J7

I’d say most stopped going because of Ashley. I went, but as I said on another thread almost felt guilty for it. We hardly helped get rid of him. Going or not during the Ashley era is hardly a good ‘loyalty’ test. Little to do with being shit.

Na, just no better than anyone else.

I think that’s it. There were loads of different reasons to continue going or not. I’m not sure loyalty or lack of has much to do with it though I agree that many would stop and start going due to success on the pitch. The sub-40k crowds in the first Ashley Championship season soon jumped again when we continued to win. There are also a few who are seen as loyal of the loyal and who have hundreds of loyalty points but barely know what’s going on in a game because they’re so wasted and it’s more of a big piss up around the country with mates. Getting a little bit away from the main point though. Returners, new and future fans have to be considered. The ‘only consider the people who went when we were shit’ crew are being pretty selfish imo.

Na totally disagree with that. It’s not easy to stop going if you’ve always been and their reason was totally understandable. In my opinion, by continuing to go, we allowed him to continue doing what he did for longer than he probably would have had the majority of us stayed away. I had an element of guilt for still going. Regardless of that argument anyway, I still think we need to consider them, more recent, and future supporters.

Nobody should be blamed for not going under Ashley. I went and had a ST until Bruce arrived, but if anything I have more respect for those who stayed away. They’re not any less ‘loyal’ than those who went. We hardly helped by continuing to feed him.

I’m sure the Mackems preferred Roker Park, but it would be ludicrous to still be playing in that dump. I prefer standing on a terrace, but it’s 2023.

Let’s be honest, the Saudis are going to want to show of something that they’ve done too. I love SJP too, but it’s difficult to compare it to something that doesn’t exist yet. My seats pretty good in the Gallowgate and I can stand all game, but tbh I can’t imagine it being up to much half way up Leazes. I don’t get the ‘I don’t want sushi’ bizarre argument too. Don’t buy it if you don’t want it. Demanding less options because you, personally, just want to have a cheap pint and then watch the game is a bit strange imo.

Don’t think it’s unreasonable to argue for inflation only increases in STs and other general tickets, while accepting an increase in corporate options. Assuming it’s a new stadium. Certainly more likely than arguing that nothing should change.

I’ve seen someone saying we should walk before we can run. They’ve been here two years and it would probably be another 5+ before any redevelopment or new stadium is complete. It’s hardly a big rush.

It’s not really that appealing, especially when you see people’s reactions to things like this and the ticket issues. The amount of people who only seem to care about their own personal circumstances and then take absolutely nothing on board is staggering. You don’t get much ‘I don’t like whatever, but I can see why they’ve done it’ or really many practical suggestions to improve something. People will get called worse than shite regardless of what they do on there. The club have a difficult balance to get right in many areas, but change nothing isn’t going to be an option. Might as well ask them to sell up and watch our rivals progress instead.

From what I’ve seen, it’s pretty clear it’ll be a new stadium. The chairman in all interviews has been pretty ruthless and talked about the club being ‘number 1’. It won’t be ‘number 1, but not the stadium’. If and when it’s announced that that’s the plan, or even before, energy would be better spent pushing for what we want with a new stadium as opposed to folk manning the barricades. Spurs and Everton look great tbh and they seem to have put effort into keeping the atmosphere. Not sure about sushi bars tbh, though I’d like to actually be able to eat something in the stadium. Was at the Mile High Stadium in Denver in September and there was all sorts on offer without it being corporate.

Same. Weird. Checked my preferences and no reason why I shouldn’t.

Has anyone else not got this?

Was in the bar. It lasted about 20 seconds, if that, and they fucked off.

There’s probably a right level of drunkenness which helps before you turn into a useless mess tbf. I can think of a few times in the past where I’ve been in such a state I’d have been no use to helping create an atmosphere. Brugge was one. Derby under Big Sam and Forest for a late kick off under Hughton. Other occasions I’ve been pissed and had a great time like Leeds when Shelvey scored. Probably just hadn’t gone over the useless mess level. Ha. I’ve no idea the impact coke would have in all honesty. There was me talking about over analysis before. ?

Is there not a bit of over-analysis going on too. There was a huge moan about Dortmund at home too, when it was probably just that lots of people were pissing wet. Theres always been good and bad away ends. Barnsley was unreal in 2009, then I thought it was awful in 2015 despite us filling that big stand on both occasions. It feels a bit like some people on Twitter have a grievance about whatever, then try and attach anything not great to it. I even saw ‘too many kitchen sinks’ used by some racist bastard.

I think I’m just going to go to the Louvre in Paris.

They’d probably want it all completed in time for the Euros.

What would people prefer, 20k at Darlington or Gateshead with 15-20k season ticket holders told to suck it up, or 51k at Murrayfield and ‘it’s a pain in the arse, but get there if you can’ and no ‘punishment’ if you decide to defer your ST until the work is completed? I suspect the SFA wouldn’t allow it anyway.

There’s probably around 500 if you include Berwick too, but I agree it’s still fairly unrealistic. After Sunderland, if you’re wanting close to 50k in a stadium, it’s probably second option.

I’m travelling from Edinburgh each game and it’s usually around 1 hour 30/40 min depending on stops. I’m not sure they’d even have the number of trains available even if the owners were to splash the cash and pay for one after the other for 4/5 hours before and after the game. You could send some via Carlisle and into Haymarket too I suppose. It’s probably the most realistic option if you are going to keep all ST holders going and avoid Sunderland though.

Yeah. I’m sure there’ll be ways to improve what’s happening now, and with regards to home tickets, I’m sure more could be done to find out which seats are going up on these sell on websites. My mate got one for £210 for PSG and I encouraged him to forward the seat number to the club after the event, but he didn’t. The persons name was on the digital ticket sent to him too. For what it’s worth, Wednesday will be the first away game I’ve been on my own ticket since Everton away under McClaren (enough to put you off any game), and I’ve relied on friends getting me them when I’ve been ever since. I was lucky enough to get my ST back in the 1000 after giving it up when Bruce arrived. I hope I can be forgiven, given I’m travelling from Scotland. Ha. 10-15 years ago I used to be able to get away tickets on a membership pretty easily too. Even got Anfield on a membership when Barton got sent off in the relegation season. Boro the last time we were there. Anyway, I’m going on. The change has inconvenienced me as shown above, but I think we need a bit more than toys out the pram reaction.

It would be better if the superfans on Twitter actually came up with a realistic solution, as opposed to demanding a return to select fans controlling tens of tickets and folk who don’t go piling up their loyalty points. The club are never going to agree to that, regardless of it happening in the past, and I doubt the home team and the PL would approve either. Gone are the days of terrace, pissing in each others pockets to stay warm and climbing trees and floodlights to watch the game. Gone are the days of clubs not bothering about who is in each seat. It may be worse, but it’s not going back to the way it was, like it or not.

It’s the same travelling back anywhere north of Morpeth too. This country is a bit of a joke as I’m sure you’re finding out. Agree with above, unless you’re driving, you’ll probably need a room somewhere. You might save money by staying somewhere a bit further out you can get to after the game.

To be fair, someone tweeted using the Trust account about the touting. It was an exchange with someone criticising them and was hardly a considered statement of the position of the Trust. I’m not even a member or a fan of the way Alex and Charlotte go on, but there’s been a bit much made of that.