LC Final Tickets

[nonshinyfinish]

To me additional tickets means more than 1. :dunno:

More than one with other ST holders, not more than one per ST holder.

[green day]

I will get a ticket anyway, but I do feel that we are being shafted a bit.

I wrote to Doncaster and here is his response - some of it is correct and sounds reasonable but as you can see I asked for clarity (I mentioned that Celtic fans would be above us and Rangers fans were above us on Sunday) -

Thank you for your email and for contacting me with your concerns.

I presume that you are a Hibernian FC supporter and if so, I hope very much that you enjoyed your day at Hampden Park on Sunday and are looking forward to what should be a fantastic final on Sunday 19 December.

Ticket allocation decisions are often difficult and there are many factors which need to be taken into account by the SPFL and the Stadium Authorities, including the history of sales in semi-finals and finals, and the limited segregation options within Hampden Park.

In this instance, the agreed initial ticket allocations will ensure that every Hibernian supporter who was at the match on Sunday will have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final, with a minimum of a further 8,000 tickets available. In contrast, over 12,000 Celtic supporters who were at Saturday’s semi-final tie will not have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final.

It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.

It is in fact quite a common occurrence for one team in a final to be allocated more tickets than their opponents. Indeed, the 2016 Scottish League Cup final saw Hibernian receive an initial allocation of 25,800 tickets (with Ross County getting 7,000). In 2004, Hibernian had around 37,000 fans in a crowd of 45,000 for their CIS Cup final against Livingston. Equally, it is very common for fans of one club to be sitting above fans of another at Hampden.



I understand that the decision may be disappointing to you, but I do hope that you recognise the rationale outlined above.

Kind regards,

Neil

My follow up below -
Hi Neil,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

While there are some aspects of your response that seem reasonable, but I need to pick you up on some key issues.

On ticketing - In the case of the two matches you mention (and you could have said the match v Kilmarnock in 2007 - before your time) both Ross County and Livingston will have been asked what they could reasonably expect to attend. And frankly, had the answer been 50%, then I would not have had any complaints as that is fair in a National Cup Final.

That Hibs sold a large number of tickets for these - dare I say less attractive - matches should be an indicator for you that we would have had no problem selling 50% of this one !

Sporting integrity would have had you start with 50% and - had Hibs been unable to sell quickly enough then the remaining tickets could have gone to Celtic.

You have mentioned the respective semi finals - so perhaps I should ask, if Rangers had made the final, would you have taken account of the fact that their attendance at the semi final was circa 35000, and Celtics was circa 42000?

I think we both know the answer to that one, and both teams would have been treated equally.

If you are using attendances at semi finals, then perhaps you need to consider the neutrality of the venue and the fact that fans of both Hibs and St Johnstone were effectively travelling to an away game in the home town of both opponents.

Indeed, Celtic Park is not just in the same city, it is almost in the same post code as Hampden, visible from the South Upper.............

I happen to think you have a difficult job, but treating fans of every club outside of Rangers and Celtic with what I class as disdain smacks of an organisation that is desperate to give these clubs yet another advantage - even with the inherent financial and location advantages they already have.

It is poor but frankly predictable stuff.

Finally - you know the history between Rangers and Hibs. I was in the south stand on Sunday and missiles were thrown from the upper deck. It is unacceptable and to gloss over it is unhelpful.

I am copying this to Keiran Power and Ben Kensell at Hibs in the hope that they can see the depth of feeling that some season ticket holders have on this issue.





I dont expect a response other than some platitude..................

[GreenNWhiteArmy]

Poor from the SPFL, on more than one occasion in the last ten years the stadium has been half empty when Celtic have been involved in a league cup semi

We should have the opportunity to shift 50%. I hope all St holders and fans that attended on Sunday are rewarded with a ticket for the final

[GreenCastle]

Can someone post the Hampden Seating plan and colour in the areas the away team Hibs have received tickets for and the areas the home team Celtic have been given.

[Pagan Hibernia]

Going by his logic next time a old firm semi/final comes up then Celtic should get more tickets as they have more season ticket holders and we all know that wouldn't happen...

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

the logical end result of these decisions are cup finals that resemble home games for the old firm. If that’s what people want, whatever, but let’s all drop the pretence of them being played at neutral venues.

[Danderhall Hibs]

You could only use one on Sunday but ST holders were allowed to purchase up to 20 could they not? :dunno:

That’s right - mental as well. Still looks like it’s been cleared up now anyway - if you want more than one you have to give up your AST privileges.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I will get a ticket anyway, but I do feel that we are being shafted a bit.

I wrote to Doncaster and here is his response - some of it is correct and sounds reasonable but as you can see I asked for clarity (I mentioned that Celtic fans would be above us and Rangers fans were above us on Sunday) -

Thank you for your email and for contacting me with your concerns.

I presume that you are a Hibernian FC supporter and if so, I hope very much that you enjoyed your day at Hampden Park on Sunday and are looking forward to what should be a fantastic final on Sunday 19 December.

Ticket allocation decisions are often difficult and there are many factors which need to be taken into account by the SPFL and the Stadium Authorities, including the history of sales in semi-finals and finals, and the limited segregation options within Hampden Park.

In this instance, the agreed initial ticket allocations will ensure that every Hibernian supporter who was at the match on Sunday will have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final, with a minimum of a further 8,000 tickets available. In contrast, over 12,000 Celtic supporters who were at Saturday’s semi-final tie will not have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final.

It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.

It is in fact quite a common occurrence for one team in a final to be allocated more tickets than their opponents. Indeed, the 2016 Scottish League Cup final saw Hibernian receive an initial allocation of 25,800 tickets (with Ross County getting 7,000). In 2004, Hibernian had around 37,000 fans in a crowd of 45,000 for their CIS Cup final against Livingston. Equally, it is very common for fans of one club to be sitting above fans of another at Hampden.



I understand that the decision may be disappointing to you, but I do hope that you recognise the rationale outlined above.

Kind regards,

Neil

My follow up below -
Hi Neil,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

While there are some aspects of your response that seem reasonable, but I need to pick you up on some key issues.

On ticketing - In the case of the two matches you mention (and you could have said the match v Kilmarnock in 2007 - before your time) both Ross County and Livingston will have been asked what they could reasonably expect to attend. And frankly, had the answer been 50%, then I would not have had any complaints as that is fair in a National Cup Final.

That Hibs sold a large number of tickets for these - dare I say less attractive - matches should be an indicator for you that we would have had no problem selling 50% of this one !

Sporting integrity would have had you start with 50% and - had Hibs been unable to sell quickly enough then the remaining tickets could have gone to Celtic.

You have mentioned the respective semi finals - so perhaps I should ask, if Rangers had made the final, would you have taken account of the fact that their attendance at the semi final was circa 35000, and Celtics was circa 42000?

I think we both know the answer to that one, and both teams would have been treated equally.

If you are using attendances at semi finals, then perhaps you need to consider the neutrality of the venue and the fact that fans of both Hibs and St Johnstone were effectively travelling to an away game in the home town of both opponents.

Indeed, Celtic Park is not just in the same city, it is almost in the same post code as Hampden, visible from the South Upper.............

I happen to think you have a difficult job, but treating fans of every club outside of Rangers and Celtic with what I class as disdain smacks of an organisation that is desperate to give these clubs yet another advantage - even with the inherent financial and location advantages they already have.

It is poor but frankly predictable stuff.

Finally - you know the history between Rangers and Hibs. I was in the south stand on Sunday and missiles were thrown from the upper deck. It is unacceptable and to gloss over it is unhelpful.

I am copying this to Keiran Power and Ben Kensell at Hibs in the hope that they can see the depth of feeling that some season ticket holders have on this issue.





I dont expect a response other than some platitude..................

Good email.

[Potty78]

Hoping everyone who was at the game sunday gets a ticket. Season ticket holders and away season obviously first but cant but think some there on sunday may miss out and I find that unfair. Maybe just me though.

[JeMeSouviens]

Can someone post the Hampden Seating plan and colour in the areas the away team Hibs have received tickets for and the areas the home team Celtic have been given.

This is from a previous Celtc Motherwell final so you'll have to forgive the disgusting "claret" colour :jamboak: but the sections are the same I believe. The purple and red bits will be hospitality and debentures. We might get a few more in these sections if debenture holders don't take up their seats.

http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/CupFinalStadiumPlanSmall.jpg

[gaz1875]

Sorry, that ticketing and pricing for semi finals and Final, are determined by the board. Not sure when this was introduced
10.7.1 on page 15
Think they also introduced a rule where away fans in the knock out rounds, weren’t guaranteed a % of tickets


https://spfl.co.uk/admin/filemanager/images/shares/pdfs/League%20Cup%20Regulations%20(21-Jun-21).pdf


10.8.1 the ticket pricing and number of tickets to be allocated to each participating Club/club shall be determined by the Board;

So regards above, who on the board would vote against a 50/50 split?

[Callum_62]

I will get a ticket anyway, but I do feel that we are being shafted a bit.

I wrote to Doncaster and here is his response - some of it is correct and sounds reasonable but as you can see I asked for clarity (I mentioned that Celtic fans would be above us and Rangers fans were above us on Sunday) -

Thank you for your email and for contacting me with your concerns.

I presume that you are a Hibernian FC supporter and if so, I hope very much that you enjoyed your day at Hampden Park on Sunday and are looking forward to what should be a fantastic final on Sunday 19 December.

Ticket allocation decisions are often difficult and there are many factors which need to be taken into account by the SPFL and the Stadium Authorities, including the history of sales in semi-finals and finals, and the limited segregation options within Hampden Park.

In this instance, the agreed initial ticket allocations will ensure that every Hibernian supporter who was at the match on Sunday will have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final, with a minimum of a further 8,000 tickets available. In contrast, over 12,000 Celtic supporters who were at Saturday’s semi-final tie will not have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final.

It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.

It is in fact quite a common occurrence for one team in a final to be allocated more tickets than their opponents. Indeed, the 2016 Scottish League Cup final saw Hibernian receive an initial allocation of 25,800 tickets (with Ross County getting 7,000). In 2004, Hibernian had around 37,000 fans in a crowd of 45,000 for their CIS Cup final against Livingston. Equally, it is very common for fans of one club to be sitting above fans of another at Hampden.



I understand that the decision may be disappointing to you, but I do hope that you recognise the rationale outlined above.

Kind regards,

Neil

My follow up below -
Hi Neil,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

While there are some aspects of your response that seem reasonable, but I need to pick you up on some key issues.

On ticketing - In the case of the two matches you mention (and you could have said the match v Kilmarnock in 2007 - before your time) both Ross County and Livingston will have been asked what they could reasonably expect to attend. And frankly, had the answer been 50%, then I would not have had any complaints as that is fair in a National Cup Final.

That Hibs sold a large number of tickets for these - dare I say less attractive - matches should be an indicator for you that we would have had no problem selling 50% of this one !

Sporting integrity would have had you start with 50% and - had Hibs been unable to sell quickly enough then the remaining tickets could have gone to Celtic.

You have mentioned the respective semi finals - so perhaps I should ask, if Rangers had made the final, would you have taken account of the fact that their attendance at the semi final was circa 35000, and Celtics was circa 42000?

I think we both know the answer to that one, and both teams would have been treated equally.

If you are using attendances at semi finals, then perhaps you need to consider the neutrality of the venue and the fact that fans of both Hibs and St Johnstone were effectively travelling to an away game in the home town of both opponents.

Indeed, Celtic Park is not just in the same city, it is almost in the same post code as Hampden, visible from the South Upper.............

I happen to think you have a difficult job, but treating fans of every club outside of Rangers and Celtic with what I class as disdain smacks of an organisation that is desperate to give these clubs yet another advantage - even with the inherent financial and location advantages they already have.

It is poor but frankly predictable stuff.

Finally - you know the history between Rangers and Hibs. I was in the south stand on Sunday and missiles were thrown from the upper deck. It is unacceptable and to gloss over it is unhelpful.

I am copying this to Keiran Power and Ben Kensell at Hibs in the hope that they can see the depth of feeling that some season ticket holders have on this issue.





I dont expect a response other than some platitude.................."That Hibs sold a large number of tickets for these - dare I say less attractive - matches should be an indicator for you that we would have had no problem selling 50% of this one"

Nail. Head.

