Season ticket policies for the 20/21 season

[Shipperley]

Hi Folks

A lot of clubs are starting to offer season tickets for the upcoming season and just curious what the various clubs have come up with?

The CPFC renewal option has gone down like an absolute lead balloon. They’re giving us two options and 9 days notice to pick between them or we lose our seats indefinitely.

Option 1 is to pay the full amount for the season ticket in the next 9 days (around £600). The club will ballot the games so each season ticket holder can expect 4 or 5 matches for that, and at the end of the season the remaining balance from that full payment will either be returned to you or given as a credit for the 21/22 season ticket.

Option 2 is to pay the club £200 to hold your seat for the 21/22 season and not attend any games at all in the 20/21 season! Again it can be used as a credit towards a 21/22 season ticket. This option is only available to those who have been shielding and the club will contact you for MEDICAL PROOF before accepting your request to defer. No further guidelines have been given about what does and doesn’t qualify, what happens if other people in your house are shielding and so on.

To me both of those basically add up to a Premier League club asking fans from a relatively poor area, in the midst of a global pandemic and mass unemployment, for an interest free loan at short notice. For those that pay monthly they’ll actually be paying the club interest for money they are lending the club!

I was expecting to pay pro-rata per game or to have the choice (without the need for medical proof!) to defer my ticket to the 21/22 season for a small admin charge.

Tell me there’s a better way?!

 

[steeeb]

"pick between them or we lose our seats indefinitely"

I'm assuming there is no waiting list for season tickets? Unless you really love where you are located, option 3 is just cancel then get a season ticket next year?

 

[Shipperley]

"pick between them or we lose our seats indefinitely"

I'm assuming there is no waiting list for season tickets? Unless you really love where you are located, option 3 is just cancel then get a season ticket next year?

There is currently a waiting list but it's not as long as some other clubs of course. That is the other option though yeah, but at that point it'll be a lottery if you'll get seats next to your friends and family in the future...

 

[duffer]

I'm interested to know what other clubs are doing. Any Man United season ticket holders here?

Chelsea have not said yet.

 

[TrueRed1999]

I'm interested to know what other clubs are doing. Any Man United season ticket holders here?

Chelsea have not said yet.

I gave up my ST for United this year had it over 5 years, loved going the games but was told over the phone I am not guaranteed to go the games when they allow fans to return as it will be likely balloted so took my 175 refund from the games behind closed doors last year and will be watching in the Pub or TV from next season.

 

[Jeppers7]

Not heard anything from united yet. That proposal from Crystal Palace is ridiculous so I imagine Uniteds will be the same.

 

[TrueRed1999]

Not heard anything from united yet. That proposal from Crystal Palace is ridiculous so I imagine Uniteds will be the same.

I rang up to see what was going on and that is what the guy told me over the phone so I just said No, took my refund from last season and moved on. Although be great to have some fans in, if I am paying and can't go then what is the point in paying even if they put it against next season's ticket.

 

[pascell]

Not heard anything from united yet. That proposal from Crystal Palace is ridiculous so I imagine Uniteds will be the same.

Yeah we're expecting the same. Think clubs will want the money upfront as they have to pay staff during covid still.

Ballot for ST holders for games is definitely what we expect but, United have 52k ST holders and at 25% OT will be around 17k fans, there's going to be some people missing out on most games, yet paying the full amount.

 

[Nou_Camp99]

Season tickets should be scrapped for the entire season at every club. Everyone who had 1 should be allowed first refusal for the 2021/22 season.

This year whatever fans are allowed in they should just do a ballot for every game for members.

 

[Kasper]

Doubt it has relevance with regard to the PL club, but maybe some other fans from smaller club are interested:
Hansa Rostock (3rd German division, medium size fanbase, well big for 3rd division but with a 30k stadium its rarely sold out) has given 2 options:
- First option is to buy a full season ticket to the usual price that will give you first priority to attend games once fans are re-allowed but you also renounce your right for refunds for the games that will be held without fans.
- Second option is the "Flex Season ticket" which costs the same but after the season you can refund your missed games in form of a ticket voucher.

Now obviously both options have terrible conditions but given that the club has no waiting list for season tickets (and won`t in the forseeable future) and that the conditions have been communicated quite openly it`s fair enough and basically just a solidarity donation with the option to be the first to re-attend games.
Funny enough, after they sold around 3,5k they stopped the sale this week after signs from the political level that a certain amount (speculated to be 10-20% of capacity, Saxony has given RB Leipzig already the go for 20%) might be allowed, so they want to sort out first that they won`t sell to many season tickets haha.

