Final season ticket holder number =

[JRM]

it also doesn't seem clear to me how the priority for away games will go.

 

as one of the selling points for season tickets they put "priority for away tickets"

but that might not be the case.

 

if a non season ticket holder goes to Man City away, plus wigan / Man Utd home they would be ahead of other season ticket holders who didn't go to man city for the Arsenal away game based on "points"

[Golden Balls]

I think taking into account many different factors, the figure is good. However I think the club could have done a little more which would have pushed it closer to 25k.

Things like putting them on sale earlier and cashing in in a feel good factor as well as leaving them on sale for a little longer. If we go on to sign an exciting player or 2, that could have sold more.

 

That said, the club will make more if they sell tickets to people on a match by match basis.

[Golden Balls]

I think taking into account many different factors, the figure is good. However I think the club could have done a little more which would have pushed it closer to 25k.

Things like putting them on sale earlier and cashing in in a feel good factor as well as leaving them on sale for a little longer. If we go on to sign an exciting player or 2, that could have sold more.

 

That said, the club will make more if they sell tickets to people on a match by match basis.

[View From The Top]

it also doesn't seem clear to me how the priority for away games will go.

 

as one of the selling points for season tickets they put "priority for away tickets"

but that might not be the case.

 

if a non season ticket holder goes to Man City away, plus wigan / Man Utd home they would be ahead of other season ticket holders who didn't go to man city for the Arsenal away game based on "points"

 

What they've done Joe is give all season ticket holders 295 points so it someone bought on a match by match basis they'd be starting from zero so wouldn't jump above season ticket holders.

[View From The Top]

it also doesn't seem clear to me how the priority for away games will go.

 

as one of the selling points for season tickets they put "priority for away tickets"

but that might not be the case.

 

if a non season ticket holder goes to Man City away, plus wigan / Man Utd home they would be ahead of other season ticket holders who didn't go to man city for the Arsenal away game based on "points"

 

What they've done Joe is give all season ticket holders 295 points so it someone bought on a match by match basis they'd be starting from zero so wouldn't jump above season ticket holders.

[The Kraken]

What they've done Joe is give all season ticket holders 295 points so it someone bought on a match by match basis they'd be starting from zero so wouldn't jump above season ticket holders.

Actually, JRM is correct. ST holders will get their points on a match by match basis throughout the season, as soon as match tickets go on sale for a particular home game, that's when the ST points get apportioned. So JRM is correct, non ST holders who go to away and home games could well be higher in the rankings than ST holders.

[The Kraken]

What they've done Joe is give all season ticket holders 295 points so it someone bought on a match by match basis they'd be starting from zero so wouldn't jump above season ticket holders.

Actually, JRM is correct. ST holders will get their points on a match by match basis throughout the season, as soon as match tickets go on sale for a particular home game, that's when the ST points get apportioned. So JRM is correct, non ST holders who go to away and home games could well be higher in the rankings than ST holders.

[View From The Top]

Actually, JRM is correct. ST holders will get their points on a match by match basis throughout the season, as soon as match tickets go on sale for a particular home game, that's when the ST points get apportioned. So JRM is correct, non ST holders who go to away and home games could well be higher in the rankings than ST holders.

 

That's not how I read it. If it is that way that's a pity.

[View From The Top]

Actually, JRM is correct. ST holders will get their points on a match by match basis throughout the season, as soon as match tickets go on sale for a particular home game, that's when the ST points get apportioned. So JRM is correct, non ST holders who go to away and home games could well be higher in the rankings than ST holders.

 

That's not how I read it. If it is that way that's a pity.

[The Kraken]

Man United home game has now been linked with the Wigan game.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2862691,00.html

[The Kraken]

Man United home game has now been linked with the Wigan game.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2862691,00.html

[The Kraken]

That's not how I read it. If it is that way that's a pity.

 

http://mobile.saintsfc.co.uk/runtime/southampton/article?articleId=2858210

 

Season Ticket Holders will automatically earn points according to the advertised match categories for home games as soon as tickets for the match go on sale. A Season Ticket Holder will therefore automatically earn 295 points across the season (50 for 5 x Cat A, 105 for 7 x Cat B and 140 for 7 x Cat C ).

