and used their ‘excellent’ sharing scheme to pass the ticket on (£45, kerching) that was subsequently postponed now has to buy…at full price (£52, kerching)…..a ticket for the rearranged game, even if the recipient of the shared ticket can’t make the rearranged game at all. Fan-friendly my ARSE :lolol:
 


pure_white

Well-known member
Dec 8, 2021
1,216
Completely agree.

Away games are bloody excellent fun and at the minute, I enjoy them more than the Amex due to the shite that's ongoing with this farce of a scheme and everyone being scared of COVID.

That being said, I'm actually going on Boxing Day now as due to unforeseen circumstances our plans have changed as a family.
Are you saying the club are definately doing away with the credit card season tickets next season as i know a few fans that are elderly and don't own or intend to own a mobile phone. I honestly dont think they would renew they already say its hassle compared to paying at the turnstiles back at the Golstone days!
 




drew

Drew
Oct 3, 2006
23,129
Burgess Hill
Not that I’ve seen. I’d be staggered if the club invoked this during the pandemic. There have been some crass, stupid policies and decisions made but this would be a step way too far.

The point I was making is that there seems to be quite a few that have jumped to that conclusion just because there is that option in the T & Cs.
 


drew

Drew
Oct 3, 2006
23,129
Burgess Hill
I think bringing the scheme during Covid Times is the exact wrong time to bring it in. Look at our demographics, we have a lot of elderly fans, mainly in the East Stand I would guess. With all the fear porn coming from the government and media, of course a lot of them weren’t going to turn up, but that’s not to say that many of them wouldn’t lent their tickets to someone else if they didn’t have to pay extra to do so. The low crowd was mainly a result of being worried about this new variant (despite the scientist who found it said it’s a much less severe form of Covid, more akin to a cold) the kick off date/time and the scheme just made it even worse.

The mate I go with has only made it to a couple of games this season, mainly due to the change in kick off times, normally he would’ve lent it to someone else, so I had someone to go with. For the most part I’ve gone to games on my own this season and frankly it’s taken it’s toll. He won’t be renewing, that’s because he’s not feeling he’s getting his money’s worth, he doesn’t want to have to use a smartphone to get in (from next season) and really didn’t like the reply he got from the club when he emailed them about it. I can’t be bothered to go on my own anymore, this in itself wouldn’t be enough to stop me going, but the lack of banter with away fans (because they are so far from the North Stand) is leaving me to think that I won’t be renewing next season. I’ve had a season ticket since Withdean, I used to go with a group of fans who were all old school Goldstone Brighton, none of them go now, it’s just depressing.

To expect a season ticket holder to pay EXTRA for a game they won’t attend is just bonkers and not very fan (or should I say ‘customer’) friendly. Personally, although Barber has got a lot right over the years, I think he’s had a bit too much of something and it’s effecting his professional judgment.

I'm staggered that it has taken 10 years for your mate to realize the away fans are at the other end!!
 


pure_white

Well-known member
Dec 8, 2021
1,216
Are there any reliable data onhow many STH have bought into the ticket exchange? Have used it? Have plastic credit card season tickets?

Some fans clearly benefit from the exchange but it is optional. Some fans clearly struggle with mobile tickets. If the club remove the ability as present for fans without a smart phone etc then surely they move away from the equality diversity and inclusion they say they have want impliment. That cannot be anything but an OG.

I can't believe the club will remove the ability for fans to have credit card season tickets. They may justify a small additional admin fee, which whilst not great you can argue could be justified.

As for the ticket selling on via the exchange, I dont think many considered (including the club) implications of that match not going ahead. That may now put STH off doing what presumably the club would want i.e. a seat that can't be used being usedvia this re-cycle exchange.

Bottom line buying tickets needs to be a simpler method because its off-putting. What might be straight forward enough to you and I isnt to everybody. Fans have options. There are many references on this forum to fans basically saying its too much hassle. Thats an obsticle that needs to be overcome. I hope the club will work with fans. Thats the right way forward for all. Dont exclude minorities because they could be your majorities in the future. This post isnt a go/attack at the club but more a...not everything has worked out well..lets get together and find a mutual way forward to make this work. Every fan matters. Every fan. Ignore that are your peril.
 
