| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. 18:18 - Dec 3 with 6686 views | homer_123 |
I'll be honest - I don't like it, it doesn't sit well with me.
I know others may think we have bigger issues to contend with (with recent performances) but thought I'd share.
What is it, to be a football fan in 2025?
There’s now a clear message to long-standing season ticket holders: if you don’t turn up, or you don’t re-sell your seat, you could lose your ticket. Even if you’ve held it for years. Even if you stuck with the club when the football was awful and the stands were half empty.
Now, on one level, I get it.
There’s a big waiting list. The club wants a full stadium. They want noise, atmosphere, energy and more people want a chance to experience that, I understand that. But, let's be honest, the club want matchday income too. Food, drink, merch, programmes, all of it and empty seats don’t spend money.
But...
When you start saying to fans, “Use it or lose it,” it feels less like you’re talking to people, and more like you’re managing stock. It’s the point where, as a supporter, we stop being a person in that seat and start being a data point in a CRM system. A line on a spreadsheet that needs to be 'optimised'. Hearing Ashton in that video - it's the first time I've felt like this - no longer the fan I was to the club a couple of years ago. It's irked me, more than I initially realised.
All football clubs talk a lot about fans as the 'lifeblood' of the club. They use that language in campaigns, in videos, in season ticket renewals. But these new rules around non-attendance send a different message, at least for me. They say:
We need you here, not just because we love your support,
but because every empty seat is lost revenue.
There’s a real tension here.
On the one hand, the club does need to be sustainable. Wages, transfers, stadium costs; they’ve all gone through the roof (factor in the long overdue investment as well). TV deals, sponsors and commercial partners are all part of the mix now. Clubs are not just football teams, they’re big businesses. To survive, they have to think about money.
I understand that football has been a 'business' for a while now but the whole reason the club has any value at all is because of the people who care about it. The ones who travel in the rain. The ones who miss family events for midweek fixtures. The ones who held their season ticket through years when it would have been easier to walk away.
So what happens when those people are treated first and foremost as revenue?
What happens when loyalty is measured not in years followed, but in how often your barcode gets scanned?
I’m not saying there’s an easy answer. I’m not saying the club is evil, or that nothing should change. We all knew that new and modern ownership and Premier League money would bring new rules and a sharper edge to the business side. I guess, this one small thing, for me, is that wedge - that first subtle sign of substantive change.
But I think it’s fair to name the dilemma:
- The club needs bums on seats
- The fans don’t want to feel like bums on a spreadsheet
Somewhere in there is a line. A point where sensible policy tips into something that feels cold and transactional.
My worry is that, if we’re not careful, we cross that line without really noticing. We look up one day and realise that fans are no longer seen as the heart of the club, but as inventory to be managed. Maybe I am naïve and we are already there but since Gamechanger came in, I had felt more connected to the club than ever, it got back that community feel, that it valued fans and the support generated. It felt like the club it once was both on and off the pitch.
So, can a club chase every pound, fill every seat, and still treat its supporters as more than numbers?
Because once fans stop feeling like the lifeblood, it won’t matter how good the spreadsheets look. |  |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 10:31 - Dec 4 with 578 views | itfcjoe |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 09:19 - Dec 4 by southnorfolkblue |
But you talk about a potential policy. That's not a policy. That's no different to Rachel Reeves talking about what's coming up in the budget 😉.
You're probably more in the know on this but is there a cut off for the platform? If I wake up feeling shit and can put my ticket on the resale platform at 11am on the morning of the game without fear of punishment if it doesn’t get bought, then that seems fair enough to me. |
I haven't gone that close to the deadline before needing to try and sell mine, but as long as you can do that then at that point and not be punished [if it sells or not] then that would be totally fair for me |  |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 10:33 - Dec 4 with 572 views | Ryorry |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 08:56 - Dec 4 by itfcjoe |
It's been communicated well and heavily by the club, any ST not aware of it will have had to ignore countless emails and letters and info in their ST pack, or the part in the video where it is mentioned, or the follow up articles by TWTD and EADT about the potential new policy. |
Yet many people are saying they've been given no cut-off time & they need one; plus others have said they've not been able to resell or pass the ticket on. |  |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 10:52 - Dec 4 with 540 views | SamWhiteUK |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 21:26 - Dec 3 by southnorfolkblue |
It’s a bit of a live issue for me as I’m battling cancer and life is a bit day by day for me. I use the resale platform on any game day that clashes with a big dose of chemo, because I can predict how Im going to feel afterwards, but Saturdays are more of a gamble. Given where I live there aren’t too many people nearby who would use my ticket 😂.
