Personally the idea of these cheap season tickets is up there with the Crossbars debacle. No fault of the people who have purchased them. People are looking for bargains and they appear to have got one. The block is apparently sold out but it was evident on saturday that it was half full at best. I understand the argument 're the first few rows being wet (always take a hand towel) and people moving, but not the rest. The club have not thought this through and people have now carte Blanche to sit where they can find a better view/seat. Once again not the people's fault, if they can do that without being pulled up by a steward or club official.
Next season ticket prices will be interesting. How many of the £150 ticket holders will renew if they find their ticket has doubled or even trebled in price.
Strongly disagree. The cheap season tickets were an excellent idea. They have made watching Charlton more affordable for more Charlton fans.
The club could do something about people moving seats if they wished.
If you have paid more to sit elsewhere in the East stand it is presumably because you felt that was reasonable (to pay a bit more for what you consider a better seat), otherwise you could have moved to A Block. If people have moved from A Block to other areas they are getting a free upgrade, but your seat elsewhere in the East has not been devalued.
As the main attraction to A Block is probably affordability, then a large price increase would probably see people move to other areas of the ground or not renew their season tickets. But then given the large increases you are talking about, that would be true if applied to most areas of the ground.
There is also a question mark about the longer-term integrity of the pricing structure if people perceive they can pay what they like and sit where they like. The people who would have to prevent fans moving seats have always been very clear that they would not be able to do so, because it is not a safety or crowd control priority, without considerable additional resource. This was overridden and misrepresented.
Personally the idea of these cheap season tickets is up there with the Crossbars debacle. No fault of the people who be interesting. How many of the £150 ticket holders will renew if they find their ticket has doubled or even trebled in price.
tickets. But then given the large increases you are talking about, that would be true if applied to most areas of the ground.
Ibut I am mystified by how little effort there has been to promote the £15 tickets. If you are going down this route, you need to invest some resource in marketing, because perception around price is one of the main things that keeps uncommitted fans away.
Good idea Sheffield. Let's reduce everyone's S/T to £150 next season and sell all our decent players. You know it makes sense :-)
Don't be daft no one is suggesting that. Simply that a number of tickets be available at a lower price to ensure more of our fans can afford to attend matches.
I think we all agree on this. What we don't agree on, is allowing them to pay £150 and then go and sit in the £450 seats. It's bloody pathetic.
I have not expressed an opinion on that, except to say it amounts to a free upgrade, it (people moving) does not devalue other seats in the stand and the club could do something if it wished.
But in this case and perhaps others it does devalue the other seats
"But I can absolutely assure you that I doubt we will fork out £475/500 (or whatever the season ticket is next year) when we can pay far less and move like many other people are doing to decent seats. Not something I want to do - because it is cheating my fellow fans and depriving the club of revenue - but why should we fork out top dollar when others are playing the system?" Fortune82nd minute quoted from above.
As for the Club could do something if it wished what could it do?
Cordon off that section from the rest of the stands with stewards? That would cost a lot of money in stewarding and in practical terms (access to toilets, food outlets, exits, etc) be almost unworkable without a great deal of both cost, inconvenience and possible confrontation.
I doubt anyone reading this thread can not pick up that some people are upset that some people are paying for A Block but moving elsewhere. As to whether seats elsewhere in the East stand are devalued, this is a matter of opinion.
As far as what the club could do, well they could go and speak to other sports clubs with this pricing model and see what they do.
Alternatively, they could issue warnings (via internet, programme and tannoy) that people sat in a seat other than the one they have paid for will be removed from the ground and have their season ticket (if applicable) suspended. They could at a later fixture get a print out of sold tickets for a certain section (say block D in the East stand) and compare this to occupied seats in that section. Those without valid tickets could have action taken against them. This would probably make others less likely to try to move seats.
Welcome to the Valley, just don't sit in an empty seat or we'll take action against you, and your kids, photograph you to see if you are in the right seat and if not remove you, and your kids, from the ground and take away your season ticket.
I like the idea of making seats cheaper and attracting more fans, increasing the fan base etc. Just not sure why they didn't think this through a bit more. It might have made more sense to have these seats in the NE quad and move the family stand next it rather than near the away fans. It also seems daft to reduce the away capacity albeit this has only affected Watford so far. But 100 or so seats at £30 may only be £3k but it does seem a waste. And the black tarpallin cover will be like red rag to a bull when Millwall roll into the Valley. They might rip it up like they do at Palace. I think anyone in A block who wants to move that day is very sensible.
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block.
Although IAgree (see what I done there?) with your post, the taking the mick about A block was just banter, mainly stirred up by MSE7. I for one had many a crack about it, even though I'm one of the A block "pikeys".
