Selling on tickets

[Martyn Smith]

I haven't seen the wording but am I correct in understanding that there are harsher penalties being  introduced for selling on away tickets privately.

The club's attitude to away tickets seems strangely dogmatic and parochial to me. I understand that other clubs reserve a certain amount of away tickets to a pure allcomers ballot, the notion being that it prevents away tickets becoming the preserve of an impenetrable clique.

How about 2/3 of the away allocation being given over to the current priority list and the rest being put out to ballot for anyone who is registered with the club and has at least some booking history. That would seem a decent way of allowing those who can't for whatever reason build up a regular profile a route into supporting the club away

[Marlon From Bearwood]

There are a certain number of away tickets that have to be collected in person with ID at the ground before kick off, in an attempt to prevent people selling them on.

The club also monitor social media and punish those that they spot (and can identify) selling tickets on.

I agree, our away support is now basically a closed shop. Even in our first season back after promotion I was able to get my son tickets for about 5 away games by being quick when they went on sale to ST holders. Even that option has gone now. On the rare occasion away games get to ST holders only, there’s literally a handful left that go in seconds.

I usually qualify for most away games myself but have to beg, steal or borrow a spare reference if I want to take my son (so have to pay adult price for him). The away history he previously built up in his own name now counts for nothing.

Despite the fact it would be bad for me personally, I agree that some tickets should go into a ballot that any ST holders could enter. The FA allocate England away tickets on a basis of 70% loyalty and 30% random ballot open to all members. I’d probably go 80/20 for Villa away games personally, as that would still give 600 people a chance of a ticket for most away games.

[artvandelay]

On the flipside, it's unfair that someone who's given up significant amounts of time and money to follow the team around the country through good and bad should miss out on a ticket for someone who's just entered a ballot.

The less glamorous games with big allocations almost always go down to STH only. I mean, would people agree with Season Tickets being taken off people to allow a random assortment of members to get their seats instead? After all, the Season Tickets are a closed shop with a waiting list. This will get worse when the North Stand is redeveloped.

The issue of the so-called 'closed shop' is people who buy tickets and sell them on, keeping their own history. The simple way around this is for non-transferrable NFC tickets to be issued. I love paper tickets, so would be annoyed by it but it rewards loyalty whilst restricting the scope for abuse of the system.

[Dogtanian]

There are a certain number of away tickets that have to be collected in person with ID at the ground before kick off, in an attempt to prevent people selling them on.

The club also monitor social media and punish those that they spot (and can identify) selling tickets on.

I agree, our away support is now basically a closed shop. Even in our first season back after promotion I was able to get my son tickets for about 5 away games by being quick when they went on sale to ST holders. Even that option has gone now. On the rare occasion away games get to ST holders only, there’s literally a handful left that go in seconds.

I usually qualify for most away games myself but have to beg, steal or borrow a spare reference if I want to take my son (so have to pay adult price for him). The away history he previously built up in his own name now counts for nothing.

Despite the fact it would be bad for me personally, I agree that some tickets should go into a ballot that any ST holders could enter. The FA allocate England away tickets on a basis of 70% loyalty and 30% random ballot open to all members. I’d probably go 80/20 for Villa away games personally, as that would still give 600 people a chance of a ticket for most away games.

I remember this coming out, but I've never had to collect mine. I did lose my ticket for Leicester away last season and needed ID to get one at the ground and I got the impression they knew who had purchased each ticket (else what were they comparing my ID to?).

Has anyone else been told their ticket needs to be collect as part of this scheme? It might be that if they suspect you are selling your ticket on they can use it to check by insisting you collect one and leave other people alone.

[VillaTim]

50/50 would be a fair split.

[joe_c]

There are a certain number of away tickets that have to be collected in person with ID at the ground before kick off, in an attempt to prevent people selling them on.

The club also monitor social media and punish those that they spot (and can identify) selling tickets on.

I agree, our away support is now basically a closed shop. Even in our first season back after promotion I was able to get my son tickets for about 5 away games by being quick when they went on sale to ST holders. Even that option has gone now. On the rare occasion away games get to ST holders only, there’s literally a handful left that go in seconds.

I usually qualify for most away games myself but have to beg, steal or borrow a spare reference if I want to take my son (so have to pay adult price for him). The away history he previously built up in his own name now counts for nothing.

Despite the fact it would be bad for me personally, I agree that some tickets should go into a ballot that any ST holders could enter. The FA allocate England away tickets on a basis of 70% loyalty and 30% random ballot open to all members. I’d probably go 80/20 for Villa away games personally, as that would still give 600 people a chance of a ticket for most away games.

I remember this coming out, but I've never had to collect mine. I did lose my ticket for Leicester away last season and needed ID to get one at the ground and I got the impression they knew who had purchased each ticket (else what were they comparing my ID to?).

Has anyone else been told their ticket needs to be collect as part of this scheme? It might be that if they suspect you are selling your ticket on they can use it to check by insisting you collect one and leave other people alone.

