Club Update on 2021/22 Season Tickets and Memberships

[Ealing Bee]

The new stadium is a big factor here with some I know scrambling to get their STs ordered in early 2020 when the reservation centre opened, simply because they'll no longer be able to stand with friends each week without being committed to a ticket.

Good point.

 

[Jay Bee]

It was certainly open for Fulham in December 19 and Leeds in February 20.

Probably would have been more but sadly Covid came along.

There were loads of games which went on the Exchange that year....I attended that final Sheffield Weds game via the exchange! Same with about three other matches.

Sorry I am probably getting my dates mixed up in terms of the details.#
My friend's debate about the old refund definitely involved the line "there can't be any credits due to you sir, because no games went on the exchange last season". It's possible "last season" was 18/19 not 19/20.

 

[Houghton Bee]

My memory is you could 'return' your ticket on the exchange for any game in the last 2 seasons, however you only got a credit IF the game went to 90% sell out AND your specific seat was resold.

 

[pompeybee]

I have only put my tickets up on the exchange 3-4 times, and they weren't always resold. My only gripe with the system is that you don't seem to be told when tickets are resold, you only find out when you get the discount on the following season's ST.

 

[Alex]

My memory is you could 'return' your ticket on the exchange for any game in the last 2 seasons, however you only got a credit IF the game went to 90% sell out AND your specific seat was resold.

That is mine too.

One of ours was once returned and sold, though we never saw who bought it as they didn’t use the seat. The credit was there when we renewed without asking.

 

[hobbsy]

That is mine too.

One of ours was once returned and sold, though we never saw who bought it as they didn’t use the seat. The credit was there when we renewed without asking.

They probably went in Ealing Road

 

[GABS]

I haven't had a season ticket in maybe 4 years or so, for the only reason that I missed the odd game here or there that meant there wasn't much saving (if any) to be had from season tickets, and additionally being able to sit in different areas was a bonus (particularly as sometimes I'd like to bring friends or family along). I also used to get free tickets for quite a while, as part of the academy scouting team, until they closed the academy.

I hadn't really cottoned on to the urgency of getting a season ticket for this season - I hadn't imagined that they would sell out before an EPL season was confirmed. That's my own naivety there.

I'm left absolutely gutted at the thought of either not getting a season ticket, or being in a scrum for the remaining tickets available, with no idea how my TAPs stack up. Also at the thought of possibly/probably not getting to attend any away games if season ticket holders are presumably given priority there.

Not blaming the club obviously. Just wish I'd realised! I'm sure there must be plenty in my position - those that have mostly been regular attendees but haven't had season ticket either for financial reasons or because having a season ticket just wasn't particularly necessary previously.

Needless to say, I'm keeping a much closer eye on both my emails from the club & the club website now... and just hoping that a promotion to the prem doesn't mean a relegation for me to the couch.

Similar situation to you in some ways. I'd never had a Brentford ST and only at my "peak" of attending home games back in the early noughties would I have come close to a ST being value for me. I bought one for the first Lionel Road season 20/21 and I chose for it to be frozen through the covid season, like most other ST holders.

My main driver when I ordered the ST was that I still wouldn't get to all games but, unlike Ealing Road, I hated the idea of for the games I would get to of not being able to sit next to my ST holders pals I always meet up with. It would quite frankly ruin the whole match day experience for me.

There was of course also the potential prize of watching Premier League football and I knew that would severely limit my chances of any ticket, never mind sitting with my mates. It was at times a 50/50 call for me on making the ST purchase so despite being happy with the call I made I do also sympathise with Bees like yourself as I was almost in the same boat.

 

[GABS]

No...I think they need to work out who is attending how many games this season first. If someone only attends 5 games on their season ticket this season (Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham for instance) then their seat should be re-offered elsewhere IMO. Some may disagree with that, but we need proper fans in who will go most weeks.

Also the vast majority of our income will be from the TV deal now, I don't think the club have a desperate need to take this money in advance.

