As I said on another thread, I had drinks tonight with a lad I know who is close to the club and this other lad started telling us why he wasn't renewing his season ticket. My mate gave him a fairly strong lecture, saying, "Good, don't come back if we start playing well and f...k off if we get to a Cup Final". Does anyone on here resent the non-renewers?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

Answers

After how crap we were last season and the club's failure to read the warning signs in January when we got knocked out of the Cup, I find it quite hard to think badly of non-renewers.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

I think it's entirely understandable for 'johnny-cum-latelies', and for those who find the £400 payment a real stretch but who might feel they will be able to easily pay on a game-by-game basis.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

If only that meant it was all the early-leavers and those who can't last 2 hours without fags, burgers and chips. Nothing I like more than having to peer round these wankers who always manage to get their fat arses in your face just as something key (ie anything) is going on. Hell's teeth, you can go to MacDonalds at any time but you've just paid 20 bloody quid to watch the match, so WATCH it.

I'm going to be wearing a black and white straight-jacket before long...

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

CONTROVERSIAL ANSWER: Surely the ideal is to have minimal or even NO season ticket holders. They used to be only bought to guarentee the top seats to those that could afford them, and had the means to splash out big cash every summer. There was only a minor saving over the season period, but you also bought a sense of pride and commitment to the club, and you were top of the queue for tickets for the few major cup matches. (most away games were pay on the gate).

But if everyone had again the opportunity to pay as they go, it could only benefit the majority of supporters.

Obviously theres the luxury of not having save/steal/borrow £400 once a year, you'd now pay £20 every other week or so.

I could do what I used to do which was stand in the gallowgate one week, the west paddock the next. Occasionally when I felt flush I'd get a ticket in the East Stand.

The singers could aim for specific seats/areas. The auld gits could head for quieter parts. Better still, you could even sit with your mates again.

Also, the punter would suddenly be a lot more powerful. They could, dare I say it, even stay away when times were hard - whether it be the result of poverty at home or poverty on the pitch.

But above all, it wouldn't just be the priviledged people like you or me that could get to the match, anyone could turn up.

OK - it does benefit the club with a massive cash injection, but what else? Oh, people knowing exactly where to go to their seat was every other week. Anything else?

I bought mine less than 10 years ago only because it seemed I would never again be able to pay on the gate. I've renewed again, but perhaps we should all follow the non-renewers, it may not be such a bad thing after all.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

Bit of a vicious circle. To get the income we have now from selling up front you would have to provide such a good season that the cherry- pickers came every week. A good season would be followed by spending to hopefully provide another even better season. Unfortunately a bad season, or one that just turns bad, would result in less money precisely when you need it most. Might help focus the minds in management but a bit desperate. Not something we can afford any more with such a high wage bill. Hate to think how many people would have stopped coming last season had it been pay on the day. Would have meant we couldn't buy Bellamy, mind. Hmmmmm. I think I see where you're coming from.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

Anyone who has followed Newcastle United their whole life is entitled to say "Enough is enough."

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2001

I'd have told your mate to fuck off.....cheeky fucker...as i've said before just because people are not renewing doesn't mean they're johnny come latelys/part time supporters etc.....get used to it!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

I know a few corporates who've called it a day, they get more for their money with Whitley Bay FC. The club has no stranglehold over your wallet but the view is great from your high horse.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

No resentment at all. Everyone has their own reasons for going and their own constraints which might prevent them going (money, pressure of work, changing family circs etc). The club is in the entertainment business (yes - I thought that might surprise a few of you!) and has to compete against other uses to which peoples precious spare time and cash can be devoted.

The product has not been top notch for about 4 years. It would be very surprising if some customers weren't questioning what they get out of this. The upside is that the numbers will improve much faster than they declined once the club does get the product right.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

I'd be disappointed that some felt so disillusioned with the prospects for next season that they would not renew their ST. I wouldn't have a go, mind.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

I think what's happening is a natural evolution, and I tend to agree with WB that it is not necessarily negative. Nor does it necessarily mean that attendances will be down - although I suspect they will be somewhat.

The concept of 100% ST's was predicated entirely on excess demand, and has fostered the arrogant, uncaring attitude of management towards it's fans/customers.

Unwittingly, by creating excess capacity in relation to the quality of the product on sale, management has recreated the previous situation whereby the fans can now pick and choose which matches to attend, and even whether to attend at all.

Personally, I view this as hugely positive - at long last mes amigos on the Board will need to start giving the most serious consideration to the quality of the product, what they have to do to put bums on seats, and perhaps most importantly, stop taking us for granted! Yeesssssss!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

It's basically an ego trip. What really matters is how many empty seats there are at each game. Of course, having the cash up front helps with pre-season transfer activity (so that explains that!), but it comes down to a "mine's bigger than yours" argument if we simply look at ST sales. How many other EPL teams would expect 3/4 of their seats to be allocated to STs? Not a lot I suspect.

Of course, for those of us foolish farsighted enough to have an ST, it means there should be less contention for tickets for away games and cup ties before they go on general sale. Allegedly.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Thing is, it's unprecedented for a club to get gates of more than 50,000 when they are routinely outside the top 6. It just couldn't carry on. In terms of people not renewing, it's a pity as I honestly think we are on the verge of greatness, but it also ill-behoves any of us to be too judgmental of other people's support: I think almost everyone has the odd suporting skeleton in their closet. I, for one, went to only about 6 games a season while I was at university. Just couldn't afford any more./

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Excuses Dougal. Surely the real reason is that you wure too p!$$ed to make it. ;-))

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Well, there's that....By the way, my sister is quite taken with you and wants to know whether you are goodlooking...

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

Best on the BBS ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001

:-{I

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001