 

During the season, the Club will announce the priority booking arrangements for Season Ticket Holders and supporters who hold a specific number of points for matches where demand for tickets will exceed the number on sale. The way in which tickets are normally purchased is unaffected by this scheme and please make sure that when buying tickets for all games, either home and away, you do so under your individual Client ID number. Details of how to check your points balance will be announced shortly.

 

As highlighted in our original Season Ticket announcement, there will be a priority sales period for Season Ticket Holders, and anyone attending the opening match of the season will receive 10 Loyalty Points in their account.

I'm right about the points going on match by match. But it seems like there is also a priority sales period for away games for season ticket holders.

[The Kraken]

That's not how I read it. If it is that way that's a pity.

 

http://mobile.saintsfc.co.uk/runtime/southampton/article?articleId=2858210

 

Season Ticket Holders will automatically earn points according to the advertised match categories for home games as soon as tickets for the match go on sale. A Season Ticket Holder will therefore automatically earn 295 points across the season (50 for 5 x Cat A, 105 for 7 x Cat B and 140 for 7 x Cat C ).

 

During the season, the Club will announce the priority booking arrangements for Season Ticket Holders and supporters who hold a specific number of points for matches where demand for tickets will exceed the number on sale. The way in which tickets are normally purchased is unaffected by this scheme and please make sure that when buying tickets for all games, either home and away, you do so under your individual Client ID number. Details of how to check your points balance will be announced shortly.

 

As highlighted in our original Season Ticket announcement, there will be a priority sales period for Season Ticket Holders, and anyone attending the opening match of the season will receive 10 Loyalty Points in their account.

I'm right about the points going on match by match. But it seems like there is also a priority sales period for away games for season ticket holders.

[LGTL]

So which priority cones first, STH's or the points system? Or both? Another well explained system by Saints!

[LGTL]

So which priority cones first, STH's or the points system? Or both? Another well explained system by Saints!

[COMEONYOUREDS]

i have 575 loyalty points already as a ST holder, not sure what that actually means

[COMEONYOUREDS]

i have 575 loyalty points already as a ST holder, not sure what that actually means

[Saint Garrett]

Would have thoughht they'll be a week just on sale to STH, and then anyone else can apply and the people with the most points will get the remaining tickets.

[Saint Garrett]

Would have thoughht they'll be a week just on sale to STH, and then anyone else can apply and the people with the most points will get the remaining tickets.

[The Kraken]

i have 575 loyalty points already as a ST holder, not sure what that actually means

 

If that's true, it means the club have f*cked up on how they're going to administer the points system

 

Season Ticket Holders will automatically earn points according to the advertised match categories for home games as soon as tickets for the match go on sale

[The Kraken]

i have 575 loyalty points already as a ST holder, not sure what that actually means

 

If that's true, it means the club have f*cked up on how they're going to administer the points system

 

Season Ticket Holders will automatically earn points according to the advertised match categories for home games as soon as tickets for the match go on sale

[Saint Garrett]

Don't think you can have 575 points either....doesnt it work out as 295 anyway ?

 

575 is probably how much it cost you, so unless the system has f*cked up (which wouldn't surprise me) I can't see that being the case.

[Junction 9]

Do you get points per match order or points per number of tickets bought?

[The9]

Ok, to clarify everyone getting confused.

 

1) Forget your 575 points, it was done when the STs were bought and they've dumped the £s for Pts idea altogether. Loyalty points are 10/15/20 and that's it.

2) The 295 Pts for being an ST holder are allocated match by match to ST holders as the individual home games go on sale.

3) From what's been said so far,

As highlighted in our original Season Ticket announcement, there will be a priority sales period for Season Ticket Holders, and anyone attending the opening match of the season will receive 10 Loyalty Points in their account

it appears there is an away ticket priority period for ST holders BEFORE any non-ST holders get a look in.

4) Re: 3) it will vary by match, but for the Arsenal match there can only possibly be one ST priority group, those who went to Man City away, as every other ST holder has points for the other two matches (home to Man U and Wigan).

 

Anything else ?

Edited 1 August, 2012 by The9

[The9]

Do you get points per match order or points per number of tickets bought?

 

5) It is implied but not explicitly stated in the Wigan/Man U priority that you can only get the maximum number of loyalty points available for that match. (i.e. up to 20 depending on the opposition). Basically because it says ST holders are welcome to buy extra tickets, but it doesn't say they'll get extra loyalty points. This however is my assumption of the situation.

