M
Matthew Tucker
Guest
Hi everyone - have read through this site for a number of years but I don't ever really post. This last week though, I've felt the urge to post my thoughts on our ticketing structure and thought it would be good to see if anyone has similar views or experiences such as mine. Apologies if this has been covered before..
To save rewriting I'll simply copy and paste the letter I sent this week to the club via email:-
Hello,
I've been a Wolves supporter for 30 years. In that time I've had a season ticket and been a member over countless seasons starting from being a 'Young Wolves' member in the 90's.
I live in Kent and travel up when I can between 5-10 times a season including away matches. I've never had a problem obtaining a ticket due to being a member (the reason I have and pay for the membership) Unfortunately to my dismay - I am very upset and disappointed to the ticket allocation procedure for away games (and home games for that matter) at Wolves.
Traveling from Kent means I have to purchase my train tickets well in advance to get a reasonably priced ticket as this can start as low as around £25 but can go up to nearer £70.
I purchased 4 tickets for me and three friends from Kent to Birmingham totalling £120 for the Aston Villa match this weekend. Plus another £50 on a hotel.
As previously mentioned I haven't ever had trouble obtaining a ticket in the past, but realised that the Villa game would be in high demand, but was prepared to stand by the phone and be online ready for when they went on sale to members at 9am.
I was shocked to see the updates by the club via twitter that it had sold out to season ticket holders days before it was meant to be available to members and then general release.
Does this make season ticket holders 'more valued' I for sure would be one if I lived local to the area, but over the length of the season I probably spend more than one would cost through my travel.
I don't believe this treats fans evenly and fairly and certainly doesn't give paying members a chance to go to high demand games such as a local derby.
This is why I pay for my membership - although appreciated I still aren't guaranteed a ticket, but would at least like to be given the opportunity to buy one.
Why is there no percentage allocation given to season ticket holders, members and then to general sale? I have never come across this situation as have always managed to get a ticket. A first come first serve basis isn't giving dedicated fans a fair chance of watching their beloved Wolves. The game would still sell out if there was a percentage given to members - so I fail to see the reasoning behind this.
I have asked numerous friends (who I have to say were also shocked at how Wolves ticketing procedure works) what their clubs do and for example Chelsea allocate 60% of away tickets to season ticket holders first and when they are sold they then go on sale to members and then to general sale.
Why aren't we implementing this at Wolves? I indeed wrongly believed it to be the way our system worked. I appreciate not everyone has my distance in travel and transportation expenses but this applies to local paying fans too. I strongly think this needs addressing and I'm sure there are many loyal fans like myself who feel rather hard done by.
I look forward to the clubs views on this - maybe it could be put forward to fans parliament (if it hasn't already?)
From a very disappointed Wolves fan
To save rewriting I'll simply copy and paste the letter I sent this week to the club via email:-
Hello,
I've been a Wolves supporter for 30 years. In that time I've had a season ticket and been a member over countless seasons starting from being a 'Young Wolves' member in the 90's.
I live in Kent and travel up when I can between 5-10 times a season including away matches. I've never had a problem obtaining a ticket due to being a member (the reason I have and pay for the membership) Unfortunately to my dismay - I am very upset and disappointed to the ticket allocation procedure for away games (and home games for that matter) at Wolves.
Traveling from Kent means I have to purchase my train tickets well in advance to get a reasonably priced ticket as this can start as low as around £25 but can go up to nearer £70.
I purchased 4 tickets for me and three friends from Kent to Birmingham totalling £120 for the Aston Villa match this weekend. Plus another £50 on a hotel.
As previously mentioned I haven't ever had trouble obtaining a ticket in the past, but realised that the Villa game would be in high demand, but was prepared to stand by the phone and be online ready for when they went on sale to members at 9am.
I was shocked to see the updates by the club via twitter that it had sold out to season ticket holders days before it was meant to be available to members and then general release.
Does this make season ticket holders 'more valued' I for sure would be one if I lived local to the area, but over the length of the season I probably spend more than one would cost through my travel.
I don't believe this treats fans evenly and fairly and certainly doesn't give paying members a chance to go to high demand games such as a local derby.
This is why I pay for my membership - although appreciated I still aren't guaranteed a ticket, but would at least like to be given the opportunity to buy one.
Why is there no percentage allocation given to season ticket holders, members and then to general sale? I have never come across this situation as have always managed to get a ticket. A first come first serve basis isn't giving dedicated fans a fair chance of watching their beloved Wolves. The game would still sell out if there was a percentage given to members - so I fail to see the reasoning behind this.
I have asked numerous friends (who I have to say were also shocked at how Wolves ticketing procedure works) what their clubs do and for example Chelsea allocate 60% of away tickets to season ticket holders first and when they are sold they then go on sale to members and then to general sale.
Why aren't we implementing this at Wolves? I indeed wrongly believed it to be the way our system worked. I appreciate not everyone has my distance in travel and transportation expenses but this applies to local paying fans too. I strongly think this needs addressing and I'm sure there are many loyal fans like myself who feel rather hard done by.
I look forward to the clubs views on this - maybe it could be put forward to fans parliament (if it hasn't already?)
From a very disappointed Wolves fan