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[gaz1875]

I will get a ticket anyway, but I do feel that we are being shafted a bit.

I wrote to Doncaster and here is his response - some of it is correct and sounds reasonable but as you can see I asked for clarity (I mentioned that Celtic fans would be above us and Rangers fans were above us on Sunday) -

Thank you for your email and for contacting me with your concerns.

I presume that you are a Hibernian FC supporter and if so, I hope very much that you enjoyed your day at Hampden Park on Sunday and are looking forward to what should be a fantastic final on Sunday 19 December.

Ticket allocation decisions are often difficult and there are many factors which need to be taken into account by the SPFL and the Stadium Authorities, including the history of sales in semi-finals and finals, and the limited segregation options within Hampden Park.

In this instance, the agreed initial ticket allocations will ensure that every Hibernian supporter who was at the match on Sunday will have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final, with a minimum of a further 8,000 tickets available. In contrast, over 12,000 Celtic supporters who were at Saturday’s semi-final tie will not have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final.

It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.

It is in fact quite a common occurrence for one team in a final to be allocated more tickets than their opponents. Indeed, the 2016 Scottish League Cup final saw Hibernian receive an initial allocation of 25,800 tickets (with Ross County getting 7,000). In 2004, Hibernian had around 37,000 fans in a crowd of 45,000 for their CIS Cup final against Livingston. Equally, it is very common for fans of one club to be sitting above fans of another at Hampden.



I understand that the decision may be disappointing to you, but I do hope that you recognise the rationale outlined above.

Kind regards,

Neil

My follow up below -
Hi Neil,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

While there are some aspects of your response that seem reasonable, but I need to pick you up on some key issues.

On ticketing - In the case of the two matches you mention (and you could have said the match v Kilmarnock in 2007 - before your time) both Ross County and Livingston will have been asked what they could reasonably expect to attend. And frankly, had the answer been 50%, then I would not have had any complaints as that is fair in a National Cup Final.

That Hibs sold a large number of tickets for these - dare I say less attractive - matches should be an indicator for you that we would have had no problem selling 50% of this one !

Sporting integrity would have had you start with 50% and - had Hibs been unable to sell quickly enough then the remaining tickets could have gone to Celtic.

You have mentioned the respective semi finals - so perhaps I should ask, if Rangers had made the final, would you have taken account of the fact that their attendance at the semi final was circa 35000, and Celtics was circa 42000?

I think we both know the answer to that one, and both teams would have been treated equally.

If you are using attendances at semi finals, then perhaps you need to consider the neutrality of the venue and the fact that fans of both Hibs and St Johnstone were effectively travelling to an away game in the home town of both opponents.

Indeed, Celtic Park is not just in the same city, it is almost in the same post code as Hampden, visible from the South Upper.............

I happen to think you have a difficult job, but treating fans of every club outside of Rangers and Celtic with what I class as disdain smacks of an organisation that is desperate to give these clubs yet another advantage - even with the inherent financial and location advantages they already have.

It is poor but frankly predictable stuff.

Finally - you know the history between Rangers and Hibs. I was in the south stand on Sunday and missiles were thrown from the upper deck. It is unacceptable and to gloss over it is unhelpful.

I am copying this to Keiran Power and Ben Kensell at Hibs in the hope that they can see the depth of feeling that some season ticket holders have on this issue.





I dont expect a response other than some platitude..................

Excellent and well measured response.:top marks

[Billy Whizz]

To me additional tickets means more than 1. :dunno:

Drop them a note back and let me know what they say
I thought they would have allowed a few more per AST for games like this

[Billy Whizz]

10.8.1 the ticket pricing and number of tickets to be allocated to each participating Club/club shall be determined by the Board;

So regards above, who on the board would vote against a 50/50 split?

The majority it seems unfortunately

[Broken Gnome]

Another thing is that the one obvious issue with Scottish football is that it's so dominated by those two, and their complaints and nonsense generally drowns everything else out.

A cup final should be a chance to showcase that's not the case and there's others clubs that are of size and scale to be reckoned with. Giving them 2/3s of a cup final allocation is the complete opposite of that.

[jeffers]

I also want Hibs to question why the OF have their “own” ends in our supposedly neutral national stadium. I don’t care what happens when they play each other but why is a given that they always get the same end regardless of their opponents ?

In the overall scheme of things it’s maybe not a significant factor however it does perpetuate the belief that only two teams in Scotland actually matter to our football authorities.

As someone new to the Scottish game I’d be interested to hear our CEO’s views on this.

[gaz1875]

The majority it seems unfortunately

It would have to be the majority (you would think) but how could any other club vote against a 50/50 split? it seems unthinkable they would other than Celtic and the Huns.

[green day]

I just had a phone call from Ben Kensell on the back of it - hes a good lad by the way.

He is raging at the SPFL over this, having come from down south he is somewhat bemused that Rangers and Celtic get to run Scottish Football.

From what he has told me, everything being said on Hibs.net has been the starting point with his conversations with the SPFL - sporting integrity, 50/50 etc and he is banging his head against a brick wall.

On the back of his comments after the Inverness hotel incident - and my phone call today, I think we have a very, very good guy in our corner.

While there are no guarantees, I dont think the issue is yet dead.

It is also entirely possible that excerpts from Neil Doncasters ridiculous emails may be appearing in newspapers soon...............







n.b.Further response from Doncaster below -

Thanks for your further comments Niall.

While we would always ask competing clubs what numbers of tickets they would expect to sell, we would exercise our own independent judgement, based on many years of organising cup ties at neutral venues. It is the job of SPFL staff to determine the fairest outcome in terms of stadium splits and ticket allocations, taking into account all the circumstances.

It is not the case that the SPFL could have started off with a 50/50 split and then, if Hibernian demand were insufficient, then moved to a different split. The first decision on splits is always whether to split the North Stand 50/50 or 100/0 (no other splits are possible in the North Stand). There is not scope, due to the configuration of the stadium to reverse this initial decision.

You are not correct in relation to numbers of tickets sold by each of Celtic and Rangers for last weekend’s ties. The actual numbers were circa 37,000 and 34,000 respectively, which would have justified a 50/50 split of the stadium if both those teams had reached the final.

Regardless of how many tickets are sold by Celtic and Hibernian, each club will benefit equally in financial terms from the gate money.

Finally, I note your comments regarding the location of Hampden. However, Hampden Park is the national stadium and where the Scottish FA and the SPFL are both based.

[Brightside]

Drop them a note back and let me know what they say
I thought they would have allowed a few more per AST for games like this

Not a chance.

[gaz1875]

I just had a phone call from Ben Kensell on the back of it - hes a good lad by the way.


n.b.Further response from Doncaster below -

Thanks for your further comments Niall.

While we would always ask competing clubs what numbers of tickets they would expect to sell, we would exercise our own independent judgement, based on many years of organising cup ties at neutral venues. It is the job of SPFL staff to determine the fairest outcome in terms of stadium splits and ticket allocations, taking into account all the circumstances.

It is not the case that the SPFL could have started off with a 50/50 split and then, if Hibernian demand were insufficient, then moved to a different split. The first decision on splits is always whether to split the North Stand 50/50 or 100/0 (no other splits are possible in the North Stand). There is not scope, due to the configuration of the stadium to reverse this initial decision.

You are not correct in relation to numbers of tickets sold by each of Celtic and Rangers for last weekend’s ties. The actual numbers were circa 37,000 and 34,000 respectively, which would have justified a 50/50 split of the stadium if both those teams had reached the final.

Regardless of how many tickets are sold by Celtic and Hibernian, each club will benefit equally in financial terms from the gate money.

Finally, I note your comments regarding the location of Hampden. However, Hampden Park is the national stadium and where the Scottish FA and the SPFL are both based.

The item in bold is interesting. So who are the SPFL staff that determine this, the Celtic board?

[Pagan Hibernia]

“It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.”

id like clarification from him on this. Where are these extra tickets coming from?

[Since90+2]

It's pretty simple Doncaster. How often have Hibs failed to sell out their allocation for a final? Literally everything else is a moot point.

If we have a consistent track record of selling atleast 22,000 tickets then that's what we should receive.

[Steven79]

“It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.”

id like clarification from him on this. Where are these extra tickets coming from?Small number in the South Upper is the only place we could get extra tickets from.

So basically the best seats for Hibs fans will be the last to go on sale...

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[Since90+2]

“It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.”

id like clarification from him on this. Where are these extra tickets coming from?

Hospitality. Will be an absolutely tiny number though and any do that become available will cost a small fortune.

[tamig]

Sorry, that ticketing and pricing for semi finals and Final, are determined by the board. Not sure when this was introduced
10.7.1 on page 15
Think they also introduced a rule where away fans in the knock out rounds, weren’t guaranteed a % of tickets


https://spfl.co.uk/admin/filemanager/images/shares/pdfs/League%20Cup%20Regulations%20(21-Jun-21).pdf

Ok thanks.

[JeMeSouviens]

“It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.”

id like clarification from him on this. Where are these extra tickets coming from?

Debenture holders are given the option to buy a ticket. Any unused ones can be allocated to the clubs. Typically it's only a few hundred at most.

[tamig]

That’s right - mental as well. Still looks like it’s been cleared up now anyway - if you want more than one you have to give up your AST privileges.

Every ST holder will get a ticket so what’s the issue?

[90274]

https://twitter.com/ScotlandSky/status/1463161451762397190?s=20

Jack Ross having his say.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Every ST holder will get a ticket so what’s the issue?

That’s right - I think HC was suggesting an AST holder gets more than one.

[Jay]

Drop them a note back and let me know what they say
I thought they would have allowed a few more per AST for games like this

Why?

[007]

We sold more than 30,000 tickets for the last League Cup final we were in. They sold less than 25,000 for the last one they were in therefore we should get more tickets than them. That's no worse logic than they are using.

[Keith_M]

Have I picked this up wrong or are some people really suggesting that AST holders should be entitled to extra tickets?

:confused:

[GreenCastle]

Anyone got an answer to why Celtic always get the East end ?

The pubs etc outside doesn’t come into it - just curious why.

Do Wembley do this with certain English teams always getting same ends of the stadium?

[Steven79]

Anyone got an answer to why Celtic always get the East end ?

The pubs etc outside doesn’t come into it - just curious why.

Do Wembley do this with certain English teams always getting same ends of the stadium?In England it's based on location of the two teams.

And if Manchester United played say Brentford in the final then United wouldn't get 75% of the stadium.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[hibbydog]

I will get a ticket anyway, but I do feel that we are being shafted a bit.

I wrote to Doncaster and here is his response - some of it is correct and sounds reasonable but as you can see I asked for clarity (I mentioned that Celtic fans would be above us and Rangers fans were above us on Sunday) -

Thank you for your email and for contacting me with your concerns.

I presume that you are a Hibernian FC supporter and if so, I hope very much that you enjoyed your day at Hampden Park on Sunday and are looking forward to what should be a fantastic final on Sunday 19 December.

Ticket allocation decisions are often difficult and there are many factors which need to be taken into account by the SPFL and the Stadium Authorities, including the history of sales in semi-finals and finals, and the limited segregation options within Hampden Park.

In this instance, the agreed initial ticket allocations will ensure that every Hibernian supporter who was at the match on Sunday will have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final, with a minimum of a further 8,000 tickets available. In contrast, over 12,000 Celtic supporters who were at Saturday’s semi-final tie will not have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the final.

It is important also to note that these numbers are initial allocations only and there will likely be the opportunity for further allocations to both clubs depending on sales.

It is in fact quite a common occurrence for one team in a final to be allocated more tickets than their opponents. Indeed, the 2016 Scottish League Cup final saw Hibernian receive an initial allocation of 25,800 tickets (with Ross County getting 7,000). In 2004, Hibernian had around 37,000 fans in a crowd of 45,000 for their CIS Cup final against Livingston. Equally, it is very common for fans of one club to be sitting above fans of another at Hampden.



I understand that the decision may be disappointing to you, but I do hope that you recognise the rationale outlined above.

Kind regards,

Neil

My follow up below -
Hi Neil,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

While there are some aspects of your response that seem reasonable, but I need to pick you up on some key issues.

