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Post by milton potteress on Mar 23, 2008 23:20:10 GMT
It's a shocking way to treat the season ticket holders in the family stand - I'm totally against this banning kids over 14! Myself, my lad and my Dad have developed a really good rapport with the season ticket holders that sit by us in the family area after many years of being a season ticket holder and now at least one of the familes has been forced to move to the Seddon Stand!
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Post by powchirper on Mar 24, 2008 1:28:13 GMT
It does'nt affect me at all, but reading all the posts on here all i can say is Stoke sort it out, Todays kids are tomorrows full paying adults, dont lose the future of our club.
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Post by molarman on Mar 24, 2008 6:57:01 GMT
Lets assume for a second that we get promoted. Lets assume that, for arguments sake, Manchester united are playing Stoke at the Brit and it's a sell out capacity crowd ;D. If I am unable to take my children with me, how can the ticket office exchange my ST seat for elsewhere? I'm not very happy. It seems that Stoke are once again shooting themselves in the foot.
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Post by stokietony on Mar 24, 2008 7:12:05 GMT
Must admit there does seem to be a lot of blokes without kids in the Family stand.I've had a season ticket in the Family stand for 6 years now. I have a lad who's 14 now,but luckily have a 8 year old lad who's started to go,so shouldn't affect me yet.The same people i've sat with for 6 years though,their kids are all over 14 now and haven't got younger kids with them.Looks like lower block 32 is going to be near empty next season,as its going to affect a lot of people.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 24, 2008 11:17:47 GMT
As someone mentioned earlier this clearly hasn't been thought through by the club. It is a sledge hammer attempt to crack a nut. There is a small problem of adults attending games without the kids accompanying them but the reasons for this and very good ideas to address it have been aired on here. Instead of just whinging on here lets all email Tony Scholes individually. I'm not sure of his current email address but someone must know it. An old one I have for him (from a previous whinge) is tonys@stokecityfc.com. Lets show them what a PR balls up they've made. I agree there needs to be a cut off age but 16/17 seems far more natural than 14. By 16 they don't want to sit with the kids anymore anyway. Also let me give you a scenario I'm alright at the minute as my youngest is only 12 so I can keep the seats in the family stand we've had for the last 7 years. However, after next season we will have to find other seats, preferably 3 together. What if we go up this season and thousands of gloryhunters buy season tickets for all the remaining best seats in the seddon boothen and js stands. When I am forced by the club I have supported for 40 years and had 3 season tickets for 8 years (including the seasons we were shit when the gloryhunters hadn't heard of us) I could find there are no decent seats left and certainly not 3 together. Is that fair Stoke City. Like my arse it is. Email Scholes and the Sentinel.
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Wonto
Youth Player
Posts: 335
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Post by Wonto on Mar 24, 2008 11:26:56 GMT
Don't worry I have contacted Chris Gater the customer services manager and the fans forum and the sentinel - copying them all in on the mails. The key is for everyone to act together and refuse to renew their season tickets except if they are allowed to keep their existing seats. I am sure we can get the club to back down but they have been very crafty in only giving a week to do anything so they hope it will all blow over.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 24, 2008 15:36:52 GMT
Don't refuse to renew your season ticket because that is cutting of your nose to spite your face. What we could do though is all 16,000 Britannia save and support account holders could withdraw their money (but keep a £1 in so that Britannia have to keep them open) and let Britannia know its a protest against Stoke City. If Britannia can afford to give the club a mill how much must they make from the accounts? I wonder how long it would be before Britannia put the squeeze on and even if they didn't it would cost Stoke City £1 m which they can ill afford to lose. We don't have a great deal of muscle in this or any argument with the club because they know we are a captive audience we can't just take our custom elsewhere like we can with Tesco or Sainsbury's. That's why they get away with treating us so shabbily but if we can hit them or threaten to hit them in the pocket it might make them wake up to a quaint old fashioned notion called customer service.
