LCFC must offer General Sale to fans

[Nolucklcfc]

39 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Would wager it's the Ex Spurs/PSG ops guy that started a few years back. 

Be nice if he came to fan meets so we can address the issue to him directly 

Edited 20 December 2023 by Nolucklcfc

[CH1_Fox]

I know of someone who doesn’t get to many games, travelled to the fanstore for a ticket for a game the following day which was not sold out. They were turned away unless they knew a season ticket holder or bought a membership. You’ve got someone, with ID, stood in the stadium trying to buy a ticket and they are saying no. I can’t think of another business in the world that would react like that. The club would rather have the seats empty which is completely counter to everything Enzo is trying to achieve with the fans 

[Corky]

Excellent post. We had 4k unsold tickets last Wednesday- how many might have been tempted to go along if there was an avenue for them?

 

Need to open the place up again.

[RGFox]

Agree with the UFS statement. Must say some of the kids pricing is as laughable as the Danny ward signed shirts 

 

£20.50 for 12 y old to watch us v Huddersfield 

[Gravel]

It is a bit silly in these times. If it's about getting everyone to stump up £32 it's a false economy as an unsold seat loses that straight away.

 

I'm a member and it works for me to keep the membership scheme going as gives more surety of getting tickets.  However, once members have had enough time to buy, e.g. 3 or 4 days, opening up to a general sale with plenty of time left makes complete common sense. 

 

If we have empty seats now, why bother with the ground expansion.

[Daz93]

The policy they have in place definitely turns away fans in the long run. There's likely many who were once regulars, even ST holders, that no longer go to many games but would like the option to go here or there, yet the club don't seem to recognise previous attendance unless a membership is purchased which instantly creates a barrier to re-entry.

 

Fans not customers, and all that.

[Itsthejoeker]

@Foxes_Trust are you doing anything about this? 

[dmayne7]

The real issue is the membership system. As somebody who lives 3-4 hours away my man hope is to get some London/southern games away but even with the ballot, you're getting a pathetic percentage, and just a chance at tickets. But equally, if you're a season ticket holder, you should be rewarded for that and have access to tickets so it's a very tricky situation. Where the club have messed up is that loyalty should be allocated to ongoing memberships and season tickets rather than just points earned from buying tickets. Can't take into to account everyone's personal circumstances but if somebody has a membership for 10 years and only makes 1 game (so effectively paid £60-70 a ticket at minimum) they'll end up being worse off than somebody who's had a membership (or even a season ticket) for a much shorter time just because they've accumulated a few extra points.

[nathan.]

The ticket system and points system are a joke.

 

So many fans are missing out and it’s a disgrace.

[Stuntman_Mike]

It's great seeing something pretty much everyone agrees on.

 

Also, with the stadium expansion planned you'd have thought they'd be doing everything they can to get new fans coming down when they can.

 

 

[pkonline]

I know a few people, whilst not Leicester fans, would love to visit and see a game at the KP - and it's quite annoying even for games that you know won't sell out,  that they can't get a chance to go. It's a good way of attracting more supporters and building a larger base for the future - one we'll need with a bigger stadium!

[Adster]

19 minutes ago, Itsthejoeker said:

@Foxes_Trust are you doing anything about this? 

They ain't doing shit about anything mate. Useless

Edited 20 December 2023 by Adster

[Vazman]

3 hours ago, PAULCFC said:

Had a ST for 20 years until 2 months ago due to moving house.Will be coming home for xmas and despite having a booking history can't get a ticket for the rotherham game and refuse to buy a membership for a one off game.

Exactly this, and same scenario, work, moving home etc understandable I suppose if it's a sell out.

 

Nearly as disappointing, as the LCFC Advent calendar I bought from the fan store, especially as the dogs advent calendar which cost half the price looks far more appetising 😂

[Stuntman_Mike]

24 minutes ago, Itsthejoeker said:

@Foxes_Trust are you doing anything about this? 

They're watching repeats of The Chase waiting for this thread to reach page 2.

[Bourbon Fox]

3 hours ago, MPH said:

Could it be that there are no more seats available for general sale or do people see a lot of empty seats?

It's not that, it's that a proportion of seats could be kept available for general sale, ie actively protected by the club and made available to those who can't get to games regularly for reasons of time, commitment or money.

 

A game is a rare treat for me. Doesn't make me any less of a fan. It would be great if I stood a chance of getting a ticket when I'm able to make it.