On ticketing - In the case of the two matches you mention (and you could have said the match v Kilmarnock in 2007 - before your time) both Ross County and Livingston will have been asked what they could reasonably expect to attend. And frankly, had the answer been 50%, then I would not have had any complaints as that is fair in a National Cup Final.

That Hibs sold a large number of tickets for these - dare I say less attractive - matches should be an indicator for you that we would have had no problem selling 50% of this one !

Sporting integrity would have had you start with 50% and - had Hibs been unable to sell quickly enough then the remaining tickets could have gone to Celtic.

You have mentioned the respective semi finals - so perhaps I should ask, if Rangers had made the final, would you have taken account of the fact that their attendance at the semi final was circa 35000, and Celtics was circa 42000?

I think we both know the answer to that one, and both teams would have been treated equally.

If you are using attendances at semi finals, then perhaps you need to consider the neutrality of the venue and the fact that fans of both Hibs and St Johnstone were effectively travelling to an away game in the home town of both opponents.

Indeed, Celtic Park is not just in the same city, it is almost in the same post code as Hampden, visible from the South Upper.............

I happen to think you have a difficult job, but treating fans of every club outside of Rangers and Celtic with what I class as disdain smacks of an organisation that is desperate to give these clubs yet another advantage - even with the inherent financial and location advantages they already have.

It is poor but frankly predictable stuff.

Finally - you know the history between Rangers and Hibs. I was in the south stand on Sunday and missiles were thrown from the upper deck. It is unacceptable and to gloss over it is unhelpful.

I am copying this to Keiran Power and Ben Kensell at Hibs in the hope that they can see the depth of feeling that some season ticket holders have on this issue.





I dont expect a response other than some platitude..................

You have written a great response.

I got the same reply from Neil Doncaster, which leads me to believe he has some office junior looking after his emails, so I dont hold out much hope of any decent outcome.

Good on ya for fighting our corner nonetheless

[Hermit Crab]

Have I picked this up wrong or are some people really suggesting that AST holders should be entitled to extra tickets?

:confused:

No, its to do with the email sent to AST holders regarding allocation, its not clear imo and seems to suggest we can opt out of the payment run to buy more tickets on our own indicating that ST holders will be able to purchase more than 1 ticket.

[Phil MaGlass]

Get the big screens up and running at er for the final, get tents erected, sell bevvy and make a mint.

[Hermit Crab]

In England it's based on location of the two teams.

And if Manchester United played say Brentford in the final then United wouldn't get 75% of the stadium.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk


I've been to Wembley twice with Man city and both times have been allocated the country end of Wembley which kind of makes sense.

[Keith_M]

No, its to do with the email sent to AST holders regarding allocation, its not clear imo and seems to suggest we can opt out of the payment run to buy more tickets on our own indicating that ST holders will be able to purchase more than 1 ticket.


OK, sorry

:aok:

[007]

Get the big screens up and running at er for the final, get tents erected, sell bevvy and make a mint.

Was thinking the same earlier. We should be allowed beamback again but only if we sell our full allocation, which we will.

[Hermit Crab]

Was thinking the same earlier. We should be allowed beamback again but only if we sell our full allocation, which we will.


You'd never get the fans out the ground for the cup parade. :greengrin

[Billy Whizz]

Why?

What I meant was friends/family of existing season tickets holders, and AST being able to sit together. We are taking about a few people here
It’s a pain in the ass of a scheme, for club and fans, costs the fans money on the odd occasion if you are ill and can’t go

[B.H.F.C]

No, its to do with the email sent to AST holders regarding allocation, its not clear imo and seems to suggest we can opt out of the payment run to buy more tickets on our own indicating that ST holders will be able to purchase more than 1 ticket.

Think it’s pretty clear. It’s just basically saying if you want to sit with folk who aren’t part of the AST then you need to opt out and sort your own tickets.

[BoomtownHibees]

No, its to do with the email sent to AST holders regarding allocation, its not clear imo and seems to suggest we can opt out of the payment run to buy more tickets on our own indicating that ST holders will be able to purchase more than 1 ticket.

Seems pretty clear to me when I’ve read it. You will only get one ticket if you want it done through the AST, if you want to sit beside a non-AST holder, you will need to opt out and buy tickets the normal way

[Skol]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.

However. If we had the same demand for semi final tickets it would not have been an issue and it would have been a 50/50 split.

[gaz1875]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.

However. If we had the same demand for semi final tickets it would not have been an issue and it would have been a 50/50 split.

No chance it would have been, this is a stitch up.

[Northernhibee]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.

However. If we had the same demand for semi final tickets it would not have been an issue and it would have been a 50/50 split.

Don't think it's fair to blame our own fans for this.

[BoomtownHibees]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.


This is the only part of your post that matters

[Danderhall Hibs]

Every ST holder will get a ticket so what’s the issue?

Only if it’s 1 ticket a head - if it’s 2 per ST (as I’ve been told by an AST holder) then not all ST holders are guaranteed a ticket.

[green day]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.

However. If we had the same demand for semi final tickets it would not have been an issue and it would have been a 50/50 split.

Not necessarily...........in fact not at all.

While we would always ask competing clubs what numbers of tickets they would expect to sell, we would exercise our own independent judgement, based on many years of organising cup ties at neutral venues. It is the job of SPFL staff to determine the fairest outcome in terms of stadium splits and ticket allocations, taking into account all the circumstances.


That tells me that the SPFL can do whatever they want and call it fair.

And that means that every other club outside the big 2 can expect not to get 50% of the available tickets, regardless of what their history of selling out finals is.

And lets not pretend about this - some time in the future, the fact we "only sold" 17500 tickets for the 2021 final will be held up as a reason not to allocate a larger number.

[CMurdoch]

The dust is settling for the day on Ticketgate and what have we learned.

1.The SPFL changed the rules regarding ticket pricing and allocation at some point and none of us noticed until now. The regulation is now as follows:
10.8.1 the ticket pricing and number of tickets to be allocated to each participating Club/club shall be determined by the Board
Accordingly the board must have voted by a majority to give Hibs 17,500 tickets

2. Green Day won the .net SPFL email essay competition today and as a result had 2 personal emails from SPFL cheif Neil Doncaster and a telephone call from our CEO BK. In all seriousness I think that is a great result. Hibs and the SPFL both know supporters are pissed off. Sadly I think this battle was lost before it started but I think we might win the war in that our voice has been heard and I think Hibs will get back to receiving a 50/50 allocation in future. Great effort Green Day.

[gbhibby]

Asked Neil Doncaster the following questions relating to paragraph 5

1.If Hibs sell out their initial allocation quickly will the club receive another block of tickets
2.A bit concerned that Celtic will have fans seated above Hibs fans in the south stand. This happened at the Rangers game and objects were launched at Hibs fans below
3.Will sales to Celtic fans be done in blocks.
4. Will Hibs fans have access to the North stand when our initial allocation sells out
Finally why have Celtic not been allocated the West End of the stadium rather than the Sir David Gray End.

Response

Yes we are working to make further seats available should Hibernian demand exceed the initial allocation.

It is not unusual to have fans of one club above those of another at Hampden. The precise arrangements are agreed with the safety officer for each match,but usually see the front two to three rows of seats in the upper tier left empty and heavily stewarded.

All sales for both teams carried out in blocks in the order specified by our staff.

No, the decision on the North stand cannot be reversed- that has been made available to Celtic.The North Stand can only be split 50/50 or not at all.A 50/50 split of the North Stand would mean (broadly) a 50/50 split of the stadium irrespective of sales- which in turn could lead to big gaps of unsold seats.

To be fair he or they did respond quickly . But where are the further seats going to be in the stadium once we sell out our initial allocation.

He they did not answer my last question.

[Billy Whizz]

Only if it’s 1 ticket a head - if it’s 2 per ST (as I’ve been told by an AST holder) then not all ST holders are guaranteed a ticket.

There’s no way it can be 2 per STH
The club are going to have to make sure the system doesn’t crash, if over 10,000 log on to buy

[Dmas]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.

However. If we had the same demand for semi final tickets it would not have been an issue and it would have been a 50/50 split.

By the same thinking, had the Huns went through instead of us the 50:50 split wouldn’t be an issue even though there was 6k more Celtic fans in attendance than Huns

Let’s not dress this up as hibs problem we’ve sold that place out in less fanciful games this is the spfl bowing to the big boys and we’re paying the price

[Moulin Yarns]

Was thinking the same earlier. We should be allowed beamback again but only if we sell our full allocation, which we will.

Not a hope in hell. Premier sports own the rights.

[matty_f]

Seems pretty clear to me when I’ve read it. You will only get one ticket if you want it done through the AST, if you want to sit beside a non-AST holder, you will need to opt out and buy tickets the normal way

:agree: a fair approach.

[A Hi-Bee]

:agree: a fair approach.

Matty, can you see if you can get Donkey Caster on your podcast, put some questions to him and see if he can get of the hook.

:greengrin:greengrin:greengrin

[matty_f]

Matty, can you see if you can get Donkey Caster on your podcast, put some questions to him and see if he can get of the hook.

:greengrin:greengrin:greengrin

I’ll ask the question…

[JeMeSouviens]

Asked Neil Doncaster the following questions relating to paragraph 5

1.If Hibs sell out their initial allocation quickly will the club receive another block of tickets
2.A bit concerned that Celtic will have fans seated above Hibs fans in the south stand. This happened at the Rangers game and objects were launched at Hibs fans below
3.Will sales to Celtic fans be done in blocks.
4. Will Hibs fans have access to the North stand when our initial allocation sells out
Finally why have Celtic not been allocated the West End of the stadium rather than the Sir David Gray End.

Response

Yes we are working to make further seats available should Hibernian demand exceed the initial allocation.

It is not unusual to have fans of one club above those of another at Hampden. The precise arrangements are agreed with the safety officer for each match,but usually see the front two to three rows of seats in the upper tier left empty and heavily stewarded.

All sales for both teams carried out in blocks in the order specified by our staff.

No, the decision on the North stand cannot be reversed- that has been made available to Celtic.The North Stand can only be split 50/50 or not at all.A 50/50 split of the North Stand would mean (broadly) a 50/50 split of the stadium irrespective of sales- which in turn could lead to big gaps of unsold seats.

To be fair he or they did respond quickly . But where are the further seats going to be in the stadium once we sell out our initial allocation.

He they did not answer my last question.


If this is the concern, they could have done:

Hibs: 100% of North plus section B in West = approx. 15K tickets + option of selling in A = approx 21K tickets
Celtc: 100% East plus non-hosp/deb South = approx. 21K tickets

That way, both clubs get equal access to "good" seats as well.

[Carheenlea]

This will be the start of a steady dwindling of non Old Firm allocations.

17K now, 15K next time and will ultimately end with a standard 10K with Old Firm the rest. Don’t think for one second that both of them are not quietly putting pressure on the authorities to satisfy the Old Firm demand.

[hulk]

If this is the concern, they could have done:

Hibs: 100% of North plus section B in West = approx. 15K tickets + option of selling in A = approx 21K tickets
Celtc: 100% East plus non-hosp/deb South = approx. 21K tickets

That way, both clubs get equal access to "good" seats as well.


North stand are great seats and we should have been given half this and either west or east. Some of the south could have been kept back to see how sales go and extended into that if sales go well. So many permutations rather than the majority of seats being behind the goal with **** views. Here’s hoping this isn’t over and somehow we get common sense to prevail (not holding breath)

[kaimendhibs]

I hate Celtic and their glory hunting fans. Self entitled ********s. Sums it up when you lose to them in a final and are passing them on the street after.
The amount who dont even stay to watch the cup being presented is staggering.
Add to that I just heard the East end of the stadium being referred to as the traditional celtc end on the news.
Add in the SPFL cowards and it makes me sick.

[Broken Gnome]

If there had been the will to do it, as much as it would p!ss people off, they could have sold us North Stand tickets which had the caveat that they would be moved to the North-west corner had we struggled to sell our allocation.

The absolute main thing now, bar kicking up a fuss, is selling what we have ASAP.

[Stonewall]

The ticket allocation is just downright wrong.

However. If we had the same demand for semi final tickets it would not have been an issue and it would have been a 50/50 split.

Wrong.

[Since452]

If I was Jack Ross I'd be using this to motivate the players. Build a siege mentality, nobody wants us winning this etc.