So far I haven’t missed any Saturday gams but I can’t rule out having a last minute bad turn.
Ive been going since 1971 so would be pretty fed up to lose my ticket, if it gets introduced next season, you’re right that I need to speak to the Club |
You won't lose your ticket, I'd be sure of that.
The club want to clamp down on those, "I've got a season ticket, have done for years, and now it's mine to do what I please with" types, because they're selfish.
The club also do a huge amount of work in the community with the Foundation etc. There's no way that cases like yours won't be taken into account.
You are already using the resale platform as designed, so well done :)
I can't understand people not using the resale platform, to be honest. You get to have your precious ST and get some money back if you can't be arsed to go, what's not to like? |  | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 11:00 - Dec 4 with 535 views | Wright1 |
What a bizarre take - I can't believe anyone thinks it's ok for people to have season tickets and just not turn up on a regular basis. So now because you are a such a loyal and dedicated fan who cares so much about the club - you get to show that by regularly not going to games?! Sections of our fan base really do come across as full of their own self importance.
The team does need people there to fill the stadium and create an atmosphere - that isn't spreadsheet stuff. Equally, just because you've watched the team be crap for a numbers of years doesn't entitle you to waste the opportunity for someone else to go - they could be a parents trying to take their kids who are the future of the club, they could be people who didn't attend for a period for financial or family reasons, heck they could just be people who want to attend and enjoy the occasional game and that's ok too. |  | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 11:39 - Dec 4 with 509 views | itfcjoe |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 10:33 - Dec 4 by Ryorry |
Yet many people are saying they've been given no cut-off time & they need one; plus others have said they've not been able to resell or pass the ticket on. |
Anyone can resell or pass the ticket on, if it is listed and doesn't sell then it's hardly going to be punishable as the whole point is to stop seats being empty if people want to go | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 11:48 - Dec 4 with 482 views | SitfcB |
We went through all of this last week.
It’s not a bad thing and can understand why the club want to implement something like this.
They’re not as strict as most other clubs and have freely allowed people to pass on s/t’s to friend and family FOC - some clubs charge for it - easy to get a PDF from the T/O and now they’ve made it even easier so you can do it online.
They obviously would prefer more people to resell the official way, ‘cos money - but it’s mainly just about filling the seat - as MA said it affects the atmosphere and in ground sales, 10/12% no shows is ridiculous and quite frankly if people can’t be arsed to resell or pass it on when they miss numerous games it’s poor.
Of course there’s always the last minute ones/illness etc that can be excluded, it’s more aimed at those that don’t bother at all.
As long as the ticket is used it doesn’t matter and you won’t get any sort of ‘punishment’ heck you could even just get someone to scan your ticket for you and no none actually use it. [Post edited 4 Dec 11:50]
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 11:51 - Dec 4 with 460 views | SitfcB |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 22:54 - Dec 3 by N2_Blue |
FFS Rommers. That is not going to happen. You are not what the club is targetting
Serious over reaction.
Im a ST holder who only gets to about half of games and i'm massively in favour of what the club is doing here. |
Some are being way too dramatic over this for no reason at all. | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 11:57 - Dec 4 with 429 views | SitfcB |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 18:33 - Dec 3 by J2BLUE |
To me this is a real fans first initiative. If you're holding a seat waiting to see if we get back to the Prem before going again then you deserve to lose it. |
That’s definitely it, and the people holding on to them don’t even attend themselves, they then sell on the season ticket seat for profit - £60/70 a seat.
If we don’t go up this season then we could see a lot drop out and people on the waiting list come in.