As I have said before, I really don't think there was a mass exodus from other parts of the stadium. Most of those who sit around me are either fans who have stopped going (due to being priced out) or just casual football fans, wanting to attend a decent standard of match at non-league prices. The 2 brothers who sit to my left are a prime example. They've been coming to the valley on & off since the 70's and also go to Millwall (which they admit to being their team more than Charlton). In the past, they usually attend 3-4 valley games per season, so to add them to the numbers every home game can only be a good thing.
Sitting on my right is a guy in his mid 30's and his young son. He used to be a regular, but family got in the way, so found himself priced out of attending more than the odd game. His son has started to take an interest in football, so these ticket prices appeal to him. Me personally, I didn't renew my ST last season for both financial and entertainment reasons, so this suited me also.
I would take a guess at saying these are the people the cheap STs (inc block were aimed at, so personally I see it as a successful move by the club............
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
That's just bollocks, but never mind the facts, eh?
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clear that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
Since I've been going Cafc "a lot of years" I have stood & sat in covered end & N U and only moved to A block for atmosphere / banter with away fans, so far a bit disappointed with numbers & noise in A block, hope it improves otherwise back to NU
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
That's just bollocks, but never mind the facts, eh?
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clear that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
That's just bollocks, but never mind the facts, eh?
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clear that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
but did she buy a VOTV?
I thought I saw her selling a batch outside the West Stand after putting the corner flags out, so she would get a complimentary copy as payment in kind.
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
That's just bollocks, but never mind the facts, eh?
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clea that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
Well you could have fooled me! You didn't welcome them! You tried to instigate a Season Ticket strike very publicly on this website in March! And you gave a detailed explanation of why!
If you have changed your mind why are you obsessing over A Block, encouraging people to see it as a failure and getting sent photos from spy's in the West Stand
By the way, why would I automatically know that you sat in the East Stand?? You obviously move in exalted circles and are clearly more important than me.! Katrien ehh!
I am just someone who started attending games ten years ago and loves going to see Charlton. I have found a way to do this and save some cash. This does not make me thick, criminal or somehow a second rate fan for malcontents across the stadium to to Target.
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
That's just bollocks, but never mind the facts, eh?
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clea that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
Well you could have fooled me! You didn't welcome them! You tried to instigate a Season Ticket strike very publicly on this website in March! And you gave a detailed explanation of why!
If you have changed your mind why are you obsessing over A Block, encouraging people to see it as a failure and getting sent photos from spy's in the West Stand
By the way, why would I automatically know that you sat in the East Stand?? You obviously move in exalted circles and are clearly more important than me.! Katrien ehh!
I am just someone who started attending games ten years ago and loves going to see Charlton. I have found a way to do this and save some cash. This does not make me thick, criminal or somehow a second rate fan for malcontents across the stadium to to Target.
Did they arrive in March or January? There's no reason why you would know I sit in the east stand, but it does mean I couldn't have taken the pictures, which was the point.
Not everything is a binary choice between good and bad. It's perfectly possible to have a good team and a poor administration, and vice versa. Or, as is more likely, a mixture of both.
We've done what happened last season to death, but it's still my view that the sale of Kermorgant was a mistake and that the owner can't pick the team. But you deal with what's in front of you, otherwise we'd still be talking about the sacking of Jimmy Seed, if not the move to Catford in 1923.
This issue is with people paying 300+ quid for their seat, and having people who have paid 150 quid coming along and sitting in the same area.
Doesnt matter which regime instigated this scheme, or which poster(s) are commenting on the scheme, the scheme is fundamentally flawed.
No one is saying 150 quid tickets are bad.
Some people just don't get it, do they ?
Would a supermarket have a sale on mince and let the customer stroll off with top of the range steak for the same price ?
I get that some people have spent months going on about this and have missed no opportunity to have a dig at the idea and especially the people who brought tickets. I was called a traitor by some in the Lower North!
Actually the majority of A Blockers sit where they were allocated and in my case intend buy a £250 seat next year ( having been introduced to the East Stand by the scheme) . I think that this will become self regulating as if we become more successful since there will be bums on seats.
In the meantime those of you in more expensive seats; If you want to join us I am sure we can squeeze you in!
But it's been happening for years!! You have been able to walk around the whole ground (apart from JS obviously) for yonks now! Christ do people really think that every person has always sat in their same actual seat before this season?? Seriously!??
I am really confused about peoples reaction to this whole thing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
That's just bollocks, but never mind the facts, eh?
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clea that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
Well you could have fooled me! You didn't welcome them! You tried to instigate a Season Ticket strike very publicly on this website in March! And you gave a detailed explanation of why!
If you have changed your mind why are you obsessing over A Block, encouraging people to see it as a failure and getting sent photos from spy's in the West Stand
By the way, why would I automatically know that you sat in the East Stand?? You obviously move in exalted circles and are clearly more important than me.! Katrien ehh!
