How can United sort out membership woes?

[Wumminator]

For those who don’t know, United currently charge 30.00 to become a member. Without being a season ticket holder, this is effectively the only way to get tickets to OT. Members can’t get to away games or finals.

There’s some major issues with the current set up.

A) this year, United have raised ticket prices for members by 5.00. This wasn’t communicated as far as I’m aware before memberships were issued.

B) members can get tickets to any home game (bar any of the big five) through buying them on select dates. However on these dates the website/phone system crashes. Leaving many members unable to get tickets at all.

C) Applications for big games very rarely result in tickets. United sell more corporate seats for these games meaning members are unsuccessful.

It is one of the biggest issues with the club at the moment. Many fans will pay 30.00 and not be able to get to any home games.

What should membership look like? I’m sure if we get a consensus going we can contact United.

 

[buckooo1978]

it would be good if there was a ticketed membership you were guaranteed a ticket with - say 80 quid- not really feasible though I know

in recent years using my membership I was only able to get tickets when the season was effectively over - when Moyes, Van Gaal etc were effectively in their last days

 

[Massive Spanner]

Just play some of our games at the Etihad, there's loads of free seats there.

 

[United Hobbit]

I've found the best way of getting tickets (still need a member) is through one of the official United supporters clubs.

We still need to be a member of United and of the club itself however the one in my area has ticket availability (think United give them an allocation) and also runs a coach. Obviously you need to pay for the coach and ticket of the game you're attending they also have tickets for the big home PL games. Were it not for me trying to save and not being able to afford to go to more than 1 or 2 games a season I'd be going more regularly

Theres a section on their website with details of all their supporters clubs

Not sure what the seats will be this year but have got to sit on the Stretford and North East Quadrants through them last season and season before

 

[SATA]

That is what has been putting me off. Having to buy a membership to be able to buy match tickets. And one membership is only entitled to buy one ticket. It's ridiculous considering how big the United fanbase is

 

[Lennon7]

Used to get quite a few big games through the membership ballot, not sure what it’s like now.

The way I do it now is just buying from people I know with season tickets who can’t go. Seems such a waste of time and a massive rip off getting tickets through membership.

 

[Wumminator]

Used to get quite a few big games through the membership ballot, not sure what it’s like now.

The way I do it now is just buying from people I know with season tickets who can’t go. Seems such a waste of time and a massive rip off getting tickets through membership.

I don’t think I actually got a ticket on my membership last year. Just got them from mates

 

[Lennon7]

I don’t think I actually got a ticket on my membership last year. Just got them from mates

Aye, much easier and most of the time cheaper too if they’re in the right mood!

Only thing is it’s harder to get the big games as they wouldn’t give it up. Although got to the Chelsea game last season (only cause his daughter was doing the London Marathon) - but overall less faff.

Surprised United being the money grabbing cnuts they are don’t put a complete stop to selling on season tickets you can’t use.

 

[711]

I found the website unusable on the official ticket sale day and just gave up. When the Chelsea tickets went on sale I got two, so it's possible, but no doubt unlikely.

I would prefer to go back to the ballot system for all tickets, which would also make it easier to get seats together instead of the ludicrous way they do it now.

 

[Ødegaard]

I think in these modern times that things like access to MuTV should be included in a member subscription. (don't know if it is)

I think it should be easier for fans to buy tickets anyway. If I have the money for it then if there are tickets left, why have me jump through hoops to acquire it? If you demand more money then just say so.
It's not like opposition fans can't sign up a membership to watch a game their team will play in.

 

[11101]

The way I do it now is just buying from people I know with season tickets who can’t go. Seems such a waste of time and a massive rip off getting tickets through membership.

Same. The membership option was pretty useless when i last had it about 20 years ago and nothing i've heard in the meantime has made me want to rejoin.

 

[The Man Himself]

For someone like me who is traveling from India, buying membership and then buying
ticket seemed the only way with of course the risk or membership money going waste.