People seem to forget it’s not like it was 5/6/7 years ago when you could have a whole row to yourself, there’s 6,000+ people on a season ticket waiting list, if the former was still the case then they wouldn’t be bothered by it! | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:09 - Dec 4 with 389 views | bluelagos |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 11:57 - Dec 4 by SitfcB |
That’s definitely it, and the people holding on to them don’t even attend themselves, they then sell on the season ticket seat for profit - £60/70 a seat.
If we don’t go up this season then we could see a lot drop out and people on the waiting list come in.
People seem to forget it’s not like it was 5/6/7 years ago when you could have a whole row to yourself, there’s 6,000+ people on a season ticket waiting list, if the former was still the case then they wouldn’t be bothered by it! |
Given every ST holder was a ST holder in League 1, I'd be very surprised if anyone was owning a ST to sell on/profit from games.
Professional touts do clearly target Premier league clubs and resale tickets for profits but don't see how any would have got a ticket given the above. |  |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:14 - Dec 4 with 382 views | Wright1 |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:09 - Dec 4 by bluelagos |
Given every ST holder was a ST holder in League 1, I'd be very surprised if anyone was owning a ST to sell on/profit from games.
Professional touts do clearly target Premier league clubs and resale tickets for profits but don't see how any would have got a ticket given the above. |
That's not true, there were plenty of STs sold after the league one promotion season. They sold out that summer and the club promptly released a bunch more. | | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:15 - Dec 4 with 382 views | bluelagos |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:14 - Dec 4 by Wright1 |
That's not true, there were plenty of STs sold after the league one promotion season. They sold out that summer and the club promptly released a bunch more. |
Are.you sure? I thought they were sold out (close to 21k) during our L1 promotion year? | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:22 - Dec 4 with 358 views | SitfcB |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:15 - Dec 4 by bluelagos |
Are.you sure? I thought they were sold out (close to 21k) during our L1 promotion year? |
No it was between League 1 and the Championship where they sold out, a couple of 1000 or so I think?
Plus it could happen other ways anyway, a tout could offer someone a lump sum to take control of the ticket? I guess doesn’t happen so much here but it might’ve done. | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:35 - Dec 4 with 331 views | tractorboy7777 |
I haven’t read all the posts but it may have been said already, simply putting your season ticket on resale means the 6,000 have the option of paying for your ticket at the general sale price, not the discounted season ticket price.
If those 6,000 are always having to pay more because someone resells on the platform, say 15 times, those 6,000 on the waiting list would soon disappear as it’s not affordable to pay the game by game price. I think that may be what he’s referring to. Are there people doing this and waiting to see if we get to the Prem again? Who knows? Only those at Town and Mark Ashton know. | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 12:35 - Dec 4 with 331 views | OldFart71 |
There will be some sort of grand plan. This will involve the rebuild of the Cobbold meaning a capacity of between 35-40,000. As has been said this will also require the use of this stand 365 days a year. It will be necessary to get all those inside PR to purchase everything from food, drinks both hot and alcoholic, merchandise etc,etc.
From the few snippets I have read regarding the way Americans use their stadia they aren't really interested in massive stadiums but they want the capacity to be filled to the max and those that attend to be squeezed of every last penny but in a way that makes you feel happy to spend it.
Maybe there will be a few twists on this given it's Britain rather than the US but the model will I believe be similar. | | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:02 - Dec 4 with 287 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 22:42 - Dec 3 by The_Romford_Blue |
Sorry to hear that. I personally think it’s very poor you have to even speak to the club. It ain’t their business and yet you’re almost going to have to explain your private health situation or be punished. It’s poor form imo from Ashton etc.
Perhaps they could create a bottom line of, you just attend 50% of games over the next 2 years or be at risk of losing you ticket. And even then it’s on a case by case basis depending on circumstances. But just widely telling everyone they need to be using their ticket or else.. is a bit off. No explanation, no situational awareness. Just greed. |
Your opinion is a pretty self-serving one though. I guarantee you would be peed off if you were sitting on a 6,000 person waiting list desperate to go every week, and there were season ticket holders not attending 1/3 to 1/2 of the games and leaving their seat empty. How does it have anything to do with greed? It comes from a place of wanting as many people as possible to be able to attend games and to fill out the stadium every week. More revenue from more people in the stadium is then a by-product of that. [Post edited 4 Dec 13:36]
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:04 - Dec 4 with 279 views | Libero |
This doesn't sit well with me either, due to our current circumstances.