But yeah, clubs with waiting list might turn into a shitshow if they try to milk the fans and basically give rich people, who easily can afford paying a full season for nothing, first hand access.

 

[FootyGirl88]

Both are awful options, i would be inclined to go for option 1 if i had to choose.

Why can't they just have a pay as you go option?

 

[ZupZup]

The fair thing for United to do would be to let our season ticket holders keep their season tickets for this season without payment for as long as we are playing with either no fans, or a reduced capacity... then do ballots for each 'reduced attendance' match where season ticket holders can choose to apply or not on a game by game basis. The club should give these fans points on a loyalty system for each game attended/applied for which increases their chances of being successful for future 'reduced attendance' matches. Obviously fans who are successful in each ballot would be charged on a game by game basis.

 

[Shipperley]

Because they are greedy! I would be more inclined to pay the full amount if I followed a lower league club that rely on the gate money to survive, but CPFC is a club whose owners are worth $6bn, have a three digit broadcasting income and pay multiple players over $100k a week. This quote from Bayern stands out in relation to their €104 per season tickets!

"We do not think the fans are like cows to be milked. Football has got to be for everybody. That's the biggest difference between us and England."

 

[Shipperley]

Incidentally West Brom seemingly getting it spot on:

"As a result, the Club has decided not to offer full season tickets for the new campaign as their value to supporters will be diminished by any period of behind-closed-doors games, as well as when the stadium attendance is so restricted.

Fans who have already bought season tickets for 2020/21 can transfer their purchase to the 2021/22 campaign at the frozen price they paid during the Early Bird window. Alternatively, supporters can request a refund.

Supporters who wish to transfer their Early Bird season ticket to the 2021/22 campaign do not need to take any further action - tickets will automatically transfer over at no additional cost"

If they can do it...

 

[Paula]

This quote from Bayern stands out in relation to their €104 per season tickets!

It's a 140€ nowadays for all Bundesliga games.
and an extra 20+ € for each Champions League match.

 

[Shipperley]

It's a 140€ nowadays for all Bundesliga games.
and an extra 20+ € for each Champions League match.

Rip-off then

 

[JB7]

We renewed pretty much straight away which I think was before lockdown in the UK, we pay monthly so have just been paying the £70 a month like normal and I presume MUFC will just refund game by game like they did at the end of last season.

 

[VivaObertan]

Not heard anything regarding my tickets at OT yet, however I'm pretty sure they still haven't refunded the balance of the ST for the home games we were no longer able to attend and have only offered "to reduce from the price of next season's ticket."

I'm close to cancelling both tickets anyway as COVID and insistence upon bringing football back whilst the rest of the country are in lock down really brought to light how much of a football business is; but if they offer anything similar to the above I will be pulling the plug immediately.

Shame for CPFC fans that this is what they've been offered when it's possible some of them will have been season tickets for decades and may not have had any income for the past 6 months.

 

[Shipperley]

Exactly that, and today's CPFC development is that the finance company who provide the monthly payment option (for those that can't afford to pay it up front) have also tightened their lending criteria right up, so there are now quite a few ST holders that have been paying this way for many years that are being declined the option of monthly payments for this season. They now have a week to find the money through alternative means or lose the seats they've had for years. Club's making an absolute cock-up of this.

Hope you all fare better, gate receipts are even more inconsequential for a club like Man United with all your noodle and tyre partners, so will be interesting to see what they come up with.

 

[RedNed77]

I phoned and renewed mine voluntarily, i dont think the club have set any deadlines yet. Paid for mine and gave them my bank details, the club will refund me the face value of any games I'm not able to attend on a game by game basis.

EDIT: they also knocked off the value of the games that were locked down last season so cheaper than usual.

 

[Jeppers7]

I phoned and renewed mine voluntarily, i dont think the club have set any deadlines yet. Paid for mine and gave them my bank details, the club will refund me the face value of any games I'm not able to attend on a game by game basis.

EDIT: they also knocked off the value of the games that were locked down last season so cheaper than usual.

Why ?

 

[awop]

Arsenal have posted their policy here: https://www.arsenal.com/news/202021-season-tickets-and-reduced-capacity-games
I honestly didn't read it all, just had a quick glance at the prices, laughed and closed the tab. They're also asking for a first deposit that is transferable if you want to put your season ticket in "holiday mode" for a year.

 

[hp88]

I'm interested to know what other clubs are doing. Any Man United season ticket holders here?

Chelsea have not said yet.