[MWHIBBIES]

Wrong.

Its not wrong. If we'd sold 20k for the semi, we'd get 50% for the final.

[tamig]

Only if it’s 1 ticket a head - if it’s 2 per ST (as I’ve been told by an AST holder) then not all ST holders are guaranteed a ticket.

Can you honestly see that being the case? If our ST base is more than 50% of our allocation, there’s no way the club will allow more than one per ST - meaning some ST holders could miss out.

[Pagan Hibernia]

I hate Celtic and their glory hunting fans. Self entitled ********s. Sums it up when you lose to them in a final and are passing them on the street after.
The amount who dont even stay to watch the cup being presented is staggering.
Add to that I just heard the East end of the stadium being referred to as the traditional celtc end on the news.
Add in the SPFL cowards and it makes me sick.

:agree:

ive been told several times today by them that Hibs fans are gloryhunters :greengrin.

in that case we must be as bad at gloryhunting as our team are at winning trophies.

horrible, rancid, pish-spouting (and pish stained) ********s

[Chorley Hibee]

Its not wrong. If we'd sold 20k for the semi, we'd get 50% for the final.

We never sold 20,000 for the semi in 2013, or 2016 for that matter.

On both occasions we still received 50% for the final.

As mentioned above, this will now be the standard allocation, probably even decreasing over time.

Shafted once again.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Can you honestly see that being the case? If our ST base is more than 50% of our allocation, there’s no way the club will allow more than one per ST - meaning some ST holders could miss out.

It wouldn’t make sense but it’s what I’ve been told after a mate who had an AST was allocated 2.

[MWHIBBIES]

We never sold 20,000 for the semi in 2013, or 2016 for that matter.

On both occasions we still received 50% for the final.

As mentioned above, this will now be the standard allocation, probably even decreasing over time.

Shafted once again.

I know. I understand all of this. We should not be getting less than 50%. The point is, by selling 10k 3 times in a row, we've made it easy for them.


I agree, this is the way they want to go. I can see it being standard from now on too. Its ****ing shameful.

[Billy Whizz]

It wouldn’t make sense but it’s what I’ve been told after a mate who had an AST was allocated 2.

Think he’s at it, all the AST fans got an email today, saying they could only get one ticket per AST

[Danderhall Hibs]

Think he’s at it, all the AST fans got an email today, saying they could only get one ticket per AST

He might be trying to get me back from a wind up at the last cup final but seems a boring way to do it.

[Billy Whizz]

He might be trying to get me back from a wind up at the last cup final but seems a boring way to do it.

Think he is, get him back on something else😀

[Baldy Foghorn]

It wouldn’t make sense but it’s what I’ve been told after a mate who had an AST was allocated 2.

It's not true - AST get 1 ticket, as they should. Not sure how anyone could want 2? If they want to sit with friends / family they have to come out of the scheme for this game.

[tamig]

It wouldn’t make sense but it’s what I’ve been told after a mate who had an AST was allocated 2.

I think your pal is telling porkies.

[AliboyFC]

If we sell our allocation will we be entitled to more tickets? Idk why they couldn't just give us half the stadium ffs. Spfl is an absolute joke.

[Danderhall Hibs]

I think your pal is telling porkies.

Yeah it wouldn’t make sense but we’ll see when they confirm.

Worst wind up ever if it’s not the case.

[kaimendhibs]

It wouldn’t make sense but it’s what I’ve been told after a mate who had an AST was allocated 2.

Nope. I had to opt out of it for the final to sit with my mate/s

[Jay]

What I meant was friends/family of existing season tickets holders, and AST being able to sit together. We are taking about a few people here
It’s a pain in the ass of a scheme, for club and fans, costs the fans money on the odd occasion if you are ill and can’t go

You can do that though. Just opt out of the scheme and buy tickets with your ST holding friends and family like the rest of us. Your still guaranteed a ticket

[Leith's finest]

It won't affect myself, but I hope that people who left the £89 the season covid kicked in will get a chance for tickets. At the time L.Dempster said they would be looked after

[Billy Whizz]

You can do that though. Just opt out of the scheme and buy tickets with your ST holding friends and family like the rest of us. Your still guaranteed a ticket

That’s what we’ve done

[Jay]

That’s what we’ve done

Brilliant :aok: I hope you enjoy the day with your family instead of the grumpy AST holders :greengrin

[cabbageandribs1875]

West--13,000
East--12,800
North--9,100
South--17,000

so we must be getting just 4,500 for the South to start with


if we possibly get more it's either in the North or South, possibly part of both stands maybe ?are sellick definitely starting to sell C1-C5 first in the North stand, we've saw segregation in the North for other games

[BoomtownHibees]

West--13,000
East--12,800
North--9,100
South--17,000

so we must be getting just 4,500 for the South to start with


if we possibly get more it's either in the North or South, possibly part of both stands maybe ?are sellick definitely starting to sell C1-C5 first in the North stand, we've saw segregation in the North for other games

We won’t get any of the North. It can only be segregated in the middle or at either end

[cabbageandribs1875]

We won’t get any of the North. It can only be segregated in the middle or at either end



it's probably already been discussed i guess, it's probably for the cameras as well and any more tickets we get will therefore be in the South then

[HNA11]

This is a sensitive subject.

Can we please refrain from posting inflammatory misinformation regarding ticketing. By all means debate the subject at hand but at a time when a lot of people will be concerned about the arrangements please think twice before posting.

[flash]

West--13,000
East--12,800
North--9,100
South--17,000

so we must be getting just 4,500 for the South to start with


if we possibly get more it's either in the North or South, possibly part of both stands maybe ?are sellick definitely starting to sell C1-C5 first in the North stand, we've saw segregation in the North for other games

If both clubs get 4500 in the South that leaves 8000 for all the sponsors, hospitality, other clubs etc.
We ain't getting anymore in my opinion.

[The Pointer]

I have also written to Hibs on this iniquitous topic and will let you know if I receive a reply.

It makes me so angry but does not in the least bit surprise me. Who would just think that there would be any other way than a 50/50 split?

[cabbageandribs1875]

If both clubs get 4500 in the South that leaves 8000 for all the sponsors, hospitality, other clubs etc.
We ain't getting anymore in my opinion.


be interesting to know how many have a Debenture or whatever they're called, i think it's a cert it will mostly be old firms that have them as they're both there so often, which probably explains why their were sevco fans above hibs fans in the south, the SFA have no way of knowing which team a debenture holder supports, no sure how they things work, you may be right re 17.5k being enough but i think we will need more, tough one for families though a week before santa comes we may end up returning some of the 17.5k :greengrin

[Renfrew_Hibby]

If both clubs get 4500 in the South that leaves 8000 for all the sponsors, hospitality, other clubs etc.
We ain't getting anymore in my opinion.

You can bet your bottom dollar that Celtic fans will get their mits on at least 5,000 of those 8,000. It'll be a reversal of the 2007 final where we had 30,000 and Killie got 18,000 and that left about 3,000 League officials, sponsors ect. Plus around 1,000 unused for segregation.

[Danderhall Hibs]

This is a sensitive subject.

Can we please refrain from posting inflammatory misinformation regarding ticketing. By all means debate the subject at hand but at a time when a lot of people will be concerned about the arrangements please think twice before posting.

Yeah sorry - to clarify he didn’t get 2 tickets through the AST. He managed to move from the allocated seat though and was told it would be 2 per head.

[Lancs Harp]

Regardless, Celtic be prepared to be totally outsung :wink: and btw we're taking the cup back to Edinburgh.:thumbsup:

[greenlex]

You can bet your bottom dollar that Celtic fans will get their mits on at least 5,000 of those 8,000. It'll be a reversal of the 2007 final where we had 30,000 and Killie got 18,000 and that left about 3,000 League officials, sponsors ect. Plus around 1,000 unused for segregation.
Guaranteed this is the case. I know quite a few old firm fans who have debentures. It’s the only way they could guarantee a cup final ticket.

[JeMeSouviens]

be interesting to know how many have a Debenture or whatever they're called, i think it's a cert it will mostly be old firms that have them as they're both there so often, which probably explains why their were sevco fans above hibs fans in the south, the SFA have no way of knowing which team a debenture holder supports, no sure how they things work, you may be right re 17.5k being enough but i think we will need more, tough one for families though a week before santa comes we may end up returning some of the 17.5k :greengrin

Debenture holders get the chance of a seat in a particular category but not a specific seat. They get asked which team they want it for and the segregation gets adjusted accordingly. There are 4000 odd of them.

[90274]

Just had the template email response from Doncaster telling me that Hibs took 37k in a crowd if 45k v Livingston for a League Cup Final. What a shambles the SPFL are.

[brianmc]

Just had the template email response from Doncaster telling me that Hibs took 45k v Livingston for a League Cup Final. What a shambles the SPFL are.

The attendance that day (according to Wikipedia) was 45500.
Somebody cannae count.

[Hibernia&Alba]

I shall try to be objective and see it from the point of view of the Old Firm. They have several times the number of season ticket holders than all other clubs; thus, for a game at Hampden a fifty-fifty split means some of their ST holders miss out, whilst an occasional match-going fan of their opponent gets a ticket. Is that fair? No.

On the other side of the coin, a final at the national stadium is meant to be a neutral venue, not like a home game for the Old Firm, and the policy has always been a fifty-fifty split, with more tickets going to one club when the other can't sell their allocation. This is a fundamental aspect of a cup final and has always worked well, so why has it been changed??

Give us half the tickets initially. Then, if we don't sell them all, allow Celtic to have the remainder. This has always worked. Are we know always going to have cup final crowds dominated by the Old Firm?

[hibbysam]

If this is the concern, they could have done:

Hibs: 100% of North plus section B in West = approx. 15K tickets + option of selling in A = approx 21K tickets
Celtc: 100% East plus non-hosp/deb South = approx. 21K tickets

That way, both clubs get equal access to "good" seats as well.

Or they could’ve just held onto half the north (my least favoured option but if needs must for fairness) and once we sell behind the goals out we get that 50%, if we don’t then it gets handed over. It’s 4 weeks until the game, two weeks to sell them, if not celtic get them. I’d take 1/10 of his salary to make that decision.

[Liberal Hibby]

The Hibs v Kilmarnock final attendance in 2007 has not been bettered by any other final tie since - including every Celtc/Sevco final. It's 3,000 higher than the Killie v Celtic final in 2012.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scottish_League_Cup_finals

[O'Rourke3]

I shall try to be objective and see it from the point of view of the Old Firm. They have several times the number of season ticket holders than all other clubs; thus, for a game at Hampden a fifty-fifty split means some of their ST holders miss out, whilst an occasional match-going fan of their opponent gets a ticket. Is that fair? No.

On the other side of the coin, a final at the national stadium is meant to be a neutral venue, not like a home game for the Old Firm, and the policy has always been a fifty-fifty split, with more tickets going to one club when the other can't sell their allocation. This is a fundamental aspect of a cup final and has always worked well, so why has it been changed??

Give us half the tickets initially. Then, if we don't sell them all, allow Celtic to have the remainder. This has always worked. Are we know always going to have cup final crowds dominated by the Old Firm?Season tickets benefit the home club no-one else. It cannot be a measure for deciding allocation for a cup final. When 60 000 Celtic fans sell out Easter Road, Tynecastle, Pittodrie, Tannadice and Dens etc because there are no home fans, they can make the claim but the vast majority only go to home games. Ironically the ones that get away tickets are most likely to get bumped.

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[Sir David Gray]

I shall try to be objective and see it from the point of view of the Old Firm. They have several times the number of season ticket holders than all other clubs; thus, for a game at Hampden a fifty-fifty split means some of their ST holders miss out, whilst an occasional match-going fan of their opponent gets a ticket. Is that fair? No.

On the other side of the coin, a final at the national stadium is meant to be a neutral venue, not like a home game for the Old Firm, and the policy has always been a fifty-fifty split, with more tickets going to one club when the other can't sell their allocation. This is a fundamental aspect of a cup final and has always worked well, so why has it been changed??

Give us half the tickets initially. Then, if we don't sell them all, allow Celtic to have the remainder. This has always worked. Are we know always going to have cup final crowds dominated by the Old Firm?