That is a load of **** mate. Who are you to tell me, or any other Bees, how many times we need to use our ST? We pays our money and we takes our choice.

Besides, if I don't go to a game my use of the club ticket exchange will very likely ensure they are snapped up for PL football and genuine Bees who want a one off ticket then get one.

 

[Jay Bee]

That is a load of **** mate. Who are you to tell me, or any other Bees, how many times we need to use our ST? We pays our money and we takes our choice.

Besides, if I don't go to a game my use of the club ticket exchange will very likely ensure they are snapped up for PL football and genuine Bees who want a one off ticket then get one.

I don't think you can establish any of this in advance as in Invipai's wording seemed to suggest.

However there is a clear benefit to the club allowing someone that will use 20+ tickets to buy a ST rather than just a handful of times, and no tickets returned to the exchange. You can say that someone else deserves the seat simply because they got there first but it's also up to the club who they sell to.

If it is ever policed it is likely to be the extremes i.e. a ticket for a seat that is left empty 20 times a season, many tickets not returned to the exchange, and little/no previous purchasing history. I mentioned a while ago that Dortmund had refused ST renewals for a number of seats that were hardly used. It was even more of an issue there because STs are even cheaper and individual match tickets are hard to come by. They don't want the custom of a syndicate of English tourists once in a while when a local person could sit/stand there every week. Anyone who is a proper fan would have nothing to worry about - and I'm sure any Bees fan would find the same if the same policy were adopted.

If someone buys a season ticket, uses it for Man U at home and then returns the ticket to the exchange the other 18 times, it is difficult to say whether this is fair? Because they are not stopping another fan from using that seat most of the time.

 

[Banana]

I mentioned a while ago that Dortmund had refused ST renewals for a number of seats that were hardly used. It was even more of an issue there because STs are even cheaper and individual match tickets are hard to come by. They don't want the custom of a syndicate of English tourists once in a while when a local person could sit/stand there every week. Anyone who is a proper fan would have nothing to worry about - and I'm sure any Bees fan would find the same if the same policy were adopted.

If someone buys a season ticket, uses it for Man U at home and then returns the ticket to the exchange the other 18 times, it is difficult to say whether this is fair? Because they are not stopping another fan from using that seat most of the time.

This should be our policy. Brentford tickets for Brentford fans.

 

[Invipai]

That is a load of **** mate. Who are you to tell me, or any other Bees, how many times we need to use our ST? We pays our money and we takes our choice.

Besides, if I don't go to a game my use of the club ticket exchange will very likely ensure they are snapped up for PL football and genuine Bees who want a one off ticket then get one.

We're in new territory now, there will be more demand than we can meet. Things are going to have to get stricter. Why should a seat that isn't used for 13 games of a 19 game season be renewed when we already have a waiting list from a year before we went up? Part of being in the big league is managing demand, and these are the issues that we're going to have to deal with.

The odd game to miss is fine, but if someone leaves a seat unoccupied for over half the games why should they be at the front of the queue to renew.

 

[Easter 1959]

This should be our policy. Brentford tickets for Brentford fans.

Unless you have to travel a 450 round trip for a midweek 2000 kick off and be at work 0800 the following morning; and didn't miss a match in the Spring of 1974 when Mike Everitt's team were at its peak and we were bottom of the entire Football League . . . . . . . .

 

[GABS]

We're in new territory now, there will be more demand than we can meet. Things are going to have to get stricter. Why should a seat that isn't used for 13 games of a 19 game season be renewed when we already have a waiting list from a year before we went up? Part of being in the big league is managing demand, and these are the issues that we're going to have to deal with.

The odd game to miss is fine, but if someone leaves a seat unoccupied for over half the games why should they be at the front of the queue to renew.

I have no idea at the moment on the specific numbers of games that I will attend / miss. The seat won't be unused when I'm not there as the long term Bees membership, history and taps should easily allow Bees to use that seat when I can't. A fair assumption here being we'll sell out every home game.

