TheGuv

I think we’re going round in circles… It’s obvious that some like the new model and some don’t. Some are saying 10am is unfair (it probably was - but it was a situation made unfair by people’s daily diary/work environment. One could argue there are ways around this - via family/friends or even taking day’s off etc. I used to nip to the loo if I was in the office A total side note. But when the 1000 STs were released last year, I planned to take day(s) off if required to camp out in the queue But the Club chucked it on the online system instead and I missed out). C’est La Vie Others argue that those who did utilise the 10am to their own benefit showed their utmost desire to attend (because if they had the option at 10am, they made sure it worked for them). My view is there HAS to be an alternative to a lucky dip. How the Club do it - is open to debate, but there has to be a debate. Just imagine the outcry if STs were to be balloted every year, or indeed every away ticket was to be balloted (and loyalty points weren’t taken into consideration). I’m sure we’d all agree that would be unfair. So i’m not sure how membership should be any different (especially if we were to start from scratch in August 2023… to make it super duper fair moving forward). This being the case, it’s the number 1 priority for the club to work out a fairer system moving forward. But crucially surely loyalty has to be rewarded moving forward?! Another example: It’s March 2026. Bobby Dazzla has entered the ‘ballot’ for every game for 3 years and was successful 30% of the time and had attended 20 League games in that time period. Newcastle are playing Man City in a title decider in May 2026 and Bobby is hopeful for a ticket. He is unsuccessful. However, Joe Bloggs decides he wants to have a chance at being at SJP for our first title win in 99 years. He buys his first membership in March 2026 and enters the ballot for the City game. After all, he’s a member and deserves just as much chance as Bobby? Joe gets the ticket and Bobby doesn’t. Who on here would think that’s ‘fair’? Forget about the here and now, there’s also the future we need to be thinking about here. Clearly there is no thought process into this other than rinsing 85,000+? Fans of £37 and we’re all supposed to be happy about it.

Jump up the tiers the more points you collect? It doesn’t have to be done in the form of a Catholic Indulgence payment to skip the queue. If I spend a certain amount on my Amex Blue card, I get more points. The more I fly with BA I can move into a different Tier from Bronze - Silver - Gold. If I don’t use it. I lose it. Not sure why the club can’t think of something along this sort of model.

I don’t know how the Club came up with this ‘solution’ though? Where was the consultation with members? (There was none. Yet there was a safe standing and away loyalty point consultation). How had the old system been flagged as an issue if there was no consultation? Someone has dropped a clanger at the Club and we’re none the wiser. Is anyone genuinely happy with this alternative? Or is it just the Club who are happy as they’ve made a few extra £ for new memberships?

If it is… ?

Good poll. I know only of Group 2 so far. I know of one lad who has bought a membership this season who didn’t last year. But I don’t think he’s been successful in the ballot.

I maintain that the membership system has been rushed and written on the back of a fag packet. Considering that memberships is about raising money and widening the ‘fan base’ I can’t believe the club didn’t look into how other club’s run their memberships. I also find it a tad saddening that the only change from the club was to change the ballot to allow you to select a pricing category. There’s still a lot that can be worked on to make a membership more desirable, for EVERYONE, moving forward. Of course I’m selfish and the old system suited me. But to look at the new system pragmatically, there’s a lot of holes in it. The club must and should be doing better.

Good use of the safety wink

Yep. They’re fucked

It worked for some and didn’t work for others. The ballot in theory works of course. But a forever uncapped membership (57,000 in 24 hours and growing to god knows what) with no tangible benefit other than a chance of entering the ballot (despite what Silverstone says. 15% off at Shearer’s doesn’t hack it) - and with no thought process into any form of loyalty to many with long ticketing history, feels like a massive kick in the dick to many. The way Silverstone talks we could clearly end up in a position with hundred(s) of thousands of members ‘so they know who is in the stadium’ and ‘who our real fans are’. It’s clearly about money (which is fine) and it’s clearly about expanding the fan base (which is also fine). But it still hurts many who have also put a hell of a lot into the club financially and emotionally in the last 2 years and seemingly have been given no reward - or any notification of a potential reward in future (whatever that may be? That there has been no mention of this, also feels like we’re all on tbe same benefit level moving forward. Which we clearly are). I understand your frustrations with the old system @Optimistic Nut. That’s totally valid. Some of us clearly benefitted from the old system. But certainly from my perspective, 4 close friends all linking our memberships together and logging in every week without fail in the hope we got a good queue number - certainly showed our mad shit devotion to it. I wonder how many of the 57,000+ REALLY care? If they did, they’d have bought a membership on Day 1 last year - but they didn’t.

3, 6 and 11 man. Howay…

You just know the game is going to be delayed as well due to people not getting into the ground on time or the digital tickets not working.

Yes. Exactly what you said in your first two sentences. What difference does 24 hours make? FYI there is already a ticket resale 3 days after this current ballot. Plenty of time for people to go in and select a seat.

And if you’re not arsed, and don’t select a seat you’ll be randomly generated one anyway. Shirley?

The cynic in me thinks it was pre planned. Nobody is complaining about the price rises now (I still think £35-£44 for a normal seat is sneaky - 25% increase - when ST holders have only been hit with a 5% increase). The club are now getting a big pat on the back for allowing you to select the category you want, which was a no brainer thing to do in the first place…

They literally did the same with a ballot for Wembley. You were successful in the ballot and then selected your ticket. It’s definitely doable man I just hope the NUST push this. I surely can’t be the only person that would like the opportunity to select a seat if I’m successful?

But everyone is being given a shot. That’s happened. Doesn’t mean people shouldn’t rightly want to select their seat should they be successful. If I really wanted to see Oppenheimer at the cinema, and was successful in a ballot and was charged to sit on the front row and had no choice - I’d be fuming. I’d rather not go and pay for that thank you. I don’t see how this is any different.

But it was the same for Wembley tickets. People were successful in a ballot and then chose their seats. If you’re successful - great. But If you’re too slow selecting the exact seat you want. Tough. And if you’re not arsed - then it doesn’t matter either way - as you’re in the same position as now ?‍♂️

I’d still like to select where I sit however…

Can anyone remember the difference between Cat 1, 2 and 3?

I’d still like an option to select a seat if successful… It can’t be that hard surely?

Bear in mind there is International membership ??

Begin from this season then. If you want to keep it fair ?‍♂️ And bring the tier in next season.

In my theory - I’d prefer it to be based on previous attendance. I was merely suggesting cost for a way of the club to make more money.

Liverpool at home in 2019 was it?

I’ll say it til I’m blue in the face and said it weeks ago. If you’re having unlimited memberships there has to be a tier element to it. Example: Tier 1 - 10 membership home games and above (higher weighted ballot entry yet can still be unsuccessful on application) Tier 2 - 3 home membership games and above (higher weighted ballot entry, as above). Tier 3 - basic membership. (All can enter ballot and many will still get tickets). Just as away ticket holders are now annoyed with the new away system, there should be something in place for more ‘loyal’ (dare I say it) home fans. Some of have spent well over £1000 in the last 2 seasons on membership and tickets for home games. Yet, someone who fancies buying a membership in March, with a chance to watch Newcastle’s title run in (for example) with no ticketing history and can enter a ballot and has the same % chance to a home ticket as someone who has been to various games over various seasons? That is also not fair. Yet everyone should be in the same boat? It’s a missed trick imo. Indeed if the club wanted to raise more money, I’m sure people would have paid even more money to jump into a different tier. If you have unlimited membership, you have to differentiate within the membership too. I’m not sure how that’s a crazy suggestion.