Block 5 Itchen

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Right opposite where the main TV cameras are. Acres of empty seats for pretty much the whole Man U game. Anyone know whats going on? Saints Corporate slackers?

[Griffo]

Right opposite where the main TV cameras are. Acres of empty seats for pretty much the whole Man U game. Anyone know whats going on? Saints Corporate slackers?

 

Kingsland was packed out.. Unless you mean Itchen.

[surrey1saint]

Must mean Itchen?

[SaintBobby]

I posted this in the "Manc punched thread"....

 

"On the capacity point, the corporates in block 5 have quite a bit of extra space. The seats close to block 4 are quite empty (rough guess, 300 empty seats).

 

I gather the reason for this is that the new "club lounge" membership is at its max for fire or health & safety regs or some such. So, the club could sell these seats - but have no easy way to actually get people to them (and nowhere to put these people pre match/post match/half time...or no way of stopping them getting into the club lounge at these times if they sold these seats separately).

 

I'm told the club is appealing the ruling from the relevant quango/govt body."

[Saint Garrett]

I posted this in the "Manc punched thread"....

 

"On the capacity point, the corporates in block 5 have quite a bit of extra space. The seats close to block 4 are quite empty (rough guess, 300 empty seats).

 

I gather the reason for this is that the new "club lounge" membership is at its max for fire or health & safety regs or some such. So, the club could sell these seats - but have no easy way to actually get people to them (and nowhere to put these people pre match/post match/half time...or no way of stopping them getting into the club lounge at these times if they sold these seats separately).

 

I'm told the club is appealing the ruling from the relevant quango/govt body."

 

No but these seats were in the main part of the stand, about 5 rows up.

[stevegrant]

Thread title amended for accuracy

 

Here's a photo I took just before kick-off yesterday:

 

As you can see, there are two patches of empty seats. The ones towards the back of the stand are within the corporate seating area, so this is presumably covered by the issues raised by SaintBobby. However, the seats at the bottom of the stand are not within the corporate area, so questions should be asked of the club as to why these seats have been empty for both the Wigan and Man United games, despite block 5 showing as completely sold out on the online ticketing system.

[Griffo]

Thread title amended for accuracy

 

Here's a photo I took just before kick-off yesterday:

 

As you can see, there are two patches of empty seats. The ones towards the back of the stand are within the corporate seating area, so this is presumably covered by the issues raised by SaintBobby. However, the seats at the bottom of the stand are not within the corporate area, so questions should be asked of the club as to why these seats have been empty for both the Wigan and Man United games, despite block 5 showing as completely sold out on the online ticketing system.

 

There was also a row of empty seats at the bottom around block 2/3. Again, which was 'sold out' on the ticketing website.

[stevegrant]

There was also a row of empty seats at the bottom around block 2/3. Again, which was 'sold out' on the ticketing website.

I can understand the front row possibly being unused but unavailable for ordinary fans as these are often used for disabled fans, I'm not sure if there's a rule on how many disabled seats they have to have available for any particular game. That obviously doesn't apply to any seats further back in the stand.

[Webby]

They're Matt le tiss' seats.

[SaintBobby]

Thread title amended for accuracy

 

Here's a photo I took just before kick-off yesterday:

 

As you can see, there are two patches of empty seats. The ones towards the back of the stand are within the corporate seating area, so this is presumably covered by the issues raised by SaintBobby. However, the seats at the bottom of the stand are not within the corporate area, so questions should be asked of the club as to why these seats have been empty for both the Wigan and Man United games, despite block 5 showing as completely sold out on the online ticketing system.

 

Yep, thanks for the pic. It's the higher up block I was referring to. My group sit right next to those empty seats. Although looks more like 100 or so empties rather than the 300 or so I guessed at....

[RedAndWhite91]

There was a row of about 10 empty seats next to me in Block 2, two rows from the back. The bloke behind me said that he tried to buy some tickets for his mates in Block 2 but the website said it was sold out. About half way into the first half a couple of the ticket office staff came and sat in them but there was still a fair few spare. Club/ticket office needs to address this, and the fact as to why there are so many empty seats in Steve's photo.

[West End Saint]

I think the empty rows at the front are for the youth team & acadamy lads & they were away at Villa

[krissyboy31]

I think the empty rows at the front are for the youth team & acadamy lads & they were away at Villa

 

That's what I thought.

[Noodles34]

i'm too busy trying to spot me!!!!

