No more free season tickets for blind supporters

[ecuk268]

Announced this morning.

 

Penny-pinching or hard-headed commercial sense??

[St Chalet]

Announced this morning.

 

Penny-pinching or hard-headed commercial sense??

 

How did they announce it?

[Hatch]

Are they full price now then or still heavily discounted?

 

PS. I bet they didn't see that coming!

[ecuk268]

How did they announce it?

 

On Radio Solent.

 

Don't know if there are any concessions.

[Saint J 77]

What percentage of fans who attend the ground regularly are actually blind? Will it really make the club that much more money?

[ecuk268]

Now on The Echo site.

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9744892.Criticism_for_Saints_over_tickets_for_visually_impaired_fans/

[latter day saint]

i always thought they paid the same price as other disabled fans ?

i have a friend who goes with his disabled brother & he has to pay for his season ticket, so why shouldn't they also pay?

[Leicestersaint]

Poor show.

[Itchen_block4]

Got no sympathy for them. It's a day out for them too and they should pay a concession price like all the other disabled supporters.

[Glasgow_Saint]

How can you prove that youre blind?

 

I missed an oppurtunity here (didnt know they were free) - doh!

[niceandfriendly]

Poor show.

That they were available in the first place? Absolutely agree. Why would they get preferential treatment over other disabled supporters?

[Tokyo-Saint]

Got.....to....resist.......joke......ahhhh....announced on the website is pushing it.......ahhhhh

[Professor]

Be i8nterested to hear an opinion from Peter White. As a high profile blind supporter, how he feels about it could help form opinions one way or the other.

[manji]

Typical of this club. If there was a fanontheboard this wouldnt have happened.

[Secret Site Agent]

Now on The Echo site.

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9744892.Criticism_for_Saints_over_tickets_for_visually_impaired_fans/

 

I've just had a look at the Echo site, and the headline is ' Criticism for Saints over tickets for visually impaired fans.' It's only just been anounced, when did anyone get a chance to critisise? They must have just rung any old contact, (John Cunningham, a voluntary worker with the charity Open Sight) just for a quote, and even he isn't too critical. And does John Cunningham speak for Open Sight? Just another chance for the Echo to have a go.

 

I personally would like to think we could give them something back in the form of a reduced ticket, after all they do get a concession on the TV licence and at the Cinema, (i don't know if this is nationally, but i do know of some that do with 'verbal discriptions' on). But the questions shouldn't be that Saints should do it when others arn't it should be a requirement of the Premier League that forces all teams to do it.

[jawillwill]

I watched a documentary about blind supports at Arsenal once (I think it might have been part of Football focus or MOTD actually). At the Emirates, they are given a set of headphones and fed live radio commentary of the game while they're watching it, aimed especially at visually impaired people. Do they do the same at SMS? If so, surely this actually cost the club more money than the average fan?

 

Either way, while I'm sympatheitc that they're bilnd, unfortunately I don't see why they deserve free tickets more than anybody else. Concessions, yes. Free, no.

[bpsaint]

Seeing as blindness is a disability it's only fair that they pay the same as all disabled supporters. Should consider themselves lucky they had free tickets in the first place.

[hamster]

Ouch.

 

I know through involvement with disabled saints fans groups many visually impaired and blind supporters. I am very disappointed at this news.

 

I sincerely hope that the SDSA aren't supporting it. Although the club were made aware of some abusing the system, I hope this has more foundation than an attempt to stop abuse.

 

This is an area that I personally feel passionately about and would urge the club to reconsider. Time to talk to those fans directly and maybe show a bit more empathy.

[Colinjb]

Seeing as blindness is a disability it's only fair that they pay the same as all disabled supporters. Should consider themselves lucky they had free tickets in the first place.

 

Agreed. A wonderful perk for them while it existed but it unfairly favours the blind over those with other dissabilities.

[The Kraken]

I've just had a look at the Echo site, and the headline is ' Criticism for Saints over tickets for visually impaired fans.' It's only just been anounced, when did anyone get a chance to critisise? They must have just rung any old contact, (John Cunningham, a voluntary worker with the charity Open Sight) just for a quote, and even he isn't too critical. And does John Cunningham speak for Open Sight? Just another chance for the Echo to have a go.

 

Or, alternatively, John Cunningham could have rung the Echo himself to make them aware of it?

 

"Another chance for the Echo to have a go". Why is there such a paranoid reaction to everything the Echo (and other media outlets for that fact) report on concerning Saints. Every positive article is shown as an example of what a great club we are, negative articles are seen as that media outlet having an anti-Saints agenda. And in the past couple of years you'll struggle to find a local paper that has shown more support of the local team, in spite of the fact that the club has operated a complete media shut-out to them, banned them from the ground and refused any co-operation whatsoever.

 

This news story is fair comment; a previous concession has been removed without (it would seem0 much prior warning. The club are IMO right to do what they've done, the Echo are also right to have delivered their news report on it.

[paris]

Tin hat time Nicolas ...

[krissyboy31]

I'm sure that most fans were unaware that these were free tickets in the first place and the visually impaired bought tickets under the same terms and conditions as other disabled groups.

