Reading v Aston Villa information.

[voyager1]

I do think it's wrong not to be apply the points system in some way.

How can they apply the points system when there's less than a week between the season ticket exclusivity period ending and the match itself?

Whilst the club needs to respect those members with a lot of points, it too has to maximise the match day attendance in whatever way possible. If the match were three weeks away then it could have a period of exclusivity for season ticket holders and then a decreasing points threshold for each day passing (like they did for the Liverpool match). Given that a significant percentage of sales will be general sale, they need to give them a period of time as well.

Another problem with a short general sale period is that it reduces the club's options should the visiting club request a bigger away end.

Nottingham Forest have a season ticket/member exclusivity period for their home matches and when they were playing Newcastle, Newcastle sold out their 4,500 tickets very quickly and requested for a bigger allocation (not sure if Forest can turn a home section into an away end). Because the home tickets were still in an exclusivity period, Forest (who also need to fill their stadium) had the choice of giving Newcastle more tickets but instead took the option of bringing the general sale date forward for home supporters which resulted in 3,000 tickets being sold in the first 24 hours. By having a longer general sale period gave Forest the chance to get home supporters in quickly and if for any reason, people didn't want to go, then they could decide to give Newcastle more tickets.

[RG30]

I do think it's wrong not to be apply the points system in some way.

How can they apply the points system when there's less than a week between the season ticket exclusivity period ending and the match itself?

Whilst the club needs to respect those members with a lot of points, it too has to maximise the match day attendance in whatever way possible. If the match were three weeks away then it could have a period of exclusivity for season ticket holders and then a decreasing points threshold for each day passing (like they did for the Liverpool match). Given that a significant percentage of sales will be general sale, they need to give them a period of time as well.

Another problem with a short general sale period is that it reduces the club's options should the visiting club request a bigger away end.

Nottingham Forest have a season ticket/member exclusivity period for their home matches and when they were playing Newcastle, Newcastle sold out their 4,500 tickets very quickly and requested for a bigger allocation (not sure if Forest can turn a home section into an away end). Because the home tickets were still in an exclusivity period, Forest (who also need to fill their stadium) had the choice of giving Newcastle more tickets but instead took the option of bringing the general sale date forward for home supporters which resulted in 3,000 tickets being sold in the first 24 hours. By having a longer general sale period gave Forest the chance to get home supporters in quickly and if for any reason, people didn't want to go, then they could decide to give Newcastle more tickets.

Do ST holders really need 5 days to buy their match tickets though?

Interesting to read that on the club's customer charter, it says:

"Member Card holder's also recieve Royalty Points (Reading FC's version of of loyalty points). For high demand games, these points will allow the club to fairly allocate tickets based on supporter loyalty."

[Stranded]

They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Personally I'd have given ST holders until Sunday night and open up to members of 1000+ on Monday before general sale on Tuesday.

But if they had done that you'd have had ST holders complaining they weren't given long enough as has happened on this very forum.

[RG30]

Well quite, wasn't it someone on here who moaned about the lack of notice ST holders were given to buy for the Burnley game IIRC. Agreed about opening up on Monday though, the majority of ST holders would have had 4 days to purchase plus more importantly today's match. I'll be delaying my entrance into my Tuesday 9am lecture to ensure I'm sat at a PC ready to buy

[SLAMMED]

£15. IN

[Rex]

I have to wait until Tuesday morning. Luckily i'm off work so i can nip up to the T/O.

[SLAMMED]

Part timer.

[Rex]

It's a bleedin' liberty i tell you.

[voyager1]

They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Personally I'd have given ST holders until Sunday night and open up to members of 1000+ on Monday before general sale on Tuesday.

But if they had done that you'd have had ST holders complaining they weren't given long enough as has happened on this very forum.

This would have been the best way to keep everyone happy. As for season ticket holders complaining about not having long enough, how long does it take to go online or phone and book a ticket? Giving them until Sunday night should catch nearly all of them especially given the fact that there was a home match on Saturday, which would create the opportunity for offline season ticket holders to visit the ticket office.

[66DD]

I think that they should go back to old way and only sell tickets to those who are prepared to queue up in the rain outside the ticket office. That way everyone gets an equal chance and it will discourage those who don't support their local club from attending.

Congratulations - you win todays idiot prize.

Thank you. It's a while since I won anything. By the way you've missed the apostrophe in today's.

[Row Z Royal]

By the way, you've missed the comma after "by the way".

[Wimb]

Would have liked a token gesture to points holders if only as a nod. But the Sunday 1:45 kick off time will probably disuade a lot of those that aren't really commited to the cause and hopefully everyone who wants one will get a ticket.

That or they should start giving away vouchers again in the early rounds

[Wycombe Royal]

But the Sunday 1:45 kick off time will probably disuade a lot of those that aren't really commited to the cause and hopefully everyone who wants one will get a ticket.

Committed to the cause? What does that mean.

Myself and the 4 people I go with aren't going to the Villa match, in fact I have only been to one cup match this season - the West Brom one, the only one not against Premiership ooposition.

This QF is likely to bring out MORE that aren't committed to the cause........

[SLAMMED]

I couldn't give a shit about who else is there. As long as I am, I'm not bothered.

[Compo's Hat]

Once again a shambles from whoever runs the ticket office. Are we bothering with royality points anymore or our the club just trying to show why they like to be a complete joke from time to time.

I hope the system crashes Tuesday morning as it'll serve them right when the free for all begins!

[james15]

Once again a shambles from whoever runs the ticket office. Are we bothering with royality points anymore or our the club just trying to show why they like to be a complete joke from time to time.

I hope the system crashes Tuesday morning as it'll serve them right when the free for all begins!

I'm sure it will, the main thing is the tickets are so expensive it's just unaffordable.

[Wycombe Royal]

Once again a shambles from whoever runs the ticket office. Are we bothering with royality points anymore or our the club just trying to show why they like to be a complete joke from time to time.

I hope the system crashes Tuesday morning as it'll serve them right when the free for all begins!

Because I doubt the points system is needed for this match. I don't think the demand will be that great. Yes it will probably sell out but it won't be until later in the week.

Fans can't complain about what is going on on the pitch at the match so it is time for the ticket office to get it again.......

[Stranded]

I'd actually like to see a breakdown of the numbers of people with say 500+ points that aren't current ST holders.

With the time left to sell then the club may well have had to do this as there may only be a few thousand over that threshold.

[Silver Fox]

Does all this beef mean that people who LOLled about the need for a season ticket were wrong?

[Rex]

Clearly only when we are this far in the FAC and at home...........