ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Ticket Discrimination

I am very angry that frequent discrimination by Everton Football Club over ticketing has gone overlooked. For example, West Ham away in the League Cup is £27 for season ticket holders and £34 for non season ticket holders. Why? This is the same seat, in the same position?!

The main reasons not all fans have season tickets is that either they can't get to the games often or cannot afford the outlay of a season ticket. This discrimination only serves to further highlight the fact that we are not all in an economic position to buy season tickets.

This is also the case for home games in the UefaCup (£20 instead of £15). It hardly encourages fringe non-season ticket holding supporters does it?

I personally feel it is a disgrace, does anyone agree? Should we ever move to a new stadium, these are the very fans who will be needed to pack out a larger ground!!!
Michael Lawrence, Merseyside Posted 19/11/2007 at 17:34:57

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Michael Kenrick

So that's "discrimination"? Providing a discount to those who have made a significant financial comittment to supporting the club is now an act of discrimination against those who don't or can't?

People write a lot of silly things to this website but for me that takes the biscuit. Yes, it would be nice if you could pay less but I think the club have got this one dead right. There needs to be a reward for season-ticket holders (and shareholders!)... and this is it.

But the one thing it is NOT is "discrimination".

Danny Hall
1 Posted 19/11/2007 at 20:38:23

Silly twat

Dave Campbell
2 Posted 19/11/2007 at 20:36:16

Totally agree MK.

Just to change the subject slightly as this guys argument is a joke, has anyone tried using the e-ticketing system?

I tried to use it to buy tickets for the Zenith game, firstly only one of my tickets appears and it won?t let me add the second as it says I already exist. Then when I was on there last week it was letting me buy tickets for all the corporate seats. It obviously didnt seem right but for £60 I got four seats in a exec box. The booking was confirmed only for EFC to call me a few hours later eating humble pie about the error of the site and that I cant have the tickets.

Now tonight it wont let me buy an additional ticket as its evertonia members only.

A few tweeks required I think........

Gavin Harris
3 Posted 19/11/2007 at 20:51:11

"discrimination"

Seems to be fashionable word these...sad.

Tony Miller
4 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:04:31

Nothing wrong with a bit of positive discrimination in these circumstances.

As MK has said its a bonus for those who are not only able to but do ensure the club knows they have a set amount of funds at the start of the year. One thing the club has got right IMO.

Bri Law
5 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:12:07

I don?t agree at all.

I?m a season ticket holder and I expect to get some kind of benefit for outlaying over £550 in May.

As it is fans who go to away games and have stubs get preference on away tickets regardless of whether they have a season ticket or not. I think thats fair.

Members of any organisation will offer preferential treatment over non-members. A fair fact of life.

Martyn Valentine
6 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:13:49

I cant believe I’ve just read this!!

I live in Essex so the only way to watch my team play at home involves a 600 mile round trip which obviously prevents me from doing it on a regular basis but I certainly dont object to the price i’m charged to watch!

If you are a member of anything these days you get discount so why shouldnt season ticket holders be any different? If they stump up an outlay at the start of a season then a discount is only fair!!

Discrimination is certainly not a justified comment to make!!

Ray Robinson
7 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:14:11

I can just about see where Michael Lawrence is coming from - but only just. On occasions over the last few years, EFC have discounted certain games to the general public in order to fill seats (but never refunded season ticketholders in the process).

I think the club is dead right on this one. Whatever next? Equal opportunities for all fans for all away match tickets irrespective of how many previous away matches you’ve forked out for? A lottery for the away derby match?

No I’m afraid the season ticketholders do need some sort of reward and recognition.

Stewart Oakes
8 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:14:09

The cheaper priced tickets for the West Ham game has nothing to do with Everton, thats West Hams pricing, it’s the same with the away games at Reading where season ticket holders get in cheaper.
As for the UEAF Cup games, why should my ticket cost as much as a non season ticket holder, Everton don’t have to print out a ticket, don’t have to pay someone to stick it in an envelope or pay postage.

Ray Robinson
9 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:31:08

But there’s two prices for the West Ham Cup game. Are you suggesting that West Ham are offering EFC season ticketholders a discount? I’d assumed that was Everton’s doing, possibly by subsidising the difference?

Tom Fraine
10 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:31:11

I totally agree with you Michael. One Evertonian is no better than the next one just because they buy a season ticket. There is already a deserved benefit on Premiership home games by buying a season ticket but this should not be the case for an away cup tie. This is most definitely discrimination in the true sense of the word and in my view incorrect practice by EFC.