My 90 year old Great Uncle who has been supporting the club for longer than most people on this board have been alive is no longer as mobile as he used to be and is obviously in the last years of his life-
we requested them to find us alternative suitable seating and they were unable to, so I said we'd just go the extra mile and pay for hospitality seating to keep him comfortable and ensure he can see as much of the match as possible - they never got back to us after initial point of contact and I wasn't going to chase them.
So as it stands, myself, my great uncle and my Dad attend occasionally this season as my Great Uncle's condition allows - occasionally we can pass on tickets to friends or relatives at the very last minute, but due to the nature of his condition atm we often don't know till the very last minute if he will be able to handle the game or not, so we can't give much notice.
Believe me, we would love to "use it" and would hate to "lose it"
I have to confess, I haven't seen the video - I'm purely going off the information in this thread, but I'll be looking into it in the next few days and maybe emailing Mark direct, it was bad enough they couldn't find one of their longest serving supporters a suitable seat for him to enjoy his remaining years at Portman Road, let alone threatening to take away his ticket if he doesn't make X games.
How would that even work?! - he pays for the whole ticket upfront, every year, would they refund him? Ridiculous. [Post edited 4 Dec 13:05]
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:17 - Dec 4 with 225 views | Libero |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 08:56 - Dec 4 by itfcjoe |
It's been communicated well and heavily by the club, any ST not aware of it will have had to ignore countless emails and letters and info in their ST pack, or the part in the video where it is mentioned, or the follow up articles by TWTD and EADT about the potential new policy. |
Really? This is literally the first I've heard of it, on this board.
I've just gone through the emails and searched for the communications you're talking about - nothing.
Before this video was released, the club should have made contact with all their disabled season ticket holders/those they know have access requirements and/or health issues and let them know how/if this applies to them, as I'm totally in the dark - terrible communications. | | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:34 - Dec 4 with 199 views | Freddies_Ears |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:04 - Dec 4 by Libero |
This doesn't sit well with me either, due to our current circumstances.
My 90 year old Great Uncle who has been supporting the club for longer than most people on this board have been alive is no longer as mobile as he used to be and is obviously in the last years of his life-
we requested them to find us alternative suitable seating and they were unable to, so I said we'd just go the extra mile and pay for hospitality seating to keep him comfortable and ensure he can see as much of the match as possible - they never got back to us after initial point of contact and I wasn't going to chase them.
So as it stands, myself, my great uncle and my Dad attend occasionally this season as my Great Uncle's condition allows - occasionally we can pass on tickets to friends or relatives at the very last minute, but due to the nature of his condition atm we often don't know till the very last minute if he will be able to handle the game or not, so we can't give much notice.
Believe me, we would love to "use it" and would hate to "lose it"
I have to confess, I haven't seen the video - I'm purely going off the information in this thread, but I'll be looking into it in the next few days and maybe emailing Mark direct, it was bad enough they couldn't find one of their longest serving supporters a suitable seat for him to enjoy his remaining years at Portman Road, let alone threatening to take away his ticket if he doesn't make X games.
How would that even work?! - he pays for the whole ticket upfront, every year, would they refund him? Ridiculous. [Post edited 4 Dec 13:05]
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If you had actually read this thread, you would realise you have nothing to fear.
2 friends of mine, newly able to attend regularly, have wanted a season ticket but can't buy them. They go match by match, whenever they can get a ticket. It is quite understandable that ITFC want to encourage fans to use the Exchange, and there is no penalty for doing so. | | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:36 - Dec 4 with 190 views | bartyg |
How about we all chill out with our interpretations of Ashton's words and wait for official news on this? |  | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:46 - Dec 4 with 160 views | Libero |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:34 - Dec 4 by Freddies_Ears |
If you had actually read this thread, you would realise you have nothing to fear.
