kingcole
Well-known member
With our first game in the Premier League just 10 days away, a sell out is all but certain in the next day or two. This is despite a hike in prices since last season and the fact many regulars will be away on their summer holidays.
Our success last season meant that a large number of games were 'sold out'. Playing in the best league in the world and having to make available 3000 seats for our visitors, coupled with record sales on season tickets will mean that space will be even more limited this term for those not lucky enough to own a season ticket.
The solution is without doubt a well run season ticket exchange that is understood by the fans, is easy to use and has the correct incentives so fans who know they won't be able to attend a game actually bother to notify the club that their seat is available.
Last season a half hearted attempt at a season ticket exchange was implemented. However, it was poorly communicated to fans, it involved filling out on off site (spammy looking page) by a company called Survey Monkey and fans who bothered and were lucky enough to find a bum on their seat would be rewarded with a time limited voucher to spend in the store at the Amex.
The result was that we had many games declared as a sellout. Fans desperate to see their team play, yet swathes of empty seats clearly visible on the telly.
So, a few weeks back the club announced a proper season ticket exchange would be in place this year. Well, where is it?
Those on holiday next week when we kick off our Premier League campaign may well already be on holiday. The last thing these people will be doing whilst holidaying in Benidorm, Bermuda or whereever will to be check the clubs website and then go to a certain page to let the club know their seat is available.
This should have happened weeks ago, and not just for the city game, for any game they know they will not be able to go to.
The club will rightly argue that the exchange would only be activated after an official sellout. Well, in that scenario, the moment it's activated there will be the grand total of ZERO seats available.
Let us tell you NOW when we won't be coming so that if and when a game sells out all those seats can instantly be made available for those wanting to buy.
The technology exists and works well with other clubs. With limited capacity and demand expected in be in excess of supply, we should already be using it.
I've no doubt the club will announce the exchange has been activated in the next few days, but what I can guarantee is that a good proportion on the 100's who will be leaving their seat empty for the City game will not know about it, or can't access the website from their holiday location to do anything about it.
Let's have a working exchange now where we can let it be know what games we won't be attending, not just the next one or one that's already sold out.
Our success last season meant that a large number of games were 'sold out'. Playing in the best league in the world and having to make available 3000 seats for our visitors, coupled with record sales on season tickets will mean that space will be even more limited this term for those not lucky enough to own a season ticket.
The solution is without doubt a well run season ticket exchange that is understood by the fans, is easy to use and has the correct incentives so fans who know they won't be able to attend a game actually bother to notify the club that their seat is available.
Last season a half hearted attempt at a season ticket exchange was implemented. However, it was poorly communicated to fans, it involved filling out on off site (spammy looking page) by a company called Survey Monkey and fans who bothered and were lucky enough to find a bum on their seat would be rewarded with a time limited voucher to spend in the store at the Amex.
The result was that we had many games declared as a sellout. Fans desperate to see their team play, yet swathes of empty seats clearly visible on the telly.
So, a few weeks back the club announced a proper season ticket exchange would be in place this year. Well, where is it?
Those on holiday next week when we kick off our Premier League campaign may well already be on holiday. The last thing these people will be doing whilst holidaying in Benidorm, Bermuda or whereever will to be check the clubs website and then go to a certain page to let the club know their seat is available.
This should have happened weeks ago, and not just for the city game, for any game they know they will not be able to go to.
The club will rightly argue that the exchange would only be activated after an official sellout. Well, in that scenario, the moment it's activated there will be the grand total of ZERO seats available.
Let us tell you NOW when we won't be coming so that if and when a game sells out all those seats can instantly be made available for those wanting to buy.
The technology exists and works well with other clubs. With limited capacity and demand expected in be in excess of supply, we should already be using it.
I've no doubt the club will announce the exchange has been activated in the next few days, but what I can guarantee is that a good proportion on the 100's who will be leaving their seat empty for the City game will not know about it, or can't access the website from their holiday location to do anything about it.
Let's have a working exchange now where we can let it be know what games we won't be attending, not just the next one or one that's already sold out.