I know you're playing devil's advocate but I don't think that is particularly unfair. Celtic and Rangers season ticket holders buy their season tickets to guarantee entry into Parkhead or Ibrox for every home league game that season - nothing else. They're not paying for entry into cup finals, European games or any away games as a result of buying a season ticket. All they're doing is giving themselves priority over a non-season ticket holder for such games.

Basically every club in the world with 40,000+ season ticket holders will face the same dilemma.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Season tickets benefit the home club no-one else. It cannot be a measure for deciding allocation for a cup final. When 60 000 Celtic fans sell out Easter Road, Tynecastle, Pittodrie, Tannadice and Dens etc because there are no home fans, they can make the claim but the vast majority only go to home games. Ironically the ones that get away tickets are most likely to get bumped.

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk


I know you're playing devil's advocate but I don't think that is particularly unfair. Celtic and Rangers season ticket holders buy their season tickets to guarantee entry into Parkhead or Ibrox for every home league game that season - nothing else. They're not paying for entry into cup finals, European games or any away games as a result of buying a season ticket. All they're doing is giving themselves priority over a non-season ticket holder for such games.

Basically every club in the world with 40,000+ season ticket holders will face the same dilemma.

I agree with you both. Just making a point in mitigation of the bigger clubs when it comes to cup finals. Point is there is no pleasing everybody in these games; however, it should initially be a fifty-fifty split. I don't understand why it's suddenly been changed. Cup finals are not home games for the Old Firm.

[Real Emerald]

The late STV news tonight was an absolute disgrace. They basically peddled Celtic bigger club argument and interviewed 3 Celtic fans for their anti Hibs argument with no Hibs fans views. I was xxxxxxx raging watching it but says everything about the Scottish football media. Disgraceful

[Pagan Hibernia]

I agree with you both. Just making a point in mitigation of the bigger clubs when it comes to cup finals. Point is there is no pleasing everybody in these games; however, it should initially be a fifty-fifty split. I don't understand why it's suddenly been changed. Cup finals are not home games for the Old Firm.

they are now. You can guarantee we’ve now seen the last of 50/50 allocations for league cup finals unless the cheeks are playing each other of course.

Scottish Cup Finals may keep the 50/50 split for a while longer but the ugly sisters are certain to be putting the pressure on there too.

[007]

Celtic get to finals and win cups all the time, they don't need extra help. Their fans that miss out this time will have had and will get plenty of opportunities to see their team in cup finals. A League Cup win for them is meaningless. For teams like us, Aberdeen and Hearts plus others that can sell 50%, we don't get the opportunity to see our teams winning a cup nearly as much and when we do, it is a lot more special. I bet if you asked Celtic fans if they'd rather win the league cup next month or the next Glasgow derby, most of them would pick the derby.

[DH1875]

I know you're playing devil's advocate but I don't think that is particularly unfair. Celtic and Rangers season ticket holders buy their season tickets to guarantee entry into Parkhead or Ibrox for every home league game that season - nothing else. They're not paying for entry into cup finals, European games or any away games as a result of buying a season ticket. All they're doing is giving themselves priority over a non-season ticket holder for such games.

Basically every club in the world with 40,000+ season ticket holders will face the same dilemma.

And yet we've got season ticket holders who think they should get 2 tickets for the cup final.

[Not In The Know]

Hibs clearly made a massive error not negotiating a 50/50 split. They should never have left the meeting agreeing to the current split. Even if they had left the meeting without an agreement and slipped a word to the press. Pressure would have built and the spfl would have had no option but to agree.

I wonder if our new board room team spinet we’d be able to sell out half?

[green day]

Hibs clearly made a massive error not negotiating a 50/50 split. They should never have left the meeting agreeing to the current split. Even if they had left the meeting without an agreement and slipped a word to the press. Pressure would have built and the spfl would have had no option but to agree.

I wonder if our new board room team spinet we’d be able to sell out half?

None of that makes sense except your user name..................

[Libby Hibby]

Who are the ones really upset with the split? Day trippers? AST’s and STs will all get a ticket and a 7k public sale is decent. I genuinely think with the pricing and the proximity to Christmas that it will be a good effort to sell 17.5k…just my opinion.

[Broken Gnome]

Who are the ones really upset with the split? Day trippers? AST’s and STs will all get a ticket and a 7k public sale is decent. I genuinely think with the pricing and the proximity to Christmas that it will be a good effort to sell 17.5k…just my opinion.

No doubt people will say that we could easily half fill Hampden no matter what for a final, but I'm slightly sympathetic to this.

The Livi/Ross County/Kilmarnock finals all had allocations above and beyond what I'd expected so we do tend to pleasantly surprise. We may well have sold 21k or upwards, but can't help but think the price and timing, allied to the recent Celtic game at ER, might have made it a bit more of a challenge than usual to sell half the stadium.

Still think we would have done, and certainly have been given the chance, but could conceivably have been a slower process than in other years.

[Sir David Gray]

Who are the ones really upset with the split? Day trippers? AST’s and STs will all get a ticket and a 7k public sale is decent. I genuinely think with the pricing and the proximity to Christmas that it will be a good effort to sell 17.5k…just my opinion.

That's a very dangerous argument and will only lead to more and more tickets being handed to Rangers and Celtic for future games at Hampden.

[Moulin Yarns]

Hibs clearly made a massive error not negotiating a 50/50 split. They should never have left the meeting agreeing to the current split. Even if they had left the meeting without an agreement and slipped a word to the press. Pressure would have built and the spfl would have had no option but to agree.

I wonder if our new board room team spinet we’d be able to sell out half?

At least you admit to not being in the know.

Hibs most definitely asked for an equal amount of tickets in the knowledge that they would be sold.

[gbhibby]

No doubt people will say that we could easily half fill Hampden no matter what for a final, but I'm slightly sympathetic to this.

The Livi/Ross County/Kilmarnock finals all had allocations above and beyond what I'd expected so we do tend to pleasantly surprise. We may well have sold 21k or upwards, but can't help but think the price and timing, allied to the recent Celtic game at ER, might have made it a bit more of a challenge than usual to sell half the stadium.

Still think we would have done, and certainly have been given the chance, but could conceivably have been a slower process than in other years.
Recent Celtic game should have absolutely nothing to do with the decision to buy a ticket. On that logic we should have sold a lot less than we did for the The Rangers game.

[weecounty hibby]

Who are the ones really upset with the split? Day trippers? AST’s and STs will all get a ticket and a 7k public sale is decent. I genuinely think with the pricing and the proximity to Christmas that it will be a good effort to sell 17.5k…just my opinion.
Why not just say its ST holders only. Seems an easy solution, 11000 tickets to Hibs the rest to celtic. Job done, easy peasy. No arguments, no hassle with public sales. In fact why not give Hibs 50% of their ST numbers and do a ballot, that way even more OF fans cam attend.
I hope you pick up on my sarcasm

[Jones28]

Who are the ones really upset with the split? Day trippers? AST’s and STs will all get a ticket and a 7k public sale is decent. I genuinely think with the pricing and the proximity to Christmas that it will be a good effort to sell 17.5k…just my opinion.

Personally I think we could sell 30K for a cup final regardless of timings. Pricing is a bit different. This will be the most I've ever paid for a football game.

[Broken Gnome]

Recent Celtic game should have absolutely nothing to do with the decision to buy a ticket. On that logic we should have sold a lot less than we did for the The Rangers game.

We did quite well against Rangers recently and have a great record against them at Hampden, not quite sure how that works? 9k thinking we have a shot at Rangers is different to 21k thinking we can take Celtic, final or no final.

The other week folk were leaving after half an hour against Celtic - if you add that to ticket price and time of year then it's going to put a doubt in some peoples' minds.

[Crunchie]

Celtic get to finals and win cups all the time, they don't need extra help. Their fans that miss out this time will have had and will get plenty of opportunities to see their team in cup finals. A League Cup win for them is meaningless. For teams like us, Aberdeen and Hearts plus others that can sell 50%, we don't get the opportunity to see our teams winning a cup nearly as much and when we do, it is a lot more special. I bet if you asked Celtic fans if they'd rather win the league cup next month or the next Glasgow derby, most of them would pick the derby.

So meaningless they wanted it scrapped altogether as it got in the way of their european ambitions. There is absolutely no argument against both teams getting a 50/50 split and in the unlikely event we don't sell our allocation they give them what's left.

[gbhibby]

We did quite well against Rangers recently and have a great record against them at Hampden, not quite sure how that works? 9k thinking we have a shot at Rangers is different to 21k thinking we can take Celtic, final or no final.

The other week folk were leaving after half an hour against Celtic - if you add that to ticket price and time of year then it's going to put a doubt in some peoples' minds.
You support your team through thick and thin we have much better results against Celtic recently than Rangers. Our 2nd half performance against Celtic was very good.

[HH81]

That's a very dangerous argument and will only lead to more and more tickets being handed to Rangers and Celtic for future games at Hampden.

Correct.

If we accept this a smaller allocation will be the norm in the future including the Scottish Cup final.

[Pagan Hibernia]

That's a very dangerous argument and will only lead to more and more tickets being handed to Rangers and Celtic for future games at Hampden.

this.

this is just the beginning. Soon it will be 15k given to non old firm clubs, then eventually 10k.

there’s no way back to 50/50 now that the precedent has been set.

there’s a fair bit of sympathy for us on social media and also a quite outrageous amount of entitled pish being spoken by Celtic fans. To absolutely nobody’s surprise :rolleyes:

[GreenCastle]

Correct.

If we accept this a smaller allocation will be the norm in the future including the Scottish Cup final.

Aberdeen / Hearts / Dundee Utd / Kilmarnock etc should be backing us here - it will affect them in future LC games if this is now accepted.

Hearts don't win the league cup so maybe take them out the mix. :greengrin

[BoomtownHibees]

Personally I think we could sell 30K for a cup final regardless of timings. Pricing is a bit different. This will be the most I've ever paid for a football game.

Pricing is an issue. I’m sure I read that prices were frozen from 2019, being made out to be a good thing, however I think that was an Old Firm game which always tends to be more expensive anyway.

Going back to when we played Ross County in 2016, the tickets were priced at £25 for an adult and £10 for under-16s

[hibee-boys]

Who are the ones really upset with the split? Day trippers? AST’s and STs will all get a ticket and a 7k public sale is decent. I genuinely think with the pricing and the proximity to Christmas that it will be a good effort to sell 17.5k…just my opinion.

Not a popular opinion but I agree. The timing of the game, league cup not Scottish cup, playing Celtic…..cost of the tickets for a family.

[BoomtownHibees]

Aberdeen / Hearts / Dundee Utd / Kilmarnock etc should be backing us here - it will affect them in future LC games if this is now accepted.

Hearts don't win the league cup so maybe take them out the mix. :greengrin

Aberdeen got a reduced allocation in 2018 when they played Celtic, 20k I think I saw somewhere so it looks as if it’s something which has been coming and has the potential to get even worse

[Jones28]

Pricing is an issue. I’m sure I read that prices were frozen from 2019, being made out to be a good thing, however I think that was an Old Firm game which always tends to be more expensive anyway.

Going back to when we played Ross County in 2016, the tickets were priced at £25 for an adult and £10 for under-16s


It's very disingenuous of them to say they've "frozen" prices when it was an old firm game and last year nobody could attend.

[gbhibby]

Aberdeen / Hearts / Dundee Utd / Kilmarnock etc should be backing us here - it will affect them in future LC games if this is now accepted.

Hearts don't win the league cup so maybe take them out the mix. :greengrin
If we tolerate this then your club will be next.

[Renfrew_Hibby]

I don't know if it's already been discussed but why are we assuming there will be a full uptake from season ticket holders?

This season has seen maybe at least 1 in 3 not attend matches not just at Hibs but Aberdeen acknowledged this when they said there was no need for vaccine passport checks at Pittodrie for games versus us and Hearts.

We know that a significant minority of the population is still very cautious and reluctant to mix in large crowds. Will this group within our own support suddenly all just drop their concerns and get a ticket?

[seanshow]

My complaint is from a slightly different angle,( a view of the pitch angle)
If the allocation was being reduced I would have liked the club to demanded all of the south or all of the north stands,
because apart from perhaps One section our allocation view wise is now utter ertha kit.
Not impressed at all.