I am just someone who started attending games ten years ago and loves going to see Charlton. I have found a way to do this and save some cash. This does not make me thick, criminal or somehow a second rate fan for malcontents across the stadium to to Target.
Did they arrive in March or January? There's no reason why you would know I sit in the east stand, but it does mean I couldn't have taken the pictures, which was the point.
Not everything is a binary choice between good and bad. It's perfectly possible to have a good team and a poor administration, and vice versa. Or, as is more likely, a mixture of both.
We've done what happened last season to death, but it's still my view that the sale of Kermorgant was a mistake and that the owner can't pick the team. But you deal with what's in front of you, otherwise we'd still be talking about the sacking of Jimmy Seed, if not the move to Catford in 1923.
I agree re Kermogant ( who would have been great with Igore) and there are some things I have not liked either and I am generally upbeat about the Club at the moment.
But it's been happening for years!! You have been able to walk around the whole ground (apart from JS obviously) for yonks now! Christ do people really think that every person has always sat in their same actual seat before this season?? Seriously!??
What's new is the ST price differential of up to £300 and the numbers doing it, plus how obvious it is. But if you promote something like the £150 ticket it's hardly surprising if people take an interest in how it is working out.
Comments
Charlton, the friendly family club.
THIS.
People have been sitting in seats they have not been allocated for yonks. Much to do about nothing.
There was initial hostility, then months of taken the mick out of anyone who had brought a season in A Block. Now it seems that we are under intense scrutiny from around the ground regarding our attendance and the noise we make.
Some people were heart and soul opposed to the new owners and anything they suggested. They missed no opportunity to jump on any mistakes made by the Club and even suggested a Season ticket strike FFS! The same people are now scrutinising the A Block initiative from the point of view of missed revenue!
The fact is this Club, the pitch, the training facilities, the Academy, the seats, the ground the pricing and the football have transformed inside of ten months. Good job too because by January the general situation, football and ground was dire and not at all enjoyable.
As I have said before, I really don't think there was a mass exodus from other parts of the stadium. Most of those who sit around me are either fans who have stopped going (due to being priced out) or just casual football fans, wanting to attend a decent standard of match at non-league prices. The 2 brothers who sit to my left are a prime example. They've been coming to the valley on & off since the 70's and also go to Millwall (which they admit to being their team more than Charlton). In the past, they usually attend 3-4 valley games per season, so to add them to the numbers every home game can only be a good thing.
Sitting on my right is a guy in his mid 30's and his young son. He used to be a regular, but family got in the way, so found himself priced out of attending more than the odd game. His son has started to take an interest in football, so these ticket prices appeal to him. Me personally, I didn't renew my ST last season for both financial and entertainment reasons, so this suited me also.
I would take a guess at saying these are the people the cheap STs (inc block
Many people welcomed the new owners, recognising what preceded them, but opposed the sale of Kermorgant, the introduction of new players not up to Championship standard and the owner instructing the manager to play them, culminating in his sacking. Plenty of credit has been given by the same people for things done since, but it's clear that in other areas mistakes have been made and continue to be made. I spoke at length to Katrien Meire on the day of the Middlesbrough game and she acknowledges that, so it's a shame some of you can't do the same or even tolerate the existence of views other than your own.
If you have changed your mind why are you obsessing over A Block, encouraging people to see it as a failure and getting sent photos from spy's in the West Stand
By the way, why would I automatically know that you sat in the East Stand??
You obviously move in exalted circles and are clearly more important than me.! Katrien ehh!
I am just someone who started attending games ten years ago and loves going to see Charlton. I have found a way to do this and save some cash. This does not make me thick, criminal or somehow a second rate fan for malcontents across the stadium to to
Target.
Doesnt matter which regime instigated this scheme, or which poster(s) are commenting on the scheme, the scheme is fundamentally flawed.
No one is saying 150 quid tickets are bad.
Would a supermarket have a sale on mince and let the customer stroll off with top of the range steak for the same price ?
Not everything is a binary choice between good and bad. It's perfectly possible to have a good team and a poor administration, and vice versa. Or, as is more likely, a mixture of both.
We've done what happened last season to death, but it's still my view that the sale of Kermorgant was a mistake and that the owner can't pick the team. But you deal with what's in front of you, otherwise we'd still be talking about the sacking of Jimmy Seed, if not the move to Catford in 1923.
Actually the majority of A Blockers sit where they were allocated and in my case intend buy a £250 seat next year ( having been introduced to the East Stand by the scheme) . I think that this will become self regulating as if we become more successful since there will be bums on seats.
In the meantime those of you in more expensive seats; If you want to join us I am sure we can squeeze you in!