Yeah, harder. Though even back in 2008 I had no problem moving my season tickets within the Stretford end.
If Woodward sticks with Van Gaal will you renew your season ticket or membership?
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Yeah, harder. Though even back in 2008 I had no problem moving my season tickets within the Stretford end.
It actually takes 10 years to get an ST ?I'm pretty sure I'll never ever get one or even get to visit OT for that matter but that number is staggering. Why does it take so long to get a fresh ST pass ?
I know quite a few people that aren't renewing next season and I don't blame them. I'll stick with a membership and go to a few games, It's a chore at the moment though.
It's a shame if many people choose not to renew but you can't really blame them... hopefully it won't make the atmosphere even worse.
On the plus side, with so many new season ticket holders... maybe I will get chubbed less for away games!
On the plus side, with so many new season ticket holders... maybe I will get chubbed less for away games!
Yes, I plan to renew irrespective of who is in the manager's seat next season.
It'll be a huge shame if a large number of Old Trafford stalwarts choose not to renew but the season tickets will still sell out and probably in record time once again.
Maybe this is why the OP started the thread joke but you never know!
Good post. I totally agree with where you're coming from. In this day and age if you are expected to part with such a high amount of money, in return you should at least get some entertainment factor. You shouldn't just pay that amount in hope of something happening, which sadly is now the case. I think when Giggs takes over as manager it could get worse to (but that's for another thread).
This weekend was very the first time in 16 years where I actually gave some serious thought to not reneweing my season ticket should Van Gaal be in charge next year.
If a lot of match-going fans are seriously considering turning their back on their cherished STs then maybe (before they have to give up things that in some cases have been handed down through families) some sort of petition to the sponsors or a co-ordinated mass gesture - like the "don't turn up until the second half of the next home game" idea to make a stand against no 1st half goals in 10 consecutive home games would be a more dramatic way of getting the message across to the board and the sponsors without so large a personal sacrifice.
I'm hearing this from all over the place at the moment. One fan in particular is a case in point: I've known her for years and used her season ticket myself for a couple of seasons back when I lived in Manchester and she was studying abroad: She effectively inherited her dad's ST and has been a regular match goer pretty much all her life. Now she says she won't renew if LVG gets another season. I don't think it's just LVG and the tedious football, however – it's more complex than that: A loss of interest that has become more marked and which has now culminated with the present state of affairs.
Others I know are saying what several in this thread have suggested as well: Renew but let others use the ticket until better times come round. It's certainly a pretty drastic change in attitude from many, that seems undeniable. And what is interesting – if that's the proper term – is that this feeling of not-being-arsed-anymore is expressed by long standing fans, regular match goers, locals, etc. Whatever it is, it isn't a phenomenon you can easily chalk up to “fickleness” or “entitlement” on the part of brats who have known nothing but good times. That particular part of the story now being peddled by a certain segment simply isn't true
Others I know are saying what several in this thread have suggested as well: Renew but let others use the ticket until better times come round. It's certainly a pretty drastic change in attitude from many, that seems undeniable. And what is interesting – if that's the proper term – is that this feeling of not-being-arsed-anymore is expressed by long standing fans, regular match goers, locals, etc. Whatever it is, it isn't a phenomenon you can easily chalk up to “fickleness” or “entitlement” on the part of brats who have known nothing but good times. That particular part of the story now being peddled by a certain segment simply isn't true
Did you do / will you be doing a pod-cast or has all debate finally ceased?
We're due to record after the Liverpool game... but depending on what happens against Newcastle, we might record tomorrow.
Whenever we do, LVG and the board will almost certainly be the issue.
Keep up the good work and say hello to the guys! Cheers!
Yes, true enough.
What pisses me off more than anything, however, is that football clubs largely get away with treating fans as mere customers in spite of the fact that many of them simply aren't: In a sense they're exploiting people's “loyalty” in a particularly hideous manner. And I say “loyalty” because what it actually is, is not loyalty to the “brand” offered to them, but to something very different: Something intangible and largely irrational which is very far from being a “product” you can simply stop buying when it fails to please you.
Yep, what we love is the idea of Manchester United, not the institution as such. This is symbolised by everything from the beautiful, tragic Babes to Cantona's nonchalant genius to Robson's never-say-die spirit to the grace, the glamour and the grit; the essence of United, which can't be manufactured or traded.
In reply to people's comments - wanting to be entertained doesn't mean you're spoilt!
Wow! I read somewhere about no-one going in for the first half. That's a good idea. One I'd happily go along with.
Linking up with another thread, maybe they should sell STs for training as it is obviously more enjoyable than what is on show in actual games.
The CEO of Adidas has already come out and said this is not what they signed up for, I’m sure a few other sponsors share that sentiment.
Boycotting the first half, or even if it’s just the first 15mins, of a game is a brilliant idea. If fans not turning up for the start of a game and the biggest sponsor criticising the perfomances doesn’t make Woodward act then nothing will.
The 4th Round of the FA Cup draw is tonight and usually I would be glued to it praying for a home draw so I could go, but this time I'll be hoping for an away game so that I don't have to fork out/attend. Sad.
I think many people are now losing interest in football in general, with this tripe that's being served up regularly. I know I've become blasé to United results now because I know nothings changing whilst he remains in charge. I'm not the only one feeling like that. I cant even be bothered to watch highlights on MOTD anymore.
IF I had a ST I would for sure give it up.
Ditto. How depressing is that thought? In the past when I was just applying for games as a member I was so excited when I got a ticket, but now I have a season ticket and to be honest with you it's starting to feel like a chore to go.
