Bayern game possibly not included as Cup Credit ?

[Dan_85]

So many on the exchange haha, can basically sit anywhere you like.

[Simon]

It's a pretty tiny percentage - Only about 200 or so on the exchange at the moment which I think is par for the course for many expensive Category A games these days.

Even if Season Ticket holders stay away, nearly all the tickets will get snapped up by Red Members or tourists.

The only way to make an effective protest would be for season ticket holders to stay away and their seats to remain empty - most would be unwilling to do this because of the amount of money they would lose in doing so.

[DB10GOONER]

I've been ''kindly offered'' my own season tickets (2) by my caring club for £78 each! Fuck off!

Brilliant.

[This is our club!]

Damn!!! I forgot about this!!! I have just posted mine and my dad's tickets on exchange and I have a messag saying they are now on sale and I'll be notified if they are sold! I think I have missed the bloody deadline to 'opt out'

[Rosicky's Right Boot]

Paying over £80 for the privilege of watching us get absolutely twatted.

Oh well, at least we'll be able to see what might have been on show. Bayern are a self sustainable club run for the sake of the club and fans. Maybe one day that'll be us.

[Gunner Rob]

It's a pretty tiny percentage - Only about 200 or so on the exchange at the moment which I think is par for the course for many expensive Category A games these days.

Even if Season Ticket holders stay away, nearly all the tickets will get snapped up by Red Members or tourists.

The only way to make an effective protest would be for season ticket holders to stay away and their seats to remain empty - most would be unwilling to do this because of the amount of money they would lose in doing so.

actually the most effective protest would have been for season ticket holders not to buy these tickets in the first place.
I understand that there was an opt out policy for this match. Anyone who opted in is contributing to the ongoing malaise at the club.

[Clash]

I opted out within minutes of getting the email from the club telling me I could. I don't agree with cup games being included in the ST so I wasn't going to pass up this chance.

For those saying the best way to protest would be for ST holders not to opt out but leave their seat empty instead, that would actually involve us buying the ticket first ... its not one we've already paid for.

I'm all for protesting but not if it costs me over 60 quid. You could knock up a decent banner for that sort of money

[Dan_85]

I'm all for protesting but not if it costs me over 60 quid. You could knock up a decent banner for that sort of money

These lovelies will do it for half that price

[Clash]

I'm all for protesting but not if it costs me over 60 quid. You could knock up a decent banner for that sort of money

These lovelies will do it for half that price



And by the look of 'em they'll throw in a few ''extras'' too

[Simon]

actually the most effective protest would have been for season ticket holders not to buy these tickets in the first place.
I understand that there was an opt out policy for this match. Anyone who opted in is contributing to the ongoing malaise at the club.

The problem with this is the opt-in was automatic, with the cost added on to season ticket renewals. Anybody who opted out by the deadline or puts their seats on the exchange will not be making an effective protest as the vast majority of these seats will just be resold by the club who end up with just as much cash, if not more, for this game.

[DB10GOONER]

"She-Ra BELIEVES!!! For the honor of Grayskull!!"

[northbank123]

I disagree with the majority view that the most effective form of protest will be to boycott games. It's just pie in the sky, despite what people on here might believe the massively-pissed off are still a fractional minority and even of those many will continue buying STs etc. So what if ST holders opt-out and the tickets are sold out to Red Members, tourists, whoever? Just reinforces the board's view that loyal fans are an expendable commodity. Ticket prices have risen steeply whilst our performances have declined sharply for nearly a decade now and people are still queueing up in droves - as long as we're in CL they will not worry about ticket revenue. Whilst it is a nice thought to make a stand and show the board that the fans aren't willing to get ripped off for under-investment and a shit return on the pitch, fans have been doing the opposite since we moved.

