| MEHSTG's first e-mail since we
went on the Net was on the subject of ticket allocation,
a subject that raises the blood pressure somewhat. So,
why does a small piece of paper cause such a passionate
reaction, when all it does is allow you to park your
backside on a small piece of plastic for a couple of
hours ?? The thing is , it's all about the being at the
game. People who have attended Spurs' matches, home and
away, just have to be in the stadium to watch. The
sellers realise that there is this constant demand and
tend to charge prices which, over the last few years,
have shot up quicker than large all-seater stands at
football grounds the length and breadth of the country.
Moreover, they know that supporters will continue to pay
that price for their devotion. They play on that with so
much more consistency than any team does on the pitch. Let's just imagine that Tottenham are
relegated at the end of the season. Normally, you would
expect to pay less for an inferior product, but can you
really see prices being reduced for Nationwide League
matches ? (Or even being kept the same as this season's
?) People have been saying to me, "Oh, well, at
least your season ticket will be cheaper next
season." Have they forgotten that there are more
League matches per season in the First Division ? And
that means more money for the club and Company.
The game of football has been
called "The Working Man's Opera", but I don't
see it myself. In opera there is lots of singing (so
that's like football), but you see it once and you know
that next time it will be exactly the same. And, in
opera, you never tell who's winning ! There is one thing
that is bringing the two closer and that is that they are
becoming highly priced and therefore, not available to
the masses. How many people can afford to take their
children to matches these days ?? These kids are the
future of the clubs and I would not swap the times I
spent as a little kid watching Spurs for anything. Can
the clubs really afford to deny these fans access or are
they happy to cut off a vital supply of ready made
supporters to spite their own face ? The redevelopment of
some football grounds has led to reduced capacities and
increased pressure for tickets. (I.e. the continued
expansion of Old Trafford and the search by Arsenal for a
plot to build a larger ground.) Away fans are especially
discriminated against. It is often the case that away
fans find themselves pinned into a tight corner, both in
terms of getting a seat and then the location of it. No
concessions and normally having to pay more for their
seats than those home supporters. Is this because they
are depriving home fans of those seats ? Because they
might provide some support for the opposition and thus
enliven the atmosphere ? Because if they have enough
money to travel to away games (a ticket to ride ?) , then
they can afford to cough up the premium for a ticket ? We
should really be touting for a ticket policy that
complies with some sort of footballing equal
opportunities culture. And some FA or legal backing to
it. (Are you listening David Mellor ?) Without that, you
will not be able to guarantee a change and that means
tickets won't be worth the paper they're written on.
And that's why ticket allocation is
such a touchy subject. (If you don't believe me, then see
further the current row over World Cup tickets)
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