However why is someone who didn't commit to a ST when we were in the Championship (my ST was bought for 20/21 season) now potentially a priority over me just because they have all of a sudden found an enthusiasm to buy a ST in the Prem that they weren't so interested in for the Championship? Loyal support is measured in many ways.

 

[Johninbangkok]

Been a supporter since mid 1950s. I had a ST for 20 odd years until I was permanently posted overseas and for the past 20+ years (except last season due Covid) I still managed the 11,000 miles round trip between 6 - 8 times games per season. Now I fear I will probably only be able to secure tickets for away games. The 'cost' of success it seems! I know I am not the only long distance supporter in this position.

 

[Ashford Bees]

Now I fear I will probably only be able to secure tickets for away games.

Away ticket allocation is going to be another headache for the club. I’m a firm believer in the TAPs system being the fairest way, but those just outside the “top tier” threshold will never have an opportunity to increase their TAPs as we potentially have 19 “Southampton away FA cup” scenarios where away ticket demand will significantly exceed supply.

 

[ruislip bee]

Unless you have to travel a 450 round trip for a midweek 2000 kick off and be at work 0800 the following morning; and didn't miss a match in the Spring of 1974 when Mike Everitt's team were at its peak and we were bottom of the entire Football League . . . . . . . .

And have the Barrow away ticket stub

 

[Judio1999]

Away ticket allocation is going to be another headache for the club. I’m a firm believer in the TAPs system being the fairest way, but those just outside the “top tier” threshold will never have an opportunity to increase their TAPs as we potentially have 19 “Southampton away FA cup” scenarios where away ticket demand will significantly exceed supply.

We are going to get 3,000 seats for each match potentially
Maybe

 

[AB]

We are going to get 3,000 seats for each match potentially
Maybe

I’m sure we’ll sell a lot but it’ll be a huge achievement and sign of how we’ve grown if we take that many to every game. Imagine 3k in the away end at Burnley! Opponents won’t know what’s hit them.

 

[Keighley Bee]

We're in new territory now, there will be more demand than we can meet. Things are going to have to get stricter. Why should a seat that isn't used for 13 games of a 19 game season be renewed when we already have a waiting list from a year before we went up? Part of being in the big league is managing demand, and these are the issues that we're going to have to deal with.

The odd game to miss is fine, but if someone leaves a seat unoccupied for over half the games why should they be at the front of the queue to renew.

I am retired, living in Yorkshire. I have 3300+ TAPs, but as things stand, they will likely be effectively worthless for away games at the likes of Old Trafford and Anfield, as not having a ST, every ST holder, including any with almost no TAPs, is ahead of me in the queue for tickets. My only option therefore to get to these 'local' games will be to buy a ST for BCS - a season ticket that I won't be able to afford to use more than a handful of times, and yes, could otherwise go to someone more able to use it regularly.

The only way round it in my case would be if the club sold away tickets based on number of TAPs alone, then I would get my tickets for the northern aways and could just use membership and take my chances for a few home tickets each season.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I am retired, living in Yorkshire. I have 3300+ TAPs, but as things stand, they will likely be effectively worthless for away games at the likes of Old Trafford and Anfield, as not having a ST, every ST holder, including any with almost no TAPs, is ahead of me in the queue for tickets. My only option therefore to get to these 'local' games will be to buy a ST for BCS - a season ticket that I won't be able to afford to use more than a handful of times, and yes, could otherwise go to someone more able to use it regularly.

The only way round it in my case would be if the club sold away tickets based on number of TAPs alone, then I would get my tickets for the northern aways and could just use membership and take my chances for a few home tickets each season.

Even though I currently benefit, I would definitely support regular away travellers getting first dibs on away tickets, even if they don't have a home season ticket.

