Away Tickets

[Marlon From Bearwood]

We’ve discussed this before and whilst you’ll never get a system that keeps everyone happy, I think the way the FA distribute England away tickets is just about the fairest. 80% of tickets are sold on a loyalty / attendance history basis, with the other 20% going to a random ballot that anyone (ST holders in our case ) could enter.

If Villa did the same, around 600 new fans would get the chance to attend most away games. Much fairer than the current 50 (and I say that as someone who would benefit more personally from the current system).

[cdbearsfan]

I'd be up for that, but with the rule if you win the ballot you're banned from the next three or four, to guarantee a more even spread. Ideally you would be able to apply as a block so if you have five or six friends who want to attend, either you all get a ticket in the ballot or none of you do.

[john e]

I’m alright for next season I’m getting all Risso’s spares cus he’s my bff on here

[oldhill_avfc]

Can't see why a similar approach is not taken to the home tickets, ie have away season ticket holders/members - limited to a sensible number (say 2/3 of average allocation).  The remaining 1/3rd allocated to those that apply on a lottery basis.

For those games where the allocation is less that the number of members, then the tickets could be allocated to the members only on a lottery basis.

Obviously how you decide on who could be members of the away scheme in the first season might be an issue.

[chrisw1]

Father in law is a Chelsea fan and they have some kind of scheme that allows all season ticket holders to attend at least a couple of away games a season, he complains that it's not great but definitely better than the closed shop we have.

I love an away game and there's so many grounds I'd love to go to but feels like a complete impossibility these days.

I think this is sensible.   

[wittonwarrior]

You cannot simply drop people who have been going every away game, that would be cruel.    The away scheme from the last season in the Championship is still causing some issues with resale of  tickets under the table.  One possible solution would be for all aways to be collected - would mean a lot of moans but would stop some of the resales that goes on.    Would be a bind for the club as they would have to go down and deal with it every week (its not full proof a few years ago I couldn't go to Burnley had just had operation on my foot - ticket got lost in post/got a replacement to be collected at the Turf as they call it - anyway simply posted him my driver's license no way do people ever check the photos on the cards)

[wittonwarrior]

Bournemouth a bit of a cock up with distribution - the next one where people will be moaning and judging by Villa's low first sale window will be Forest only 2,000 away tickets.

[Three Spires Villa]

I went to lots of away games in the seasons leading up to relegation and in the championship, I understand that people want to go, but did all those moaning want to go to Rotherham, or some of the away games in the premiership when we got a good hiding each week?

Although it wouldn’t help me, I do understand we need a better way of doing this and I quite like the idea of maybe an 80 / 20 split so people get a chance to go to an away game.

[Lucky Eddie]

A timely thread. As a season ticket holder for many years, living in London meant that I was able to attend a large proportion of away games without the hassle of a whole day devoted to home games. Hammers, Spurs, Palace, Charlton (a while ago now), Chelsea, Fulham, Arsenal, were all regulars, until I was obliged to miss a few due to circumstances beyond my control and since then have simply not had a look in. The result is I've never been to the new Spurs ground (would love to), nor the West Ham ground (not so keen) and am denied on average five or six away games a season, on my doorstep. This is something the club should look into in order to give devoted fans (myself included) a fair crack at securing a ticket.

You can't expect a ticket for spurs away any more than I can expect a ticket for the derbys just because I live in Brum.

[andrew08]

It’s not the same people every week but an away season ticket offer to 100% attendees would probably take 800 or so I’d guess. As one of those I’d be up for that, but there’s still people who go to 90% who’d be hard done by.

There is an issue with people flogging on tickets and there should be a one or two tickets a season amnesty on that to stop it. Why should someone lose a ticket the following season if he has to miss a game for the first time in years due to a family bereavement for example and why should he/she be ‘criminalised’ for giving his ticket to a mate. Anymore than that and there should be penalties. 

It’s tricky, but I would be in favour of a bigger draw to get people an opportunity to go, the current 25 isn’t enough.

[amfy]

but did all those moaning want to go to Rotherham, or some of the away games in the premiership when we got a good hiding each week?

Not all obviously, but I did for one. I saw us thrashed at Everton and Spurs for a couple of examples in the seasons leading up to relegation, and specifically Rotherham (amongst a few other less than glamorous Championship aways) - I was there. It’s not fair to imply that those who aren’t in the closed shop weren’t up for it when times were worse.

Lots of us just used to do half a dozen to a dozen aways regardless, there didn’t used to do this pressure (on everyone - those in & out of the closed shop) to do ALL of them.

[Flin5tone]

Don't expect any fairness under the current regime.

I was there at Barnsley,Norwich City and the like on Cold winters evenings in the Championship along with many others . It seems those who were loyal in the championship are no longer required as we have an influx of new supporters who may just well be Premier League fans. It's NOT RIGHT.

[Three Spires Villa]

but did all those moaning want to go to Rotherham, or some of the away games in the premiership when we got a good hiding each week?

Not all obviously, but I did for one. I saw us thrashed at Everton and Spurs for a couple of examples in the seasons leading up to relegation, and specifically Rotherham (amongst a few other less than glamorous Championship aways) - I was there. It’s not fair to imply that those who aren’t in the closed shop weren’t up for it when times were worse.

Lots of us just used to do half a dozen to a dozen aways regardless, there didn’t used to do this pressure (on everyone - those in & out of the closed shop) to do ALL of them.

So you didn’t quote the end of my post, just the first part. I finished by saying although it would or may work against me, I think a fairer way of selecting fans for away games should be in place.

However there will be fans who want to go away who didn’t in the past, the same as fans didn’t go to VP in the championship, and I’m not saying I’m a better fan or anything like that!

[amfy]

but did all those moaning want to go to Rotherham, or some of the away games in the premiership when we got a good hiding each week?

Not all obviously, but I did for one. I saw us thrashed at Everton and Spurs for a couple of examples in the seasons leading up to relegation, and specifically Rotherham (amongst a few other less than glamorous Championship aways) - I was there. It’s not fair to imply that those who aren’t in the closed shop weren’t up for it when times were worse.

Lots of us just used to do half a dozen to a dozen aways regardless, there didn’t used to do this pressure (on everyone - those in & out of the closed shop) to do ALL of them.

So you didn’t quote the end of my post, just the first part. I finished by saying although it would or may work against me, I think a fairer way of selecting fans for away games should be in place.

However there will be fans who want to go away who didn’t in the past, the same as fans didn’t go to VP in the championship, and I’m not saying I’m a better fan or anything like that!

That’s fine, but the bit I quoted was because that particular sentence is very much of the tone that those wanting to go to any games now were some kind of bandwagon jumpers. That particular sentence wasn’t necessary to your overall point that there should be a fairer way.

[chrisw1]

If they reduced the criteria to, say, 10 aways, then it would reduce the amount of people needing to cheat the system and buy whether they were going to attend or not - that in itself could free up a few more tickets as it would take the pressure off having to go to every game.  I realise this would then introduce an element of 'fastest finger' when they go on sale which itself often isn't fair due to working hours etc - there's no perfect answer, but I'm not sure the 'closed shop' works either.