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Post by OldStokie on Mar 24, 2008 16:48:59 GMT
I would think Tony Scholes wil be giving this his priority so let's see what he does first. He will be fully aware of the problem when he returns to work.
wonto himself came up with a first class suggestion which would cure the problem of parents attending on their own if their children can't attend....simply bring the junior ticket with you and let the turnstile operator tear out the adult and junior ticket together. The accompanying junior ticket would be proof that the parent was genuine.
I also reckon 16 is a fair age for a kid to stop being a kid.
Torch, a bit of personal advice. If the club refuse to move on the age limit, I'd change seats now. You can have your pick until April summat. If we do go into the Prem and stay there, you'll have to have the scrag ends in another year or two's time.
OS.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 24, 2008 17:44:09 GMT
OS
Thanks for the advice and don't think I havn't considered it. Trouble is it'll cost me an extra £74 mainly because my 12 year old will have to pay £129 instead of £75 for an u14 in the family stand. May still do it cos we look like being the only ones in there next season anyway.
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Post by northantsmike on Mar 24, 2008 17:57:36 GMT
The club - including TS are now well aware of the problem and tomorrow will be looking at this thread for themselves. No doubt they will consider how best to handle it and no; - hoping it goes away is not what they do these days. IMHO they have done a good job on Season Tickets this time around but they messed up with this exchange your ticket of little Jonny/Joannie is not with you. Handing in the youngsters ticket as well, on such occassions, is an excellent idea. Moving to 16 from 14 I just do not think they will do that as they are trying to make the Family Area for kids with "parents" specifically. In their thoughts I hope they also recognise that "the family" may well be Dad, with 17 year old David, 15 year old Steven as well as 10 year old Jonny - when it is just Jonny who cannot attend. Many combinations.
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Post by stokie63 on Mar 24, 2008 18:24:31 GMT
how many adults and oap,s can you have with a under 14 year old as of next year we will have in our party 1 under 14 2 under 17 1 adult and 2 oap,s will we have to move to another part of the ground? as we wont qualify to sit in the family area anymore.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 24, 2008 18:50:19 GMT
Mike you are clearly 'in the know' on this matter and its good to hear that they will be addressing part of the problem in the near future but I think you're missing the point somewhat. Firstly this has all been sprung on us at the last minute effectively giving us 10 days to sort ourselves out and no time to complain. No consultation was undertaken and the 14yr age limit seems to be an arbitrary limit for no apparant logical reason. Certainly not one that has been explained in public. All those who are immediately affected have received a letter from the club but it will not affect me until next year so I havn't received one but it still affects me now. By then as Old Stokie says above all that may be left are the scrag ends certainly not 3 seats together. So it does affect me now because if I want to get 3 decent seats together I need to act now and not risk leaving it 12 months. Are you saying that Stoke would find it acceptable for my youngest son who would be just 14 then not to be able to sit with me in one of the other stands because we could not get 2 seats together. However, if he were 16 or even 17 he probably wouldn't want to sit with his boring dad anyway. The point is not only has it been rushed in which smacks of burying the bad news in amongst what is generally good news about all the other ticket pricing but little thought seems to have been given to the ramifications both now and in future. In other words the PR and customer service is typically Stoke City, ie non existant.
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Post by knype on Mar 24, 2008 19:53:33 GMT
I have a 6yr old lad who is badgering for a season ticket, I took him the Ipswich match as his 1st match and he loved it BUT IMO I feel that the family stand should be somewhere like Block 19 in the Boothen, its cold, isolated and too close to the away fans for my liking! Also back to thread but IMO surely the cut off age has to be 16 or if it is 14 then I am sure that they could offer deals at the same price as the family stand for 2yrs AFTER the children reach 14........
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Wonto
Youth Player
Posts: 335
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Post by Wonto on Mar 24, 2008 20:15:32 GMT
I think there are some great points coming out - thanks Old Stokie & Torch and all others. I wish I was as confident as northantsmike that Tony Scholes will see the light. If everyone could ask people to put their opinion on this thread when they make posts on other subjects I would be grateful. It is not all about just those directly affected but the way true fans are being treated in an appalling fashion and with no notice or chance to express their views.
