BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

There is a saying 'be careful what you wish for'.

There has been complaints recently that the way the club is going about its ticketing policy for away games is unfair.

I don't think any club has got the ideal situation but the way some fans are complaining then I can see the club being forced into making a change to the policy to 'be seen to be doing something'.

I envisage the club introducing an away season ticket from next season to try and help their situation, they can't please everyone and may end up going down this route.

The suggestion was mooted at a travel group meeting before the season start and I strongly opposed the suggestion as I felt we City fans are working class folk and trying to find another £800-£1000 on top of our season tickets would only push the away tickets into the hands of those with the most money.

I personally prefer the sliding scale of working from an amount of games that maybe 50% of the allocation would qualify for then keep working down until all tickets are sold on a first come first served basis.

So for arguments sake for Villa game we got a allocation of approx 3,000, so if 1,500 people attended 5 or more away games last season these fans should get a few days opportunity to purchase a ticket before the criteria drops to those who attended 4 games then 3 games and so on . . . .

At some point the club has to use this season's attended away games to set the qualifying criteria and after 5 games away so far then I think it is about this time to start it which they seem to be doing.

On another issue, last season after the club subsidised the travel to Peterborough I was criticised for writing in my weekly Echo column that I felt the ticket price would be better suited for everybody if it was subsidised and not the travel.

At the recent travel group meeting and the for Norwich the same thing happened again.

This time I brought it up at the meeting and pointed out that it was unfair on those who do not wish to travel by coach and those who are exiled and such fans alike.

In a recent conversation I have been told that the next subsidised game, which is unknown at this time, then the money will come off the ticket price.

I think that is fairer for everybody and not just those of us who travel on the coaches.

Obviously subsidised travel suits those of us who run coach travel but for myself it does not sit well.

There is a travel group meeting on Thursday October 24th and the away ticketing policy is high on the agenda.

Independent travellers will be represented at the meeting for the first time.

If anyone has any sensible suggestions then I am happy to take the ideas and present them at the meeting.

The thing is mate people are only piping up about the tickets since we've been in prem, no moaning when we were in the champ

The thing is mate people are only piping up about the tickets since we've been in prem, no moaning when we were in the champ

Its the same with all clubs, i only went to 5 awayss last year due to work commitements as i work shifts, but one of those 5 games was Ipswich when only 260 of us went was i piping up then no.

There is a saying 'be careful what you wish for'.

There has been complaints recently that the way the club is going about its ticketing policy for away games is unfair.

I don't think any club has got the ideal situation but the way some fans are complaining then I can see the club being forced into making a change to the policy to 'be seen to be doing something'.

I envisage the club introducing an away season ticket from next season to try and help their situation, they can't please everyone and may end up going down this route.

The suggestion was mooted at a travel group meeting before the season start and I strongly opposed the suggestion as I felt we City fans are working class folk and trying to find another £800-£1000 on top of our season tickets would only push the away tickets into the hands of those with the most money.

I personally prefer the sliding scale of working from an amount of games that maybe 50% of the allocation would qualify for then keep working down until all tickets are sold on a first come first served basis.

So for arguments sake for Villa game we got a allocation of approx 3,000, so if 1,500 people attended 5 or more away games last season these fans should get a few days opportunity to purchase a ticket before the criteria drops to those who attended 4 games then 3 games and so on . . . .

At some point the club has to use this season's attended away games to set the qualifying criteria and after 5 games away so far then I think it is about this time to start it which they seem to be doing.

On another issue, last season after the club subsidised the travel to Peterborough I was criticised for writing in my weekly Echo column that I felt the ticket price would be better suited for everybody if it was subsidised and not the travel.

At the recent travel group meeting and the for Norwich the same thing happened again.

This time I brought it up at the meeting and pointed out that it was unfair on those who do not wish to travel by coach and those who are exiled and such fans alike.

In a recent conversation I have been told that the next subsidised game, which is unknown at this time, then the money will come off the ticket price.

I think that is fairer for everybody and not just those of us who travel on the coaches.

