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[Albion] Change to away ticket sales process [Club update - post #140]



jackanada

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2011
3,151
Brighton
Suggestion:
Open up away tickets very early. No preference selection.
Based on this the club decide which allocation to take.
All those who have already bought get 24 hours to choose their seats, if they don't seats are allocated to them on mythical 'best' basis.
Tickets go back on sale.
Ticket staff deal with some moving around requested by those who already bought who didn't pick their seat during the initial window.
 




osgood

Well-known member
Apr 17, 2011
1,508
brighton
Working through the fixtures on a fairly pessimistic basis the real exposure is approximately £350k. If Tony Bloom decides that is money he doesn't want to lose then fair play.

That said rather than taking the route they have which is clearly annoying to the most loyal fans why not just ask for a lower allocation for the bovious fixtures like Newcastle away where we won't take the full allocation.

I am sure you could get this exposure down to less than £100k.

:bowdown:
 


osgood

Well-known member
Apr 17, 2011
1,508
brighton
Ultimately, it’s about accurately predicting Albion fans’ ticket demand and so the club could have a “register your interest” webpage on which fans could indicate their intent to attend a particular away game (to be registered by, say, no later than two weeks before the ticket on-sale date).

Based on such feedback, the club should be able to make a reasonably informed judgement about our potential numbers when applying for non-refundable ticket allocations from the home club. Thereafter, the former Albion ticket sales system (which has worked pretty well in the past) could apply from the designated on-sale date.

Importantly, those with health problems or special needs would be able to eliminate the anxiety of not knowing in advance where they may end up being seated. The club’s assessment of a “best seat” is unlikely to match the fans’ preference.

Surely the club could implement this without too much hassle, which would accommodate most fans’ desire to know roughly in which area/block they can sit when they purchase a ticket?

In any event, I would have thought the “shortfall” issue will apply to only a handful of matches bearing in mind the likely demand for away tickets based on last season’s huge Albion take up at nearly every away game. On the other hand, with many fans having “ticked off” a number of new away grounds last season there may perhaps be fewer wishing to attend some of this season’s away games (although, conversely, they may be offset by others who just missed out on away tickets last season and who should, as a result, have a better opportunity to buy one this season).

It shouldn’t be that difficult to address this. The club just needs to gauge the approximate ticket demand and proceed on that basis. Even if there turns out to be a small cost [to the club] c/o unsold tickets purchased it will be a drop in the ocean compared to the goodwill it will generate with fans.

I hope the club notes this thread, and fans’ suggestions, and looks into possible ways to overcome the potential away game seating lottery that will result from the latest plans announced by the club.

right!
 


jamie the seagull

Well-known member
Jul 27, 2011
2,803
Booking early for Liverpool has not helped me.
Stuck right in the corner of block 121, where the seats are NOT angled towards the pitch so my view is looking straight ahead into the Main Stand lower section.
If this idea was such a great idea why was this not communicated or discussed with us before it was implemented.
In addition to this match I am stuck right at the back at Watford with a young child.
This system suits the Club but not the fans.
 




Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patreon
Jul 11, 2003
59,206
The Fatherland
I’m looking forward to Barber’s lengthy and multiple bullet-pointed explanation as to why they’re doing this, what they can’t do anything else, and why you’ll just have to accept it. Can we call it Barbs-plaining?
 


studio150

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2011
29,555
On the Border
Register interest for away games 1 week before release date. Pay £10 refundable deposit to filter out time wasters.

Request the nearest allocation based on the above figure 1000, 1500, 3000.

Use ticketing system from last year to get preference.

Club don’t loose cash. Fans are happy. Easy.

Far too sensible for the club to consider
 


Goldstone1976

We Got Calde in!!
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patreon
Apr 30, 2013
13,766
Herts
Register interest for away games 1 week before release date. Pay £10 refundable deposit to filter out time wasters.

Request the nearest allocation based on the above figure 1000, 1500, 3000.

Use ticketing system from last year to get preference.

Club don’t loose cash. Fans are happy. Easy.