I could have checked with season ticket holders here or elsewhere but again not everyone from countries far away from UK post on fan forums and may not know season ticket holders. I guess StubHub etc remain only option for such fans then, ending up paying lot higher than face value.

Apart from tickets under 'VIP experience' club should make tickets available to fans only or at least majority of it. The partnership with likes of Thomas Cook for example for tickets and hotel breaks just reduces number of available tickets. I had checked their total package cost and then compared against buying ticket from club website and booking hotel on own. Unsurprisingly, Thomas Cook package was double the cost. But hey, such partnerships are needed for the commercial revenue which help in paying 80M for Maguire

The ticketing system infra should be the first thing to improve. The booking experience was a nightmare today. Ended up getting tickets for 2 games instead of one due to confusion on whether I have got ticket or not . At least make it a convenient experience for fans. Also, refund the membership fee if someone fails to get ticket for any game.

 

[littlepeasoup]

Packed in my membership this season. Had it for close to 10 years, and did get quite a few of the bigger games in the ballot, but I think that's because I was mostly going by myself. Going solo I'd often get call-backs too if I hadn't been successful first time round in a ballot. For what it was the membership was worth it at the time, but I just can't see the value now; I've been getting fewer and fewer tickets through the ballot, and I agree with everyone else in here, the ticketing system is an absolute nightmare.

Like other people in here, if I need a ticket I'll look at other means. I've gotten to know a fair few season ticket holders since I'm quite chatty at matches, and they're always good for a ticket or two every season. Also, I do think that ringing up (if you can get through) is far better than going online for tickets, at least in my experience.

IMO, the club should do what the Euros have just done. Put all the tickets out for a lottery that concludes on a certain date, so everyone has plenty of time to apply. It'd lessen the strain on the club's online infrastructure, and would probably be a fairer way of distributing tickets. The Euros have it so you have to buy *all* the tickets you win in the ballot, which would cut out the time-wasters thinking they can just apply for every game and then pick and choose the ones they win. They could even split it three months at a time (August - November, etc.) if they wanted to, so there would be 3-4 big ballots a season.

Also, for the money of a membership, give me more added value than a pen and a book. I honestly just throw those things away every time. Give me a voucher for the megastore or something, then at least the money stays within the club.

 

[Red Royal]

The whole membership scam sorry scheme has put me off big time. Growing up in Manchester it was worth it, however now down south and only able to make trips to say 6 or 8 weekends a season with 2 kids and not mid-week games; it is a pure lottery to see if I can get to the games - with odds stacked against me. So ~ £100 in membership for maybe 2 games. The model of the recent Cricket World Cup was great where people could apply to the games they wanted, and if for any reason could not make it they can put them back for resale on official ticket sites (hopefully reducing touts).

They have done similar with the Euro 2020 championships.

 

[Lennon7]

Same. The membership option was pretty useless when i last had it about 20 years ago and nothing i've heard in the meantime has made me want to rejoin.

Not even a plastic keychain or a shite biro? Perhaps a glossy squad picture?

 

[The Man Himself]

IMO, the club should do what the Euros have just done. Put all the tickets out for a lottery that concludes on a certain date, so everyone has plenty of time to apply. It'd lessen the strain on the club's online infrastructure, and would probably be a fairer way of distributing tickets. The Euros have it so you have to buy *all* the tickets you win in the ballot, which would cut out the time-wasters thinking they can just apply for every game and then pick and choose the ones they win. They could even split it three months at a time (August - November, etc.) if they wanted to, so there would be 3-4 big ballots a season.

Yup. This is good suggestion. I too was thinking that the Euro 2020 system is something they can modify for club and season dynamic and implement.

Also, for the money of a membership, give me more added value than a pen and a book. I honestly just throw those things away every time. Give me a voucher for the megastore or something, then at least the money stays within the club

I bought 'lite membership' instead. 10 pound cheaper and doesn't include the 'pack.' I would have had to pay 10 pound more in postage it seems if I would opted for it.