We haven’t heard much in a while, last real communication was a couple of months ago saying my renewal would be £500 as owe me from last season. I really don’t fancy going to a ground where it’s half empty and your sitting meters part, might as well play behind closed until we’re back to normal but I’m guessing that won’t be until 2021.

 

[Member 101269]

We haven’t heard much in a while, last real communication was a couple of months ago saying my renewal would be £500 as owe me from last season. I really don’t fancy going to a ground where it’s half empty and your sitting meters part, might as well play behind closed until we’re back to normal but I’m guessing that won’t be until 2021.

I received communication saying i'm in credit which i could take or hold towards 2020/21. Since the club didnt furlough staff I was happy for the club to hold the my cash. Like you, i have reservations about going back to the ground.

Happy to wait and see what the club decide. Hopefully it's something sensible and not testing loyalty at the price of less games for more money (per game).

 

[rotherham_red]

Hi Folks

A lot of clubs are starting to offer season tickets for the upcoming season and just curious what the various clubs have come up with?

The CPFC renewal option has gone down like an absolute lead balloon. They’re giving us two options and 9 days notice to pick between them or we lose our seats indefinitely.

Option 1 is to pay the full amount for the season ticket in the next 9 days (around £600). The club will ballot the games so each season ticket holder can expect 4 or 5 matches for that, and at the end of the season the remaining balance from that full payment will either be returned to you or given as a credit for the 21/22 season ticket.

Option 2 is to pay the club £200 to hold your seat for the 21/22 season and not attend any games at all in the 20/21 season! Again it can be used as a credit towards a 21/22 season ticket. This option is only available to those who have been shielding and the club will contact you for MEDICAL PROOF before accepting your request to defer. No further guidelines have been given about what does and doesn’t qualify, what happens if other people in your house are shielding and so on.

To me both of those basically add up to a Premier League club asking fans from a relatively poor area, in the midst of a global pandemic and mass unemployment, for an interest free loan at short notice. For those that pay monthly they’ll actually be paying the club interest for money they are lending the club!

I was expecting to pay pro-rata per game or to have the choice (without the need for medical proof!) to defer my ticket to the 21/22 season for a small admin charge.

Tell me there’s a better way?!

Still not heard anything from Utd as yet.

Edit - but read your post, bloody hell that's awful! For what it's worth, I do think Utd's policy will be better and more likely to be along similar lines to West Brom's, &/or automatic refunds for unsuccessful ballots. Our PR has been spot on since Covid, and I doubt we'd be willing to undo all of the goodwill that's been built up.

One thing I'm interested to see is whether ST holders on the wheelchair platform would be exempt from this or not, as the gap between the seats and wheelchair spaces are currently more than sufficient for even the most demanding of social distancing guidelines.

 

[RedNed77]

Why ?

Why the feck not, I want to see them when they come back? I’ll get the cash back?

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Exactly that, and today's CPFC development is that the finance company who provide the monthly payment option (for those that can't afford to pay it up front) have also tightened their lending criteria right up, so there are now quite a few ST holders that have been paying this way for many years that are being declined the option of monthly payments for this season. They now have a week to find the money through alternative means or lose the seats they've had for years. Club's making an absolute cock-up of this.

Hope you all fare better, gate receipts are even more inconsequential for a club like Man United with all your noodle and tyre partners, so will be interesting to see what they come up with.

That’s not good.

I expect all clubs to do something different as clearly this is a unique situation, but how can a club get it so wrong? I don’t understand why some clubs don’t seem to talk to supporters groups beforehand. Or maybe they did, and think bugger it.

 

[Shipperley]

I know mate, beggars belief really. I have gone for Option 2 and paying the £200 to defer my ST to 21/22, if they insist on seeing medical proof and want to argue over it then I’ll just cancel my ST for good. Be a shame but you have to draw the line at some point.

 

[rotherham_red]

Apparently we'll find out on Monday what our ST plans are

 

[Jeppers7]

Why the feck not, I want to see them when they come back? I’ll get the cash back?

Why not just wait until they tell us what our options are ?

If I have to pay for the season (minus my refund) I will, but let’s see the options first.

The more who do what you did, the more the club feel they can do what they want...which they already do

 

[Sandikan]

I'm interested to know what other clubs are doing. Any Man United season ticket holders here?

Chelsea have not said yet.

4 league games weren't played out at home last season with crowds, so you could either get a refund, or have it taken off next season's price.

I had vaguely left it in the latter camp, but as it's utterly uncertain what's happening, have now asked for it back.

I still "own" the tickets, so will still have first dibs when/if crowds come back!

