With everything else going on in Aston Villa land this summer with talk of takeovers, cash flow problems, Financial Fair Play holes, administration and player sales – the club announcing the away season ticket scheme for the coming 2018/19 campaign should’ve been an opportunity for fans to focus purely on football.
???????????? Become an away season ticket member for 2018/19
New way to follow the claret and blues on the road ???? https://t.co/HQE4ioMAzk #PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/NQtkiL6oPM
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) June 27, 2018
With weeks of silence from owner Dr Tony Xia sadly continuing despite his recent Twitter statement, it seems our owner may in fact not appreciate the goodwill of fans with the way record numbers signed up quickly for new season tickets this year, despite the concerns all fans should have.
Particularly in the current climate, Villa should’ve been looking to reward long-term fans and whilst nobody expected reductions, plenty believed the deal would at least acknowledge loyalty. Whilst our Board may not count planning or sticking to a budget as a talent, plenty of fans do as they juggle life, commitments and still find a way to follow the club in the money hungry game we now live in.
So what was our new away season ticket scheme – read all about it Here.
The red flag for fans looking for an acknowledgement of loyalty was in discovering that changes had taken place to our priority distribution of tickets.
Following the club no longer gives you priority if you can believe that. There are now no restrictions on how many games you attend and existing members from 2017/18 get to pay the princely sum of £25 for no real benefit at all compared to last year – oh – you can choose your own seat subject to restrictions and you no longer get charged for all games and have to seek a refund, and existing members get their own dedicated window to purchase.
On the other side of the coin, new members can pay £40 and receive exactly the same benefits and the exact same priority.
The caveat is, Cup and Play-Off tickets will be based on previous match attendances.
I don’t believe an extra £15 from fans is going to get our owner out of the mess he’s overseen, especially as our away core fans get pooped on in the process.
Reaction to this genius, quick we need money plan, has been typically forthright.
Welcome to the new Villa!
I think for potential libel reasons, JF passed this to me, with the comment.
“If only there was something like an away ticket consultation group or a, I don’t know, fan consultation group where the club could get feedback and suggestions from the fans. Oh hang on a minute, there is!”
Agree entirely.Makes absolutely no sense. We sell out every game without this nonsense. This will just attract jonny come latelies who fancy the odd day out and will severely inconvenience the loyal supporter.
— Alan Deakin (@44awd) June 27, 2018
So I’ve built up my away reference over the last two years travelling all over the shop to get priority tickets. And now there on sale for £40 to any other season ticket holders. This is a joke.
— Damon Potter (@PotterD9) June 27, 2018
Agree Chip. And you'll be paying more again cos it'll have booking fee each time you book online too @santy_71
— Mark Fellows (@marshJmellows) June 27, 2018
I picked up on something @OrganLuke said in his interview with @danbardell & @TheVillaView_ about engaging "new fans" & giving them opportunities & I questioned it straight away about the loyal ones who go home & away all season & this is exactly what's happened! Slap in the face
— Jordan Spencer (@JordAvfc) June 27, 2018
Why? Why would someone do this? Club have not kept up their end of the deal in terms of keeping fans updated, encouraged and have shut us out.
— I’m Hard 4 Aston Villa (@Hard4AstonVilla) June 27, 2018
Joke, what about all the LOYAL fans who have travelled up and down there the country for year to build up there booking history? For a mere £28,000… joke. The club is being run into the ground and are a laughing stock… #Joke #RuiningTheFuture #AVFC
— harry haynes (@HarryHaynes123) June 27, 2018
Try rewarding the fans who have travelled up and down the country for years spending hard earned money instead of trying to make a few quid..
— Scott Mooney (@ScottMooney92) June 27, 2018
I very rarely go to away games but even I see this as unfair on those that have built up a booking reference. You shouldn’t be asking fans to pay for the opportunity to pick and chose what games they want to go to. Booking history should be the only way to guarantee a ticket.
— Chris Parker (@Chris_avfc_85) June 27, 2018
@avfcnelions @hannahcasewell4 @stugzcfc booking history out the window.
— Hayley Casewell (@HayleyCasewell) June 27, 2018
How can this be fair? You are rewarding part time away fans and not the loyal ones……
My beloved Villa and I are becoming further apart each day— SteveHughes???????? (@Spanner1874) June 27, 2018
New ways for you to make money
— The AVFC Faithful ???? (@TheAVFC4aithful) June 27, 2018
If this was released before I renewed a season ticket I would not have bothered. But then they know that
— dave 52% jenkins (@ishumacon) June 28, 2018
charging to join the scheme at 40 a pop is disgusting, especially if you have children that travel away, 40, 80, 120 etc, before even buying a ticket. Just another way to pay the Electric bills another month.
— Spencer⚽AVFC⚽Browne (@spence1975) June 27, 2018
Are you taking the piss. Missed 7 games last season now people can pay to have a priority
— Simon Browne (@avfcbrummie) June 27, 2018
Genuinely a disgrace mate I'm torn whether to get one or not! Price is very good but the idea is disgraceful and their idea has completely backfired!
— Jordan Spencer (@JordAvfc) June 27, 2018
So basically STHs can pay £40 and guarantee a Blues away and Albion away without going to any other away game?
That’s wrong… @AVFCSupport & @OrganLuke… this is a very very very poor decision
— Butch Coolidge (@ButchCoolidge99) June 28, 2018
Part of the reason for me paying hundreds of pounds for a home season ticket for years was to make me higher priority for away tickets. Now you want me to pay an extra £40 for that privilege? Can you justify this blatant exploitation and devaluation of people’s loyalty? Disgrace
— Samuel Peacock (@_peacock_s_15) June 27, 2018
No thanks not until we get a club statement saying @JackGrealish1 is staying
— Ben Hook (@Hooked_On_Ink) June 27, 2018
Exactly what I was thinking, given the average away allocation is around the 2,000-3,000 mark. Then it’ll have to go to booking history so what’s the point in this new scheme? ????????♂️
— Millsey (@millsey_avfc) June 28, 2018
Dissatisfaction all round – now you can buy a membership and get more preferential treatment than a season ticket holder – you didn’t sell this at the time that you were coveting the early bird season ticket customers……I don’t expect a reply.
— Matt R (@mattr1975) June 28, 2018
Poor show Villa… Nice to see the club screwing its supporters
— Nigel Horton (@Teaern) June 28, 2018
You’re an absolute disgrace for this. Firstly for the errors that have already been made allowing non ST holders to purchase these memberships. Secondly for not consulting the FCG or Lions chairmen and then disregarding feedback you’ve had regarding this issue @AVFCSupport
— Samuel Peacock (@_peacock_s_15) June 27, 2018
I don’t see the point other than just a money making exercise.
— Gary Costello ???????????????????????????? (@B31villa) June 27, 2018
that's the case stuff the away scheme and ill get refund on my season ticket ive had it with #avfc
— Jamie Williets(AVFC) (@jtwill71) June 27, 2018