Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Ads on May 17, 2025, 11:37:13 AM
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Strong rumours that away tickets will be:
10% for GA+
20%? (Loyalty points)
70% ballot.
Not sure if anybody else has heard this, but have to say it's really put an absolute downer on the end of season. I feel like 30+ years of loyalty and effort, when for a good 25+ of those it was easy to get a ticket, is being flushed down the toilet.
The likes of Goughie, Hatchet and Julian who run the biggest independent coaches/clubs will be decimated. Mates for decades and decades linked by a common addiction and dedication.
I feel more gutted at the possibility of this than when we got relegated.
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I’d give nothing to GA+ and make them apply through a ballot of 10/15% with everyone else.
I do about 6/7 aways each season and get some via other means but you cannot ignore loyalty.
There was a time I did every away and I would’ve felt unappreciated to say the least if this would’ve come in then.
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Yeah I have no issue with say 20-30% being ballot.
But I'd quite like being 1 of 400 at the Riverside on a mid-week and 1 of 300 tops at Rapid Vienna twice when it comes to Premier League and European away tickets, to actually mean something.
I'm not sure how many GA+ there would be, but its a great way of forcing me to spend an extra grand on my seaaon ticket to give me more of a shot for something that apparently going to 50+ games a season suddenly doesn't.
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I think 50 / 50 ballot / booking history would be fair .
The problem has been some abusing the loyalty / history thing and creating effectively a closed shop , which cannot be right.
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Get fucked.
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I think a ballot should be more. Not sure about 70% though, sounds excessive.
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Ballot for what ? Thought we'd been reinstated to the Cup...
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It's in the first line of the post.
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70-75% loyalty, the rest ballot. GA+ can either be loyal allocation or takes their chance with everyone else.
And I don't have a dog in the fight as i've zero interest in aways these days.
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VillaTim is talking shit. It's not a closed shop at all. I had zero away booking history 2-3 seasons ago.
I have built booking history up by starting at the bottom, snapping up a last remaining ticket from the big allocations. This season I have managed 14 out of 19 domestic aways through official means, and all but one of the Champions League aways - only missed the first Bruges away game. The talk of a closed shop is utter bollocks.
Home fixtures are already pushing out dedicated, lifelong fans with Villa Park being replaced with daytrippers. Do that to the core of diehard away fans and you lose the heartbeat of the club.
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I find it virtually impossible to get tickets for league away games for me and my son, so selfishly increasing the ballot threshold would help. But if what you say is right, that is excessive. I also don’t really understand the thinking behind it and that makes me suspicious. There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that the club would be doing this as some sort of gesture of goodwill?
Probably way off the mark, but I wonder whether its a model for home tickets too?
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Should be 10% ballot at most, 90% booking history.... with GA+ given no preferential treatment or ring-fenced allocation.
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Get fucked.
Pack that in.
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Should be 10% ballot at most, 90% booking history.... with GA+ given no preferential treatment or ring-fenced allocation.
Only reason I can think is that the club makes no money off aways. They take barely any coaches these days and make nowt on tickets.
Opening up in this way dilutes the support, ruins the independent coach followings too. They probably count on a few of the addicted being driven towards GA+.
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So about 2,000 away tickets go into a ballot for a possible 30,000 fans if it was just for STH. You have about a 6% chance of ever getting one for any given match. And say you are successful, would you be able to enter further ballots?
I think this will lead to more touting and tickets from the ballots will be nowhere near 70% as tickets are skimmed off for hangers on and 'packages'.
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So about 2,000 away tickets go into a ballot for a possible 30,000 fans if it was just for STH. You have about a 6% chance of ever getting one for any given match. And say you are successful, would you be able to enter further ballots?
I think this will lead to more touting and tickets from the ballots will be nowhere near 70% as tickets are skimmed off for hangers on and 'packages'.
Agreed on the tout issue. I'd pay over the odds to get a ticket and I think people would make a fortune on that.
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I don't think it will happen, certainly not the numbers mentioned. Mainly because there's no real benefit to the club that will outweigh the negativity. The other stuff we don't like, CL prices, normal ticket prices, GA+ and so on do benefit the club despite us not liking it. I just don't see it with this.