Obviously subsidised travel suits those of us who run coach travel but for myself it does not sit well.

There is a travel group meeting on Thursday October 24th and the away ticketing policy is high on the agenda.

Independent travellers will be represented at the meeting for the first time.

If anyone has any sensible suggestions then I am happy to take the ideas and present them at the meeting.

You can help some of the people some of the time, you can't help all of the people all of the time.

Chin up.

I think the way tickets are dished out are fair. I go with the CCSC with Vince and he makes sure people qualify, otherwise he gives them to someone else. It's easier for fans who have work commitments etc and can't just pop down the CCS when they please. A fair distribution by maybe giving half to the travel groups or 75% to travel groups and then the rest for independant travellers would be fair. I respect the work the travel organisers do as it takes a lot of their time to help others!

The present system seems fair to me.

The present system seems fair to me.

it is but can be easily abused

The thing is mate people are only piping up about the tickets since we've been in prem, no moaning when we were in the champ

Its the same with all clubs, i only went to 5 awayss last year due to work commitements as i work shifts, but one of those 5 games was Ipswich when only 260 of us went was i piping up then no.

There's always been moans at dustribution when it comes to games that sees numbers restricted. I do think it harsh that fans who attended the League Cup games this season don't have any sway in this years attended matches - those fans who done both deserve to be looked after first IMO

The points system is the fairest way to deal with this !

If you wish to go to away games you apply for a membership card ie gold memberships .
Three categories (a) top 6 teams you gain 1 point (b) middle teams quite close ie villa 2 points (c) teams like hull away 3 points

You have to obtain tickets through the ticket office

Highest amount of points get first option on tickets then lower and lower as sales go on

Travel groups do not get preferential treatment on blocks of tickets

You get your ticket then book your bus ,or if you are guaranteed a ticket because you are over the allocated amount you can book your place with confidence anyway .

Everybody is happy

Carl i agree 100% with everything youve wrote there--i had a rant about not getting a norwich ticket (1st and hopefully only game i will miss this season) but ive only missed out because the club were surprised with the extra demand the subsidised travel costs caused, slding scale fr loyalty has to be the way forward, villa tickets easy to get yesterday because everyone who meets the loyalty criteria has a week to get a guaranteed ticket not a mad scrap who can get through to a ticket office first or on e-ticketing before it crashes

I'm an exile and my main hump is there is no fair chance of getting tickets on the day they are released when they are put aside before sale? No fair away around that apart from stopping it.

Coaches should be booked after tickets bought. System done on prior away games is fair Carl but why should I take days off work to queue, phone or attempt to buy online? Others don't have to.

Excellent post Carl The only thing I would add is that in my opinion every supporter should get their own ticket and then book on the bus that way everyone who qualifies has the same chance?

I agree with you but what about the fans who don't go to many away games but want to go to the odd one? I've been a season ticket holder for 4 years now. I want to go to Aston Villa away (which I believe I can). However, if they were sold to only those who go to away games often then I would have less chance of going? I don't intend to go to teams like Man Utd away as I can accept they need a higher qualification but I think smaller teams should go on sale to season ticket holders as well

When I choose to go away its due to the ground and not what team plays there.

Not sure what relevance that had to this thread but I feel better for sharing it.

I don't understand what they are complaining about? What don't they find fair about the ticket policy?

I don't understand what they are complaining about? What don't they find fair about the ticket policy?

people are only looking at their own circumstances thats why, its all me me me, I'VE done this, and I'VE supported the club this long etc etc

I do think it's more important that this seasons away ticket allocation is based on the amount of games that people attended last season before including away games this season, as I know there are plenty of people who followed the club away up and down the country last season when we were a championship club without any trouble getting tickets but now are missing out on games such as Norwich where there are only 1400 tickets allocated with subsidised travel and no restrictions..... If it continues like this then it could end up that those regular travellers last season could start missing out on the games which in my eyes they deserve to go to because a new coming gold member has managed to snap up more unrestricted tickets than them......'To cut a very long story short, I think that the 6 aways followed by 5 aways, followed by 4..... Last season is the fairest way to give those loyal travelling supporters first opportunity to continue travelling with the club!!!! I'm only saying this from my personal experience because I'm feeling sorry for myself and hard done by because I missed out on a Norwich ticket even though I've done every other away game this season including villa and chelsea due to my fantastic away support during our time in the football league!!!!!! don't shoot me, just my opinion.