[hibbysam]

And yet we've got season ticket holders who think they should get 2 tickets for the cup final.

I know it’s different but season ticket holders could buy 20 in the semi final. I don’t think it’s such a long shot where the club may say 2 per season ticket for the final - knowing there will be a few who don’t/can’t go.

[Hiber-nation]

I know it’s different but season ticket holders could buy 20 in the semi final. I don’t think it’s such a long shot where the club may say 2 per season ticket for the final - knowing there will be a few who don’t/can’t go.

I agree. 2 per ST subject to availability. Might not have happened under the old regime but who knows now.

[patlowe]

All this stuff about attendances at the semi or ST holders at Celtic meaning a certain number of fans deserve to be at a final is just bizarre - let's not pretend the SPFL have ever been motivated by some sense of fairness or justice in their consideration of anything. It seems absolutely clear to me that the predominant concern for staging a neutral final should be starting from a position of neutrality. If we are going to pull in random metrics to justify who deserves what, then Celtic fans see their team in finals every single year so let's use that logic to inform "our own independent judgement" to "determine the fairest outcome" and say surely WE should get more tickets. It doesn't stack up and it's so disingenuous to suggest this is about fairness or logic - it's Old Firm entitlement and the SPFL seeing an opportunity to indulge it.

[DH1875]

I know it’s different but season ticket holders could buy 20 in the semi final. I don’t think it’s such a long shot where the club may say 2 per season ticket for the final - knowing there will be a few who don’t/can’t go.

Semi finals don't come into out though.

[Hibs07p]

Craigan and Hartson disagree over ticket allocation. Go to 1 hour 25mins.

https://player.fm/series/the-go-radio-football-show-podcast/the-go-radio-football-show-23rd-november-hartson-and-craigan-clash-over-fan-allocations

GGTTH
Scottish Cup Winners 2016

[Callum_62]

Not a popular opinion but I agree. The timing of the game, league cup not Scottish cup, playing Celtic…..cost of the tickets for a family.That's all plausible

Doenst mean we shouldn't be starting on a 50/50 split though

That's the issue for me

A club that historically has sold over and above 50 percent is being hindered from the start to accommodate another club

We might end up only selling 17k but we should have been given the appropriate chance to sell whatever half the allocation is


Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[PatHead]

I am not sure that the problem lies with Doncaster. As has been pointed out over the years he is only an administrator though his opinion will be taken into account when the board members are making decisions.

The current board comprises of Neil Doncaster (CEO), Murdoch MacLennan (Chairman), Karyn McCluskey (non-executive), Ron Gordon (Hibernian), James MacDonald (Ross County), Stewart Robertson (Rangers), Les Gray (Hamilton Academical), Ross McArthur (Dunfermline Athletic), Alastair Donald (Forfar Athletic) and Paul Hetherington (Airdrieonians).

None of these clubs other than Hibs and The Rangers, even Dunfermline, would not have filled half the stadium. Therefore none of them stand to lose out on tickets in the event of their club making the final and The Rangers stand to benefit. They just want as much money as possible for their clubs and see a guaranteed Celtic crowd as the way to achieve that. Combine this with Hibs being one of the clubs driving for change in Scottish football and we won't have many friends round that table. Any changes will not be for their benefit as they will have less say and any extra money raised will be primarily for Hibs, Aberdeen, etc. will mean less for them. They might see this as a chance to give us a bloody nose.

It would make sense to be emailing the members of that committee rather than Doncaster. Remind them of the increase in weekly attendances we have had since our cup final win. Mention things such as



a regular source of money for their clubs.
Sporting integrity (though I doubt half of these 50 + something, white, male "representatives" have any). Notice, none of these changes occurred while Ann Budge or Leeann were on the board providing a more balanced representation of football fans.


These committee men's main driver is the survival of their clubs not the growth of the game in Scotland. They have acted in the interest of their (and similar) clubs, not Scottish football as the whole.

[ronaldo7]

That's all plausible

Doenst mean we shouldn't be starting on a 50/50 split though

That's the issue for me

A club that historically has sold over and above 50 percent is being hindered from the start to accommodate another club

We might end up only selling 17k but we should have been given the appropriate change to sell whatever half the allocation is


Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

Correct. Sporting Integrity and the SPFL don't mix though.

[Sir David Gray]

Correct.

If we accept this a smaller allocation will be the norm in the future including the Scottish Cup final.

:agree: The default position for a cup final must be a 50/50 split unless one team either demonstrates that they can't sell that amount or even requests a lower amount from the outset.

[90274]

Craigan and Hartson disagree over ticket allocation. Go to 1 hour 25mins.

https://player.fm/series/the-go-radio-football-show-podcast/the-go-radio-football-show-23rd-november-hartson-and-craigan-clash-over-fan-allocations

GGTTH
Scottish Cup Winners 2016

What was said?

[patlowe]

Craigan and Hartson disagree over ticket allocation. Go to 1 hour 25mins.

https://player.fm/series/the-go-radio-football-show-podcast/the-go-radio-football-show-23rd-november-hartson-and-craigan-clash-over-fan-allocations



Fair play to Hartson - he's never shy of extreme bias in his punditry so it's notable he is backing us on this.

[patlowe]

What was said?

Craigan peddles the "Hibs only get X at home games" line and Hartson says it's a cup final and one team shouldn't be disadvantaged - also says this wouldn't happen in any other country.

[Ozyhibby]

Are those who bought the recent 8 and 5 game ticket packages likely to be given some priority?


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[Hibs07p]

What was said?

Click the link, open the player and go to 1 hour 25.

But if you can’t be bothered, Craigan thinks it’s fair, Hartson thinks its unfair.

GGTTH
Scottish Cup Winners 2016

[Bostonhibby]

Craigan peddles the "Hibs only get X at home games" line and Hartson says it's a cup final and one team shouldn't be disadvantaged - also says this wouldn't happen in any other country.So next time sevco and the lesser greens play in a hampden final Craigan will be right behind sevco getting less tickets?

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[Hermit Crab]

Are those who bought the recent 8 and 5 game ticket packages likely to be given some priority?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Thats a good point but given the limited timeframe we've got to sell tickets and then get them posted out (in the xmas post as well) I'd say selling them in many stages will not be possible.

[Onion]

All this stuff about attendances at the semi or ST holders at Celtic meaning a certain number of fans deserve to be at a final is just bizarre - let's not pretend the SPFL have ever been motivated by some sense of fairness or justice in their consideration of anything. It seems absolutely clear to me that the predominant concern for staging a neutral final should be starting from a position of neutrality. If we are going to pull in random metrics to justify who deserves what, then Celtic fans see their team in finals every single year so let's use that logic to inform "our own independent judgement" to "determine the fairest outcome" and say surely WE should get more tickets. It doesn't stack up and it's so disingenuous to suggest this is about fairness or logic - it's Old Firm entitlement and the SPFL seeing an opportunity to indulge it.

Great post.

The logic used and precedent being set by the SPFL also means that - if Celtic or The Rangers are in the LC Final - no opponent will ever get 50% of LC final tickets again. Hibs, Hearts, Aerdeen etc will never match Celtic or The Rangers attendance at a LC semifinal at Hamdump. It's a stupid nonsensical decision that needs reversed.

[JeMeSouviens]

Or they could’ve just held onto half the north (my least favoured option but if needs must for fairness) and once we sell behind the goals out we get that 50%, if we don’t then it gets handed over. It’s 4 weeks until the game, two weeks to sell them, if not celtic get them. I’d take 1/10 of his salary to make that decision.

The problem with that is that we'd be selling the N stand tickets last. So our ST holders would (rightly) be up in arms about the Johnny-come-latelys getting the best seats.

[GRA]

Attendances in semi finals or home games are irrelevant. If Hibs could sell half the tickets, and everyone knows Hibs would sell out their allocation based on previous cup final attendances, then they should be offered half the tickets. End of discussion.

Suddenly using previous attendances as an argument when deciding to cut the tickets removes any sense of neutrality the SPFL have had and sets a precedent for future cup finals. If we meekly accept this, then if Aberdeen (as they did in 2018) or Hearts play against either of the Old Firm in future cup finals then they can expect the same treatment.

Pandering to the Old Firm yet again. No wonder attendances are poor throughout the country when our authorities take any opportunity they can to disadvantage the smaller clubs.

[Moulin Yarns]

I have sent the following to all my MSPs and the Sports Minister in the hope it will be raised in Parliament.

I am writing to you as my local MSP.

If you have been reading the sports pages this week you will probably be aware that there is some concern being voiced by Hibernian Football Club and its supporters about the decision by the Scottish Professional Footbal League (SPFL) to allocate more tickets to Celtic supporters for the forthcoming Premier Sports League Cup Final at Hampden Park in Glasgow. In all previous cup finals, both League Cup and Scottish Cup it has been the case that the officials from the SPFL and the clubs involved agree on the allocations, some clubs with smaller fanbase will accept a smaller allocation but in all recent finals the Hibernian has been invloved in they have alwas taken at least 50% of the available tickets.

The SPFL cite the larger number of season ticket holders that Celtic have as the rationale, however that being the case will they give Rangers a lower allocation the next time the play Celtic in a League Cup Final as they have around 8,000 less season ticket holders than Celtic.

I realise this may not be important in the grand scheme of things but in the terms of fairness and sporting integrity I think it is something that needs to be addressed as I see this as the thin end of the wedge that will allow the SPFL to reduce the allocations for all Scottish football clubs with the exception of Celtic and Rangers.

Many thanks for your attention.



First reply.


I will have a look at this as not sure there is much I can do as a politician but I will check.

I agree with the point re season tickets as your season ticket is only for the home league games. I should say I have a season ticket for Kelty Hearts and even at home cup games we have to pay and one of my sisters has one for Celtic and the same rules apply.

[Onion]

:agree: The default position for a cup final must be a 50/50 split unless one team either demonstrates that they can't sell that amount or even requests a lower amount from the outset.

Of course it should be. This is a shocking precedent being set by the SPFL that has implications for Hearts, Aberdeen and every other team that could sell out 50% of Hampden in a LC Final. This needs reversed and the SPFL forced to apologise for this brain-fart.

[CropleyWasGod]

Not sure if this has been suggested.

Are the club selling 2 per ST (as is rumoured), in the sure knowledge that our allocation will sell out very quickly? That way, to put pressure on the SPFL to give us more?

[Jones28]

Not sure if this has been suggested.

Are the club selling 2 per ST (as is rumoured), in the sure knowledge that our allocation will sell out very quickly? That way, to put pressure on the SPFL to give us more?

That the only way I could think the club would sell the tickets in this way.

[PatHead]

Of course it should be. This is a shocking precedent being set by the SPFL that has implications for Hearts, Aberdeen and every other team that could sell out 50% of Hampden in a LC Final. This needs reversed and the SPFL forced to apologise for this brain-fart.

It is not correct that the two Glasgow bullies get most of the tickets. Think the problem is that it only affects us, Hearts and Aberdeen. The other clubs aren't affected as they will never fill half the ground.

Wonder how it will look on the TV cameras when Hibs get presented with the trophy with the bulk of the stadium away home in the huff?

[Ozyhibby]

Thats a good point but given the limited timeframe we've got to sell tickets and then get them posted out (in the xmas post as well) I'd say selling them in many stages will not be possible.

Maybe just put them in with the season ticket holders? There is enough for one each anyway?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Onion]

:agree: The default position for a cup final must be a 50/50 split unless one team either demonstrates that they can't sell that amount or even requests a lower amount from the outset.

Of course it should be. This is a shocking precedent being set by the SPFL that has implications for Hearts, Aberdeen and every other team that could sell out 50% of Hampden in a LC Final. This needs reversed and the SPFL forced to apologise for this brain-fart.

[PatHead]

Not sure if this has been suggested.

Are the club selling 2 per ST (as is rumoured), in the sure knowledge that our allocation will sell out very quickly? That way, to put pressure on the SPFL to give us more?

Wouldn't build your hopes up I think the only extra allocation we are likely to get is a few hundred debenture holders. They have made it clear that the North cannot be subdivided except 50/50 and they will have offered some of the "Hibs" end to Celtic supporters by then.

Can't see it being 2 per season ticket holder. Some season ticket holders would miss out if that was the case.