[hypochondriac]

Visually impaired individuals should pay the exact same amount as other disabled persons. The club is entirely correct.

[buctootim]

Blind people should get preferential treatment over other disabled people who perhaps have mobility problems but can see and hear fine imo. In fact they are probably the only group, maybe along with deaf people, I would offer concessions to.

 

Trouble is you get able bodied scumbags trying to cheat, just as with blue parking discs, and it trashes the system for those in genuine difficulty.

Edited 6 June, 2012 by buctootim

[Marsdinho]

I thought disabled people wanted to be treated equally.

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Announced this morning.

 

Penny-pinching or hard-headed commercial sense??

 

Didn't see that one coming!

[Saint_clark]

I watched a documentary about blind supports at Arsenal once (I think it might have been part of Football focus or MOTD actually). At the Emirates, they are given a set of headphones and fed live radio commentary of the game while they're watching it, aimed especially at visually impaired people. Do they do the same at SMS? If so, surely this actually cost the club more money than the average fan?

 

Either way, while I'm sympatheitc that they're bilnd, unfortunately I don't see why they deserve free tickets more than anybody else. Concessions, yes. Free, no.

 

First thing I thought of when I saw this as well. I don't think we do it but I get the feeling this is foreshadowing the introduction of such a system, what with the club always talking about being the "best in class" in every aspect.

[lordswoodsaints]

Sometimes watching saints over the years I wished I was blind.

[SaintBobby]

It seems to me that being blind or deaf significantly impairs someone's experience of the game, whereas being wheelchair-bound doesn't necessarily.

 

If more space is made available for someone in a wheelchair and a helper, should they pay 2 or 3 times the amount? After all, for a sell out match, that's 2 or 3 able bodied people who can't get in to SMS and the club's bank balance suffers accordingly.

[Hatch]

Sometimes watching saints over the years I wished I was blind.

 

 

Sometimes watching Saints over the years I thought the players were blind.

[Bad Wolf]

Quite right too. I can see why blind supporters don't pay the full amount after all, they can't see what's going on (which is a big part of the occasion). However they can hear (presumably) and still experience the great atmosphere so why should they get that for free? I think they should be allowed a discount as I've said but not free.

[Whitey Grandad]

What do other clubs do?

[The Kraken]

Something to bear in mind; a blind person wishing to come to a game has (presumably) to be accompanied by an enabler. I think all the club have done is bring all disabilities into line; all disabled tickets come with a free enabler ticket.

 

Besides, according to the club, they held discussions with the Saints Disabled Supporters Association before making the changes.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/DisabledFans

 

And radios and headsets are provided for all blind fans, so its right that that service should be paid for.

[Whitey Grandad]

How did they announce it?

On the website in Braille.

[Deano6]

I am blind and I am appalled at some of the comments I've been reading on this thread. First of all, we are not all needy, helpless shells of people some of you are making out, and while we have been enjoying the perk of free tickets the club have given out, we did not ask for them to be free. That said it was a very nice gesture while it lasted.

 

When you get one of your vision impaired tickets you get to bring a "sight enabler" with you, also free of charge, so you do get to invite your mates along for a freebie too. Only trouble is they often complain that the seats are all behind the pillars that hold up the roof, but I say to them welcome to my world lol (at least they did at the Dell, they have moved us so we are not behind pillars at SMS). I guess the club have cottoned on to this scam and are now making one of us pay.

 

Personally I have been expecting this for a time as all fans will have to pay more now we are in the Prem, so I wasn't surprised to read that on the OS.

[Appy]

Visually impaired individuals should pay the exact same amount as other disabled persons. The club is entirely correct.

 

This

[Dimond Geezer]

The blind supporter being interviewed on Wave 105 this morning didn't have a problem, he agreed that it wasn't his right to attend f-o-c, and said he was happy to pay. As usual it's those that speak out for minorities that have a problem, not those actually affected. As others have said a concession would be the right thing to do.

 

Do the visually-impaired refs have to pay now as well?

[dronskisaint]

the blind supporter being interviewed on wave 105 this morning didn't have a problem, he agreed that it wasn't his right to attend f-o-c, and said he was happy to pay. As usual it's those that speak out for minorities that have a problem, not those actually affected. As others have said a concession would be the right thing to do.

 

do the visually-impaired refs have to pay now as well?

 

:d

[Yate Saint]

I used to go with my mum and sister back in the 'old' prem days (they are both partially sighted). I had to pay for my ticket as the enabler (full price). I never knew they could have had a free season ticket though. FFS!! Could have split the cost of mine 3 ways...... ;-)

 

Seriously though, at the time I wasn't aware of other disabled people having paying for their tickets. We just thought everyone had freebies bar the enabler.