[whoareyaaa]

You can't buy a ticket without membership  wtf is that (shows how long I haven't been down)

[Mike Oxlong]

If your mission as an owner is to support the wider Leicester community then why invoke a prohibitive policy when there are seats available ? 

 

Come on Top/Sue, sort it out 

[Zorrovolpe]

4 hours ago, lcfc278 said:

To add to this, I've noticed that even the option to purchase by those with a booking history is rarely offered. The odd time when it is actually offered it's usually only 2/3 days out from the game.

I'd never buy a membership on principle.

 

But, having a booking history, I've been contacted once or twice this calendar year about tickets being available.

However, having then downloaded the lengthy document about mobile ticketing, I've given up at that point.

For the past 30 years or so, I would go to 3-4 games a year when back in Leics, but not now.

[RYM]

It's quite common for "bigger" clubs to only allow members to games to buy tickets. I worked in football in Fan Engagement for 10 years until 2020 and this kind of policy makes total sense to the clubs and the line of reports should any trouble / inncident occur. You control who comes in, you can ID them, if they cheat the system you've done all you can... Also you can't change the policy for certain games once you've set the policy so if you aim to keep Leeds fans out the home end (for example) then you need to do the same for every team otherwise you are discriminating / profiting. 

 

BUT.... that is a great policy (for the clubs) if you are filling the ground or likely to. It's fairly obvious to most this season that as there are so many games a month, as many teams in this league won't sell out away allocations and as most of the fixtures aren't that appealing that a decent resale platform or option for others to buy could be in place. It's too rigid in this league, it should've been addressed as we went down and revised as the season ends. Fan groups (all of them) consulted is your best starting point.

 

Many think the art to filling a ground is just to win games but it's not (clearly), it's about an experience (I know that's a w*nky word but it's unfortunately relevant these days), getting people in early and giving them a reason to stay and unfortunately as someone has already pointed out ours perceived as stale. If you cant guarantee a 1-0 win every week you need a plan and I don't think we have really ever had one. From what I see / have experienced as a club have relied on results, which again is great while you are winning. There will be a new Head of Fan Engagement coming in (a new EPL requirement position) but that is a long burn and the best time to plant a tree was 100 years ago...

 

I think the UFS statement makes sense. Most of what they are about does. They are an unheard voice at times.

 

I'd also like to see the club issue some of these tickets to folk who maybe can't afford tickets, especially at this time of year where there is so much pressure on people to buy stuff and to entertain families. Most of those people won't be able to afford to come back (that could be why we don't) but as a community club, that shouldn't matter in this league.

 

That's just my waffle on the matter!

 

 

[Jackubu]

1 hour ago, Itsthejoeker said:

@Foxes_Trust are you doing anything about this? 

You should apologise for expecting them to do anything other than pretend to be important! 

Edited 20 December 2023 by Jackubu

[Ric Flair]

A simple way to nullify the concerns about trouble makers is to make all standard membership free (which is basically general sale). Fans apply and provide their information that puts the clubs fears to rest.

 

Would like to see the club argue themselves out of that.

[andy peake]

I’m a long-standing member.  I live a fair way from Leicester so only manage to get to a handful of games a season. A friend of mine who lives closer than me and is recuperating after cancer treatment would love to go to a game. However, he can’t as he has no previous booking history. So I can’t take him.
It would not be worth him becoming a member but if tickets occasionally went to general sale this would be likely solution. The club don’t seem bothered to attract those people who, although neutral fans, would like to attend the odd game. Years ago they could. And if they enjoy themselves, who knows, they may want to go back for more.

[worth_the_wait]

I don't like saying this ... but for years now we've gone along with the script that "our owners are amazing, fantastic, better than anyone else's", and haven't really been paying attention to what's been happening, in important areas like ticket sales and distribution.   Which has been a disgrace, both for home and away ticketing.

 

It's not just that.   Lot's of other clubs have already installed safe standing rail seating.   Our club doesn't even talk about it.   It just prattles on endlessly about "a family club, blah blah blah".

 

[Stadt]

Great thread here offering perceptive and constructive criticism, absolutely zero acknowledgement from the club.

 

Fan engagement at LCFC = biannual beers or doughnut giveaways 

[jammie82uk]

2 hours ago, Stadt said:

Then there's neutrals who might be in the city for university, work, tourism or whatever else who might catch a game if they can too.

Pretty sure there are some people on here who don’t want Neutrals in the ground, some don’t want actual home fans unless they are shouting and bouncing around