[hibbysam]

The problem with that is that we'd be selling the N stand tickets last. So our ST holders would (rightly) be up in arms about the Johnny-come-latelys getting the best seats.

I agree, hence why i said it’s my least favourite option. For me we guarantee we cover the cost of all tickets - sell from front to back, thus ensures revenue isn’t an option and it doesn’t look back for the sponsors. We’d sell them all anyway, but just gives assurances!!

[Hermit Crab]

AST money deducted now.

[Moulin Yarns]

Wouldn't build your hopes up I think the only extra allocation we are likely to get is a few hundred debenture holders. They have made it clear that the North cannot be subdivided except 50/50 and they will have offered some of the "Hibs" end to Celtic supporters by then.

Can't see it being 2 per season ticket holder. Some season ticket holders would miss out if that was the case.

How much of the west did we have on Sunday, was it only half and was there a barrier between the opposing fans?

The 50/50 split in the north involves a handrail and double width stairway and not a lot else. I think the "only way to split the north" that is being spouted by Doncaster is rubbish, it might be easier, but not the only way to split the ground.

[JeMeSouviens]

How much of the west did we have on Sunday, was it only half and was there a barrier between the opposing fans?

The 50/50 split in the north involves a handrail and double width stairway and not a lot else. I think the "only way to split the north" that is being spouted by Doncaster is rubbish, it might be easier, but not the only way to split the ground.

None at all :wink:

We did have half the east though - I think they left the whole of F7 empty as segregation.

[Moulin Yarns]

None at all :wink:

We did have half the east though - I think they left the whole of F7 empty as segregation.

:greengrin Don't know if I'm coming or going.

So, as I was thinking, segregation can happen almost anywhere in the ground. The north stand doesn't even need to be 50/50

[Pretty Boy]

Selling 2 per ST holder without a guarantee of additional tickets would be a huge gamble by Hibs.

That leaves open the very real possibility that in a ticket scramble a ST holder could miss out whilst a non ST holder gets a ticket courtesy of a mate or family member.

I just can't see the club going down that route without cast iron guarnatees in place.

[PatHead]

None at all :wink:

We did have half the east though - I think they left the whole of F7 empty as segregation.

Is that the Celtic end? :devil:

[greenlex]

Is that the Celtic end? :devil:

🤬 The SDG end

[Since452]

If Man United were playing Brentford in a cup final i'd expect them to have an equal share of tickets. Utterly bizarre that it is different in Scotland and utterly bizarre that fans of Rantic are pushing the semi final thing. Obviously teams from outside Glasgow are going to bring a lot more to a final than a semi. You'd have to be thick not to realise that.

[HH81]

Are those who bought the recent 8 and 5 game ticket packages likely to be given some priority?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I raised this at the semi final stage by saying I felt if Hibs got to the final these should priority before general sale.

Hope they listened.

[SteveHFC]

AST money deducted now.

Same here. Wonder if all AST holders are in the same section.

[JeMeSouviens]

Selling 2 per ST holder without a guarantee of additional tickets would be a huge gamble by Hibs.

That leaves open the very real possibility that in a ticket scramble a ST holder could miss out whilst a non ST holder gets a ticket courtesy of a mate or family member.

I just can't see the club going down that route without cast iron guarnatees in place.

:agree:

Hell hath no fury like a ST holder who misses out on their guaranteed ticket.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Selling 2 per ST holder without a guarantee of additional tickets would be a huge gamble by Hibs.

That leaves open the very real possibility that in a ticket scramble a ST holder could miss out whilst a non ST holder gets a ticket courtesy of a mate or family member.

I just can't see the club going down that route without cast iron guarnatees in place.

Yes, and that would cause uproar. Like I said last night, there is no way to keep everybody happy in a national stadium that only holds around fifty thousand, unless there is a team with a very small support, such as Ross County. We can't have a situation whereby some season ticket holders don't have access to a ticket. Then again, that will be the case for Celtic, due to the amount of ST holders they have. For Hibs, however, every ST ticket holder who wants a ticket must get one.

[Hermit Crab]

Same here. Wonder if all AST holders are in the same section.


They are unless they opted out to buy tickets on their own with their friends/other family members in the West or South upper. Think we are all in section P

[jgl07]

The whole thing has systematically destroyed whatever enthusiasm I had for this match. I will not be going to the match and am not sure if I will watch it on TV either.

For years the OF have been arguing for greater allocations for major finals and have been turned down. I have been to every major final that Hibs have been involved in for the last thirty years (bar the closed door match).

The SPFL are obviously not interested in sporting integrity or presumably the survival of Scottish Football. I am now inclined to let them get on with it.

[Hibernian Verse]

They are unless they opted out to buy tickets on their own with their friends/other family members in the West or South upper. Think we are all in section P

Do you all have a secret handshake that you can do to welcome each other to the section? :greengrin

[Shrekko]

Yes, and that would cause uproar. Like I said last night, there is no way to keep everybody happy in a national stadium that only holds around fifty thousand, unless there is a team with a very small support, such as Ross County. We can't have a situation whereby some season ticket holders don't have access to a ticket. Then again, that will be the case for Celtic, due to the amount of ST holders they have. For Hibs, however, every ST ticket holder who wants a ticket must get one.

I've not read the whole thread but surely it'll be 2 per adult ST holder and 1 for kids?

[BoltonHibee]

Selling 2 per ST holder without a guarantee of additional tickets would be a huge gamble by Hibs.

That leaves open the very real possibility that in a ticket scramble a ST holder could miss out whilst a non ST holder gets a ticket courtesy of a mate or family member.

I just can't see the club going down that route without cast iron guarnatees in place.

Yes, I think if Hibs go down the route of 2 per S/T they must know that we’d get another 3.5 - 4k tickets when they are all sold. Not sure if that’s possible or not


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Danderhall Hibs]

They are unless they opted out to buy tickets on their own with their friends/other family members in the West or South upper. Think we are all in section P

I know some that upgraded to the most expensive seats yesterday. Think AST were auto allocated the £40 seats.

[Keith_M]

The problem with that is that we'd be selling the N stand tickets last. So our ST holders would (rightly) be up in arms about the Johnny-come-latelys getting the best seats.


But if we want a fair share, then we might just have to compromise.

I have no issue being stuck behind the goals if we got 21k as a result

[Steven79]

Yes, I think if Hibs go down the route of 2 per S/T they must know that we’d get another 3.5 - 4k tickets when they are all sold. Not sure if that’s possible or not


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkWhere are these 4000 tickets located?

Unless they are building another tier before the final they don't exist.

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[Hibernia&Alba]

I've not read the whole thread but surely it'll be 2 per adult ST holder and 1 for kids?

With our allocation, two per adult might mean some ST holders don't get a chance to buy one.

[Hermit Crab]

Do you all have a secret handshake that you can do to welcome each other to the section? :greengrin


Nope, in fact the last time we were in that section was the 5-2 humping from Celtic and I may have gotten into an argument with fellow fans acceptance of our performance that day. Good old Hecky eh.

[JeMeSouviens]

But if we want a fair share, then we might just have to compromise.

I have no issue being stuck behind the goals if we got 21k as a result

My suggestion yesterday (you must have missed it :wink:) was full N + half W and other half of W when they're sold. That amounts to around the usual 21K mark.

Anyway, suspect this is all moot. They're not going to radically change anything now. Most we'll get extra is a few dribs and drabs.

[Hibernian Verse]

Nope, in fact the last time we were in that section was the 5-2 humping from Celtic and I may have gotten into an argument with fellow fans acceptance of our performance that day. Good old Hecky eh.

I have a hard time believing that you got yourself into an argument HC.

:na na:

[Hermit Crab]

I know some that upgraded to the most expensive seats yesterday. Think AST were auto allocated the £40 seats.

By default we are all allocated section P unless you emailed the club asking to be moved. I certainly wouldn't be upgrading to to the most expensive seats, its only 10yds further along towards the halfway line:greengrin. Each to their own though.

[Hermit Crab]

I have a hard time believing that you got yourself into an argument HC.

:na na:


I know, completely out of character for me. :wink:

[WhileTheChief..]

Hats off to the folks that paid £50 for a kids season ticket in the FF lower that's never been used.

You got your money's worth this year.

[Danderhall Hibs]

By default we are all allocated section P unless you emailed the club asking to be moved. I certainly wouldn't be upgrading to to the most expensive seats, its only 10yds further along towards the halfway line:greengrin. Each to their own though.

Obviously they’re the Uber within the elite and just flexing their credentials:greengrin

£40 is more than enough for a ticket. About double more in fact.

[Steven79]

How much of the west did we have on Sunday, was it only half and was there a barrier between the opposing fans?

The 50/50 split in the north involves a handrail and double width stairway and not a lot else. I think the "only way to split the north" that is being spouted by Doncaster is rubbish, it might be easier, but not the only way to split the ground.

Yep that was the case in the West on Sunday and I don't see why the North can't have the same if we couldn't sell all of it.

[greenlex]

Is that the Celtic end? :devil:

🤬 The SDG end

[3pm]

When do they go on sale?

[Steven79]

When do they go on sale?

Must be this week, no doubt when I'm at work...

[SteveHFC]

Do you all have a secret handshake that you can do to welcome each other to the section? :greengrin

Indeed, we also get the red carpet treatment. :greengrin

[BoltonHibee]

Where are these 4000 tickets located?

Unless they are building another tier before the final they don't exist.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

That’s why I said I didn’t know if it was possible or not. I’m sure there will be debenture tickets in the South upper returned. Not sure how many there are


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PatHead]

Hats off to the folks that paid £50 for a kids season ticket in the FF lower that's never been used.

You got your money's worth this year.

Thought you couldn't buy children's tickets without buying an adult one first.

[Hermit Crab]

Whats really frustrating about the ticket allocation is that Celtic actually went to a general sale meaning every ST holder would have got one if they wanted one so they've got a cheek to ask for more for the final.


https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/november/09/league-cup-semi-final-tickets-on-general-sale-now---online-only/

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Thought you couldn't buy children's tickets without buying an adult one first.

And they would still only be able to buy a kids one for the final would they not?

[gbhibby]

For those with deep pockets some of the Hampden hospitality is on sale and some you have to register interest. Celtic seem to have sold out their expensive areas. Could not believe the prices, at least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed people.

[Hermit Crab]

And they would still only be able to buy a kids one for the final would they not?


No, if you have 1 adult and 2 kids ST's then you can buy 3 adult ticket if you want. Folk do that for Hearts, Rangers, Celtic away all the time as they won't take their kids.

[Since90+2]

Whats really frustrating about the ticket allocation is that Celtic actually went to a general sale meaning every ST holder would have got one if they wanted one so they've got a cheek to ask for more for the final.


https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/november/09/league-cup-semi-final-tickets-on-general-sale-now---online-only/

So as a percentage more of our season ticket holders actually attended the game than Celtic's.

Someone should point that out to Doncaster.

[Steven79]

So as a percentage more of our season ticket holders actually attended the game than Celtic's.

Someone should point that out to Doncaster.

How can you prove that considering we were allowed upto 20 tickets per go?

[Fuzzywuzzy]

No, if you have 1 adult and 2 kids ST's then you can buy 3 adult ticket if you want. Folk do that for Hearts, Rangers, Celtic away all the time as they won't take their kids.

Didn't think they still did that. I'd upgraded one of the boys for a mate about about four years ago but thought they knocked it on the head

[Since90+2]

How can you prove that considering we were allowed upto 20 tickets per go?

We had approximately 10,000 fans there. I would imagine atleast 7000 of them were season ticket holders. So 67% attendance of 10,500 season ticket holders.

Celtic sold around 35,000 which included General sale. Let's say 30,000 of them were season ticket holders. They have around 52,000 season ticket holders which is around 57%.

Even allowing for a little lee way either side more of our season ticket holders than theirs attended percentage wise.

[lyonhibs]

So as a percentage more of our season ticket holders actually attended the game than Celtic's.

Someone should point that out to Doncaster.

What?? No way were all 10k (or however many were in our end) all ST only against Rangers.

[Since90+2]

What?? No way were all 10k (or however many were in our end) all ST only against Rangers.

That's not what I'm saying. See above.