Last edited:




Neville's Breakfast

Well-known member
May 1, 2016
13,423
Oxton, Birkenhead
Are there any reliable data onhow many STH have bought into the ticket exchange? Have used it? Have plastic credit card season tickets?

Some fans clearly benefit from the exchange but it is optional. Some fans clearly struggle with mobile tickets. If the club remove the ability as present for fans without a smart phone etc then surely they move away from the equality diversity and inclusion they say they have want impliment. That cannot be anything but an OG.

I can't believe the club will remove the ability for fans to have credit card season tickets. They may justify a small additional admin fee, which whilst not great you can argue could be justified.

As for the ticket selling on via the exchange, I dont think many considered (including the club) implications of that match not going ahead. That may now put STH off doing what presumably the club would want i.e. a seat that can't be used being usedvia this re-cycle exchange.

Bottom line buying tickets needs to be a simpler method because its off-putting. What might be straight forward enough to you and I isnt to everybody. Fans have options. There are many references on this forum to fans basically saying its too much hassle. Thats an obsticle that needs to be overcome. I hope the club will work with fans. Thats the right way forward for all. Dont exclude minorities because they could be your majorities in the future. This post isnt a go/attack at the club but more a...not everything has worked out well..lets get together and find a mutual way forward to make this work. Every fan matters. Every fan. Ignore that are your peril.

I think you are confusing the ticket exchange and ticket sharing. They are different things.
 


amexer

Well-known member
Aug 8, 2011
6,313
It's not particularly juicy so don't get too excited about it.

I thought I'd get it done earlier but I'm now just feeling a bit too weary to type lots.

Gives a chance for us to predict what they will say
My choice is the sharing scheme has been a resounding success with x thousand taking it up and x thousand new members. Under government guidelines we cannot go back to allowing people to give tickets away and of course it would be unfair to those who are very happy with scheme.
I hope Boza in your conversation none of us have any objection to scheme where people know will not attend all games and know who they will share with. It is just scheme is rubbish for those who miss 1/3 games sometimes at last minute
 


Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
34,704
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
I think bringing the scheme during Covid Times is the exact wrong time to bring it in. Look at our demographics, we have a lot of elderly fans, mainly in the East Stand I would guess. With all the fear porn coming from the government and media, of course a lot of them weren’t going to turn up, but that’s not to say that many of them wouldn’t lent their tickets to someone else if they didn’t have to pay extra to do so. The low crowd was mainly a result of being worried about this new variant (despite the scientist who found it said it’s a much less severe form of Covid, more akin to a cold) the kick off date/time and the scheme just made it even worse.

The mate I go with has only made it to a couple of games this season, mainly due to the change in kick off times, normally he would’ve lent it to someone else, so I had someone to go with. For the most part I’ve gone to games on my own this season and frankly it’s taken it’s toll. He won’t be renewing, that’s because he’s not feeling he’s getting his money’s worth, he doesn’t want to have to use a smartphone to get in (from next season) and really didn’t like the reply he got from the club when he emailed them about it. I can’t be bothered to go on my own anymore, this in itself wouldn’t be enough to stop me going, but the lack of banter with away fans (because they are so far from the North Stand) is leaving me to think that I won’t be renewing next season. I’ve had a season ticket since Withdean, I used to go with a group of fans who were all old school Goldstone Brighton, none of them go now, it’s just depressing.

To expect a season ticket holder to pay EXTRA for a game they won’t attend is just bonkers and not very fan (or should I say ‘customer’) friendly. Personally, although Barber has got a lot right over the years, I think he’s had a bit too much of something and it’s effecting his professional judgment.

Hmm.

“Fear porn”

“Only a cold”

And you specifically posted you wouldn’t go because of vaccine passports.