[The9]

So which priority cones first, STH's or the points system? Or both? Another well explained system by Saints!

 

6) For away matches it's ST holders with priority in the points system, then the points system for the rest (which might include lower pts ST holders below high pts non-ST holders, but there aren't enough points for that to be the case yet).

 

For home matches, there is no priority system unless stated by the club - so there's no priority for Wigan, and the priority for Man U is that you've got Wigan tickets.

 

And I think that's been pretty well conveyed by the club.

[The9]

Would have thoughht they'll be a week just on sale to STH, and then anyone else can apply and the people with the most points will get the remaining tickets.

 

I'd have thought for Arsenal it'll be a few days for

 

A) ST holders with 40 points (20 Wigan, 10 Man U, 10 Man C),

then B) everyone else on 30 pts (which will include non-STs who went to Man City + Wigan, as well as STs who didn't go to Man City).

Then possibly C) those on 20 pts (either Man U + Man C, or just Wigan h)

then maybe D) those on 10pts (just Man C away or just Man U home).

After that, E) General Sale to database.

 

Not that we'll have enough tickets to get to the third of those groups, never mind the rest. 2800 Man City tickets will be taken up by ST holders and all of those people will likely be in (A) above, leaving the difference between that and Arsenal, minus the few people who go to City but not Arsenal, for the second tier of priority (B) above.

 

Basically unless we don't sell out Man City, or the Arsenal allocation is bigger than the 2800 at City, you won't get to go to Arsenal unless you have the points from City.

Edited 1 August, 2012 by The9

[View From The Top]

 

Basically unless we don't sell out Man City, or the Arsenal allocation is bigger than the 2800 at City, you won't get to go to Arsenal unless you have the points from City.

 

Which is why I find myself in the obscene position of having to buy my nipper a ticket for City despite having no intention of going just so we both have maximum points for Arsenal.

 

In theory, by Everton away, unless you're a season ticket with both aways under your belt, you'll have no chance of an away ticket this season.

[The9]

Which is why I find myself in the obscene position of having to buy my nipper a ticket for City despite having no intention of going just so we both have maximum points for Arsenal.

 

In theory, by Everton away, unless you're a season ticket with both aways under your belt, you'll have no chance of an away ticket this season.

 

Thing is, the season's frontloaded with big teams - as soon as we start playing mediocre sides (like Everton) people who go regularly to the less glam matches will soon accrue plenty of points and be able to get the games they want. I know that after the first two away games I'm probably not going to another one until December (assuming I have enough points to go there of course).

 

It's a bit of a sod for people who live away from St Mary's but near a lot of other Prem grounds (say in the North-West) though, ST holders are going to keep accumulating points and they'll have to do a lot of West Brom/Villa type games to keep up.

[LGTL]

All I know is that it would be a whole lot easier if they just sold away season tickets, or something to that extent.

[The9]

All I know is that it would be a whole lot easier if they just sold away season tickets, or something to that extent.

 

There's probably about the same demand as there is for Saints eyepatches in the club shop.

[Junction 9]

5) It is implied but not explicitly stated in the Wigan/Man U priority that you can only get the maximum number of loyalty points available for that match. (i.e. up to 20 depending on the opposition). Basically because it says ST holders are welcome to buy extra tickets, but it doesn't say they'll get extra loyalty points. This however is my assumption of the situation.

 

And the same applies to non ST holders? 20 points max per match regardless of size of order?

[The Kraken]

And the same applies to non ST holders? 20 points max per match regardless of size of order?

It'll be a farce if you can get more than 20 points per match on an individual basis, just because you happen to buy a few tickets. I'm wondering if it'll be a pre-requisite that you have to register/have a customer account for every ticket that you buy, it would certainly make sense.

[The9]

And the same applies to non ST holders? 20 points max per match regardless of size of order?

 

It hasn't been stated, but it seems logical that you can only have a maximum of 10/15/20 loyalty points per match irrespective of how many tickets you buy - they're not doing it on money spent, but games attended, and you can only attend a match once, therefore it makes sense you only get the points once. Of course you can allocate your 10/15/20 to another account for the person who's actually going...

[The9]

It'll be a farce if you can get more than 20 points per match on an individual basis, just because you happen to buy a few tickets. I'm wondering if it'll be a pre-requisite that you have to register/have a customer account for every ticket that you buy, it would certainly make sense.

