I`ve been giving a lot of thought to the season ticket thing lately. I`m wondering what I should do, if by any small chance I am offered a season ticket for next season. I am assuming that if I am on the list long enough it will happen. However, much as I would like to, I know that I would only be able to get up to a few matches a year. Too many other commitments. So, do I spend the money on a season ticket and not get much use out of it, or, do I save the money and spend it on a couple of special outings a year and go for hospitality packages? I realise that won`t go down well with some of you, but I am trying to be realistic here. Also, I don`t know what the regulations are regarding other people using your season ticket, and I think that it would be a bigger offence to take the opportunity of a season ticket from someone who would use it for all the matches.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

Answers

Don't worry about the legalities of buying and letting someone else use it. To my left was a father and son for the last 6 years. The son went off to college, the dad didn't get a cup fina ticket last year and was disillusioned by it all. He decided to buy his seats for this season but then sold them on to me and the guy who sits on his other side. I wouldn't worry about taking up a seson ticket from someone who deserves better as season ticket holders only go to games because they've paid for the game and want to get value for money. Lots don't go to Cup games when they have to pay again.

The hospitality thing is probably a good idea, if your comfortable you can get it.

I'm not sure how many, if any, casual seats will be available during the season, that is the other option.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

I'd go for the season ticket....

Corporate hostility for me is always a last resort, to be honest you've only got to get to about 5 matches a year on your season ticket and you'd be saving money over corporate hostility...and loads of people either sell a season ticket for a day or for large parts of the season...

I'm positive that if you had a season ticket and couldn't use it a particular week that posting on here would soon have queues of people willing to take you up on it...

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

You'd be mad not to get your foot in the door with a season ticket Roz, even if you farm it out as Gav says for many of the fixtures. Speaking of which, can I have first dibs if you're not at the match which (I hope) will be played w/c 22nd October ?? ;-)) I'm in the country for a week and will top meself if I don't get to see the lads play at least the once !!

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

I wouldn't go on the waiting list Roz, theres going to be plenty of spares next season, I reckon about 10,000 for each game.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

Ace raises an interesting question: how many season ticket holders will there be next season - assuming of course this SOS thing gets sorted and doesn't screw everything up?

There are some 34,000 right now (including all the toffs), and I believe the new capacity will be almost 52,000. I believe the Club will have to increase the away allocation to around 5,000 (10%), leaving 47,000 for 'regulars'.

Ace reckons there will be 10,000 'spares', meaning the Toon season ticket holders/toffs will only increase from around 34,000 to 37,000.

This seems very low to me. Given the Club turnaround under BR, the fine performance in the FAC Semi and subsequent good publicity, and the increasing optimism that we could be a real PL force again next season, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility, IMHO, that the "sold out" signs could be up again.

Even being conservative, I can easily see season ticket/toffs numbers up from 34,000 to 42,000, leaving 5,000 or less available on a match to match basis - depending on the uptake of the away allocation of course.

My guess right now is that their will be 10,000 additional season ticket holders next season. With a full 5,000 allocation to the away team, that will leave maybe 2-3,000 left for sale. It will be very interesting to watch what actually happens.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2000

When do the season tickets usually get allocated?

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

About the time we used to shell out for a Cup Final. They get the money in ready to spend in the closed season.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Ooh! Not too long then - it will be interesting to see how far up the list I am then. Are you just allocated a seat and have to take what you are given?

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Galaxy,

I vaguely remember someone saying that if you were gonna be allocated one for the new season that you'd already have been informed...anyone else enlighten us on this?

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Hmm!? So that gives me another year to save up my pennies then! (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Me too :(( I've been on there for awhile now and received no notification...so far...

Mind you if there's pay on the day tickets available then that'd probably suit me better since I can't get up there as much as I'd like...

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Pay on the day tickets would be ideal for most of us long distance supporters really. It will be very interesting to see how the seats are all allocated for next season. (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Galaxy,

The way it works is this. 'They' allocate you any seat they see fit. You say thank you very, very much Sir. 'They' allow you a full season to get totally comfortable with the seat and the view, and to develop deep personal friendships with your immediate neighbours, possibly even moving in with one of them. At that point, 'they' write to you and tell you can't have that seat again for one of several standard, but deeply fatuous reasons.

This process is affectionately referred to as the Freddie Merrie Go-round - you'll come to like it, but not a lot.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Hmm?! Doesn`t sound like much fun to me! And I suppose every time the music stops they take away a seat and give it to corporate entertaining? (:o)

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Galaxy,

There you go; you've got it in one - I could see you being privileged with a seat right away.

BTW, don't make that particular suggestion within earshot of any Club Official, even in jest! They're already eagerly searching for their next scam.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

OK my lips are sealed! So you are off on your holliers on Friday - I eny you! Not too sure about the weather in Washington, I know there was snow in New York on Sunday though! Mind you, I`d rather have a good fall of snow than rain any day! Today has just been the pits from start to finish (including the result tonight).

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000

Galaxy,

Yup - I badly need some some sunshine, especially after tonights result. As you say, the DC weather could be a little dodgy, but that part is family duty. We're off to Arizona for the second week. I love AZ, love the desert. It's so clean and dry. Newcastle is a wonderful city, but I often wonder why I continue to live in this awful NE climate - then an occasion like Sunday's come along to remind me!

I'm hoping I can borrow some 'net time' on my bro-in-law's PC so I can keep in touch with you guys. Going to a baseball game on Monday night - weather permitting, so hopefully I'll be able to provide a match report. I'm sure you will all be riveted!

See y'all - actually I'm not leaving until friday, so you'll have to put up with my ramblings for at least one more day.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2000