So, What Happens . . .

[horlock07]

I'm sure the FA will have contingency plans in place to deal with all this.

[THE FLASH]

I agree.

Seconded.

[jutty274]

the only way this is viable is to split ST and cash sales. But the uproar, especially when they will probably try and sell next season's STs soon, will be colossal

I do think that it would be better to wait until we are tier 1; but if they was to do as Batch as suggested then it would have to be a different 1000 every time, the club couldn't let joe Bloggs pay to go to 3 games in a row when the season ticket holders can only go to 1 in 3

[Batch]

agreed on both points

[kirky69]

I think its actually quite straightforward. The club will open up the ground for 2k fans, even if it is a loss making exercise. The reasons being (1) having home fans helps the players (2)  it lessens the potential eventual refund to S/T holders.

Tickets will first be made available to S/T holders, except those travelling from tier 3 areas. If there are more than 2k existing S/T holders that can and want to attend, then those that are not selected for the first game will get priority to the 2nd game and so on and so forth.

Non S/T holders will, quite rightly, be in the queue behind S/T holders as they have not paid in advance for the privilege of attending games.

[pauld]

I think its actually quite straightforward. The club will open up the ground for 2k fans, even if it is a loss making exercise. The reasons being (1) having home fans helps the players (2)  it lessens the potential eventual refund to S/T holders.

Tickets will first be made available to S/T holders, except those travelling from tier 3 areas. If there are more than 2k existing S/T holders that can and want to attend, then those that are not selected for the first game will get priority to the 2nd game and so on and so forth.

Non S/T holders will, quite rightly, be in the queue behind S/T holders as they have not paid in advance for the privilege of attending games.

Which makes perfect sense in terms of a rational allocation of tickets that are in short supply. But who's paying for that? From the club's point of view, that's all cost, no revenue. Unless, as Batch suggested, there's some help from the League, which I doubt tbh

[Bogus Dave]

The ‘income’ in that scenario is the money you save not having to refund season ticket holders for that match isn’t it? Assuming refunds of some sort are inevitable

[Dr Pierre Chang]

The meltdown would be epic if the club decided that

I think we are in for some entertainment either way, I expect plenty of ‘I’ve had that seat since the stand was built so I ain’t moving’!

[RobertT]

The ‘income’ in that scenario is the money you save not having to refund season ticket holders for that match isn’t it? Assuming refunds of some sort are inevitable

Wasn't the refund issue sort of side stepped by giving everyone iFollow that purchased a ST?

[kirky69]

The ‘income’ in that scenario is the money you save not having to refund season ticket holders for that match isn’t it? Assuming refunds of some sort are inevitable

Precisely that. Also if S/T holders are not prioritised, good luck with selling S/T's next season and beyond 

[Trashbat?]

I am pretty sure that iFollow was given to season ticket holders at all clubs, my father in law got an iFollow pass and a refund at Franchise.

[pauld]

The ‘income’ in that scenario is the money you save not having to refund season ticket holders for that match isn’t it? Assuming refunds of some sort are inevitable

Yes I understand that. But in cashflow terms that money's long since been spent, hence why I said it's all cost, no revenue from the club's point of view. TBC I'm not saying they shouldn't, there's a strong moral case that they should, as well as a business case in terms of future sales as kirky says, but it might be easier said than done if the cash required to meet the costs of 2000 attending just isn't there.

[pauld]

Wasn't the refund issue sort of side stepped by giving everyone iFollow that purchased a ST?

Not really. Deferred rather than side stepped at best. They're not commensurate. You could perhaps argue for taking the cost of an iFollow subscription off the value of a ST refund but there's still a substantial difference. Especially in households with multiple/family season tickets

[kirky69]

Yes I understand that. But in cashflow terms that money's long since been spent, hence why I said it's all cost, no revenue from the club's point of view. TBC I'm not saying they shouldn't, there's a strong moral case that they should, as well as a business case in terms of future sales as kirky says, but it might be easier said than done if the cash required to meet the costs of 2000 attending just isn't there.

Agree all of the above, although if the owners (LP/CM/Standing/Barry or whoever else!!) can't muster together £10k per game until such time as larger crowds are allowed back in, then I am sure the Trust would step in to help out - indeed they have already put on record their willingness to support the owners.
 
In any event £20k per month is probably a drop in the ocean compared to normal monthly overheads and I don't believe this would be the proverbial straw that breaks the camels back.

[Trashbat?]

If I opened a wine delivery business and sold 4000 yearly subscriptions for it, but when my first delivery came up I had spent most of the subscription money, whilst also only having 2000 bottles not 4000, I couldn’t then sell those bottles to anyone who hadn’t bothered with the subscription just to make a bit more money.

I am sorry to anyone without a season ticket, but it is no different to a cup match. Those people have lowest priority