 

I don't think it'll be the case that you'll need to have accounts to get the points or they won't sell you a ticket (though you will personally need to be on the database), you just won't get the additional points beyond the amount you'd get for buying one match ticket. I doubt they'll turn down the £35 for the sake of one more potential marketing name on their system.

[The Kraken]

I don't think it'll be the case that you'll need to have accounts to get the points or they won't sell you a ticket (though you will personally need to be on the database), you just won't get the additional points beyond the amount you'd get for buying one match ticket. I doubt they'll turn down the £35 for the sake of one more potential marketing name on their system.

That's not quite what I meant. I meant that if you're buying for 4 people, and none of them have been to a Saints game before, the system will automatically create a customer account for each ticket.

 

On relfection that's probably a bit of a work up so maybe unlikely, although as I say it would make sense to do it that way.

[The9]

That's not quite what I meant. I meant that if you're buying for 4 people, and none of them have been to a Saints game before, the system will automatically create a customer account for each ticket.

 

On relfection that's probably a bit of a work up so maybe unlikely, although as I say it would make sense to do it that way.

 

Theoretically that's what they should do - if they're all new customers - but whether that's what happens in practice, who knows?

 

It might also be the case as far as allocating points to the correct customer number goes if previous TO procedures are anything to go by.

[up and away]

I'm not sure how I got pulled into the previous debate without even posting, but anyway.

 

From previous publications of the what the sales of season ticket figures might be, I'd say that "final" figure of 22,543 might be high, allowing for comps, staff, youth players, players' families etc. But even with that in mind I'd have thought only by up to 200 or 300 or so, a fairly negligible figure.

 

To answer the question of whether its an impressive figure or not; even if the full 22,500 is correct, its about a thousand or two less than I thought we might achieve. Feelgood factor and on the back of two great seasons, I have to say I'm slightly surprised we didn't hit an all time high of 24,000 this time round. 22,500 (or even 22,000) is still pretty decent though. And perhaps if we can consolidate in the league this year and push on, next year's figure will get close to achieving that.

 

Overall, a fairly decent but an unsurprsing level of sales.

 

My guess would be about the same, maybe slightly less, but the OP has made a very good base to start from. I am very impressed with this figure when you consider the Dell effect and it's implication on the waiting lists for season ticket holders. I believe going from the Dell to St Marys is a bigger pickup of season ticket sales because how monumental the new stadium was to Saints added to the frustration many suffered waiting for a season ticket for so long. I don't discount the significance of Premier return but nothing like the bottle effect I remember of being actually able to get a seat for every home game and the new facilities. We know from the volume of season ticket sales when we left the Dell (23,000?) that it generated difficulties for getting seats, the right combination of seats and all the hassle to go with that. That volume of season ticket sales should provide similar demand as previously, if not initially then eventually with retaining Premier status.

 

It's all going to boil down to how easy it is to get tickets and the pressure that generates with many having to go in early for tickets for fear of none, fuelling the equation. It's possible that just being that 500-1000 season tickets shy of previous will be enough to put enough slack into the system that the pressure for those free tickets will not be there. That could easily drop an extra 1000 off the total, giving a running total of 2000 a game less on average. But I really do not expect that to last long if we maintain our Premier status because of the club direction. The way we are going this season and the manner in which the club wants to develop, especially the youth makes this very exciting times. Next seaon I would fully expect that demand to be back to old levels or higher for Premier football.

 

I believe these are very good level of season ticket sales because we have not been brought up with the lack of tickets generated by the Dell. How we are going to then talk about 40k+ crowds is another matter but based upon European football from an emerging talent of youth, that could easily do it. The trouble is every other team in the Premier will be attempting the same eventually. That's going to come down to how good Adkins and Cortese really are.

[The9]

The question for me now is whether the demand for those 5000-ish remaining tickets will perpetuate if people keep getting told match after match that they can't have one.

[The Kraken]

We know from the volume of season ticket sales when we left the Dell (23,000?) that it generated difficulties for getting seats, the right combination of seats and all the hassle to go with that. That volume of season ticket sales should provide similar demand as previously, if not initially then eventually with retaining Premier status.