Would only work if they somehow stopped fans who hadn’t pre-registered buying the tickets when they went on sale, so it wouldn’t be exactly the same system as last year, except in those situations where demand outstripped maximum supply - when last year’s system would work fine.

Also, for those fans who had pre-registered: say 1600 applied. The club would buy 1500, meaning processing refunds of the deposit for the unlucky 100.

Finally, a few who had pre-registered wouldn’t then purchase (stuff happens) - do they get their deposit back?

I think there’s the bones of a suggestion here that could possibly work, providing the club were prepared to put some effort or software into it.

Given the solution they’ve introduced, there’s not that much evidence that they are...
 
Last edited:




AWAYDAY

Active member
Jul 21, 2009
237
Would only work if they somehow stopped fans who hadn’t pre-registered buying the tickets when they went on sale, so it wouldn’t be exactly the same system as last year, except in those situations where demand outstripped maximum supply - when last year’s system would work fine.

Also, for those fans who had pre-registered: say 1600 applied. The club would buy 1500, meaning processing refunds of the deposit for the unlucky 100.

Finally, a few who had pre-registered wouldn’t then purchase (stuff happens) - do they get their deposit back?

I think there’s the bones of a suggestion here that could possibly work, providing the club were prepared to put some effort or software into it.

Given the solution they’ve introduced, there’s not that much evidence that they are...

I agree that there is some admin time and cost here around refunds. I believe most who committed a deposit would see it through. The other way is to take a ‘show of interest’ without deposit to save admin time and cost. I just think this will be less accurate.

Overall there is some work for the ticket office to make a good system. I’d argue that by definition the job of a ticket office is to managage ticket sales.

Arenas, theatres and other venues around the world use systems to solve similar issues over unpredictable sales so for me there are solutions if the will is there.
 


pasty

A different kind of pasty
Jul 5, 2003
30,180
West, West, West Sussex
Two simple words would resolve the issue in one fell swoop.

Unallocated seating.

We are (nearly) all adults, and with unallocated seats, people would very simply sort themselves out.
 
Last edited:


Mr H

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2012
406
LA
Ultimately, it’s about accurately predicting Albion fans’ ticket demand and so the club could have a “register your interest” webpage on which fans could indicate their intent to attend a particular away game (to be registered by, say, no later than two weeks before the ticket on-sale date).

Based on such feedback, the club should be able to make a reasonably informed judgement about our potential numbers when applying for non-refundable ticket allocations from the home club. Thereafter, the former Albion ticket sales system (which has worked pretty well in the past) could apply from the designated on-sale date.

Importantly, those with health problems or special needs would be able to eliminate the anxiety of not knowing in advance where they may end up being seated. The club’s assessment of a “best seat” is unlikely to match the fans’ preference.

Surely the club could implement this without too much hassle, which would accommodate most fans’ desire to know roughly in which area/block they can sit when they purchase a ticket?

In any event, I would have thought the “shortfall” issue will apply to only a handful of matches bearing in mind the likely demand for away tickets based on last season’s huge Albion take up at nearly every away game. On the other hand, with many fans having “ticked off” a number of new away grounds last season there may perhaps be fewer wishing to attend some of this season’s away games (although, conversely, they may be offset by others who just missed out on away tickets last season and who should, as a result, have a better opportunity to buy one this season).

It shouldn’t be that difficult to address this. The club just needs to gauge the approximate ticket demand and proceed on that basis. Even if there turns out to be a small cost [to the club] c/o unsold tickets purchased it will be a drop in the ocean compared to the goodwill it will generate with fans.

I hope the club notes this thread, and fans’ suggestions, and looks into possible ways to overcome the potential away game seating lottery that will result from the latest plans announced by the club.

Totally agree.
The "small drop in the ocean" also applies to the relationship between the possible £100k hit , and the £100m+ premier league revenues.
 




GOM

living vicariously
Aug 8, 2005
3,222
Leeds - but not the dirty bit
I agree that there is some admin time and cost here around refunds. I believe most who committed a deposit would see it through. The other way is to take a ‘show of interest’ without deposit to save admin time and cost. I just think this will be less accurate.