 

[pompeybee]

Apart from as an incentive to get an ST (an incentive which is hardly needed for as long as we stay up), I'm not sure of the logic of giving TAPs for STs, if the point of TAPs is primarily to prioritise access to away tickets.
I've always been able to get tickets for any game I've wanted to attend, as a result of TAPs earned almost entirely from holding an ST - I can probably count the number of away games I've ever been to on the fingers of two hands. For next season, I would ideally like to cherrypick a few away games, but I'm not sure I should be able to get tickets for those games ahead of those fans who have been going away regularly for years, and will no doubt be going to Burnley on a Tuesday night in February if that's how the fixtures fall.

 

[PhilE]

Apart from as an incentive to get an ST (an incentive which is hardly needed for as long as we stay up), I'm not sure of the logic of giving TAPs for STs, if the point of TAPs is primarily to prioritise access to away tickets.

As mentioned above I think TAPs should be the one and only criteria for Away tickets. The reward for buying a ST should be in the form of a TAP allocation up front which supplements your TAP total.

I doubt it will make much difference overall but it will allow fans that have accumulated 3k+ TAP (but no longer have a ST) to be considered over newer STHs with very little TAP.

I doubt this will happen as the club, I suspect, want to incentivise current STHs above all else.

 

[Banana]

I've always been able to get tickets for any game I've wanted to attend, as a result of TAPs earned almost entirely from holding an ST -

No you haven't, you don't get TAPs from holding a ST. You have to attend games.

 

[rebus]

Even though I currently benefit, I would definitely support regular away travellers getting first dibs on away tickets, even if they don't have a home season ticket.

Must be quite a small percentage though, surely?

 

[Judio1999]

Time to think about selling Away Season Tickets to regulars ???

Especially those based in Midlands and the North ??

 

[AB]

Time to think about selling Away Season Tickets to regulars ???

Especially those based in Midlands and the North ??

The £30 flat rate (technically a cap but as often with caps I’d be surprised if any club charged less) for PL away tickets does make away STs relatively easy to organise.

 

[pompeybee]

No you haven't, you don't get TAPs from holding a ST. You have to attend games.

Thanks for the elucidation, and of course I do realise that. I think it's reasonable to assume that most ST holders attend most home games. I'm just not sure that regular attendance at home games via the mechanism of buying an ST should also give such a huge boost to the ability to buy away tickets.

 

[Banana]

Thanks for the elucidation, and of course I do realise that. I think it's reasonable to assume that most ST holders attend most home games. I'm just not sure that regular attendance at home games via the mechanism of buying an ST should also give such a huge boost to the ability to buy away tickets.

So you prefer a requirement to buy individual matchday home tickets instead of a season ticket?

 

[SpiderBee]

I have never had a season ticket and I never will.

 

[Easter 1959]

And have the Barrow away ticket stub

And Ken Coote and Jim Towers autograph; and a copy of the Chronicle signed by George Sands, I reck.

 

[pompeybee]

So you prefer a requirement to buy individual matchday home tickets instead of a season ticket?

I wasn't aware I'd said, or implied, that. All I was really doing was agreeing with Les's post a few posts back, with a few extra thoughts which appear to have led to misunderstanding of what was supposed to be a simple enough point. I'll say no more for fear of complicatind things further.

 

[Ealing Bee]

For obvious reasons - promotion, covid, new stadium novelty etc - we're going to be in an entirely unprecedented situation next season when it comes to allocating tickets.

But Covid will hopefully become manageable and the new stadium novelty eventually tail off while we all get used to life in the PL. Meaning that maybe we should wait for another season or two to see how things go before implementing strict new ticketing policies? ("Follow the data", if you like).

If nothing else relegation to the Championship, which would change things again, has to be a possibility (even if most of us are very hopeful on that score).

 

[Ghost]

Does anyone have an idea when those who have registered interest for the latest membership round might expect to hear something?

 

[Banana]

Does anyone have an idea when those who have registered interest for the latest membership round might expect to hear something?

Read the first post of this thread.

 

[mhead bee]

Will it still be possible to “upgrade” a Junior season ticket to an adult for individual matches, I am assuming so, as it is incremental revenue in both tickets and potential f&b sales?

