[Albion] Still 2,000 season tickets to be sold for next season

[METALMICKY]

Absolutely gutted but next season will be the first without Season Tickets for me and the boy...

Purely financial and life commitments... He took up Go-Karting as a hobby 2 years ago, it has now become serious and requires alot of time and disposable income allocation... Especially with the outdoor championships and progressing in these...

We have had to miss a few games this season due to clashes with races - with them being all over the country, it means weekends away. I cannot justify having the ST and risk not selling for games we cannot attend... The Exchange has been good for the most part this season as an aside.

Other than this, we have attended through everything previously, so if this situation hadn't been the case, we would be there for each game.

Funny how life changes, didn't see this time coming a few years ago.

Good luck. For unselfishly sacrificing the Albion for your son let's hope his karting is the stepping stone to Formula 1 so as to keep you in your old age

 

[chaileyjem]

You can tell that something is shifting by the amount of games not selling out and going to the exchange, and then the huge amount of tickets on the exchange that dont get sold when the game finally sells out.

If the season tickets dont sell out will be interesting to see the clubs strategy re those STH that dont turn up.

So far every PL game has sold out this season, and there's little sign season ticket sales for next season are any different from previous seasons - ie: very strong.

Its a bit premature to suggest that the demand for PL football isn't there. Its still holding up but yes some cracks are starting to show due to how clubs are handling (pricing, tv scheduling, concessions, rules and sanctions, maximising hospitality) .
I think Albion look after their fans pretty well but other clubs ...less so.

And as is obvious from NSC and seeing the blue seats scattered about on matchdays then there' s a issue with season ticket holders not attending, at scale for evening matches especially (for many reasdons)
As for their strategy - then like most clubs - they now have a stricter "utilisation" strategy.
Ie: use it or (potentially) lose it.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Discussion on TS this morning on ST etc partly prompted by last nights City/Villa game where there was a noticeable number of empty seats…..apparently lowest price of ticket available for the match was £70

 

[Bozza]

So far every PL game has sold out this season, and there's little sign season ticket sales for next season are any different from previous seasons - ie: very strong.

Its a bit premature to suggest that the demand for PL football isn't there. Its still holding up but yes some cracks are starting to show due to how clubs are handling (pricing, tv scheduling, concessions, rules and sanctions, maximising hospitality) .
I think Albion look after their fans pretty well but other clubs ...less so.

And as is obvious from NSC and seeing the blue seats scattered about on matchdays then there' s a issue with season ticket holders not attending, at scale for evening matches especially (for many reasdons)
As for their strategy - then like most clubs - they now have a stricter "utilisation" strategy.
Ie: use it or (potentially) lose it.

I'd go further than that as we've seen games, some you'd consider to be pretty "attractive" with 4,000+ unsold exchange tickets.

It's not something I've monitored in the past, so I can't back up this up with cold hard numbers, but it certainly feels to me as though demand has tailed off both in terms of STHs skipping games, and more casual fans not snapping up tickets that come up on the exchange.

As I said a day or two back, West Ham will be interesting to observe when the exchange opens: how many people aren't coming and is there the demand to take up that slack? A Saturday 3pm kick-off in spring on an afternoon that should see fine weather, and no school holidays in play.

In past seasons, this game would sell out and exchange tickets would all go (nearly if not absolutely literally) too.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Tell me about it. I live in a Bath...........

Lucky you I live in shoebox in middle of road

 

[amexer]

I'd go further than that as we've seen games, some you'd consider to be pretty "attractive" with 4,000+ unsold exchange tickets.

It's not something I've monitored in the past, so I can't back up this up with cold hard numbers, but it certainly feels to me as though demand has tailed off both in terms of STHs skipping games, and more casual fans not snapping up tickets that come up on the exchange.

As I said a day or two back, West Ham will be interesting to observe when the exchange opens: how many people aren't coming and is there the demand to take up that slack? A Saturday 3pm kick-off in spring on an afternoon that should see fine weather, and no school holidays in play.

In past seasons, this game would sell out and exchange tickets would all go (nearly if not absolutely literally) too.

West Ham gate will be interesting. Really cant understand why x not open as it will be too late for sale of seats as people will have other arrangements.
Goes against PBs comment when x was introduced that giving away ones ticket was depriving members of a ticket

 

[Dave the OAP]

Lucky you I live in shoebox in middle of road

Luxury.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Lucky you I live in shoebox in middle of road

Luxury indeed - I’ve never even seen a shoebox - I live in a paper bag in the ditch at side of road!

 

[mile oak]

Only sent to people that successfully found The Terrace toilets

I was thinking the club got bogged down in toilet paperwork and they were taking the pee but there appears to be reason behind me not getting a sh1t lead of email from the club.

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

Interesting one.

i have renewed ONLY because I now have an old farts ST which is at a reduced rate otherwise, with the amount of games i miss a season I would struggle to justify the cost, and the football doesn’t excite me anymore.

Of the three remaining home games, West Ham - I am playing golf down at littlehampton in the old Birchwood cup, Newcastle , it’s the day after Laura’s wedding celebration do and not sure if I will make it back from Salisbury for 2 kick off ( so I may get a letter from the Club as I won’t put that on the exchange) and Liverpool is a ball ache on a Monday night at 8 o’clock if the EDF parking is not on So I will put that on the exchange…..that means I will have missed 9 home games this year.

the guy next to me in the north stand has not renewed and he was a die hard home and away since he was a kid and he prefers to go to Eastbourne Borough ( he lives in Eastbourne and has had enough of travelling and the experience and football)

Yeah I've missed about 8-9 this season. Not going Saturday as son isnt going and dont fancy solo travel from North Kent. Will probably manage Newcastle but my Liverpool ticket will also be on the exchange as its my sons 30th. Would have gone on the Sunday.
I really thought hard about renewing for next year but stuck with it mainly because my son is still keen.