There are broadly speaking two problems - the board/ownership and the manager. Like it or not, there is not a lot we can do about Kroenke. You can get thousands of people marching from Highbury to the Emirates on a matchday in front of camera crews, you can hold up banners or whatever you like, the bloke will not give a fuck. He doesn't even pretend to care, his other franchises show that given the opportunity he will only encourage investment as long as it is matched by a greater commercial return (i.e. to maintain CL qualification revenue but not to allow sustained PL/CL challenges) and for him 5 minutes of dealing with mildly-uncomfortable questions every 12 months at the AGM is a small price to pay for the growth in his prospective fortune from his shares. Although Gazidis is a slimy prick he is little more than a mouthpiece and it's too easy to lay the blame at his feet because he's an easy figure of hate. Even if he could be forced out he'd be replaced by another wanker who appears to have massive power but is in reality a puppet.

There is also no doubt that Wenger will continue to be offered obscenely-lucrative contracts by the board whilst he is delivering them CL revenue without huge transfer expenditure. They will never sack him, when he walks away it will be his choice. However, criticism really will affect Wenger. It's evident from his touchline/interview demeanour as well as his constant moaning about how unfair football is that he doesn't derive as much enjoyment from his job anymore. Moreover, whenever he is questioned he gets really pissed off. Just look at the pissy responses to being questioned about anything in interviews - his stock response is the 30 years line, how he knows these things that none of the journalists could, trying to ridicule a journalist for not knowing the exact price of Gervinho's transfer (without addressing the point that it was a waste of money regardless).

Even more telling is the response to criticism from the fans. He regularly tries to get sideways jibes in at the fans - he's mentioned a few times that Ramsey's performances in previous years were a result of fan pressure, after the Fulham or Palace game he made a comment about how in the past it's the sort of games the fans got restless in and it would have damaged the team - it's our fault the players play poorly and we drop points apparently. He views the fans as impatient, greedy people who have no perspective and no idea about football. Remember how pissed off he got last year after the fans sang "you don't know what you're doing" at Villa Park when he brought on Coquelin for Giroud at 0-0? He was absolutely livid in the press conference, it pisses him right off.

What's the most effective way to change things at the club? Imo it would be targeting Wenger - not just the odd boo at full-time but chants questioning his substitutions (like with Ox/Arshavin), banners, maybe a publicised protest - doesn't have to be thousands of people, just enough to get picked up as credible unrest by Sky Sports News etc. It would have an exponential effect as the press just take their line on Wenger from the fans' mood swings, and as soon as there are serious signs of fans' discontent they will stoke the flames every day. If something like that happened I really think he might get pissed off enough to jack it in rather than commit to another 3 years of people questioning his ultimate wisdom, I really do.

[Gunner Rob]

good points Northbank but I will not change my mind on this
the only way that ticket prices will ever come down is if people start to say enough is enough.
you are accepting that there will be no change in the same way that Wenger accepts that he will not challenge for any trophies.

anyway the growing boycott of the match is starting to gain publicity
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... ckets.html

I can afford to go but I absolutely refuse to pay these prices

[northbank123]

Yep, I don't think there will be change unless we drop out of CL. The fans have proved they are willing to pay these prices for CL and 3rd/4th place for years now. The club won't even blink at a bit of adverse publicity, especially if its accompanied by a sell-out. We got lambasted for prices around Citeh game last year and club did nothing and even changed Spurs FA Cup to Cat A. Its not that I wouldn't support a boycott, it's just that as things are I view a sustained and productive boycott as a pipe dream.

I also think there is a lot of false martyrdom about tickets. People come on here about giving up tickets as though they're doing it for the greater good and as a sign of protest whereas in fact they're doing it more often than not because they don't personally think its worth the money (even if they can afford it). Giving up your ticket because you don't think its worth the price is completely reasonable and justifiable but isn't the selfless sacrifice some people make it out to be. I imagine the true 'martyrs' - those who have given up their ticket even though they still think its worth paying that amount for the experience (even if it is objectively grossly overpriced) purely as a protest measure - are very small in number.

[Revgoon89]

I'll say what I've said before, sitting online, posting messages on here or on FB about how disgusted you are changes nothing at all. I reckon this boycott won't happen, or won't even make the news next week. not enough organisation amongst the fans.

Granted, this situation is lose lose however you look at it, you opt out and some plastic fan will take your seat and pay the club, opt in and don't turn up and the club still get your money, they don't care either way as their wallets are still filled.