 

Statistics would suggest that our highest level of season tickets came not in the first season, but after the FA Cup / 8th PL finish season, 2003/04. In that season we sold out pretty much every home game. For all other seasons we had around 8 games (almost half) where it could be argued we didn't sell out, which perhaps indicated a lower ST level.

 

I believe these are very good level of season ticket sales because we have not been brought up with the lack of tickets generated by the Dell. How we are going to then talk about 40k+ crowds is another matter but based upon European football from an emerging talent of youth, that could easily do it. The trouble is every other team in the Premier will be attempting the same eventually. That's going to come down to how good Adkins and Cortese really are.

I think there's very little doubt we'll sell out our games against the top, say, 8 sides. After that I think our crowds against the lesser sides will show us if we have moved on and grown the support significantly since our previous PL days. If we can repeat that 2003/04 season type of attendance figures then i think its fair to say we have. If we've still seeing crowds of only 30,000 to 31,000 or so then I think we could suggest we're around about the same.

[JRM]

Anyone worried about getting a ticket for the first home game v Wigan bear in mind the away support won't be much so they'll most probably open block 43 for saints fans.

[Griffo]

Very strange how there appears to be very low demand for the Itchen North. Thought it'd be very popular.

[krissyboy31]

Very strange how there appears to be very low demand for the Itchen North. Thought it'd be very popular.

 

Seems most people prefer 3 and 4 to 1 ans 2. Still get the atmosphere but a better view aspect.

[The Kraken]

Anyone worried about getting a ticket for the first home game v Wigan bear in mind the away support won't be much so they'll most probably open block 43 for saints fans.

Wigan game is now tied in for the Man United game, so there'll be extra interest.

[up and away]

Statistics would suggest that our highest level of season tickets came not in the first season, but after the FA Cup / 8th PL finish season, 2003/04. In that season we sold out pretty much every home game. For all other seasons we had around 8 games (almost half) where it could be argued we didn't sell out, which perhaps indicated a lower ST level.

 

On that basis I would be comfortable using those previous season ticket sales as a good inicator for our eventual crowd figures.

 

 

I think there's very little doubt we'll sell out our games against the top, say, 8 sides. After that I think our crowds against the lesser sides will show us if we have moved on and grown the support significantly since our previous PL days. If we can repeat that 2003/04 season type of attendance figures then i think its fair to say we have. If we've still seeing crowds of only 30,000 to 31,000 or so then I think we could suggest we're around about the same.

 

The top clubs will be sell outs, it's just going to be a question of how much lower the lesser games draw. If you can't find ways of getting the demand up high enough to make things difficult for those games, it would not surprise me to see crowds of 28k, even lower with the odd times and sky. But as soon as we get demand up that should easily generate the higher numbers. It will come as long as we are in the Premier with this drive and direction.

 

Originally Posted by The9

 

The question for me now is whether the demand for those 5000-ish remaining tickets will perpetuate if people keep getting told match after match that they can't have one

 

After seeing so many wait so long and patiently with the Dell, I really do not feel that is a valid argument. In my case I almost gave up on league games, substituted by early rounds of the cup, reserves and juniors. A lot of us found alternative methods of supporting Saints without giving up hope of a regular ticket. My experience is that it generated even a bigger demand, supported by the numbers who took up the offer of S Mary's after waiting all that time.

[The9]

After seeing so many wait so long and patiently with the Dell, I really do not feel that is a valid argument. In my case I almost gave up on league games, substituted by early rounds of the cup, reserves and juniors. A lot of us found alternative methods of supporting Saints without giving up hope of a regular ticket. My experience is that it generated even a bigger demand, supported by the numbers who took up the offer of S Mary's after waiting all that time.

 

You say that, but I was only going to occasional matches due to mates having STs and buying match tickets they occasionally didn't use between 1998 and 2001 - I think I only actually managed to buy a match ticket maybe once for myself in 3 years ! I got an ST at St Mary's for one season - if I hadn't been able to get into ANY matches at all as opposed to rarely, I'd have just found other things to do with my Saints supporting (eg more non-League matches).

 

Also, there's no comparison between a fanbase that's used to not getting tickets and one that's used to at least 5,000 empty seats at most home matches over the past 5 years - not to mention the 7 years' worth of kids who've never not been able to get tickets before - it's very difficult to predict what they'll do, but if they haven't been coming for the last few years it won't take much for them to not come again.