Very hard, then, to take the rest seriously


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amexer

Well-known member
Aug 8, 2011
6,313
Speaking to a Crystal Palace ST holder today he said no problem if we cant go we just screenshot QR code and send it to person giving ticket to
 


Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
31,958
Brighton
My concern is the club may write off lower attendances as being down to covid when a reasonable amount is due to the sharing scheme. In my own situation there certainly would’ve been higher attendance without this scheme.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,985
Burgess Hill
Speaking to a Crystal Palace ST holder today he said no problem if we cant go we just screenshot QR code and send it to person giving ticket to

We can do that as well (according to some on here) but are Palace able to do that within their T&C ? If not, what are their sharing arrangements?
 




drew

Drew
Oct 3, 2006
23,129
Burgess Hill
My concern is the club may write off lower attendances as being down to covid when a reasonable amount is due to the sharing scheme. In my own situation there certainly would’ve been higher attendance without this scheme.

Surely that is pure speculation. What do you think 'a reasonable amount' actually is? If we say the Wolves crowd was down by about 10k what proportion of that is due to the sharing scheme and not Covid?

We'll never actually know but my guess, based on people I know didn't go, is that the vast vast majority was down to Covid.
 


Mellotron

I've asked for soup
Jul 2, 2008
31,958
Brighton
Surely that is pure speculation. What do you think 'a reasonable amount' actually is? If we say the Wolves crowd was down by about 10k what proportion of that is due to the sharing scheme and not Covid?

We'll never actually know but my guess, based on people I know didn't go, is that the vast vast majority was down to Covid.

Of course it’s speculation, just like your final sentence. In my situation I know many people who have been totally put off by the scheme and there are many less bums in seats due to it.
 


Neville's Breakfast

Well-known member
May 1, 2016
13,423
Oxton, Birkenhead
Surely that is pure speculation. What do you think 'a reasonable amount' actually is? If we say the Wolves crowd was down by about 10k what proportion of that is due to the sharing scheme and not Covid?

We'll never actually know but my guess, based on people I know didn't go, is that the vast vast majority was down to Covid.

The vast majority of people on this and other similar threads extrapolate their own circumstances on to the entire fanbase. As you say, the fact is that people don’t actually know but that doesn’t stop them from continuing to assert speculation as fact.
 


Super Steve Earle

Well-known member
Feb 23, 2009
8,441
North of Brighton
Surely that is pure speculation. What do you think 'a reasonable amount' actually is? If we say the Wolves crowd was down by about 10k what proportion of that is due to the sharing scheme and not Covid?

We'll never actually know but my guess, based on people I know didn't go, is that the vast vast majority was down to Covid.

Whatever the answer, it's likely to be a combination of both. The downturn is likely Covid related, the missing upturn is likely a mix of Covid and a tricksy sharing scheme.
 




Rugrat

Well-known member
Mar 13, 2011
10,217
Seaford
Surely that is pure speculation. What do you think 'a reasonable amount' actually is? If we say the Wolves crowd was down by about 10k what proportion of that is due to the sharing scheme and not Covid?

We'll never actually know but my guess, based on people I know didn't go, is that the vast vast majority was down to Covid.

Of course the vast majority will be down to Covid but that shouldn't hide the fact that there are a fair number of disenchanted supporters. Do the club care? I'd suggest not from the reply from PB.

Much is said about his stance that he's always right and he will back up his position with some (spurious) numbers. I'd have a lot more time for the club if they took some of the very good issues that get raised here and elsewhere and did some proper research and fact finding. Asking us supporters directly via surveys and other methods is so easy and widely used by businesses that care. It certainly beats the parent/child tone that BHAFC more generally use to back up an argument
 


Nitram

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2013
2,178
The vast majority of people on this and other similar threads extrapolate their own circumstances on to the entire fanbase. As you say, the fact is that people don’t actually know but that doesn’t stop them from continuing to assert speculation as fact.

Same speculation as at the beginning of the season that all the absences were due to Summer holidays?
 


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