 

[worthingseagull]

Not going Saturday as son isnt going and dont fancy solo travel from North Kent. My Liverpool ticket will also be on the exchange as its my sons 30th.
I really thought hard about renewing for next year but stuck with it mainly because my son is still keen.

well according to your post, he's not

 

[bennibenj]

Good luck. For unselfishly sacrificing the Albion for your son let's hope his karting is the stepping stone to Formula 1 so as to keep you in your old age

Thanks mate, appreciate that...

Formula 1 is obviously his ultimate dream but you need serious money to make that a reality... There are a number of other disciplines that he can look towards too though...

Funny how you don't know what talents someone has until trying something... And the wonders it has done his confidence, self esteem and mental wellbeing is huge...

Still will be tough when next season starts... But hopefully get along to a few games as a day ticket...

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Actually, I don't think they defined it as a 'problem' as such.

But the aging fanbase is the reason it's upping the concession age limit, I believe. (We'd soon all be claiming it!)

Interesting nonetheless.

Would love to see a breakdown of STH numbers into 10/15 year age brackets.

 

[Oh_aye]

Somewhat nervous about the new season as two seats next to me in central WSU will have new occupants. Two mates one with health issues when climbing the stairs have succumbed to the lure of the upper east. Please note I operate a strict no dick heads policy which has worked well for many years!

Same here. My dad's stopped going as he can't handle the travel any more. So I'll be inviting a STRANGER into my midst. Also central WSU

 

[Stuart Munday]

Doesn’t help that a lot of the home games have been poor. The easiest and cheapest tickets I could get to take the family to this season have been Forest twice, Ipswich, Wolves, Southampton, Everton and West Ham this week, so they haven’t seen a win this season.

 

[Oh_aye]

I wonder what the cause is:
- financial pressures
- aging fan base not being replaced
- too many inconvenient kick off times
- not matching the heights of the Potter / RDZ 6th placed finish season
- novelty of the Premier League wearing off.

From a selfish point of view I’m happy that once I’m able to have a season ticket again (waiting for small children to get a bit older) there shouldn’t be any problem getting one.

People are absolutely skint man. I reckon that's the main cause. Very nervous financial times, cost of living sky high, mortgages and rent sky high. Doesnt have to affect everyone the same but relatively well off sussex retirees can only take up so much slack. People with kids and other priorities are going to ditch football first. Especially as the rapacious speed and veracity that premier league football clubs continue to find novel ways to part punters with their cash while gum chewing empty eyed players wages continue to soar.

I know a number of people who've reverted to non league football. I can see why. Cheap, more freedom, treated like an adult, and you still get exciting football that means a huge amount to those clubs so carries all the drama.

My daughter plays for a Lewes Jnrs team and I get freebies from there regularly and love it.

 

[Oh_aye]

Discussion on TS this morning on ST etc partly prompted by last nights City/Villa game where there was a noticeable number of empty seats…..apparently lowest price of ticket available for the match was £70

Clubs are completely out of touch with the local fanbases and genuinely think they can make up the numbers with tourists.

 

[Weststander]

I'd go further than that as we've seen games, some you'd consider to be pretty "attractive" with 4,000+ unsold exchange tickets.

It's not something I've monitored in the past, so I can't back up this up with cold hard numbers, but it certainly feels to me as though demand has tailed off both in terms of STHs skipping games, and more casual fans not snapping up tickets that come up on the exchange.

As I said a day or two back, West Ham will be interesting to observe when the exchange opens: how many people aren't coming and is there the demand to take up that slack? A Saturday 3pm kick-off in spring on an afternoon that should see fine weather, and no school holidays in play.

In past seasons, this game would sell out and exchange tickets would all go (nearly if not absolutely literally) too.

Prejudging the results of that test. Why do you think that is?

Imho it’s largely because we’ve often not delivered the goods at home this season. 28k home supporters full of optimism pre KO, followed by a huge disappointment 2 hours later. On repeat. In the end it has an effect on a wedge of the support. People like being uplifted, to bask in reflected glory.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

So far every PL game has sold out this season, and there's little sign season ticket sales for next season are any different from previous seasons - ie: very strong.

Its a bit premature to suggest that the demand for PL football isn't there. Its still holding up but yes some cracks are starting to show due to how clubs are handling (pricing, tv scheduling, concessions, rules and sanctions, maximising hospitality) .
I think Albion look after their fans pretty well but other clubs ...less so.

And as is obvious from NSC and seeing the blue seats scattered about on matchdays then there' s a issue with season ticket holders not attending, at scale for evening matches especially (for many reasdons)
As for their strategy - then like most clubs - they now have a stricter "utilisation" strategy.
Ie: use it or (potentially) lose it.

Given the very real and increasing cost of living pressures (which are certainly starting to affect attendance and exchange figures IMO), the two most critical things for the Albion really are:
1) The travel subsidy.
2) The direct-debit ST payment option.
(Both of which are superb).

If the club ever felt inclined to remove one or both of these, I think we'd see a very dramatic drop-off in all areas.
Can't see them doing this though – it's the Trump/nuclear option and would be a rather large own-goal.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Clubs are completely out of touch with the local fanbases and genuinely think they can make up the numbers with tourists.

Thing is they can….for every £30-£40 season ticket price, they can get a tourist paying £60 -£70

thing is the bubble will burst and clubs are trying to cash in now whilst it’s available ( make hay whilst the sun shines)