[dune]

Personally I think the club should provide a certain number of free tickets for those less fortunate than ourselves, and some of the sheep like comments from the hilarious teenagers only serve to illustrate what spoilt brats they are. I have a cousin who has a rare form of blindness that can affect every other generation. He is lucky in that his employer stuck by him as his sight went and he now works in an office earning a living, but not everyone who is blind can work and they can't help that. We're not talking about Benefits slobs here, we're talking about genuine cases. And a football club is a part of the community and as such should make a little bit of effort to give something back. F/ck me they rake enough money in - 90 mil in sky money next season - it's not really too much to ask to do the decent thing for a few blind fans.

[The Kraken]

I used to go with my mum and sister back in the 'old' prem days (they are both partially sighted). I had to pay for my ticket as the enabler (full price). I never knew they could have had a free season ticket though. FFS!! Could have split the cost of mine 3 ways...... ;-)

 

Seriously though, at the time I wasn't aware of other disabled people having paying for their tickets. We just thought everyone had freebies bar the enabler.

 

Other way round now; the enabler goes free. Worth considering?

[The9]

It seems to me that being blind or deaf significantly impairs someone's experience of the game, whereas being wheelchair-bound doesn't necessarily.

 

If more space is made available for someone in a wheelchair and a helper, should they pay 2 or 3 times the amount? After all, for a sell out match, that's 2 or 3 able bodied people who can't get in to SMS and the club's bank balance suffers accordingly.

 

I'm deaf in one ear, and therefore request a 25% discount. Actually, I've got a bit of an astigmatism as well, is 26% off fair ? Oh, and I had knee surgery, and acupuncture for a frozen shoulder, plus I had trouble with my cartilage once... I reckon they'll owe me by the time I count them all up.

 

Seriously though, I've never even considered how this should work and what's fair.

[ericb]

well given that the tory government have cut disability for the blind and are charging for care services that they never charged for before i personally think it's a disgrace.

 

What you have to take into account is that for many people you're actually excluding a number of fans, since if the blind person can't go there needs to be a carer looking after them during the game. If that's someone that goes you're either charging them an extra expense to find a carer, or they're going to stop going too.

 

As for numbers i doubt there can be more than half a dozen blind people in my experience (and that dropped down to my 2 or 3 in league one). If any group of fans deserve some sort of thank you for turning up in the dark years (pun intended) then it's the people for whom even getting to the stadium is incredibly difficult.

[angelman]

as a father of a disabled kid, it is always nice when you get a discount, but the only real thing that I ever want to happen is a bit of help in getting my boy places. If I ever did bring him to SMS, all I would want is to be able to get in and out of the stadium easily rather than get cheap/free tickets.

[HornseySaintsFan]

Good

[trousers]

Two nuns in a bath....

[Sour Mash]

Personally I think the club should provide a certain number of free tickets for those less fortunate than ourselves, and some of the sheep like comments from the hilarious teenagers only serve to illustrate what spoilt brats they are. I have a cousin who has a rare form of blindness that can affect every other generation. He is lucky in that his employer stuck by him as his sight went and he now works in an office earning a living, but not everyone who is blind can work and they can't help that. We're not talking about Benefits slobs here, we're talking about genuine cases. And a football club is a part of the community and as such should make a little bit of effort to give something back. F/ck me they rake enough money in - 90 mil in sky money next season - it's not really too much to ask to do the decent thing for a few blind fans.

Exactly this.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Personally I think the club should provide a certain number of free tickets for those less fortunate than ourselves, and some of the sheep like comments from the hilarious teenagers only serve to illustrate what spoilt brats they are. I have a cousin who has a rare form of blindness that can affect every other generation. He is lucky in that his employer stuck by him as his sight went and he now works in an office earning a living, but not everyone who is blind can work and they can't help that. We're not talking about Benefits slobs here, we're talking about genuine cases. And a football club is a part of the community and as such should make a little bit of effort to give something back. F/ck me they rake enough money in - 90 mil in sky money next season - it's not really too much to ask to do the decent thing for a few blind fans.

 

 

You can be a right socialist when you want to be (or maybe it's when something has effected you), well done Dune! You do have a heart.

[Norm]

Personally I think the club should provide a certain number of free tickets for those less fortunate than ourselves, and some of the sheep like comments from the hilarious teenagers only serve to illustrate what spoilt brats they are. I have a cousin who has a rare form of blindness that can affect every other generation. He is lucky in that his employer stuck by him as his sight went and he now works in an office earning a living, but not everyone who is blind can work and they can't help that. We're not talking about Benefits slobs here, we're talking about genuine cases. And a football club is a part of the community and as such should make a little bit of effort to give something back. F/ck me they rake enough money in - 90 mil in sky money next season - it's not really too much to ask to do the decent thing for a few blind fans.

 

 

I agree with Dune on this. I feel it's a rather shabby move by the club. I wonder how they feel in the clubs 'community' dept about it?

[hamster]

Brentford was foc as was Bournemouth, Brighton and Pompey. Iirc.

 

A couple of others charged a minimal fee so I assume that's the model.

 

One chap I know spends most of his spare money on football; taxi to and from @ £40 rtn, support worker @ £7.50 x 4 hours. To listen to the atmosphere, hospital radio and mix with like minded people. Just saying like.

 

Not saying the club should give them gratis but the club could.