2 friends of mine, newly able to attend regularly, have wanted a season ticket but can't buy them. They go match by match, whenever they can get a ticket. It is quite understandable that ITFC want to encourage fans to use the Exchange, and there is no penalty for doing so. |
I've read the thread, I don't appreciate the condescending tone.
I just called the ticket office, they have no idea about how it's going to work, so while you might be sure that we have "nothing to fear" that's clearly not public information.
I'm really not impressed. Poor chap on the phone had literally no answers as to how it's going to work in regards to elderly and disabled supporters.
Putting this out there without proper communications with those demographics or informing staff of the mechanics, is just crap.
Really poor from the club on this occasion, disappointingly so.
'encouraging fans to use the exchange' is one thing, but informing the supporters that they may lose their ticket if they don't, without a fully fleshed idea as to how that will work and what if any dispensation will be given, is abysmal.
Your friends aren't my concern, but cheers for the down vote on my valid concern. [Post edited 4 Dec 14:00]
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:58 - Dec 4 with 115 views | SitfcB |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:46 - Dec 4 by Libero |
I've read the thread, I don't appreciate the condescending tone.
I just called the ticket office, they have no idea about how it's going to work, so while you might be sure that we have "nothing to fear" that's clearly not public information.
I'm really not impressed. Poor chap on the phone had literally no answers as to how it's going to work in regards to elderly and disabled supporters.
Putting this out there without proper communications with those demographics or informing staff of the mechanics, is just crap.
Really poor from the club on this occasion, disappointingly so.
'encouraging fans to use the exchange' is one thing, but informing the supporters that they may lose their ticket if they don't, without a fully fleshed idea as to how that will work and what if any dispensation will be given, is abysmal.
Your friends aren't my concern, but cheers for the down vote on my valid concern. [Post edited 4 Dec 14:00]
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Reading this thread is where you’ve gone wrong. Full of people panicking for no reason, jumping the gun and assuming this and that.
I know you’re an infrequent visitor but there were a few threads in this last week when the Gideon was put out there. [Post edited 4 Dec 14:02]
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 14:01 - Dec 4 with 109 views | Libero |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:58 - Dec 4 by SitfcB |
Reading this thread is where you’ve gone wrong. Full of people panicking for no reason, jumping the gun and assuming this and that.
I know you’re an infrequent visitor but there were a few threads in this last week when the Gideon was put out there. [Post edited 4 Dec 14:02]
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That's fair enough mate, but having spoken to someone at the ticket office - they haven't a scooby either.
It's a rare communication fail from Ashton in my opinion.
You don't present this as an idea in a public space unless it's fully formed, staff are trained and requisite communications have gone out to the people they need to. | | | |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 14:05 - Dec 4 with 97 views | SitfcB |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 14:01 - Dec 4 by Libero |
That's fair enough mate, but having spoken to someone at the ticket office - they haven't a scooby either.
It's a rare communication fail from Ashton in my opinion.
You don't present this as an idea in a public space unless it's fully formed, staff are trained and requisite communications have gone out to the people they need to. |
When I watched the video (not long after it was released) the way it come across was it’s in the process of being put together (or however you want to word it) and something will be in place for next season and obviously once it’s done it’ll be communicated properly - just a slither of info and putting it into the universe and didn’t need much detail at this moment in time but think some people have taken it the wrong way and it’ll be instant.
If you get a chance, watch the video and you will get the full context. | |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 14:06 - Dec 4 with 95 views | algy |
In the video MA said regarding "no-shows"
"we've got to look at who the "no-shows" are, how consistent they are and why they're not coming"
before they put any rules in place.
Sounds the right approach at this stage. | |
| Veni Vidi Participatur. Now we can get back to competing. |
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| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 14:07 - Dec 4 with 95 views | SitfcB |
| Something has been bothering me, since the Club released the latest video. on 13:17 - Dec 4 by Libero |
Really? This is literally the first I've heard of it, on this board.
I've just gone through the emails and searched for the communications you're talking about - nothing.
Before this video was released, the club should have made contact with all their disabled season ticket holders/those they know have access requirements and/or health issues and let them know how/if this applies to them, as I'm totally in the dark - terrible communications. |
Joe is referring to the resale of season tickets. | |
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