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Post by fezipeg on Mar 24, 2008 20:23:05 GMT
Knype makes a very good point.
Hasn't the club always said they want to encourage family groups. If a group with consessions are not deemed suitable to sit in the family area because they do not have an under 14 in the group, then why do they have to pay more.
Moving further down the stand to an inferior seat will cost me an extra £40 this year (helped because of the £50 saving for the U17) and who knows what next year.
It is frightening how much my 3 tickets will/would cost me. Myself and 2 non earners (17 year old and 14 year old).
Come on Stoke, we've stuck by you all these years why are you doing this to us now - just when we have a sniff of the Premiership.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 24, 2008 20:28:13 GMT
ps Mike At the risk of becoming boring to everyone else, other than just my kids, the price increase for me if I do move will actually be £190 not £74 as I stated earlier (that was not taking into account the price rises in the family stand this year anyway) . A £70 increase on my ticket to £379 and £60 each for my kids to £129 even though my youngest is only £12. That represents a 43% increase simply because the club are forcing me to move seats. I'd like Mr Scholes to explain to me how that represents a good deal and what the rationale is behind it.
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Post by stokieforever on Mar 24, 2008 20:34:07 GMT
I've read all the posts on here and agree with the majority of comments. I will be buying a season ticket for me and my son so it wont really affect me, however if i purchase my ticket why should i have to change seats, if i decide my lad cannot attend a night match due to school / other activities etc. It's not like you are going to cause trouble!! Come on Stoke, alot of things coming from within the club have been positive over the last few months, dont spoil it!!
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Post by daverichards on Mar 24, 2008 21:56:36 GMT
There is a "Meet the Players" evening in Delilah's this week, I would expect someone like Tony Scholes would be around and about for that . ..... worth a try
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Post by northantsmike on Mar 24, 2008 22:22:16 GMT
"thetorch" - in the know is a little strong but I am certainly aware that the club have tried to "listen" to many views in order to get the ST prices at such an important time for the Club - right. Overall IMHO they have done a good job but as with all things that affect so many different groups - getting it "all" right is a pipe dream. I never judge by errors - I judge by how quickly an error is worked upon to better it. I have no doubt that TS and his team will look into this but I will say one thing - this is for the Fans Forum really - they often ask supporters to join them. Supporters who can give a different view of things which will give the decision makers the knowledge to make the best calls. Within the Fans Forum are "the supporters clubs" and they consult with their members (I understand) there is also for example a representative from the disabled supporters (SCWIM) so that their views are heard. The FF and the Club want representatives from each area of the ground - The Family Area - a prime example but no one volunteers, a pity that for I am sure that if for example "you - the torch" could have given your views when the club sat with the forum to discuss the ST situation you would have been able to give a view that those others attending could not even guess at. I know that the club have had a large number of complaints from people in the Family Stand that there are a number of people there who perhaps should not really be there and whose behaviour is not what any of us would want our kids to be a part of - The Club have tried to address that. Is 14 arbitory? I have no idea but should it be 15 or 13, 16 or 12. I know they have thought about it a lot. The surprise to me was two fold - I think this "change your ticket if little Jonny cannot attend" is ill thought and easily resolved, I think this business that if a "family" suddenly does not have an under 14 in their ranks they have to get out of a place they may have occupied for years is also not good - though I have no answer to that. Certainly i would have thought complaints that it is onerous for the families as they now have to provide proof that their tickets are indeed for familes would not be good but would be better than what I am reading with the understanding perhaps that the " family" could have say a two year grace period (making it 16 effectively) and then they would have to move - also that for families who "suddenly" hit that bracket this next season a one years grace period allowed. However if you have no "child" that you bring with you on a regular basis and you are perhaps a group of 17 year olds there for the cheaper tickets ( and who could blame them?) you have to move and free space for more families. I understand the intent of the family stand is to make the Match Day experience good for the kids and for them to bring their "adults" along. It is not there yet and this " change" was an attempt to get it closer to that. I read that some one had written to the Forum - I know they will raise the issue with the club on an urgent basis BUT which one of you will join them and represent that area of the ground - I know they would be most welcome. Sorry for so much.