Yes, Arsenal last season I got the following letter instead of the expected ticket:

Dear xxx
As part of our commitment to ensure that away tickets are being used by the supporter that was eligible
to purchase for away games, we wll be operating an audit process enforcing collection on the day for a small number of randomly selected supporters.
One of your tickets has been selected at random to follow this process Vs Arsenal and therefore will
need to be collected from the away ticket office at The Emirates Stadium on the day of the game.
This ticket office wilbe open approx. 2 hours prior to kick off.
Please note. you will be required to present photo identification at the away ticket office to collect your
ticket. Your ticket will not be released unless the photo ID matches that of the named ticket holder.
We appreciate that this may cause a smallinconvenience to you, However, we hope you understand that
the reason we are doing this is purely to ensure those fans who regularly travel away from home are in
possession of the tickets they are entitled to. not other supporters who do not fulfil the eligibility criteria
themselves.
Should you no longer wish to attend the match. you wll have until Friday 26" August at Spm to advise us
accordingly to receive a refund.
The details of the person assigned to the ticket chosen at random is:
Name: xxx
Block Block 23
Row.12
Seat 722
Price Type. Adult
you heve purchased multiple tickets, the ticket above will ot be enclosed in this envelope and will need
to be collected from The Emirates Stadium
Should you have any questions or queries. please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards
Ticket Office
Aston Villa Football Club
03333231874
Direct +44 (0) 121 3272299
Emall postraster@avfc.co uk Web wwwavfc.co.uk

Ended up having to cancel it anyway due to domestic priorities which eventually resulted in me only getting to one away game all season, via the ballot ironically enough.

[Dogtanian]

Ah, okay. That’s interesting. Cheers.

I wonder how many they’re doing.

[PGW]

There are a certain number of away tickets that have to be collected in person with ID at the ground before kick off, in an attempt to prevent people selling them on.

The club also monitor social media and punish those that they spot (and can identify) selling tickets on.

I agree, our away support is now basically a closed shop. Even in our first season back after promotion I was able to get my son tickets for about 5 away games by being quick when they went on sale to ST holders. Even that option has gone now. On the rare occasion away games get to ST holders only, there’s literally a handful left that go in seconds.

I usually qualify for most away games myself but have to beg, steal or borrow a spare reference if I want to take my son (so have to pay adult price for him). The away history he previously built up in his own name now counts for nothing.

Despite the fact it would be bad for me personally, I agree that some tickets should go into a ballot that any ST holders could enter. The FA allocate England away tickets on a basis of 70% loyalty and 30% random ballot open to all members. I’d probably go 80/20 for Villa away games personally, as that would still give 600 people a chance of a ticket for most away games.

I remember this coming out, but I've never had to collect mine. I did lose my ticket for Leicester away last season and needed ID to get one at the ground and I got the impression they knew who had purchased each ticket (else what were they comparing my ID to?).

Has anyone else been told their ticket needs to be collect as part of this scheme? It might be that if they suspect you are selling your ticket on they can use it to check by insisting you collect one and leave other people alone.

Yes, Arsenal last season I got the following letter instead of the expected ticket:

Dear xxx
As part of our commitment to ensure that away tickets are being used by the supporter that was eligible
to purchase for away games, we wll be operating an audit process enforcing collection on the day for a small number of randomly selected supporters.
One of your tickets has been selected at random to follow this process Vs Arsenal and therefore will
need to be collected from the away ticket office at The Emirates Stadium on the day of the game.
This ticket office wilbe open approx. 2 hours prior to kick off.
Please note. you will be required to present photo identification at the away ticket office to collect your
ticket. Your ticket will not be released unless the photo ID matches that of the named ticket holder.
We appreciate that this may cause a smallinconvenience to you, However, we hope you understand that
the reason we are doing this is purely to ensure those fans who regularly travel away from home are in
possession of the tickets they are entitled to. not other supporters who do not fulfil the eligibility criteria
themselves.
Should you no longer wish to attend the match. you wll have until Friday 26" August at Spm to advise us
accordingly to receive a refund.
The details of the person assigned to the ticket chosen at random is:
Name: xxx
Block Block 23
Row.12
Seat 722
Price Type. Adult
you heve purchased multiple tickets, the ticket above will ot be enclosed in this envelope and will need
to be collected from The Emirates Stadium
Should you have any questions or queries. please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards
Ticket Office
Aston Villa Football Club
03333231874
Direct +44 (0) 121 3272299
Emall postraster@avfc.co uk Web wwwavfc.co.uk

Ended up having to cancel it anyway due to domestic priorities which eventually resulted in me only getting to one away game all season, via the ballot ironically enough.

I
I had to pick mine up at Everton last season.
Everton TO staff weren't bothered, gave my name that's all and handed tickets over.

[wittonwarrior]

The whole thing is a farce, especially with Terrace View season ticket holders able to jump the queue.  The club have lost control basically.  It was Villa's shortsightness with the away scheme that has caused this and the ramifications are continuing up to today.  As for transfer of tickets I'd love to know where the 5% of tickets taken by the club for hospitality and club employees actually end up with. 

[Des Little]

Apologies if I’m being thick, but how do Terrace View members jump the queue? Do they go straight into tier 1 of the pecking order or something?

[amfy]

Apologies if I’m being thick, but how do Terrace View members jump the queue? Do they go straight into tier 1 of the pecking order or something?

There are people who have been on the waiting list for a season ticket and maybe even got to the top, who would like to buy  a season ticket in The Upper Holte, but all of the vacant seats in the Upper Holte are being offered to people who can afford £1500 for some kind of luxury Upper Holte Season Ticket. Just about anyone whose ever been to Villa Park in their life is being offered this opportunity, but it’s still queue jumping because those who have queued are being overlooked for those with the cash.

[Des Little]

Apologies, I thought Terrace View peeps were getting priority for away tickets. I must have that wrong.

[Nev]

Apologies, I thought Terrace View peeps were getting priority for away tickets. I must have that wrong.

The Trust have put out a statement detailing instances of this.