Away Tickets - What's the magic?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I think corporate customers should be judged as normal fans are and have to build up and maintain a history like everybody else. I know a couple of people who hardly go to away games yet got tickets to european away games via corporate connections when I couldn't go to any because my mate couldn't do the first one.

There are no special privileges in terms of away tickets for corporate clients any more, and they are treated exactly the same as everybody else in terms of booking history this season.  It was a bit easier in previous seasons, but not any more.

I thought they had a pot of tickets skimmed off the top? Wasn't there furore about it earlier in the season with regard to the terrace view or something?

I don't know what they're doing with TV, but I know that "proper" corporate don't get any special privileges, which is how it should be.  And if they're not prioritising people who have paid thousands for their corporate packages and boxes, I'm pretty sure they're not for people who buy the odd top up GA+ package.

I also know people who have corporate who got offered tickets to European away games and Premier league games and their away attendance record would not have qualified them to go, so that would suggest there is an 'improper' corporate system going on somewhere.

The only person I know who has the TV thing hasn't been offered anything at all....except more TV packages!

[chrisw1]

I thought this was all clarified a while back?  TV is part of the corporate allocation which (I seem to recall) is 10% of away tickets.  That 10% is allocated on the usual criteria but to corporate members.  But I guess that gives them a bit more chance than standard away tickets as there's probably a lower relative percentage demand to stand amongst pissed-up coke-sniffing away fans from those who's home match experience is mostly silver service tables.   

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I thought this was all clarified a while back?  TV is part of the corporate allocation which (I seem to recall) is 10% of away tickets.  That 10% is allocated on the usual criteria but to corporate members.  But I guess that gives them a bit more chance than standard away tickets as there's probably a lower relative percentage demand to stand amongst pissed-up coke-sniffing away fans from those who's home match experience is mostly silver service tables.   

Spot on!

[Dogtanian]

I thought this was all clarified a while back?  TV is part of the corporate allocation which (I seem to recall) is 10% of away tickets.  That 10% is allocated on the usual criteria but to corporate members.  But I guess that gives them a bit more chance than standard away tickets as there's probably a lower relative percentage demand to stand amongst pissed-up coke-sniffing away fans from those who's home match experience is mostly silver service tables.

Glad to see they’ve taken my recommendations onboard. 

[HolteL4]

I'm lucky to be in the top category for away tickets. However, I'm now in my early sixties and having recently moved to West Wales no longer have the option of travelling with my mates in the Bournemouth Lions. It's very expensive to travel alone, time-consuming, and I must say not so enjoyable. So I'm wondering if this will sadly be my last season of travelling away to watch Villa. If so, I hope it allows a younger Villa fan to experience the highs and lows of watching us away in the future and get the same pleasure that I've had the past 45 years....UTV

I'll be 70 in a few weeks and i feel the same, i generally travel alone on coach 2 from VP, but i now have bought a static caravan up by Barmouth and try to spend as much time up there as i can. I will keep my ST but may not bother with away games....i daresay how we finish this season off may have a bearing on my decision.......part of me wants to keep going for as long as i can......but i got knocked flying by a pissed up Villan at Boro....i'm not great on my feet....so thats become issue......fcuk knows what i'll fo

Boro was terrible for pissed up people, I was surrounded by new faces and every single one of them was extremely pissed 1 couldn't go 5 mins without falling over, whilst the rest of them were constantly going to the toilet, left 10 mins before half time then came back 15 mins into the second half. They must have only seen 50% of the match at best and given how pissed they were they won't have remembered it the next day. Absolutely ridiculous to have so little chances of away tickets and when they got the opportunity they ended up like that.

[exiled on the wirral!]

I'm lucky to be in the top category for away tickets. However, I'm now in my early sixties and having recently moved to West Wales no longer have the option of travelling with my mates in the Bournemouth Lions. It's very expensive to travel alone, time-consuming, and I must say not so enjoyable. So I'm wondering if this will sadly be my last season of travelling away to watch Villa. If so, I hope it allows a younger Villa fan to experience the highs and lows of watching us away in the future and get the same pleasure that I've had the past 45 years....UTV

I'll be 70 in a few weeks and i feel the same, i generally travel alone on coach 2 from VP, but i now have bought a static caravan up by Barmouth and try to spend as much time up there as i can. I will keep my ST but may not bother with away games....i daresay how we finish this season off may have a bearing on my decision.......part of me wants to keep going for as long as i can......but i got knocked flying by a pissed up Villan at Boro....i'm not great on my feet....so thats become issue......fcuk knows what i'll fo

Boro was terrible for pissed up people, I was surrounded by new faces and every single one of them was extremely pissed 1 couldn't go 5 mins without falling over, whilst the rest of them were constantly going to the toilet, left 10 mins before half time then came back 15 mins into the second half. They must have only seen 50% of the match at best and given how pissed they were they won't have remembered it the next day. Absolutely ridiculous to have so little chances of away tickets and when they got the opportunity they ended up like that.