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Bamford
Youth Player
heeeyy peter hoekstra....
Posts: 478
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Post by Bamford on Mar 24, 2008 22:49:08 GMT
I got the letter a few days ago...we need to do something about this.
They've raised the prices and now i cant even get the cheap seats in the family area for my kids. I really like my seats sat there for 4 years and got to know everyone around us. I'd like to know what the club was thinking and how me and my two sons don't count as a 'family' ???
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Post by stayingupfor GermanStokie on Mar 25, 2008 0:10:37 GMT
Interexting to note what Norwich have released for their prices next year (as early bird incentives), and they won family club of the year... no wonder they have a larger fan base of ST HOLDERS www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TicketNews AND THEN LOOK FOR SEASON RICKET PRICES
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Post by Stafford-Stokie on Mar 25, 2008 9:20:56 GMT
On the other side of things perhaps the club are thinking of us going up. If this happens they may be thinking of a surge in st sales. If this does happen do you not think it is a bit selfish to take a seat that you no longer qualify for. Not disagreeing with your posts just playing the devils advocate.
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Post by craig67 on Mar 25, 2008 9:45:32 GMT
Just think of it as a type of cull. There's obviously a bit too much breeding going on and they need to keep your numbers down.Don't worry they'll only take the weak and the old.
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Post by dadofsam on Mar 25, 2008 11:22:09 GMT
Pulis - who "signed" the message about this on the website - is always emphasising the importance of family and "kiddies" to the club, and I think he is quite genuine about that.
I wonder what he would make of this debacle.
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Post by onthebenchagain on Mar 25, 2008 11:45:09 GMT
Just to let you know Tony Scholes is on live tonight on Radio Stoke football phone in.Good chance to ask him about this.
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Post by beerspiller on Mar 25, 2008 12:06:35 GMT
Thanks Stoke City. No warning, No consultation, No consideration. If the head of the stewards and the stewards did their job properly, then long ago the problems within the F.S. would have been addressed. Tickets should have been checked, people challenged over their behaviour and only genuine families allowed to be sitting in those seats. But these actions are in the toooo difficult tray! Now our group of nine people (six 12 to 15yrs, and season ticket holders there since its inception), are having to try and find somewhere else to sit within a week! Thanks. The only reason the Family Stand is where it is, is to form a human barrier between the away fans and the troublesome Stoke fans. I once put this fact to a senior police officer who had control of Stoke home games. How he squirmed to deny this allegation!! Now due to the poor stewarding of Stoke, we the families have to suffer. Thanks again....
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Post by ladyinred on Mar 25, 2008 13:08:04 GMT
Hi,
I don't sit in the Family stand, or attend as part of a family.
I think that the cheaper rates for u-14's, u-11's etc should apply to all areas of the ground.
An adult ST in the Family area should be the same price as one in the Seddon.
i.e family prices and conditions (1 adult per child, or whatever it is) should apply throughout the ground.
The 'family area' should be kept as an option for adults to take their children to a 'family atmosphere'.
I don't beleive that a current ST holder in the Boothen for example, should have to move if he wants to get his U-11 an ST. It would deter me from doing it.
I know this isn't my issue, but i think it's an option that could be simpler.
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Post by Block 26 on Mar 25, 2008 17:33:53 GMT
What are stoke playing at ?
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Post by headsgoup on Mar 25, 2008 20:04:28 GMT
I agree with the club. Seems a fair and sensible to policy to me, Sorry.
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Post by Stafford-Stokie on Mar 25, 2008 20:06:59 GMT
To be fair TS explained it very well and it's not looking like the club will change their mind.
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