PAY ON THE GATE ON THE DAY - could it be introduced at Withdean ?

[Easy 10]

How feasible would it be for the club to implement a "pay at the gate" scheme for home games that arn't sold out ? Would many fans turn up on the offchance of getting in on the day ?
I realise one of the provisions of playing at Withdean is that all tickets are sold in advance of the match, but if some control was introduced into who could buy a ticket at the turnstile (ie a home membership card scheme) then could something be implemented ?

Example. You can't afford a season ticket, or do not want to commit to one as you know you can't make every home game. So you buy a Home Membership card, which gives you the option of phoning a ticketing hotline 24 hours before kickoff to reserve a seat, or turning up on the day and presenting your membership card for an unsold seat in the ground.

Normal ticketting sales would carry on as normal, but this could just leave an additional "last minute" relatively hassle-free option open to those fans who can go straight to the ground for the games that arn't already sold out.

Workable ? Necessary ? Dunno. But anything which helps get fans throught the gate has got to be a good thing.

 

[Kryten]

I'd be up for that, if a scheme like that was introduced

 

[dougdeep]

Great idea!

 

[Kryten]

can someone please remind me why we are not allowed to pay on the gate at present?

 

[the full harris]

i believe it is part of the agreement we have with the council in return for them letting us play there.

 

[Kryten]

i believe it is part of the agreement we have with the council in return for them letting us play there.

couldn't we see if we could re-negotiate, and start selling on the day?

 

[Easy 10]

couldn't we see if we could re-negotiate, and start selling on the day?

This was my feeling on it. We've clearly been at Withdean longer than was initially envisaged, so I don't know if anyone at the club has broached this with the council lately. As I say, as long as some control is excercised over the sale of the "last minute" tickets by way of a Membership Scheme (non-transferrable photo id card if necessary), is this something that could be considered ? Has it ever been investigated ?

 

[Another Berkshire Seagull]

Why not have a hotline that rung up the office in queens road who then updated the ticket office @ witthdean immediately and gave the buyer their ticket. Moey then paid via credit card but who knows where the buyer is...even if they are already @ withdean.

If we can't change the rules then workaround them.

 

[BensGrandad]

Rules are made to be bent not broken eg mini cabs not allowed to pick up off of the street but they lend you a mobile to phone their office and book a car for as soon as possible. Similar ingenuity could be used here. Why not have a ticket stall/van at Preston Park station to order a ticket and pick it up at the ground.

 

[saafend_seagull]

i would be for that if we get a further 2,000 seats.

 

[Robot Chicken]

i would be for that if we get a further 2,000 seats.

What's happening about those extra seats?

Any other ideas where a park and ride site could go?
There's a big car park at the marina. There's also Medeira Drive. There's the racecourse...

 

[Bozza]

It's not difficult to get a ticket, should any be available:

i) Phone up the ticket office a day or two before the match and arrange to pick the ticket up at the ground prior to kick-off.

ii) Tickets can be bought on the day of the game from the ticket office in Queens Road. I believe for a Saturday game, sales take place up until midday.

 

[The Large One]

How feasible would it be for the club to implement a "pay at the gate" scheme for home games that arn't sold out ? Would many fans turn up on the offchance of getting in on the day ?
I realise one of the provisions of playing at Withdean is that all tickets are sold in advance of the match, but if some control was introduced into who could buy a ticket at the turnstile (ie a home membership card scheme) then could something be implemented ?

Example. You can't afford a season ticket, or do not want to commit to one as you know you can't make every home game. So you buy a Home Membership card, which gives you the option of phoning a ticketing hotline 24 hours before kickoff to reserve a seat, or turning up on the day and presenting your membership card for an unsold seat in the ground.

Normal ticketting sales would carry on as normal, but this could just leave an additional "last minute" relatively hassle-free option open to those fans who can go straight to the ground for the games that arn't already sold out.

Workable ? Necessary ? Dunno. But anything which helps get fans throught the gate has got to be a good thing.

Nice idea in principle, but some people may only decide on the day if they want to go. The only way they know they can get in is if they buy a ticket in advance. If word gets out that there are, say, 500 tickets available on the door, it could turn nasty. It would be carnage. Even if only 250 people had to be turned away, that is a lot. Especially if you have come a fair distance.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Re: Re: PAY ON THE GATE ON THE DAY - could it be introduced at Withdean ?

Nice idea in principle, but some people may only decide on the day if they want to go. The only way they know they can get in is if they buy a ticket in advance. If word gets out that there are, say, 500 tickets available on the door, it could turn nasty. It would be carnage. Even if only 250 people had to be turned away, that is a lot. Especially if you have come a fair distance.

yeah thats why it should be introduced if we ever get those extra seats.

 

[Easy 10]

It's not difficult to get a ticket, should any be available:

i) Phone up the ticket office a day or two before the match and arrange to pick the ticket up at the ground prior to kick-off.

ii) Tickets can be bought on the day of the game from the ticket office in Queens Road. I believe for a Saturday game, sales take place up until midday.

True Bozza, but on the Saturday it still means a trip to Queens Road first to get the ticket. Wouldn't it be excellent to look out the window after Football Focus and think "Bollocks, nice afternoon, the wifes gone shopping, they've not sold out. Lets pop along to Withdean"

The club should be maximising the ease to attend matches at short notice. The big games will almost certainly sell out days, maybe weeks in advance. But why not try a couple of new initiatives to get as many bums on seats as possible ?

 

[Bozza]

True Bozza, but on the Saturday it still means a trip to Queens Road first to get the ticket. Wouldn't it be excellent to look out the window after Football Focus and think "Bollocks, nice afternoon, the wifes gone shopping, they've not sold out. Lets pop along to Withdean"

The club should be maximising the ease to attend matches at short notice. The big games will almost certainly sell out days, maybe weeks in advance. But why not try a couple of new initiatives to get as many bums on seats as possible ?

Oh, I agree with your sentiment here (especially as another who has given up on season tickets this year!) but I really think that hands are tied at the club due to the terms of the Withdean arrangement. And, as TLO says, things could be problematic when on the day demand exceeds supply.

 

[Easy 10]

Oh, I agree with your sentiment here (especially as another who has given up on season tickets this year!) but I really think that hands are tied at the club due to the terms of the Withdean arrangement. And, as TLO says, things could be problematic when on the day demand exceeds supply.

Aye, TLO raises some good points. But surely nothing is insurmountable. I was just pissing in the wind really, but I'm racking my brains now to see how the club could organise this. There MUST be a way.

 

[Yorkie]

Re: Re: Re: PAY ON THE GATE ON THE DAY - could it be introduced at Withdean ?

yeah thats why it should be introduced if we ever get those extra seats.

We wont get the extra seats. We have planning permission for them but the club pulled out of the park & ride planning.

If we get another 2000 seats some people might start saying that we could stay at Withdean........

 

[ripper]

ii) Tickets can be bought on the day of the game from the ticket office in Queens Road. I believe for a Saturday game, sales take place up until midday.

I have managed to get one later than this on a saturday before if you ask nicely!

 

[ditchy]

great idea