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Strong rumours that away tickets will be:
10% for GA+
20%? (Loyalty points)
70% ballot.
well we know how they operate by now, they circulate the rumours so the fans go into meltdown, then the official announcement is like a watered down version, still shit but then fans think "phew could of been worse lads, count yourselves lucky!" so yeah 50% history 25% ballot 25% GA+ could be a thing :o
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For what its worth the bloke on MOMs reckons (based on discussions with the FAB) that the rumoured 70% ballot isn't true.
But as others have said, they club seem to like teasing a worse case scenario so the actual changes they bring in aren't as badly received.
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50% ballot, 50% "loyalty" would be better. Nobody "deserves" to go to every single away game while others can't get to any. Perhaps make it 100% loyalty if it's last day potential title decider or something like that, but not every game so it's just a closed shop.
Also, anyone still drinking ten minutes after the second half has started should be banned so that people who actually want to watch the games can attend instead.
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Terrible idea.
So I take it it's another "squeeze the lemon" idea from Heck to generate more income. As the away tickets are capped I assume Club can't charge GA+ any more than face value but looking to sell bolt on hospitality?
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It was always on the cards that the club would do this. Hopefully the ratio of ballot tickets will be kept sensible. Maybe it will take a few poorer seasons for the club to think again..
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What does GA+ get you on an away trip?
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Is it just GA+ season ticket holders who would get them? So, for away games, nothing, other than a ticket. Might be wrong.
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For what its worth the bloke on MOMs reckons (based on discussions with the FAB) that the rumoured 70% ballot isn't true.
But as others have said, they club seem to like teasing a worse case scenario so the actual changes they bring in aren't as badly received.
Or maybe someone starts a baseless rumour and it all kicks off from there.
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Does anyone know what other clubs do?
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It's not true. It was dispelled again yesterday by the new fan liaison officer.
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Not like Ads to post rants based on rumours though.
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Does anyone know what other clubs do?
Judging by Spurs last night you have to complete the Krypton Factor before getting a ticket.
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For what its worth the bloke on MOMs reckons (based on discussions with the FAB) that the rumoured 70% ballot isn't true.
But as others have said, they club seem to like teasing a worse case scenario so the actual changes they bring in aren't as badly received.
Or maybe someone starts a baseless rumour and it all kicks off from there.
It's what's come out of the FAB meetings. I've not just made it up.
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Not like Ads to post rants based on rumours though.
Tedious as ever.
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Not like Ads to post rants based on rumours though.
Tedious as ever.
What? Last time I support you then.
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Support? If you say so.
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50% ballot, 50% "loyalty" would be better. Nobody "deserves" to go to every single away game while others can't get to any. Perhaps make it 100% loyalty if it's last day potential title decider or something like that, but not every game so it's just a closed shop.
Also, anyone still drinking ten minutes after the second half has started should be banned so that people who actually want to watch the games can attend instead.
Agree on all 3 points raised .
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What I'd like to see, on the broad question of away fans, is clubs being mandated to keep a mixed or buffer zone somewhere. There is nothing more weeing off than not being able to get an away ticket somewhere only to see empty seats scattered throughout the home areas
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Get fucked.
Pack that in.
Pack GA+ in.
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I went to a fair few away games in the years preceding our relegation, and the championship years. Since promotion, other priorities cost wise have made it hard. It would be nice to get a ticket occasionally, but we we should still prioritise the lads who go away every week.
Maybe 20-30% ballot would be fair?
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The game is in a weird spot. Players have never been richer and fans never so squeezed.
Been gutted about Martinez for the past 22 hours or so but then I read that going to Saudi, well, the money will sort him and his family out etc.
Er, I am fairly confident the man already earns more in a few days than I'd earn in a year. I know people say the bubble will never burst, well, if it keeps going like this it absolutely will a some point.
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Every ST holder should have priority to at least 1 or 2 games away a season. When renewing ST the club should ask for top 2 away games from all ST holders and then use that data when selling the tickets .
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Every ST holder should have priority to at least 1 or 2 games away a season. When renewing ST the club should ask for top 2 away games from all ST holders and then use that data when selling the tickets .
Except 99% would probably choose the same two.
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I went to a fair few away games in the years preceding our relegation, and the championship years. Since promotion, other priorities cost wise have made it hard. It would be nice to get a ticket occasionally, but we we should still prioritise the lads who go away every week.