 

[SATA]

The club membership is only good for the 10% off the megastore and the stadium tour for a year's worth if you haven't done it. Otherwise it's pretty useless if you are not into that sort of thing and have already done it

 

[Wumminator]

Would anyone prefer it if all games just went to a ballot system?

 

[Ødegaard]

For someone like me who is traveling from India, buying membership and then buying
ticket seemed the only way with of course the risk or membership money going waste.

I could have checked with season ticket holders here or elsewhere but again not everyone from countries far away from UK post on fan forums and may not know season ticket holders. I guess StubHub etc remain only option for such fans then, ending up paying lot higher than face value.

Apart from tickets under 'VIP experience' club should make tickets available to fans only or at least majority of it. The partnership with likes of Thomas Cook for example for tickets and hotel breaks just reduces number of available tickets. I had checked their total package cost and then compared against buying ticket from club website and booking hotel on own. Unsurprisingly, Thomas Cook package was double the cost. But hey, such partnerships are needed for the commercial revenue which help in paying 80M for Maguire

The ticketing system infra should be the first thing to improve. The booking experience was a nightmare today. Ended up getting tickets for 2 games instead of one due to confusion on whether I have got ticket or not . At least make it a convenient experience for fans. Also, refund the membership fee if someone fails to get ticket for any game.

I looked a couple of days ago, and it'll cost me 2k pounds for two people having the red cafe VIP tickets.

 

[dwd]

Nearly all clubs have this system now as far as I know

 

[charlenefan]

I've always thought the whole membership thing was a piss take tbh, £30 for 9 months and the only benefit of being a member is so you can then spend another £?? on a match ticket. In my case as I don't have any United supporting friends when I go to a game I take my wife so we then need to spend another £30 on her membership and then £?? on her ticket

Basically to go and see 2 or 3 games a season I'm down £60 before I've even applied to go to a game

 

[RedCurry]

I've blown plenty of money on membership and haven't got lucky in the draw once! As tempting as it is, I don't want to travel all the way from Canada to watch a home game against Burnley.

I understand that home fans are far more vital than any of us satellite fans but it would be nice if we were sort of recognized beyond the management commentary in the annual financial reports.

 

[cbmufc]

The club need to use a loyalty points scheme, like every other club in the country do as opposed to blind ballots for the big ballots. Naturally, they won’t do this as the whole point is to shift as many memberships as possible and not these tickets fairly.

If you go to Burton Albion at home, you deserve Liverpool more than someone who is just applying for the big game. I would go anyway as I’m there to watch United but it would be nice for the club to at least acknowledge me sitting through tickets they can’t shift, such that when the big games roll around I have a better Chance. Similarly, if people get sorted instead of me because they have been more games then no problem, but I know lads who seem to have some outrageous luck who consistently get sorted for these big games yet can’t do the other 15.

I agree this is tight on international fans but I’m sorry for games against city and Liverpool I find it hard to think of any alternative.

Also, I see no reason why they can’t introduce a ticket exchange platform. Currently they get returns and put them up at some random time.See Chelsea and a wave of tickets gone up an hour ago. Someone may not have applied and just been on at the right time and gets sorted, whereas someone who applied for the ballot and got chubbed is still without.

This is basic, basic stuff that United can’t get right. Don’t get me started in this nonsense of putting all tickets up some random day in July (buying tickets for games in February that will likely get moved) on a website that can’t handle it.

Snide move as well to ramp up prices without telling anyone.

 

[MrSingh2002]

I'd be happy if every year the website didn't crash on the day and if the phonelines weren't completely inadequate.

Ruined it for me and I stopped getting the membership 2 seasons ago.

 

[2mufc0]

It's a terrible system, almost impossible to get tickets for any of the decent games. Feel like I waste my money on the membership every year.

