The FA Cup (Other football)

[PeterWithe]

Season tickets reward the holder with cheaper admission spread across the 19 home league games. That is it. You do not buy a season ticket because you are a loyal fan. You buy it because it is cheaper per match and it secures your usual seat in the place where you want to watch the match from.
No other reward is appropriate. Cup matches are a completely separate issue from league matches and you all know this to be true. Quit moaning and enjoy the quality football on show. Pay the price of success or drop out (like I have after 55 years) and become a TV viewer.

Incorrect.

[amfy]

For many years I could not afford a season ticket in the basis that the outlay in one go was too much.

Now you can pay month by month there are still Villa fans who don't have a sufficiently good credit rating for one.

It being cheaper has never been a reason for me or, I suspect, most others.

Once you are in a position to afford a season ticket you are already financially privileged.

Having the same seat was nice until they decided they could shift you about wherever to squeeze in someone who'll pay more.

It clearly states in the club website that priority for cup tickets is a benefit of a season ticket and it is absolutely the MAIN reason I have held on to mine. Any time I have thought of giving it up, the thought 'What if we get to Wembley and I can't get a ticket?' Has been the thought that has kept me renewing.

Take that away and I think you'd be surprised how many people don't care about 'cheaper' or the 'same seat'.

[andyh]

Season tickets reward the holder with cheaper admission spread across the 19 home league games. That is it. You do not buy a season ticket because you are a loyal fan. You buy it because it is cheaper per match and it secures your usual seat in the place where you want to watch the match from.
No other reward is appropriate. Cup matches are a completely separate issue from league matches and you all know this to be true. Quit moaning and enjoy the quality football on show. Pay the price of success or drop out (like I have after 55 years) and become a TV viewer.

Utter bollocks.

[cdbearsfan]

Maybe if you're a self-confessed "TV viewer", don't lecture those of us that actually spend a fortune on the club to "quit moaning", you unpleasant arse.

[Clampy]

This is what's written in the Membership benefit section.

. Priority ticket access Claret Villans Cubs
With priority ticket access to all home league matches, membership gives you everything you need to follow Villa throughout season.

Your membership entitles you to priority access to home league match tickets (one ticket per member per match). Ticket access for cup fixtures is announced on a match-by-match basis. Tickets for away fixtures are available to members after the season ticket holders priority window. Some fixtures may have additional priority requirements or require a booking history

[cdbearsfan]

So, no reason why they should have preference over season ticket holders then, thanks Clampy.

[amfy]

This is what's written in the Membership benefit section.

. Priority ticket access Claret Villans Cubs
With priority ticket access to all home league matches, membership gives you everything you need to follow Villa throughout season.

Your membership entitles you to priority access to home league match tickets (one ticket per member per match). Ticket access for cup fixtures is announced on a match-by-match basis. Tickets for away fixtures are available to members after the season ticket holders priority window. Some fixtures may have additional priority requirements or require a booking history

'Tickets for away fixtures are available to members after the season ticket holders priority window'.

Screenshot it! That's the one!

[PeterWithesShin]

ST holders should always be the first, be it a ST in the Holte or a GA+ one. Different criteria within ST holders is fine to spread sale dates.

Telford is right on one thing, ultimately the choice is pay the prices or walk away. I chose to walk away from attending. One thing clubs probably don't realise is that once you make that decision it's pretty easy. It wasn't long ago that the thought of not being in VP last night would have been horrendous, I don't give it a second thought now. I'm fully at peace with knowing that after more than 40 years of being at every match possible i'll quite likely never be in VP again. A big part is knowing that the club that were once desperate for me to be there when we were shit no longer care in the slightest that i'm not. In fact people like me are the last ones they want as i'd spend nothing at the ground beyond admission.

[DeKuip]

Here is the standard shite they are sending out to complainants. They didn't even bother to get all the text in the same sized font.

Thank you for your email. We appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns.

We value all of our season ticket holders and the commitment they show in supporting the team. We also value the dedication of our members, many of whom are on the waiting list for a season ticket and would purchase one if available. Many of these supporters buy match tickets throughout the season, often spending more overall than the cost of a season ticket. We see them as no less valuable, and as this is the continuation of our journey in this season’s FA Cup, we aimed to fairly recognise non-season ticket holders who have attended all FA Cup matches so far, by giving them an opportunity to purchase tickets for this away fixture.

For the Preston match, we prioritised members who attended all three FA Cup fixtures this season over season ticket holders who had not. This approach was taken to recognise and reward those who supported the team throughout the competition, including the earlier rounds.

As outlined in our ticketing details for all FA Cup matches at Villa Park this season:

"Attendance at this fixture may be included in any future sales criteria required for further FA Cup matches."

As a result, the best way to maximise the chance of securing a ticket in the latter stages of the competition was to attend all three matches in previous rounds.

Regarding season ticket holder benefits, those who attended all three FA Cup matches are prioritised over members with the same booking history. They qualify in an earlier window, giving them a greater opportunity to secure a ticket for the Preston match.

We value all of our season ticket holders and the dedication they’ve continued to show throughout this season and previous seasons. We also value the dedication of our members and aim to fairly recognise non-season ticket holders who consistently attended FA Cup matches within the available allocation.

While we understand your personal disappointment, we have to ensure fairness to all supporters, not just our season ticket holders.  Please note that our ticketing policies are continuously reviewed to ensure fairness for all supporters.

Thank you for your feedback.

Kind regards,

They make a point of saying that many members pay more over a season than STHs. But then they don’t take those fans into account by grouping them in the same window as members who only bought tickets for the three cheapest games of the season, including one where part of the attraction was a Ł1.50 pie!

I expect there would have been far less of an outcry if that window would have been for members who attended all home league and FA Cup games. I’d have had no complaint if they even went together in the same window as us STHs who went to all 3 FAC games, that to me would be fair.
And if they’re rewarding those who have supported the competition then how come someone with 5 away league but only one home FAC game got priority over a STH who attended all 3 FAC games?
I’m not saying that out of sour grapes, I’ve got my ticket - I’m just failing to agree with club’s poorly thrown together response and reasoning.

[Max Villan]

If they want to incentivise attendence to every match, then just create a points system where you get points for each ticket bought and allocate tickets to those with the highest points for Wembley games etc.

You're right that it's the very strange criteria they've come up with that is causing such anger

[Lucky Eddie]

Season ticket holders are the life blood of every football club.

[Brend'Watkins]

At least they are openly admitting that fans who purchase a ticket and spend on overpriced refreshments and tat in the shop are what they are after more than someone just sitting in their seat cheering the team on.

[London Villan]

Season ticket holders are the life blood of every football club.

Sadly, not any more. Our Ł20m+ is less than 5% of the club's turnover...

[AV82EC]

Season ticket holders are the life blood of every football club.

Sadly, not any more. Our Ł20m+ is less than 5% of the club's turnover...

This is the harsh “economic” reality.

[Rigadon]

Season ticket holders are the life blood of every football club.

Sadly, not any more. Our Ł20m+ is less than 5% of the club's turnover...

He's still right.  Life blood = more than Ł.   The fans that turn up for the games are the club in many ways.