Maybe 20-30% ballot would be fair?
That mirrors my experience and attitude.
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Every ST holder should have priority to at least 1 or 2 games away a season. When renewing ST the club should ask for top 2 away games from all ST holders and then use that data when selling the tickets .
Except 99% would probably choose the same two.
Exactly , so it might work out ok. And once you've picked them you just have that window , if you don't want them it goes to the next .
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Ads, I’ve been a season ticket holder for about the same length of time as you. I will always continue following the team’s endeavours but, sadly, yesterday I walked out of Villa Park for the final time. Heck and gang have totally pissed me off, especially this season. First, I’m priced out of the CL matches. On top of that, as I hadn’t attended any of the FA Cup matches, I was placed 3rd in the order to purchase semi final tickets. So, on the 3rd day of sales, only 5th tier tickets were available to me. I just about managed to find 2 tickets together as my brother is also a season ticket holder. Guess what, the very next day, 1,000’s of tickets suddenly became available in tier 2. Look at how Palace managed their allocation, getting all their die hards together. In the long run the Club will bitterly regret what they have done/are doing to the fans that stuck it out through thick and thin. Hopefully not but, if we go back to being a mid to bottom half of the table, interest in our matches will quickly fall away.
There’s only one thing that these people understand and that’s talking with your feet. I know that, for now at least, not that many will follow my example but, in the long run, the Club will be the losers when they piss off enough of the loyal fans.
Rant over but, had to get that off my chest.
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Ads, I’ve been a season ticket holder for about the same length of time as you. I will always continue following the team’s endeavours but, sadly, yesterday I walked out of Villa Park for the final time. Heck and gang have totally pissed me off, especially this season. First, I’m priced out of the CL matches. On top of that, as I hadn’t attended any of the FA Cup matches, I was placed 3rd in the order to purchase semi final tickets. So, on the 3rd day of sales, only 5th tier tickets were available to me. I just about managed to find 2 tickets together as my brother is also a season ticket holder. Guess what, the very next day, 1,000’s of tickets suddenly became available in tier 2. Look at how Palace managed their allocation, getting all their die hards together. In the long run the Club will bitterly regret what they have done/are doing to the fans that stuck it out through thick and thin. Hopefully not but, if we go back to being a mid to bottom half of the table, interest in our matches will quickly fall away.
There’s only one thing that these people understand and that’s talking with your feet. I know that, for now at least, not that many will follow my example but, in the long run, the Club will be the losers when they piss off enough of the loyal fans.
Rant over but, had to get that off my chest.
Very much in the same place although I've not walked out for the final time, I'm not renewing my ST and will try and pick out a few games if pricing and availability allows.
At the time when everything is looking up, overall they've just left me not really feeling part of it in the way I used to.
Just none of it feels as good as it should.
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Amfy, in spite of the Club saying they have 30,000 on the waiting list, for season tickets, I don’t think you’ll have any problem getting a ticket for the odd match if you want to. My brother has not been well so has been unable to use his season ticket on many occasions this season. Even yesterday I was trying to pass on the ticket for £40(it would cost £68 if purchased as a one off from the Club). No takers!! Have, on a few occasions given the ticket back to the Club and, only once has it been taken up and he got £36 back from the Club. Nice work, from the Club’s point of view.
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There should be a ballot opportunity for the many thousands of loyal fans who don't currently get an opportunity for away tickets. Accepting GA+ will get at least 10% and potentially more with the way the club is being run these days, a figure of up to 30% is not unreasonable for ballot, to give fans who live locally to some of our away fixtures and youngsters with their parents a chance to see Villa on the road. I include European fixtures in this also. With the erosion of ssn ticket value vs club member status being promoted, don't be surprised to see greater parity between the 2 going forwards for away tickets (see Preston away).
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I think the current ballot (when there is one, there isn't for some games) is 50 pairs of tickets which is nowhere near enough. I may be wrong about that though.
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Strong rumours that away tickets will be:
10% for GA+
20%? (Loyalty points)
70% ballot.
Not sure if anybody else has heard this, but have to say it's really put an absolute downer on the end of season. I feel like 30+ years of loyalty and effort, when for a good 25+ of those it was easy to get a ticket, is being flushed down the toilet.
