Reading v Aston Villa information.

[Silver Fox]

Which we are?

I'm sure there were people who said there would never be an issue getting tickets for games so there was no need to get a ST these days, that might be wrong now

[Rex]

I do not personally see the need for all the worry. Though i never did a home ST this season there will be approx 6500 seats available for those who, like me never bothered. I still feel though it should be on a points basis based on this season. That will narrow down those who have a high royalty points total who haven't attended many games this season. I'm sure the club know what they are doing though.

[TFF]

SingLOLe seats only by Tuesday lunchtime?

LOL at the STH's text message this morning. "Please enter you text message"

[Hoop Blah]

I do think it's wrong not to be apply the points system in some way.

How can they apply the points system when there's less than a week between the season ticket exclusivity period ending and the match itself?

Whilst the club needs to respect those members with a lot of points, it too has to maximise the match day attendance in whatever way possible. If the match were three weeks away then it could have a period of exclusivity for season ticket holders and then a decreasing points threshold for each day passing (like they did for the Liverpool match). Given that a significant percentage of sales will be general sale, they need to give them a period of time as well.

Another problem with a short general sale period is that it reduces the club's options should the visiting club request a bigger away end.

Nottingham Forest have a season ticket/member exclusivity period for their home matches and when they were playing Newcastle, Newcastle sold out their 4,500 tickets very quickly and requested for a bigger allocation (not sure if Forest can turn a home section into an away end). Because the home tickets were still in an exclusivity period, Forest (who also need to fill their stadium) had the choice of giving Newcastle more tickets but instead took the option of bringing the general sale date forward for home supporters which resulted in 3,000 tickets being sold in the first 24 hours. By having a longer general sale period gave Forest the chance to get home supporters in quickly and if for any reason, people didn't want to go, then they could decide to give Newcastle more tickets.

Sorry, but that's just excuses.

The system in place is supposedly to protect and reward loyal fans by giving them a chance to get their tickets for high demand games BEFORE those who don't go very often when therefore don't have as many points.

The club are happy to use the points on offer for lower demand games to artificially increase demand, but if they do that they have to implement the system for the very type of game it was introduced for.

I've got my ticket, but I'd be livid if I were a fan without a season ticket with 1,000+ points and then there was a chance the guy with 10 points being put into the same queue as me got the last ticket for the clubs first game at this stage of the FA Cup for 83 years.

Shambles!

[Rex]

Correct.

[Stranded]

I do think it's wrong not to be apply the points system in some way.

How can they apply the points system when there's less than a week between the season ticket exclusivity period ending and the match itself?

Whilst the club needs to respect those members with a lot of points, it too has to maximise the match day attendance in whatever way possible. If the match were three weeks away then it could have a period of exclusivity for season ticket holders and then a decreasing points threshold for each day passing (like they did for the Liverpool match). Given that a significant percentage of sales will be general sale, they need to give them a period of time as well.

Another problem with a short general sale period is that it reduces the club's options should the visiting club request a bigger away end.

Nottingham Forest have a season ticket/member exclusivity period for their home matches and when they were playing Newcastle, Newcastle sold out their 4,500 tickets very quickly and requested for a bigger allocation (not sure if Forest can turn a home section into an away end). Because the home tickets were still in an exclusivity period, Forest (who also need to fill their stadium) had the choice of giving Newcastle more tickets but instead took the option of bringing the general sale date forward for home supporters which resulted in 3,000 tickets being sold in the first 24 hours. By having a longer general sale period gave Forest the chance to get home supporters in quickly and if for any reason, people didn't want to go, then they could decide to give Newcastle more tickets.

Sorry, but that's just excuses.

The system in place is supposedly to protect and reward loyal fans by giving them a chance to get their tickets for high demand games BEFORE those who don't go very often when therefore don't have as many points.

The club are happy to use the points on offer for lower demand games to artificially increase demand, but if they do that they have to implement the system for the very type of game it was introduced for.

I've got my ticket, but I'd be livid if I were a fan without a season ticket with 1,000+ points and then there was a chance the guy with 10 points being put into the same queue as me got the last ticket for the clubs first game at this stage of the FA Cup for 83 years.

Shambles!

As a fan with 1000+ points and no ST this year if Jonny come lately gets in before me to bag a ticket then I'll have no-one to blame but myself as I settle down on the sofa to watch it.

[Compo's Hat]

Once again a shambles from whoever runs the ticket office. Are we bothering with royality points anymore or our the club just trying to show why they like to be a complete joke from time to time.

I hope the system crashes Tuesday morning as it'll serve them right when the free for all begins!

Because I doubt the points system is needed for this match. I don't think the demand will be that great. Yes it will probably sell out but it won't be until later in the week.

Fans can't complain about what is going on on the pitch at the match so it is time for the ticket office to get it again.......

So what about selecting a seat? You could be left with ones you'd prefer not to be sat in.

[Wycombe Royal]

Once again a shambles from whoever runs the ticket office. Are we bothering with royality points anymore or our the club just trying to show why they like to be a complete joke from time to time.

I hope the system crashes Tuesday morning as it'll serve them right when the free for all begins!

Because I doubt the points system is needed for this match. I don't think the demand will be that great. Yes it will probably sell out but it won't be until later in the week.

Fans can't complain about what is going on on the pitch at the match so it is time for the ticket office to get it again.......

So what about selecting a seat? You could be left with ones you'd prefer not to be sat in.

[Hoop Blah]

As a fan with 1000+ points and no ST this year if Jonny come lately gets in before me to bag a ticket then I'll have no-one to blame but myself as I settle down on the sofa to watch it.