 

[Wumminator]

Any solutions to how it should be done?

 

[RedNed77]

I don’t think I actually got a ticket on my membership last year. Just got them from mates

I managed to get to around 13 or so home league games on my membership last year. It needed some diligence and the ability to go online at any point during the day (being self employed helped in that regard). I also managed to get tickets to the City, Spurs and Arsenal games at OT through the membership too. Agree with you about the glitchiness of the booking system though, it’s a massive pain in the arse.

 

[SATA]

Appalling that a big club such as United has an abysmal ticket system and website all round. What is the club's ticketing department doing?

 

[Ødegaard]

Any solutions to how it should be done?

Make it about more than just tickets.
Make it membership of a active, viewed forum (they should buy redcafe and give Niall full control), access to MuTV, make MuTV more interesting, make it cheaper the longer you have it to reward long-time members.

Again, the only time I've bothered with a membership was when I took a trip over. The only times I'll bother with a membership as things are now is when I'm taking my next trip.

Hell, I want to order 2 VIP tickets for the pool game that the United site has as available but I can't do it, and neither do I get through (says number is not in use) on the phone number they provide in the error message.

 

[711]

Would anyone prefer it if all games just went to a ballot system?

Me.

 

[Panther]

By selling more tickets to fans and not corporations.

 

[Green_Red]

I got tickets to Chelsea and City last season on my membership. Actually, including those games I got to 9 games at Old Trafford last season and only came back from Australia in November. This season I've got a ticket to Chelsea through the ballot and have 5 other home game tickets. Not sure what the op is on about.

The real answer is to invest in the ground and create more seats. Simples. United could easily fill a 100,000 capacity stadium for every game.

 

[Wumminator]

I got tickets to Chelsea and City last season on my membership. Actually, including those games I got to 9 games at Old Trafford last season and only came back from Australia in November. This season I've got a ticket to Chelsea through the ballot and have 5 other home game tickets. Not sure what the op is on about.

The real answer is to invest in the ground and create more seats. Simples. United could easily fill a 100,000 capacity stadium for every game.

How did you get five other home game tickets?

 

[Wumminator]

Make it about more than just tickets.
Make it membership of a active, viewed forum (they should buy redcafe and give Niall full control), access to MuTV, make MuTV more interesting, make it cheaper the longer you have it to reward long-time members.

Again, the only time I've bothered with a membership was when I took a trip over. The only times I'll bother with a membership as things are now is when I'm taking my next trip.

Hell, I want to order 2 VIP tickets for the pool game that the United site has as available but I can't do it, and neither do I get through (says number is not in use) on the phone number they provide in the error message.

See that stuff couldn’t interest me any less. I just wanna go to games.

 

[Ødegaard]

See that stuff couldn’t interest me any less. I just wanna go to games.

Which is fair for those able to, but how many percentages of United fans can and will go to games?
If their goal is to get fans on as members, then incentives should be included for those who might only get a few games in their lifetime.
If it's all about ticket sales then the whole membership part should be done with and they should increase ticket prices with 30 pounds or whatever it is.

 

[Wumminator]

Which is fair for those able to, but how many percentages of United fans can and will go to games?
If their goal is to get fans on as members, then incentives should be included for those who might only get a few games in their lifetime.
If it's all about ticket sales then the whole membership part should be done with and they should increase ticket prices with 30 pounds or whatever it is.

Yes, I’d agree there might be another incentive they do.

 

[scorgasm]

I've got Liverpool, City, Arsenal in the last couple of years with membership.

 

[Green_Red]

How did you get five other home game tickets?

Through manutd.com

 

[Wumminator]

Through manutd.com

On the day they came out or later?

 

[Zexstream]

Build a bigger stadium.

Our problem has always been how well supported we are, it's crazy in this day and age we do not have a stadium adequate enough to meet the needs of the fans. We need at least a 90,000 seater stadium.