The likes of Goughie, Hatchet and Julian who run the biggest independent coaches/clubs will be decimated. Mates for decades and decades linked by a common addiction and dedication.
I feel more gutted at the possibility of this than when we got relegated.
I’ve a lot of respect for your post and you as a poster Ads.
Through work and living abroad recently my away history has been hard to build back up and it doesn’t sometimes feel like a closed shop. Anecdotally and others have said, there are always away tickets available; not suggesting these are being touted for profit but it’s clear there are tickets routinely bought with an ID with that person having no intention to attend.
There has to be some sort of better allocation method though, I feel the massive drop for each release doesn’t help. I’ve a season ticket holder and probably miss 3/4 games a year at home for various reasons, work, holiday etc but o can reassign or sell it back to the club with no loss of booking history per se since I can renew at the end of the year. I guess if I’d reassigned my seat for every game there’s an argument I should lose my right? That being said the years I worked and lived in the US I kept my season ticket (and others using it was seen as less as an issue given it was 2014-2016 and demand was much lower!
Certainly the booking history needs to be more long term, I feel the Championship years skewed things a lot since the number of tickets we’d be allocated then vs the average 3k now means supply now is massively lower. But can understand going further back in the Lambert years it was much easier to get tickets (when I did lot of London games due to living there)
The percentages you are quoting are way too high, the trouble with such a low percentage ballot is if you are trying to break into the club it can be difficult, especially if you want to go with 2/3 others all in the same boat - you can’t enter as a group to share costs of travel etc.
The allocation to GA+ for a start is a total joke. You pay more for you ticket as you get extra benefits; why this gives you a leg up to the away scheme is nonsense.
Its disappointing that after what has been another great year hopefully finishing on a high it’s left you feeling this way.
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I wonder if the already small allocation to Lions Clubs across the country will be changed? For a smallish club like the Bournemouth Lions there are normally 3-5 cars travelling up to every home game. Mostly season ticket holders. There are usually one or two cars at away games. With 5 or 6 in the top tier for away criteria. Everyone relies on others getting away tickets to make travel costs reasonable. If only one or two got tickets in a ballot I don't think the away travel would continue as costs would be too much...
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I'd heard the same rumours as you Ads. Would be gutted if true.
For what its worth the bloke on MOMs reckons (based on discussions with the FAB) that the rumoured 70% ballot isn't true.
But as others have said, they club seem to like teasing a worse case scenario so the actual changes they bring in aren't as badly received.
Or maybe someone starts a baseless rumour and it all kicks off from there.
It's what's come out of the FAB meetings. I've not just made it up.
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Extending the ballot is only fair , it's just a question of what the %'s look like .
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I wonder if the already small allocation to Lions Clubs across the country will be changed? For a smallish club like the Bournemouth Lions there are normally 3-5 cars travelling up to every home game. Mostly season ticket holders. There are usually one or two cars at away games. With 5 or 6 in the top tier for away criteria. Everyone relies on others getting away tickets to make travel costs reasonable. If only one or two got tickets in a ballot I don't think the away travel would continue as costs would be too much...
This is a very good point, and I hope it doesn’t change for the worse - I appreciate the chance of getting to games that are relatively local to me. I’m sure there’s many others in a similar situation to me that rely on those as a route to getting to local away games.
The figures Ads have posted are preposterous. The GA+ ones in particular are worrying - how long before that starts creeping up to swallow up the vast majority of the 70% ballot allocation?
This is wrong. It’s not going to help the majority of fans get to away games - it’s just siphoning them off and making them a perk of GA+ types
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I don't see how the vast majority of people who pay the extra for the GA+ package at home games are likely to be attracted to attending away games that presumably will have no such GA+ things. And I also couldn't see fans being cajoled into paying the significant extra for home GA+ just as a means of having a better chance of gaining a ticket to an away game.
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I don't see how the vast majority of people who pay the extra for the GA+ package at home games are likely to be attracted to attending away games that presumably will have no such GA+ things. And I also couldn't see fans being cajoled into paying the significant extra for home GA+ just as a means of having a better chance of gaining a ticket to an away game.
Unless clubs bring in reciprocal GA+ benefits for away fans (eg private bar area)
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Not every club has the facilities for private areas for their own fans, let alone away ones. As an aside, has their been a breakdown of GA+ for the new Everton ground?