Well said Phil, great post. The Stretford End will be worse off for losing a decent red. The board and club should hang their heads in shame for the treatment of fans like yourself. Not until this commercial beast that they've created in place of our football club loses it's teeth & the deals start falling by the wayside, will they once again (hopefully) turn their heads back towards football and winning. Genuinely sad times for Utd.
This. It makes me cringe these days when the fans sing the Man Utd Calypso... "If they’re playing in your town, get yourself to that football ground. Take a lesson, you will see, football taught by Matt Busby!" Matt Busby is surely spinning in his grave at the pathetic excuse for football they're serving up week in week out.
If Van Gaal is still in charge by renewal date, I won't be renewing my ST either. For shame.
What is this talk about boycotting the first half of the game? Would be interesting if it happens and a sure way to make the money men take note.
Its sad turn of events when fans that have supported the club for decades, through relegation (our attendances actually went up that year), Dave Sexton and Liverpool's domination amongst many other dark period feels so disconnected to the club they have given so much to so long.
Sadly , if the cash keeps rolling, the business that is Man Utd wont care.
Van Gaal's football is not the only thing, but its significant. Fans deserve better than this.
Sadly , if the cash keeps rolling, the business that is Man Utd wont care.
Van Gaal's football is not the only thing, but its significant. Fans deserve better than this.
I haven't asked once for a ticket this season and have no intention of going until the football improves. I can't justify the total cost to watch this dross. I've been offered more tickets than ever before this season. I was even offered a Chelsea ticket.
Paying and not turning up doesn't bother this club. They only care about money. They'll still announce your attendance because you've paid and thank you for your support as they look at an empty seat.
Paying and not turning up doesn't bother this club. They only care about money. They'll still announce your attendance because you've paid and thank you for your support as they look at an empty seat.
I think you might be misunderstanding some LvG comments there - of course success is still the primary goal of the club
and Im a bit confused as to what issue exactly you have with Andy Mitten?!
I agree. Ten matches with no first half goals isn't a coincidence - it's a borderline strategy.
If Moyes could get a plane to fly asking fir his dismissal then why not a first half walk out?
matchgoers have a right to complain about the lack of goals at Old Trafford and if people choose not to renew then that is upto them but talk of boycotts, petitions etc is completely ridiculous IMO
I wouldnt necessarily call it fickleness or entitlement but we are have been spoilt by success and entertainent in the Fergie era so I suppose it is difficult for people to accept anything less
"...if I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor."
I think there's more hatred and anger towards LVG than there was to Moyes so I'm surprised we haven't seen a plane fly over yet.
I'm not surprised about the plane thing. The plane was a bit much, don't think anyone was proud of that even if we all got what it was about. Also the club has made clear, in various obvious briefings to people, that they do not give a stuff about what the fans think.
The only thing that matters is hitting the financial targets for this year. Even getting knocked out of the European Cup doesn't matter. The day after various papers were saying as long as we get to the last eight of the Europa League our financial targets will have been hit. The only way they could all have exactly the same story, and know that much about the club's money situation, is if someone had told them.
We could be dire until May but if we win enough games 1-0 and end up in the top four and getting enough TV money from the cups the club will be happy. The club might get spooked if suddenly the TV companies stop wanting to show our games because they are boring. A lot of the revenue is guaranteed just by being in the league or Europe, so the board won't care.
A plane won't do anything unless its branded by Adidas.
Yes – of course. This is a part of the story too – obviously. Life after Fergie is very different even for those of us who were United fans before he showed up. But as I like to stress, even for that set United were never a humble, little football club – we haven't been that...ever, arguably. We were entitled, as fans, during Liverpool's golden years. What I grew up with wasn't humility – but the idea that Liverpool were usurpers. When Fergie knocked 'em off their perch – that was...justice. Not some freakish good fortune.
But the point is that when I now see old timers (people twenty or thirty years older than me) stating that they're not excited about going to Old Trafford to watch United play – I take that as significant. Fickle feckers from the land of the Internetz – I pay no attention to what they're moaning about. Long standing fans, on the other hand, who lived through the post-Busby years – who went faithfully through the Sexton years – I consider them different. Their present...hopelessness – well, I consider that significant.
The club must love chaps like you, you've bought the propaganda!
I bought season tickets 3 years ago, and I had similar "wow" type sentiments from people I knew....
Wow, you got season tickets, how did you dothat.
Let me tell you how.
I rang up, selected 2 seats....
and bought them.
Couple of years ago ST were easy to get hold of and moving seats wasn't an issue but since Moyes left we have sold every ST before the season has started, they don't even do the half ST anymore so I think there's a genuine waiting list now, I also remember a couple of people on here being contacted by the ticket office for a deposit / first dibs on ST for next season.
Actually the calls from the ticket office are attempts to predict changes in buying patterns. OT set an ST price freeze last week fully aware that tickets were not selling and ST sales might drop. To compensate they contact holders earlier with inducements to renew or to gauge intentions.
I'm so ahead of the curve that I stopped renewing 5 years ago.
Old Trafford being wank was the real reason but I can pretend it's about van Gaal.
Old Trafford being wank was the real reason but I can pretend it's about van Gaal.
I got a great little "mini" season ticket one season around then.
Got it for about 5 games at the run in, and got Everton, Chelsea x2 , The Schalke semi, and the Blackpool game where we were awarded the trophy.
How easy is it to move as an existing season ticket holder do you reckon?
I've got a great ET2 seat, dead central very low down, but have the angriest most obnoxious kent you could hope to meet spark behind me, so wouldn't mind moving ever so slightly!