[shurlock]

I think the empty rows at the front are for the youth team & acadamy lads & they were away at Villa

 

Quite a few of the development squad (6/7) sit at the top of block 4 -JJ ish.

[stevegrant]

Ticket office response about those empty seats: "The section you speak of was sold, therefore people who sit there did not come to the game."

 

A block of 50 seats were all sold and it just so happened that NONE of them turned up for the game?? Really??

[eelpie]

Shame. There were lots of people outside begging to buy spare tickets.

 

There should be an opportunity for ticket and ST holders to be able to notify the Ticket Office if they aren't able to attend so that they could be resold. Something along the lines that eventually came to be used for the Olympics.

 

And to incentivise this ticket and ST holders could be given some cashback.

 

Thoughts?

[fish fingers]

Ticket office response about those empty seats: "The section you speak of was sold, therefore people who sit there did not come to the game."

 

A block of 50 seats were all sold and it just so happened that NONE of them turned up for the game?? Really??

 

Obviously they are all one big family who are still on their summer holidays so missed both the Wigan and Man Utd game. I fully expect them to be back and in their seats for Villa

[adrian lord]

Ticket office response about those empty seats: "The section you speak of was sold, therefore people who sit there did not come to the game."

 

A block of 50 seats were all sold and it just so happened that NONE of them turned up for the game?? Really??

 

Coach broke down bringing the Hull Saints Supporters Club down?

[stevegrant]

Some clubs operate ticket exchanges for ST holders to sell their seat for games where they can't make it. The club takes a cut of the ticket price which is resold at face value.

 

e.g. ST holder in the Northam can't make the Villa home game (category B), the pro-rata price for a cat B game from a Northam renewal season ticket (£575) is £31.20, and face value for a match ticket is £35. The club buys at a discount from the pro-rata price, say £25, so the customer is discouraged from selling their ticket unless they really need to, but at least they're getting *something* back - they might insist that the money is not refunded in cash, but is exchanged for club vouchers valid either in the megastore or at the ticket office for future games. The club then sells it as a matchday ticket at face value, £35, so the club makes £10 on that ticket.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Some clubs operate ticket exchanges for ST holders to sell their seat for games where they can't make it. The club takes a cut of the ticket price which is resold at face value.

 

e.g. ST holder in the Northam can't make the Villa home game (category B), the pro-rata price for a cat B game from a Northam renewal season ticket (£575) is £31.20, and face value for a match ticket is £35. The club buys at a discount from the pro-rata price, say £25, so the customer is discouraged from selling their ticket unless they really need to, but at least they're getting *something* back - they might insist that the money is not refunded in cash, but is exchanged for club vouchers valid either in the megastore or at the ticket office for future games. The club then sells it as a matchday ticket at face value, £35, so the club makes £10 on that ticket.

 

That's far too logical and sensible. Take 100 lines.

[stevegrant]

It's also fairly redundant when we're not selling out every week. It'll only become a realistic possibility when we're doing so.

[suntouched]

but how can a sell-out be acheived when the t/o are not selling all the tickets??!!

[SNOWY]

I sit just behind those seats & they are definately club seats. The block on the right as you look at the picture is club guests, players family etc The block on the left is staff & academy lad's etc. No idea why they have been empty though.

[100%Red&White]

we're not selling out every week

 

Well it is only 2 matches in and the Manc game was officially 'sold out' well before the day (and there were actually more Saints fans inside SMS for the Wigan game).

 

But those empty blocks top and bottom of Block 5 were ridiculous, if they're unused 'staff' seats then if you can't get them filled against the Mancs then there's going to be a lot of games falling short of a full stadium. If it keeps happening it's going to nark a lot of fans who can't get tickets.

[Wurzel]

Thread title amended for accuracy

 

Here's a photo I took just before kick-off yesterday:

 

As you can see, there are two patches of empty seats. The ones towards the back of the stand are within the corporate seating area, so this is presumably covered by the issues raised by SaintBobby. However, the seats at the bottom of the stand are not within the corporate area, so questions should be asked of the club as to why these seats have been empty for both the Wigan and Man United games, despite block 5 showing as completely sold out on the online ticketing system.

 

When asked to comment on Southampton's attendance Lord Sebastian Coe commented: " Empty seats? I see no empty seats "

[IFHP]

Well it is only 2 matches in and the Manc game was officially 'sold out' well before the day (and there were actually more Saints fans inside SMS for the Wigan game).

