[Albion] The Ticket Exchange - what's the point?

[Pliny the Gull]

Splendid concept.

However if the tickets are 'singles' then logistically tricky if carers etc are involved.

Very good idea.
I work within the charity sector with adults in sheltered accommodation.

 

[Wozza]

I suggests this to the club for the Brentford Boxing Day match a few years back and said I’d happily gift my tickets to charity / Albion in the community etc, club response was admin but we will look at it…

There needs to be - dare I say it - a process.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

There needs to be - dare I say it - a process.

One that needs trusting for sure.

 

[chaileyjem]

Actually I’m guessing the process for other PL clubs that offer this is that the refund is donated to the club charity rather than back to you - rather than some ticket to ticket exchange.

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

Ours have sold every single time we’ve put them on the exchange.

Lovely, mine haven't (mind you it's a single seat).

 

[Cotton Socks]

I quite often buy on the exchange as I don't know until near the time whether I can afford to go or not.
Yes it does cost me more as there aren't concessions for Jnr but I don't have a choice. People putting their tickets on the exchange is really helpful to people like me!!

 

[Knocky's Nose]

I've been lucky with having quite a high success rate when I've listed my tickets on the exchange for re-sale, but I have three things in my favour:

1. I have two tickets together. Pairs seem to sell far more easily than singles.
2. My tickets are in the WSU, so are amongst the cheapest tickets available to buy.
3. My tickets are in the front row and I think most people choose to be closer to the pitch if they can.

Same. I have two together, WSL about 10 seats from the Dugout VIP lot which is right behind the halfway line - and 6 rows from the pitch.

Not cheap tickets but 90% of the time they sell when I have to put them on the exchange - and the money is certainly handy.

That said, there are plenty of friends and family I'd like to give them to - but they can't be arsed with all the hassle. Gone are the days where you could hypothetically *cough* just slip your season ticket cards to them...

 

[jackalbion]

Isn't this actually quite a grey area? As in if you are buying a reserved train ticket that is specifically named for you, then you can't pass it on to a mate for free (Eurostar for example).

Thats to do with Passport controls, you can pass on a standard reserved train Ticket.

 

[dazzer6666]

Anyway, a constructive idea….

Maybe the club could build a database of underprivileged kids/adults across the area (working with charities, health workers etc). Just a few hundred to start with. Perhaps reviewed and updated annually.

Then give season ticket holders who can’t make a home match the option to DONATE their tickets on the Ticket Exchange - whether the match has sold out or not. (Maybe with at least two weeks’ notice, to allow admin)

The club then randomly allocates dontated tickets to folk on the list. Some might end up going a few times in a season.

Obviously there’s some overheads for the club - a fair amount of admin and checks.

But it doesn’t ‘devalue’ the tickets. They’re not being freely handed around. The club has full visibility.

It broadens the fanbase. Gives some cheer. Fills seats. Makes season ticket holders feel good.

Completely agree. Including blue light employees for example makes single seats potentially then ok too (typically those that might not shift on the exchange)

 

[timbha]

Completely agree. Including blue light employees for example makes single seats potentially then ok too (typically those that might not shift on the exchange)

Blue light workers, teachers, care workers, volunteers, refuse collectors, Compliance Officers () …… difficult to know where to draw the line and where it becomes uneconomic

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Blue light workers, teachers, care workers, volunteers, refuse collectors, Compliance Officers () …… difficult to know where to draw the line and where it becomes uneconomic

I recall ex and current servicemen and women can obtain tickets? How does this work? Maybe I’m imagining this.

 

[rippleman]

No, but, for many reasons, I don't want to charge them.

I hear ya! Back in the good old days, when my son's half-brother (who sat next to me) was working and couldn't go, I had his ticket and took an aquaintance who had mental and physical issues. She loved it. She would never have been able to pay for a ticket. I never wanted to charge her and I didn't. She thoroughly enjoyed the days out which she would never have experienced under today's regime.

When it became "all about the money", I felt the club's soul died a little.

 

[chaileyjem]

Completely agree. Including blue light employees for example makes single seats potentially then ok too (typically those that might not shift on the exchange)

Albion did this for a couple of matches in 2022, and i think made tickets available for NHS workers as well around this time. (as a gesture of thanks for Covid)

See how to get free tickets to Brighton & Hove Albion matches

If you are a key worker you could get free tickets to the team's games.

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[chaileyjem]

Blue light workers, teachers, care workers, volunteers, refuse collectors, Compliance Officers () …… difficult to know where to draw the line and where it becomes uneconomic

I think the Foundation regularly donate tickets to youngsters - that are often paid for by sponsors.

Foundation youngsters given tickets to Albion game - Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation

The BHAFC Foundation has given out 10 free tickets for Albion’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy fixture at the Amex next week. The tickets, kindly donated to us by Bristol Street Motors were given to youngsters who take part in the Foundation’s disability football programme, and in Premier League...

bhafcfoundation.org.uk

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Have the club given a reason as to why STH tickets can’t be resold until the game is a sell out?

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

Have the club given a reason as to why STH tickets can’t be resold until the game is a sell out?

Simply because they want to sell non season tickets first. Some of those seats won’t be as ‘good’ compared to seats that might go on the exchange - which they’ll need to make a refund on.

 

[Bozza]

Simply because they want to sell non season tickets first. Some of those seats won’t be as ‘good’ compared to seats that might go on the exchange - which they’ll need to make a refund on.

Exactly this - the club want to get the maximum return on their own tickets they have to sell.

If they sell one of the S1G seats remaining, the club get £38. When the exchange is open and an S1G ticket listed by a STH sells, the £38 would be split as follows:

STH: £30.30 (ST price of £595 divided by 19 games = £31.30 minus £1 admin charge)
Club: £7.70 (the remainder)

The problem is the remaining seats are the most undesirable for many casual fans, ie right next door to the away fans which could make for quite a rowdy afternoon.

I think most of us tend to think "they should open the exchange earlier" as there may be people who won't buy any of the seats available now but may buy, say, a WSU ticket as they prefer a high, side-on view without being constantly abused for 90 minutes.

And the concern would be that if someone looks now to buy a ticket, sees the few remaining and doesn't fancy any of them, they may not return later in the week when the exchange should be open and a wider choice of seats will be available to choose from.

Many casual fans may not even know that the exchange is a thing, and be unaware that a deluge of alternative, and more attractive, seats are likely to be released at some point in the future.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Albion did this for a couple of matches in 2022, and i think made tickets available for NHS workers as well around this time. (as a gesture of thanks for Covid)

See how to get free tickets to Brighton & Hove Albion matches

If you are a key worker you could get free tickets to the team's games.

www.theargus.co.uk

Nah I don’t think the club were thanking them for covid

 

[amexer]

I hear ya! Back in the good old days, when my son's half-brother (who sat next to me) was working and couldn't go, I had his ticket and took an aquaintance who had mental and physical issues. She loved it. She would never have been able to pay for a ticket. I never wanted to charge her and I didn't. She thoroughly enjoyed the days out which she would never have experienced under today's regime.

When it became "all about the money", I felt the club's soul died a little.

Your right Very few were queuing up for free tickets. It wass always an opportunity to treat somebody who could never afford it or needed accompaning

 

[chaileyjem]

When it became "all about the money", I felt the club's soul died a little.

I'm the vice chair of a village grassroots football club. Every year, our main fundraising night - to help 150 kids play football locally across a year is a raffle at our end of season awards night. We wrote to the Albion - not expecting much - but after a nudge - they got back to us and offered us a signed shirt (by Lewis Dunk) .

They don't have to do this sort of stuff but it means a lot for clubs like ourselves.