Michael Lawrence
11 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:40:11

I think this is a point worth debating. Your response Michael Kenrick is patrionising.

I AM A SEASON TICKET HOLDER and the price is not a problem for me to pay but there are many hundreds and thousands of Evertonians who equally love the club who live hand to mouth. They should not be asked to pay an extra £7 at West Ham.

Ray Robinson
12 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:45:38

Tom, so you’d ban the under 16’s and OAP’s from getting a reduced price as well would you on the grounds of discrimination?

Tom Fraine
13 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:48:21

Not at all Ray. I have a season ticket in the Park End so have not axe to grind.

It does seem quite ridiculous that Evertonians on lowest wage actually get asked to pay the highest price for a ticket. I am far from a socialist but this is plain wrong.

Like Michael Lawrence, I am not too bothered about home game incentives but i think it is plain wrong concerning away games. As season ticket holders, we already get discounts and priority for tickets but i must say i am uncomfortable with this.

Ray Robinson
14 Posted 19/11/2007 at 21:55:49

Tom - all I can say is that whatever the club does, someone will moan. A couple of years ago when Everton discounted a home match heavily, some season ticket holders tried to complain that they had received no discount.

Now with two matches against West ham within four days, the club tries to offer the season ticketholders some sort of incentive and causes another stink.

Personally, I don’t think it’s any great deal. I don’t think it will become an established practice. It’s probably something to do with the two matches at the same venue within a 4 day period and the proximity to Christmas. Unless the tickets go on general sale, nobody would pay the £34 anyway.

Paul Ryham
15 Posted 19/11/2007 at 22:43:01

Go on www.whufc.tv ... you'll see that it's West Ham who are offering the 20% discount not Everton!
Tickets are also on general sale in the West Ham end for the tie for anybody who dosen't qualify for a ticket!!

Richard Williams
16 Posted 19/11/2007 at 22:40:56

Michael L

I think you should read the earlier responses properly. Pricing for this game is fixed by West Ham. Before sounding off you should try and get the facts right first e.g. look at the WHU website. This is a Band 4 game - tickets are 34 pounds for Adults with 20% discount to WHU season ticket holders. EFC are being consistent - I am not a Season Ticket holder and I don?t begrudge "preferential" treatment. You should be moaning about WHU pricing policy - an attempt to reduce EFC away following for the Cup match?

Dave Trudge
17 Posted 20/11/2007 at 10:38:56

I haven?t got a season ticket because I work most Saturdays now. i have no problem paying an extra £7 for a ticket

Season ticket holders keep this club afloat. if you are living hand to mouth then maybe, just maybe you shouldn?t be thinking spending £60 on a train journey and £27 on a footy ticket...

Rob Jones
18 Posted 20/11/2007 at 11:00:34

MK if this was my post youd have turned it down thats discrimination lol

Liam Reilly
19 Posted 20/11/2007 at 12:00:29

Its West Ham not Everton who have set that price. I was speaking to a steward who i no the other day

Paul Mac
20 Posted 20/11/2007 at 20:32:31

does anybody know wher in upton park the everton fans sit, im booking tickets in the west ham end !

Ray Robinson
21 Posted 20/11/2007 at 21:51:24

The Centenary Stand (behind a goal)

Lee Smith
22 Posted 21/11/2007 at 04:27:56

With regard to EFC’s ticket allocation for the League Cup game ... I was speaking to a West Ham season ticket holder last week and he had heard that West Ham offered EFC the whole lower tier of the Centenary Stand for the tie, but EFC only took up half of thr stand. I am by no means saying that this is gospel but just seems funny hearing that, especially with the rumours of EFC turning down tickets for the Nuremburg game. Make of that what you will.

Stewart Oakes
23 Posted 21/11/2007 at 23:51:54

Ray, West Ham are offering EFC season ticketholders a discount of 20% because thats what they offer to their season ticket holders for the game, and under the rules they have to sell them to us at the same price.

Steve Pugh
24 Posted 22/11/2007 at 22:09:08

I live in Norfolk, six hours to get to a home game so I no longer have a season ticket. But yes I do agree with the season ticket holders getting preferential treatment, they spend money up front to go to every home game, so they have the right to get any discount available on away games, think of it like a loyalty card.

Of course if we ever play Norwich in the cup I think the club should do a special price for those of us in the back of beyond.