Seems very fair from United, when often people moan about big clubs etc. But I think United get things classily done quite often.
Even in issues like someone in their shop totally horlicksing up the lettering on my shirt.

Quickly gave me a new one - and even returned a few quid for the postage I'd sent! That was an really nice gesture.

 

[Sandikan]

Apparently we'll find out on Monday what our ST plans are

Surely they need to await the government rules on how many fans will be allowed back in October first?

Otherwise i suppose all they can do is ask for full payment in within a few weeks, maybe removing the home game on the 19th which we know is still BCD, and then will refund game by game for anyone who doesn't get in?

If there's 25% allowed in, will that be a ballot, or on loyalty years on the ticket, or what?

 

[Okey]

The fair thing for United to do would be to let our season ticket holders keep their season tickets for this season without payment for as long as we are playing with either no fans, or a reduced capacity... then do ballots for each 'reduced attendance' match where season ticket holders can choose to apply or not on a game by game basis. The club should give these fans points on a loyalty system for each game attended/applied for which increases their chances of being successful for future 'reduced attendance' matches. Obviously fans who are successful in each ballot would be charged on a game by game basis.

This would be my preferred option as well. Not fair to lose out on your season for no fault of yours. Hold them and ballot till full attendance returns, then go back to usual. The banks are there for loans if they need some bail out money, not the fans.

 

[Sandikan]

The fair thing for United to do would be to let our season ticket holders keep their season tickets for this season without payment for as long as we are playing with either no fans, or a reduced capacity... then do ballots for each 'reduced attendance' match where season ticket holders can choose to apply or not on a game by game basis. The club should give these fans points on a loyalty system for each game attended/applied for which increases their chances of being successful for future 'reduced attendance' matches. Obviously fans who are successful in each ballot would be charged on a game by game basis.

They probably should give some priority to longer serving STHs

Maybe hold the ballot between gold and platinum STHs first, then if any remaining, lower to the next 2 tiers (silver and red?)

Noone could complain at someone with a lot more history getting first dibs.

Personally, i'd like to hold my registration, but not apply for any games for a fair old time!

 

[ZupZup]

They probably should give some priority to longer serving STHs

Maybe hold the ballot between gold and platinum STHs first, then if any remaining, lower to the next 2 tiers (silver and red?)

Noone could complain at someone with a lot more history getting first dibs.

Personally, i'd like to hold my registration, but not apply for any games for a fair old time!

Yeah, can’t say I am too interested in attending matches with reduced attendance and distancing etc. I’d still like to keep hold of my season ticket though for when things are back to normal.

 

[Member 101269]

They probably should give some priority to longer serving STHs

Maybe hold the ballot between gold and platinum STHs first, then if any remaining, lower to the next 2 tiers (silver and red?)

Noone could complain at someone with a lot more history getting first dibs.

Personally, i'd like to hold my registration, but not apply for any games for a fair old time!

You do know some got reset to red.

 

[Sandikan]

You do know some got reset to red.

How come?

 

[Member 101269]

How come?

You could have had and pay for two season tickets that were in your name; they changed the policy that allowed that (it was last season or the season before). The choice was either change the name or lose the ticket, if you changed the name all the years you'd had the ticket for were lost. The new season ticket was classed as red.

 

[Sandikan]

You could have had and pay for two season tickets that were in your name; they changed the policy that allowed that (it was last season or the season before). The choice was either change the name or lose the ticket, if you changed the name all the years you'd had the ticket for were lost. The new season ticket was classed as red.

Unfortunate but im surprised they ever let people have two in your single name.

Although presumably if say you went with your grandad and both had 20 years, if they passed away itd be similar....the ticket could be kept but in a new name back to year 1?

I suppose im wondering what the point is with the different tiers of ticket. Was nothing when i went red to silver, bar ability to apply for aways. But that was more a policy change than actual tier change. Just a coincidental timing thing.

 

[Member 101269]

Unfortunate but im surprised they ever let people have two in your single name.

Although presumably if say you went with your grandad and both had 20 years, if they passed away itd be similar....the ticket could be kept but in a new name back to year 1?

I suppose im wondering what the point is with the different tiers of ticket. Was nothing when i went red to silver, bar ability to apply for aways. But that was more a policy change than actual tier change. Just a coincidental timing thing.

Or say someone purchased for themselves and their child. The parent will still be paying for the tickets, the name shift has no meaning. The reset to year 1 does have meaning. That child was and is subject to ridicule.

If you're balloting on the basis of a perceived privilege itI'd be struggling with that notion.