Interesting analysis of away ticket sales this season..

Nobody complains about the loyalty system when demand is low. It is when demand is regularly high that it becomes a problem. We haven't had a loyalty scheme for a season of PL football for example. When we do it will become a closed shop.

The main problem is that season ticket holders that want to go to local games like Sunderland, and only want to go to local games, will never have an opportunity to do so whereas other fans are able to go to every single Sunderland away match year after year. That it where the unfairness comes from.
 
Demand will have been lower this season compared to last as we've not consistently challenged at any point.

The closest we've got is 7th.

Our two good runs of form came at points where we were massively playing catch up and it was unlikely we'd be in the mix.

I've got zero problems with the priority points system, so not trying to argue against it, I just think it's self-explanatory that demand will be lower when we're not doing as well.
 
I'm not against the loyalty point system either. I think it's probably the fairest way.

It would be interesting to see the following columns added.

Day of Match

Distance from Middlesbrough.

I don't think there's been many northern (say within 150 miles of middlesbrough) Saturday away matches that have made general sale but I guess that's just how the fixtures have fell.

Blackburn and Stoke were both Saturday matches that got to general sale
 
I guess next season Derby replaces Leicester in terms of demand and Portsmouth possibly Southampton.
 
NorthumberlandBoro said:
Closed shop, not really.
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At the moment no, as demand doesn't outstrip supply, but if we get into the Premier League under this priority system it would very quickly become a closed shop. Established Premier League clubs who use the same system have had their fans complaining for years that it creates a closed shop. That's why some people are critical of this approach.
 
It’s been done to death over a few separate threads in recent times this topic. I still don’t see a better solution.

My only criticism is that it’s too easily manipulated. I’ve said before, I know a number of lads who probably go to 50% of away games but they allow others to use their accounts for games they’re not attending to mop up extra points, so when the high demand games come they’re always top of the queue.

I’ve benefitted from this by picking up a few spares in the past. I was offered a Sunderland ticket this season but turned it down. A decision I hugely regretted afterwards! 🤣

I don’t know how you work around that but as somebody has just said. If we have a promotion push next season / get promoted it’ll cause some issues in future seasons.

I used to get to around 50% of away games but since the missus fell pregnant just over 2 years ago, and we’ve had the bairn. I’ve taken a step back whilst we got through the financial storm of Newborn, Crap Maternity pay and a Wedding to pay for 😷

Now those are out of the way, I’m definitely making a more concerted effort to get to more away games next season. I know I’ll have to go to some of the earlier / less demand games to start wracking more points though.
 
Not sure about the arguments presented above about the premier league.
The bigger clubs have much bigger fan bases than us and will always be over subscribed for away games.
The away allocations tend to be 3k which is decent, compared to many in the championship.
Are we really likely to be winning week creating huge demand?Hope so but doubt it.

In our last season in the prem it was just a free for all for away tickets. If you had a fast laptop and/or got lucky you were successful in getting tickets for popular games. Not a great way to allocate in my book.
Anyway no need to worry about the prem for the near future.
At least we seem to be agreeing that the current system is not a closed shop.
 
On The Bob said:
It’s been done to death over a few separate threads in recent times this topic. I still don’t see a better solution.

My only criticism is that it’s too easily manipulated. I’ve said before, I know a number of lads who probably go to 50% of away games but they allow others to use their accounts for games they’re not attending to mop up extra points, so when the high demand games come they’re always top of the queue.

I’ve benefitted from this by picking up a few spares in the past. I was offered a Sunderland ticket this season but turned it down. A decision I hugely regretted afterwards! 🤣

I don’t know how you work around that but as somebody has just said. If we have a promotion push next season / get promoted it’ll cause some issues in future seasons.

I used to get to around 50% of away games but since the missus fell pregnant just over 2 years ago, and we’ve had the bairn. I’ve taken a step back whilst we got through the financial storm of Newborn, Crap Maternity pay and a Wedding to pay for 😷

Now those are out of the way, I’m definitely making a more concerted effort to get to more away games next season. I know I’ll have to go to some of the earlier / less demand games to start wracking more points though.
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Agreed the system could do with tweaks.
Some clubs have started ID checks at at away games to circumvent sharing of tickets.
 
B_G said:
I'm not against the loyalty point system either. I think it's probably the fairest way.

It would be interesting to see the following columns added.

Day of Match

Distance from Middlesbrough.

I don't think there's been many northern (say within 150 miles of middlesbrough) Saturday away matches that have made general sale but I guess that's just how the fixtures have fell.

Blackburn and Stoke were both Saturday matches that got to general sale
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Looking at the list , loads of Northern games made general sale.
I think only Sunderland,Leeds, Hudds and Rotherham didn't.
 
NorthumberlandBoro said:
Looking at the list , loads of Northern games made general sale.
I think only Sunderland,Leeds, Hudds and Rotherham didn't.
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Yeah, I’ve only got to a couple this year tbf. Some of the lads I go with are racked up on points so I ended up adding to the issue I mention by them getting me my ticket so we can sit/stand together.

Not sure why as most don’t have a clue about football anyway so have to put up with them talking rubbish for 90 minutes 😁

One of my best mates is now going into season 2 of being a STH, so he wants to start building his points up next year so I’ll be using my own next season.
 
TeaCider said:
Demand will have been lower this season compared to last as we've not consistently challenged at any point.

The closest we've got is 7th.

Our two good runs of form came at points where we were massively playing catch up and it was unlikely we'd be in the mix.

I've got zero problems with the priority points system, so not trying to argue against it, I just think it's self-explanatory that demand will be lower when we're not doing as well.
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I'm pretty sure the position for away sales was similar last season, without the vast majority going to general sale.
 
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