So why have the system in place?

Why use the lure of 'bonus points' to increase demand for those games that they know they'll struggle to sell out?

You might be ever so understanding to not really care, but the whole idea of the points system is to stagger the queue and reward those who've shown their loyalty and support with a greater chance, or easier route to at least, to obtain a ticket (let alone one in the area they'd prefer to sit).

[Wycombe Royal]

As a fan with 1000+ points and no ST this year if Jonny come lately gets in before me to bag a ticket then I'll have no-one to blame but myself as I settle down on the sofa to watch it.

So why have the system in place?

Why use the lure of 'bonus points' to increase demand for those games that they know they'll struggle to sell out?

You might be ever so understanding to not really care, but the whole idea of the points system is to stagger the queue and reward those who've shown their loyalty and support with a greater chance, or easier route to at least, to obtain a ticket (let alone one in the area they'd prefer to sit).

If we were still in the Premiership selling out most matches you might have a point.

[Hoop Blah]

In what way would that have any impact on my point?

We have fans who have shown tremendous loyalty in the past, they're now being lumped in the same queue as everyone else despite the club selling the points system as a method to make sure that didn't happen.

Selling out any other games has no bearing on that.

[SpaceCruiser]

As a fan with 1000+ points and no ST this year if Jonny come lately gets in before me to bag a ticket then I'll have no-one to blame but myself as I settle down on the sofa to watch it.

So why have the system in place?

Why use the lure of 'bonus points' to increase demand for those games that they know they'll struggle to sell out?

You might be ever so understanding to not really care, but the whole idea of the points system is to stagger the queue and reward those who've shown their loyalty and support with a greater chance, or easier route to at least, to obtain a ticket (let alone one in the area they'd prefer to sit).

If we were still in the Premiership selling out most matches you might have a point.

I don't agree with that attitude. We've had a problem in the past with tickets being sold to the wrong people whenever there was a big cup game on. The old method of first come first served would always reward the determined and those with the time to spend queuing up for tickets.

That's the main reason why we had this loyalty points method. If it's not being used, then what's the point?

[Wycombe Royal]

That's the main reason why we had this loyalty points method. If it's not being used, then what's the point?

Simply because the club aren't expecting a level of demand whereby they deem it necessary to use the points system for this match. I was in the ticket office on Thursday last week at 12.15pm (just after they went on sale) and the TO manager was saying this to someone who was buying tickets.

I agree with him, but I'll guess we'll find out tomorrow whether or not there is a rush on ticket office to get these tickets.......

[Hoop Blah]

To be honest I don't think that should have any bearing on whether or not they stagger the sales.

The fact that the system is there and they've sold tickets on the basis of the bonus points associated to them being of some use and value should mean they apply some banding for all tickets.

They've massively underestimated demand in the past and it seems they're being very lazy, if not negligent, this time around and setting themselves up for a needless fall.

[Stranded]

As a fan with 1000+ points and no ST this year if Jonny come lately gets in before me to bag a ticket then I'll have no-one to blame but myself as I settle down on the sofa to watch it.

So why have the system in place?

Why use the lure of 'bonus points' to increase demand for those games that they know they'll struggle to sell out?

You might be ever so understanding to not really care, but the whole idea of the points system is to stagger the queue and reward those who've shown their loyalty and support with a greater chance, or easier route to at least, to obtain a ticket (let alone one in the area they'd prefer to sit).

Overall, I agree with you but simply given the time to turn around and the demand (to most casual fans it'll just be another cup game that is also on TV) then it doesn't make sense in this instance. Liverpool was a much more enticing fixture for the casual fan and if memory serves tickets were still available the week of the game despite a much longer lead time to sell tickets and a cheaper price.

If we win there is a month to the Semi Final - if they don't put something in place them with the points system I would be absolutely shocked.

Those without STs who really want to go will get a ticket Tuesday - I will be surprised if all tickets sell out tomorrow.

[Hoop Blah]

I think the interest in this game is a lot higher than the Liverpool game, but I agree it's probably not going to sell in a mad mad rush.

I just don't see that as an excuse to be honest.

STH's have been given a lot of slack to get their tickets, but there would have been plenty of time to re-jig it so that high points holder, those with say 500 or 750+ could've had a clear day or so to ensure they got their ticket.

I'm not one for bending over backwards to give people their chance to be lazy about it, and in general it's your own fault if you don't get a ticket, but where the system is in place it should be used. If they can't use it they shouldn't sell the whole theory behind it (specifically to use of extra points for games like the pre-season friendlies that carried more points than 5 away games or whatever it was).

[Stranded]

I agree with that and suggested similar previously in the thread. Today should have been a one day window for members with say 1000+ (or another level depending on numbers).

I think that the club had a few complaints from STHs about not having long enough prior to the Burnley game and have perhaps erred on the side of caution this time.

[brendywendy]

They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Personally I'd have given ST holders until Sunday night and open up to members of 1000+ on Monday before general sale on Tuesday.

But if they had done that you'd have had ST holders complaining they weren't given long enough as has happened on this very forum.

This would have been the best way to keep everyone happy. As for season ticket holders complaining about not having long enough, how long does it take to go online or phone and book a ticket? Giving them until Sunday night should catch nearly all of them especially given the fact that there was a home match on Saturday, which would create the opportunity for offline season ticket holders to visit the ticket office.

ive been to every home cup game, and this week was the first time i managed to get the early booking discount

[North Somerset Royal]

Just a heads up that tickets are already on general sale to members on line. Just bought one for one of my sons.

[waterlooville royal]

Yeah ive just bought online as well.