The system is fair but the fact that travel clubs take priority over the tickets is a shitter if you wanna travel in your car or on a train .I know many fans that don't want too travel on a coach especially if you want too take young kids but it seems the only way your guaranteed a ticket even if you meet the required games, so yes Carl it might effect peeps if they do a season ticket for away games and it also might hit the travel clubs up in the air if you can't fill your coach but if there's a interest free deal on away season tickets let's have it so I can do what I wanna do on Saturday afternoon instead of being controlled by a coach

Most people aren't complaining about the qualification for games, rather than the perceived bonuses you get for travelling with a coach group.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=124686&p=1285733&hilit=Norwich+away#p1285733

Here, for example, when remaining Norwich tickets were sold out in 15 minutes, after travel groups had reserved their allocation.

Totally unfair on anyone else who wishes to travel in a different way or for those who are exiled... I go to about 3 or 4 away games a year & combine an away trip with visits to college friends etc.. So normally stay for the weekend & therefore have no desire to travel on a coach.

This means I am unable to:

A) reserve my seat and ticket for an away game.
B) have to purchase my ticket and pay for it immediately on a day set by the club.. Eg may involve taking time off work...
C) have to wait patiently like others for the tickets, be it online or down at the stadium for the "remains" of the travel club allocations.

Yet, travel club "leaders" insist that there are no "advantages" in being involved.

Is this a "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR" attempt at keeping the status quo because the author is currently in a very privileged position?

Oh, excuse my cynical side coming out there...

The thing is mate people are only piping up about the tickets since we've been in prem, no moaning when we were in the champ

Its the same with all clubs, i only went to 5 awayss last year due to work commitements as i work shifts, but one of those 5 games was Ipswich when only 260 of us went was i piping up then no.

There's always been moans at dustribution when it comes to games that sees numbers restricted. I do think it harsh that fans who attended the League Cup games this season don't have any sway in this years attended matches - those fans who done both deserve to be looked after first IMO

Agree Paul, I don't see why the cup games don't count either, people will soon moan when we have a good cup run and have a top draw. Just as hard getting to Accrington and West Ham in mid week, time off work etc.
I think that a points system should be introduced with ALL supporters starting from zero, but that will cause people to moan too.
Need to look at other clubs for inspiration.

AndyFS

Good post, Carl.

I travel with the ccsc, not every game, but a few. Vince does a brilliant job, and the other stewards too. I'm sure that the other travel groups do as well.

Personally, I don't care who the opposition is. I just enjoy going to see the City play away. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to visit most grounds anyway. As far as im concerned, Old Trafford or Goodison Park are no more of an attraction than The Den or Huddersfield were last season. Less, if anything.

Travel group members have to meet the same qualifications as everybody else. The only real difference is that we book our coach travel at the as the time. Nothing wrong with that.

I'd be interested to learn more about this 'away season ticket' though. If the current whingeing carries on, that's what we'll have.

Unless we get relegated, of course, then the numbers will drop back to what they were.

I think it's quite clear that the club made a mistake for the Norwich match, as people who attended a lot of matches last season, were unable to get tickets!

Whilst those people who booked their tickets through the travel groups for the same match would have benefited on that occasion, that is down to an error on behalf of the club, which I believe to be a one off mistake!

I can't see that the travel groups get any advantage usually though, as I'd imagine that the people who use the travel groups, are the ones who generally attend most matches and who would most likely fit the club's criteria for getting tickets in the first place!

I'm not discounting a lot of our other loyal fans here btw (especially our exiles), who I know put a lot of time, effort & money into following our team up and down the country!

