hmm I wonder which way you are voting Rocky seriously though, for a club our size, not being able to pay on the turnstile is ridiculous! I was walking past Exeter's ground the other week - fans gradually walking through the turnstile, no real queing, everyone happy.
thats my point if we were getting 20000 gates you could understand a slight wait but under 4000 and you still cant get in its a joke
I was with my mate the other day who was buying his ticket and they even asked him for a postcode. Why is that necessary, its not as if they are going to turn him away if he's from a certain area, and it further adds to the waiting time. In answer to the main question, cash on gates would be far easier.
I would hope the post code question was some sort of survey and, if so, it would be a good idea to see where people are coming from. I think tickets should be emailed and cash on the turnstile should also be accepted. Might also be an idea to have a machine outside where you can insert your credit card to buy a ticket.
There used to be cash turnstiles at Loakes Park and I remember being in some long queues there sometimes. I may be wrong but don't you have to show your ticket in order to go through the gates. If that's the case I can't see why we need people selling tickets at the ground. All that is needed is: 1. Buy tickets via internet with confirmation emailed (as with Brittany Ferries - confirmation ticket and booking ref emailed immediately) 2. Have machines outside the ground where you can buy tickets with cash or credit card (as with some car parks) 3. Have key shops in the town where you can buy tickets (using the internet purchasing facility) 4. Automated turnstiles where you insert your ticket and it lets you in (as with underground tickets) I would imagine that not only would it make tickets easier to obtain, it would get people in the ground quicker and probably save money.
Hi Ron, Rockyblue and Ian, It must be 5 years since i went to a league game in the UK, am i right in thinking after reading this thread,that you can no longer just turn up to watch a game and pay at the gate?. If when i'm back and my better half wants to do an afternoons shopping and i think "Thats it i'm off to the footy" how do i get a ticket?. Since when has cash been refused at the gate?.
Afternoon Frank At Wycombe (and other grounds) you now have to queue at a ticket booth first to buy your ticket, then walk round to the turnstile to get in. Last Dec, I went to watch Wycombe vs Bury and they only had 2 ticket windows open. We got to the ground at 2.15pm and only just made the kick off. Crazy, especially when you consider there were only 3500 odd at the game. Back in the day, each stand had 2 turnstiles open, 1 for season ticket/ticket holders and 1 for cash. Simples!
monarch i went to col u away obviously in the away end this season and they have auto ticket gates you just put your ticket in the machine and it lets you through which is very quick ,i cant say whether you can pay cash on the day in the home areas that is something you might be better off ringing your club about or going on a col u forum and speaking to them mate
tbh i don't think an automated turnstile would make a difference seeing as with a person it works fairly quickly anyway. The problem is the big queues at the ticket gate. As Ron pointed out, it would be good if you could print out a ticket on the internet, then you would only need to show up with a ticket on the gate and be allowed through. They do that at most concert halls now aswell and I don't see how a football stadium should be any different.
There is what some people say is a logical reason behind it, and that's the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. A bit like a glorified Tesco Club Card. The ethos behind is that they can get a good idea of the segments of people attending Wycombe games. By finding out this information they can target their products more suitably. There is a massive flaw to this though. CRM systems are all well and good if you are in a straightforward service or product driven industry. Footy is different - unique even. There really is only one core product it offers and that's the match. And supporters - i.e. the customers - will go or buy the products whether that product is ****e or good. (Well lots will anyway). Therefore there really isn't a need in my opinion to feature a CRM system in football grounds. They'd be better asking supporters for their details on a voluntary basis - if customers (supporters) are asked their views and personal details like postcodes etc, on a voluntary basis, for example through a survey in the matchday programme or an online questionnaire, they are more likely to volunteer the information themselves. If they MUST give their details out, i.e. through queuing at a separate gate and then having to queue again to get in, not only will people refuse to go because of the hassle, but the information that the club DO get may not be accurate as you are getting details of people that may only go every now and then as opposed to valuable statistics from voluntary surveys that regular supporters want to fill in. Marketing theory over, but that's the deal anyway. Get rid of the compulsory CRM system.