Overall there is some work for the ticket office to make a good system. I’d argue that by definition the job of a ticket office is to managage ticket sales.

Arenas, theatres and other venues around the world use systems to solve similar issues over unpredictable sales so for me there are solutions if the will is there.

Don't need deposits, registering interest could temporarily add loyalty points for that game only providing priority over those that haven't registered.
 


GOM

living vicariously
Aug 8, 2005
3,222
Leeds - but not the dirty bit
Financial swings and roundabouts. Won't the club potentially benefit for home games in the same way it potentially loses for away games ?
 








ditchy

a man with a sound track record as a source of qua
Jul 8, 2003
5,205
brighton
Ultimately, it’s about accurately predicting Albion fans’ ticket demand and so the club could have a “register your interest” webpage on which fans could indicate their intent to attend a particular away game (to be registered by, say, no later than two weeks before the ticket on-sale date).

Based on such feedback, the club should be able to make a reasonably informed judgement about our potential numbers when applying for non-refundable ticket allocations from the home club. Thereafter, the former Albion ticket sales system (which has worked pretty well in the past) could apply from the designated on-sale date.

Importantly, those with health problems or special needs would be able to eliminate the anxiety of not knowing in advance where they may end up being seated. The club’s assessment of a “best seat” is unlikely to match the fans’ preference.

Surely the club could implement this without too much hassle, which would accommodate most fans’ desire to know roughly in which area/block they can sit when they purchase a ticket?

In any event, I would have thought the “shortfall” issue will apply to only a handful of matches bearing in mind the likely demand for away tickets based on last season’s huge Albion take up at nearly every away game. On the other hand, with many fans having “ticked off” a number of new away grounds last season there may perhaps be fewer wishing to attend some of this season’s away games (although, conversely, they may be offset by others who just missed out on away tickets last season and who should, as a result, have a better opportunity to buy one this season).

It shouldn’t be that difficult to address this. The club just needs to gauge the approximate ticket demand and proceed on that basis. Even if there turns out to be a small cost [to the club] c/o unsold tickets purchased it will be a drop in the ocean compared to the goodwill it will generate with fans.

I hope the club notes this thread, and fans’ suggestions, and looks into possible ways to overcome the potential away game seating lottery that will result from the latest plans announced by the club.

Its dosent even have to be like this . If the club are "in tune " with their fan base ,then only having to keep in touch with sites like this ,they should be able to fathom out demand for particular games
 


Is it PotG?

Thrifty non-licker
Feb 20, 2017
23,102
Sussex by the Sea
'whoosh' Think it through. If the club gains as much as it loses then no need to change system.

whoosh-gif-12.gif
 


Neville's Breakfast

Well-known member
May 1, 2016
13,423
Oxton, Birkenhead
Was there an announcement regarding the reduction in Liverpool allocation from 2900 to 1878 ? I certainly don't remember one nor any indication of a cut off date when the club would decide. An unintended consequence of this new ticket policy may be to make it very difficult for higher tier point holders to decide to hold off buying so they can sit with lower points friends and family as tickets are possibly being returned during the tiered buying process. Maybe I'm wrong.
 




seagulls4ever

New member
Oct 2, 2003
4,338
I would have thought we would want as many away fans to attend as possible to help push the team to acquire points. I'm not sure it's entirely sensible to have a policy that results in fewer away fans for a measly 100k over the course of the season.
 


Gazwag

5 millionth post poster
Mar 4, 2004
30,093
Bexhill-on-Sea
Two simple words would resolve the issue in one fell swoop.

Unallocated seating.

We are (nearly) all adults, and with unallocated seats, people would very simply sort themselves out.

Exactly right, those who want to sit will head for the front 10 or so rows, those who want to stand will head for the back, those in between will head for the middle. Those who want to sit/stand behind the goal will go into the stands by thirty minutes or so before KO. The only problem, which exists whatever system is in place, is those who have to drink until 30 seconds after kick off and believe they have the right to go wherever they want even if that area is full.
 



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