Personally, I think that the current system is the best and those who are moaning that they can't get tickets for certain games, because they didn't attend enough away games last season, are in the minority, as most people accept that those who attended most games, should be the ones who should be served firstl!

In my case, I'm a season ticket holder, who's been to every home game during the past 5 seasons (a round trip of nearly 200 miles), umpteen away games over those seasons as well, I went to 15 or 16 aways last season and I haven't missed a game this season either! Clearly under the current criteria, I'll qualify for all our games this season!

My son however, who doesn't like travelling to the more distant games, only did 5 aways and under the current 6 game criteria, he doesn't qualify for some of our matches, which I think is only fair and for the matches he doesn't qualify for, I'll travel by myself!

IMO, anybody who didn't travel to a certain amount of away matches last season, but who have now been to away matches as we're in the Premier League, shouldn't qualify over people who travelled to away matches last season! I.e., This season's games shouldn't take precedence over last season's games, so that if a points system were to be put in place, then last season's games should be valued higher than this season's matches!

there will be some 3,000 away supporters at Villa.

How many of those are "new" supporters ? 30% as a guess ? These new supporters basking in our new found glory are taking the tickets away from the loyal fan who has been around for many many years, not just the last successful few seasons .

However, it is the loyal fan, who may only want to go to the odd away game here and there,OR, they may have kids and just want to take them to a more local away game, who is penalised and has virtually no chance of getting an away ticket.

The length of time you have had a home season ticket should be factored into the whole process, thus rewarding the loyal fan over those that have jumped on the band wagon. Season ticket holders of say 5 years plus should get some sort benefit for their loyalty.

Couple of things I think are wrong. I agree with Blue Crow that the bus lot should get there own tickets then book travel. None of this coach organisers buying a shitload then dishing them out stuff. I'd be dubious that all the people that get handed tickets on the coach qualify for the 6 aways. The other thing is that it shouldn't jump from 6 aways last season to 2 aways this. Fact is I did 5 aways last and Fulham away this season....I'm not saying it because of that but it should've dropped to 5 & 4 aways last season before jumping to this season.

Oh and I forgot to add Bus Goblins

from the Official Website....more power to the AMBOS


AWAY MATCHES



Cardiff City Football Club operates a strict away travel membership.



To travel to any away fixture you must hold one of the following: Ambassador card, Season Ticket card or an Away Travel Card.



· The Club's supporters are allocated tickets for away matches as follows. The club will give priority to Ambassadors, then season ticket holders and away travel members.

there will be some 3,000 away supporters at Villa.

How many of those are "new" supporters ? 30% as a guess ? These new supporters basking in our new found glory are taking the tickets away from the loyal fan who has been around for many many years, not just the last successful few seasons .

However, it is the loyal fan, who may only want to go to the odd away game here and there,OR, they may have kids and just want to take them to a more local away game, who is penalised and has virtually no chance of getting an away ticket.

The length of time you have had a home season ticket should be factored into the whole process, thus rewarding the loyal fan over those that have jumped on the band wagon. Season ticket holders of say 5 years plus should get some sort benefit for their loyalty.

you again


anything to suit your own agenda eh? what if the club came out and stated anyone who had a season ticket for the last 7 seasons got priority? you would be up in arms because your kid has 6!

you came on here stating you only want to support your club away from home as long as it didnt inconvience you too much. well boo f*cking hoo! there are many people more deserving that yourself for tickets.

more deserving that yourself for tickets......



like all the johnny come latelys !!

Power to the Ambos....you an AMBO btw ?

more deserving that yourself for tickets......



like all the johnny come latelys !!

Power to the Ambos....you an AMBO btw ?

yep.


And unlike you i went to Hull, not sat at home becuase it was too far to travel

pretty sure we had 3000 tickets for west ham..........criteria was 3 aways last season...............and at the time it was said,LESS than 3000 had done 3 aways l;ast season...............so whats changed?
does anyone know exactly how many did 6 last year?