 

But those empty blocks top and bottom of Block 5 were ridiculous, if they're unused 'staff' seats then if you can't get them filled against the Mancs then there's going to be a lot of games falling short of a full stadium. If it keeps happening it's going to nark a lot of fans who can't get tickets.

 

It was not exactly hard to get a ticket, the game was on general sale for over a week and prior to that had been on "linked" sale for over 3 weeks.

[The Kraken]

When asked to comment on Southampton's attendance Lord Sebastian Coe commented: " Empty seats? I see no empty seats "

 

St. Mary's was packed to the gunwales. Fact.

[100%Red&White]

It was not exactly hard to get a ticket, the game was on general sale for over a week and prior to that had been on "linked" sale for over 3 weeks.

 

But it was still 'officially sold out'. I'm not sure exactly what point you're making but the one I'm making is despite all seats being 'officially sold out' there were still these empty blocks. Something has gone wrong somewhere.

 

The point it only sold out a few days before the game probably shows that if (like the Man City match) games are on live TV then some people are going to give it a swerve and save their hard-earned for another day.

[saintbob40]

I spotted someone who looks like me but he's much fatter and balder than I remember.

[OldNick]

Those seats were full of Man u fans wearing their grey strip, you just cant see them

[SaintRichmond]

Right opposite where the main TV cameras are. Acres of empty seats for pretty much the whole Man U game. Anyone know whats going on? Saints Corporate slackers?

 

Obviously, Sebastion Coe was masterminding the sale of those seats as well as the Olympic ones

 

Roll on the 45000 capacity Stadium

[stevegrant]

Worth noting that the majority of those empty seats from block 5 are also already sold for the Villa game...

[Weston Saint]

Worth noting that the majority of those empty seats from block 5 are also already sold for the Villa game...

That is because they are club seats. They will show up as sold all season. Customers need to contact someone senior at the ticket office to release seats if they want some. We did it a few years ago for individual games and then at the start of a new season (two years ago) we asked that they be released for season tickets and that was granted.

[The Kraken]

At least the seats at the bottom of block 3 are all on sale; there was a big block empty down the front of that for Man Utd. Looks like the first 3 or 4 rows were held back from purchase for season tickets as none of them are sold, so it looks like we could be making a little bit of progress.

[stevegrant]

That is because they are club seats. They will show up as sold all season. Customers need to contact someone senior at the ticket office to release seats if they want some. We did it a few years ago for individual games and then at the start of a new season (two years ago) we asked that they be released for season tickets and that was granted.

So whose actual seats are they? Random staff members to use as and when they feel like it? And nobody felt like going to the Man United game?

 

Surely if they are "available" every game and can be released, they should - at the very least - automatically do so as soon as the "sold out" signs are about to go up, if not be available to the public right from the start and if they're still available nearer matchday then staff can fill them. There's a hilarious/terrifying (delete as applicable) lack of common sense being applied in the ticket office.

 

Also, don't club freebies go against Cortese's policy of everyone having to pay their own way?

[Kingsbridge Saint]

A point that is being missed - and bear in mind I live in Brisbane - is that its right where the TV pictures focus. A lot of people over here asking why we cant fill our own ground for the visit of Man U. It really looked half empty in some shots.

[Ziggy]

We definitely don't need a bigger stadium. Do we have any plans to reduce the size so it looks full every game?

[Whitey Grandad]

I find this obsession with empty seats strange. There is a great big swathe in the separation zone that gets taken for granted.at the game the empty seats were not obvious apart from a small block (of maybe 40?) to the left of the dugouts. I must admit to being surprised by the empty corporates though.

[VectisSaint]

A point that is being missed - and bear in mind I live in Brisbane - is that its right where the TV pictures focus. A lot of people over here asking why we cant fill our own ground for the visit of Man U. It really looked half empty in some shots.

Part of the reason why Cortese wants to move the away supporters to the Kingsland/Chapel corner. Cameras are primarily located in the Kingsland, so don't see the Kingsland corners. Its what should be done but some folks think it would ruin the atmosphere - like it would ruined the atmosphere against Wigan.

[hypochondriac]

I find this obsession with empty seats strange. There is a great big swathe in the separation zone that gets taken for granted.at the game the empty seats were not obvious apart from a small block (of maybe 40?) to the left of the dugouts. I must admit to being surprised by the empty corporates though.

 

My mate who I get tickets in corporate off said he was having trouble giving them away for united. I couldn't go as was on holiday. Strange.