Bet you can't wait for Chelsea, there will be 2000 more

[olaftab]

How many people pass on their references? How many people pass on their references regularly? What is your definition of regularly.

It's a very small percentage, not regular by same people, and usually done as a favour to a friend/family member but amazing how it is percieved as the root of all evil.

[VillaTim]

I'm lucky to be in the top category for away tickets. However, I'm now in my early sixties and having recently moved to West Wales no longer have the option of travelling with my mates in the Bournemouth Lions. It's very expensive to travel alone, time-consuming, and I must say not so enjoyable. So I'm wondering if this will sadly be my last season of travelling away to watch Villa. If so, I hope it allows a younger Villa fan to experience the highs and lows of watching us away in the future and get the same pleasure that I've had the past 45 years....UTV

I'll be 70 in a few weeks and i feel the same, i generally travel alone on coach 2 from VP, but i now have bought a static caravan up by Barmouth and try to spend as much time up there as i can. I will keep my ST but may not bother with away games....i daresay how we finish this season off may have a bearing on my decision.......part of me wants to keep going for as long as i can......but i got knocked flying by a pissed up Villan at Boro....i'm not great on my feet....so thats become issue......fcuk knows what i'll fo

Boro was terrible for pissed up people, I was surrounded by new faces and every single one of them was extremely pissed 1 couldn't go 5 mins without falling over, whilst the rest of them were constantly going to the toilet, left 10 mins before half time then came back 15 mins into the second half. They must have only seen 50% of the match at best and given how pissed they were they won't have remembered it the next day. Absolutely ridiculous to have so little chances of away tickets and when they got the opportunity they ended up like that.

Bet you can't wait for Chelsea, there will be 2000 more

i could understand to a degree the ridiculously excessive drinking under the Lambert/Sherwood/Garde/Di Matteo era's but now !? , dear oh dear just enjoy the football

[Ads]

How many people pass on their references? How many people pass on their references regularly? What is your definition of regularly.

It's a very small percentage, not regular by same people, and usually done as a favour to a friend/family member but amazing how it is percieved as the root of all evil.

I agree. My lad came to Leeds last season because my parents were celebrating my old man's 60th abroad. He came to Old Trafford the other week because a kind soul who goes everywhere couldn't make it...but then ended up going too. I don't think it's anywhere near as big a problem as is made out and in any event, there's no ability for anybody to prove the claim that its endemic. There's little more than anecdotal evidence which is not persuasive.

[amfy]

If 2000 people miss one away league game a season, that’s just over 100 tickets a week. Or about 5% of a 2000 allocation. Not the root of all evil or endemic, but enough for around 1000 Villa fans to get to a couple of aways each during a season, so not entirely insignificant either for those who are shut out.

[olaftab]

amfy Technically you are right but there is no evidence that there are fans waiting and willing to take the call of tickets that may be leftover on a short notice to an away ground.  In fact you could argue that “passing on” does facilitate exactly what you’re saying.

[exigo]

I thought this was all clarified a while back?  TV is part of the corporate allocation which (I seem to recall) is 10% of away tickets.  That 10% is allocated on the usual criteria but to corporate members.  But I guess that gives them a bit more chance than standard away tickets as there's probably a lower relative percentage demand to stand amongst pissed-up coke-sniffing away fans from those who's home match experience is mostly silver service tables.   

For at least the last two seasons, 10% has been skimmed off away allocations, but that's for everything across player friends and family, away ballot, lions clubs and corporate.

[AV82EC]

I think Lions Clubs getting tickets is not on personally and smacks of people jumping the queue.

[olaftab]

I disagree. I am fortunate enough to have lived most of my life close to Villa Park so I greatly admire those who live a bit further away and follow Villa home and away. Club needs to encourage and preserve our support outside Midlands.

[ChicagoLion]

I think the passing off is not the issue.
The problem is the closed shop which does not enable other supporters to go to an away game at all.
There needs to be an allocation held back for other Season Ticket holders and members.
I would think that 25% seems like a reasonable amount.