I can't imagine anyone is going to do an age check when you scan yourself into the ground are they?

 

[mhead bee]

I have looked the whole thread and can't see any mention of how many ST we have sold. Anybody know?

 

[Banana]

I have looked the whole thread and can't see any mention of how many ST we have sold. Anybody know?

Yes, Jon Varney knows.

 

[Raise The Roof]

Yes, Jon Varney knows.

Didn’t Jon Varney (or some other) mention that around 11,000 Season Tickets have been sold ?

 

[Banana]

Didn’t Jon Varney (or some other) mention that around 11,000 Season Tickets have been sold ?

From recollection about 10.500 (which would include PSHers too)

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

What is the correct protocol this season if we see a fan in our end wearing some other premier league teams colours now? Normally ignore it & feel a bit sorry for them if it’s a Man U, Liverpool shirt etc but now they are our rivals. QPR & Fulham rules still apply I presume.

 

[rebus]

What is the correct protocol this season if we see a fan in our end wearing some other premier league teams colours now? Normally ignore it & feel a bit sorry for them if it’s a Man U, Liverpool shirt etc but now they are our rivals. QPR & Fulham rules still apply I presume.

Zero tolerance!

 

[Griffingreen]

I am retired, living in Yorkshire. I have 3300+ TAPs, but as things stand, they will likely be effectively worthless for away games at the likes of Old Trafford and Anfield, as not having a ST, every ST holder, including any with almost no TAPs, is ahead of me in the queue for tickets. My only option therefore to get to these 'local' games will be to buy a ST for BCS - a season ticket that I won't be able to afford to use more than a handful of times, and yes, could otherwise go to someone more able to use it regularly.

The only way round it in my case would be if the club sold away tickets based on number of TAPs alone, then I would get my tickets for the northern aways and could just use membership and take my chances for a few home tickets each season.

Ideally you need to pair up with a ST holder who doesn't do away games.

 

[Griffingreen]

What is the correct protocol this season if we see a fan in our end wearing some other premier league teams colours now? Normally ignore it & feel a bit sorry for them if it’s a Man U, Liverpool shirt etc but now they are our rivals. QPR & Fulham rules still apply I presume.

Zero tolerance!

Zero tolerance indeed as they're probably a cockney red.

At least in the lower divisions they were probably a proper supporter of the away club who was displaced into London

 

[8corner]

What is the correct protocol this season if we see a fan in our end wearing some other premier league teams colours now? Normally ignore it & feel a bit sorry for them if it’s a Man U, Liverpool shirt etc but now they are our rivals. QPR & Fulham rules still apply I presume.

Snipers will be deployed with instructions to"take the shot"

 

[BEEcool]

What is the correct protocol this season if we see a fan in our end wearing some other premier league teams colours now? Normally ignore it & feel a bit sorry for them if it’s a Man U, Liverpool shirt etc but now they are our rivals. QPR & Fulham rules still apply I presume.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus shirts etc too

 

[Brentford_till_die]

What is the correct protocol this season if we see a fan in our end wearing some other premier league teams colours now? Normally ignore it & feel a bit sorry for them if it’s a Man U, Liverpool shirt etc but now they are our rivals. QPR & Fulham rules still apply I presume.

usual protocol is to let them put their flags up wherever they want

 

[liverbee]

My question is how discreet should I be in Anfield and Goodison?

 

[8corner]

I'm hoping the Club will again be doing the Cup Scheme (whereby you commit to buying a ticket for any home cup tie and you receive the tickets automatically). Still tbc apparently.

 

[Brentford77]

My question is how discreet should I be in Anfield and Goodison?

No need at all. People will probably look patronisingly and pityingly at you and not realise the Bees are in the premier league until after full time

 

[Invipai]

No need at all. People will probably look patronisingly and pityingly at you and not realise the Bees are in the premier league until after full time

'I felt disappointed we didn't beat Bradford today'