[Pagan Hibernia]

For those with deep pockets some of the Hampden hospitality is on sale and some you have to register interest. Celtic seem to have sold out their expensive areas. Could not believe the prices, at least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed people.

how much?

[ronaldo7]

how much?

https://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/hospitality/premier-sports-cup-hampden-suites.html

https://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/hospitality/premier-sports-cup-skyboxes.html

https://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/hospitality/premier-sports-cup-superbox.html

[Keith_M]

Thought you couldn't buy children's tickets without buying an adult one first.


You can't.

I have two Youth's tickets for the FF Lower and they cost considerably more than £40, plus I couldn't have bought them without an Adult ticket to go along with them.

Somebody appears to be trolling.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Child/youth tickets can be upgraded out with the ffl.

There are a mass of adults you see only for the cat a gamee

[cabbageandribs1875]

How much of the west did we have on Sunday, was it only half and was there a barrier between the opposing fans?

The 50/50 split in the north involves a handrail and double width stairway and not a lot else. I think the "only way to split the north" that is being spouted by Doncaster is rubbish, it might be easier, but not the only way to split the ground.



i mentioned the 50-50 split yesterday, it was only afterwards i started thinking about the catering etc at the back, i've never been further along than our own usual end in the North so i don't know if it's as easy as i/we think it is to also segregate further back from where the fans sit.

[Keith_M]

i mentioned the 50-50 split yesterday, it was only afterwards i started thinking about the catering etc at the back, i've never been further along than our own usual end in the North so i don't know if it's as easy as i/we think it is to also segregate further back from where the fans sit.



I'd say it's probably easier to contain Celtc and Hibs fans in that stand that it would be to contain Celtc and Rangers fans.

But if Rangers and Celtc were in the final, this wouldn't even be a question, they'd just divide it.

[Moulin Yarns]

i mentioned the 50-50 split yesterday, it was only afterwards i started thinking about the catering etc at the back, i've never been further along than our own usual end in the North so i don't know if it's as easy as i/we think it is to also segregate further back from where the fans sit.

Temporary fencing and stewarding must be possible along anywhere the back concourse. It's just excuses from the Donkey

Here is a photo looking at the North stand

https://aviewfrommyseat.co.uk/large-photo/150902/Hampden+Park/section-North%20Stand/row-Q/seat-Q3/

[cabbageandribs1875]

I'd say it's probably easier to contain Celtc and Hibs fans in that stand that it would be to contain Celtc and Rangers fans.

But if Rangers and Celtc were in the final, this wouldn't even be a question, they'd just divide it.


their was an old firm game there recently and it was indeed a 50/50 split, i worded my post wrongly, what i meant was if it was possible for a 40/60 or even 30/70 split.


Temporary fencing and stewarding must be possible along anywhere the back concourse. It's just excuses from the Donkey

Here is a photo looking at the North stand

https://aviewfrommyseat.co.uk/large-photo/150902/Hampden+Park/section-North%20Stand/row-Q/seat-Q3/

nice photo, i usually have double vision when i'm there, it looks even more beautiful a stadium when sober :)

[WhileTheChief..]

You can't.

I have two Youth's tickets for the FF Lower and they cost considerably more than £40, plus I couldn't have bought them without an Adult ticket to go along with them.

Somebody appears to be trolling.

You could buy an adult’s and a child’s season ticket with the child’s one costing £50.

When it comes to the final, you’d be able to buy 2 tickets. How’s that trolling?

[GreenNWhiteArmy]

I've had a few debates on social media with east coast based Celtic fans tha think its fair game because they have more ST holders. For me, it's another example of of the mask slipping with Celtic fans. They give of this "club for all" patronising BS but in reality they're the same as the elite clubs down south that were desperate for the European Super League - because they're bigger, they think they are entitled to better

Size, or average crowd is irrelevant when it comes to a final. Every club gets the same opportunity. the clue is in the name, a neutral venue ffs.

Look at their crowds for quarter finals in the league cup, or for non old firm semi final games. Sometimes when they're both in the semis like at the weekend they'll attract larger crowds but that's to try get one up on their rival and say "we sold more than you"

In the 90s when they were pish, look at the crowds for the league cup semis they were involved in

[Potty78]

This is where a points system may have worked? Season ticket holder and away season ticks obviously first then those who walk up most weeks? Our average gate this year is prob at most 16,000 so to me they all deserve a ticket (not me). I went sun to my first game this season as I cant go as often due to work. If I miss out it will be a first but that's life. The database must be able to show who's buying

[Hermit Crab]

This is where a points system may have worked? Season ticket holder and away season ticks obviously first then those who walk up most weeks? Our average gate this year is prob at most 16,000 so to me they all deserve a ticket (not me). I went sun to my first game this season as I cant go as often due to work. If I miss out it will be a first but that's life. The database must be able to show who's buying


We had our chance with the points system. That ship sailed years ago thanks to moaning fans and Dempster bowing down to them.

[hibsboy07]

The 2016 final against Ross County… were RC given the opportunity to sell an equal allocation as us and simply failed to do so, meaning there were loads sent back to us? Or did the SPFL decide before hand that we were getting a far larger allocation than them?

If I remember correctly Ross County only asked for 15k tickets so Hibs were given the rest

[gbhibby]

i mentioned the 50-50 split yesterday, it was only afterwards i started thinking about the catering etc at the back, i've never been further along than our own usual end in the North so i don't know if it's as easy as i/we think it is to also segregate further back from where the fans sit.
Doncaster said we will not get any of the North Stand as it has been given to the great unwashed.

[Mainstandman]

That’s sorted out the ticket allocation issue then, how many will we be handing back?

[Glory Lurker]

If Hibs force me to go just because I’ve got an ST, I swear I’ll do time! :greengrin

[Steven79]

Maybe make it 3 per season ticket holder...

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[LancashireHibby]

Temporary fencing and stewarding must be possible along anywhere the back concourse. It's just excuses from the Donkey

Here is a photo looking at the North stand

https://aviewfrommyseat.co.uk/large-photo/150902/Hampden+Park/section-North%20Stand/row-Q/seat-Q3/
It isn’t necessarily just to do with segregating within the seats, but each set of fans must have access to catering, toilets, turnstiles and exit gates as appropriate to a certain ratio. Pretty sure that can’t be done at Hampden in any way other than 50/50 or 100/0 as Doncaster suggests.

[hibee-boys]

That’s sorted out the ticket allocation issue then, how many will we be handing back?

😂😂

[90274]

That’s sorted out the ticket allocation issue then, how many will we be handing back?

Keep Jack Ross in charge and that's not a joke.

[A Hi-Bee]

Keep Jack Ross in charge and that's not a joke.

Behave yerself that is just stupid, we will wait until the winter break before anything happens, even if that may be too late.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Keep Jack Ross in charge and that's not a joke.

Relentless

[Heisenberg]

Keep Jack Ross in charge and that's not a joke.

You are utterly relentless when we lose. It’s quite impressive.

[Steven79]

2 per season ticket holder.

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/sale-dates-confirmed-for-premier-sports-cup-final-tickets

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[hibbysam]

2 per season ticket holder.

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/sale-dates-confirmed-for-premier-sports-cup-final-tickets

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Great decision by the club. Kudos for looking after those that were there on Sunday with non season ticket holder friends/family.

[Moulin Yarns]

Great decision by the club. Kudos for looking after those that were there on Sunday with non season ticket holder friends/family.

To remind those who believe the club should be doing more....


We have received in the region of 17,500 tickets for the final at Hampden, so with this in mind tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
As mentioned previously we are extremely frustrated with the allocation we’ve been given and made our thoughts very clear to the SPFL.

We are in constant discussions with them pushing and persuading them to give us additional tickets.



A wee bit confused by this though


Package available to purchase for the South Stand Lounge at Hampden Park includes:


Complimentary wine, beer, cider & soft drinks (spirits available to purchase)
Three-course plated meal
Complimentary programme, exclusive prize draw and ex-player interviews
Half-time refreshments
One-hour post-match complimentary wine, beer, cider & soft-drinks (spirits available to purchase)
Executive padded seat in the East Section of the South Stand
Smart casual dress code in the suite



Either we have been given the Sir David Gray end or that's a mistake :wink:

[Pretty Boy]

I'm at a funeral when they go on sale tomorrow.

Bit nervous about having to wait until late in the day tbh with it being 2 per person with no guarantees all ST holders will get one.

[erin go bragh]

Great decision by the club. Kudos for looking after those that were there on Sunday with non season ticket holder friends/family.

But if the first 8750 season ticket holders buy 2 tickets , quite a few holders might not get a ticket .

[Danderhall Hibs]

But if the first 8750 season ticket holders buy 2 tickets , quite a few holders might not get a ticket .

It’s true and a risk but I think that’s an unlikely scenario.

[JimBHibees]

Relentless

Or tiresome take your pick.

[Hibernia&Alba]

2 per season ticket holder.

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/sale-dates-confirmed-for-premier-sports-cup-final-tickets

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Aye, just received the email. God help them if I miss out :greengrin

[HH81]

Don't see why a season ticket holder can take a mate who may not have been yet this season but I have a multiple game package and went to the semi final and yet might not get a ticket.

Annoying.

[sadtom]

Does anyone know if you can use more than one client reference number can you book 2 per reference number?
Say I have 6 client reference numbers will I be able to book 12 tickets?

[Steven79]

Does anyone know if you can use more than one client reference number can you book 2 per reference number?
Say I have 6 client reference numbers will I be able to book 12 tickets?As long as they have season tickets.

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[Danderhall Hibs]

Does anyone know if you can use more than one client reference number can you book 2 per reference number?
Say I have 6 client reference numbers will I be able to book 12 tickets?

Yeah I think so - just make sure they’re all in your network.

[Keith_M]

I'm entitled to six but only plan to buy what we really need, to give other Hibbies a chance.

I'd imagine a few people will have the same opinion, so hopefully none of our regular attendees will miss out.

[JohnM1875]

Yeah four of us have season tickets and we'll only be be buying one each.

I'm guessing there'll be a good few thousand left after the season ticket date.

[sadtom]

Yeah I think so - just make sure they’re all in your network.
Ta.:aok:

[Since90+2]

Hibs must know from previous finals roughly how many tickets are sold to STs when it's 2 per person. They wouldn't risk people missing out if that was a possibility.

[hibee]

Have we always been charged adult prices for kids with youth season tickets in the past (16&17yr old school kids), I can’t remember?

[Danderhall Hibs]

Have we always been charged adult prices for kids with youth season tickets in the past (16&17yr old school kids), I can’t remember?

It jumps out at me as well mate so must be a new addition. No student concession prices either.

[gaz1875]

I have 7 on my network and only need 7, plenty will be doing the same. I also think if they do sell quickly they can give the SPFL decision makers a rocket up the arse.

[Pretty Boy]

Hibs must know from previous finals roughly how many tickets are sold to STs when it's 2 per person. They wouldn't risk people missing out if that was a possibility.

Regardless of any previous buying patterns it's inarguable that it is very much a possibility.

[hibee-boys]

I reckon there’ll still be a few thousand left to go on public sale next week. 3 of us have tickets and we’ll get 1 more for a mate who was at the semi, surely most season ticket holders will know someone who deserves not to miss out. #lookafteryourhibbypal

[HibbyDave]

I read it that any season ticket holder can buy their own ticket plus one other ticket which can be for anyone .
In other words, if you are not a ST holder (but you know someone who is ) then “buddy up with them” to get a ticket.
This will increase early sales and allow us to put pressure on to get more tickets.

[Steven79]

I read it that any season ticket holder can buy their own ticket plus one other ticket which can be for anyone .
In other words, if you are not a ST holder (but you know someone who is ) then “buddy up with them” to get a ticket.
This will increase early sales and allow us to put pressure on to get more tickets.Yeah but where will they come from? Unless Celtic aren't putting their tickets on sale till next week it's not going to work...

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[wookie70]

Great decision by the club. Kudos for looking after those that were there on Sunday with non season ticket holder friends/family.

Not sure they have looked after those who went to the semi. Most will get a ticket as they will know a ST holder and I'm glad they have made it 2 tickets but that could actually mean some that went to the Semi may miss out. Still the best way to do the tickets though and surely some action is needed on the back of this as having the data is pretty poor in this day and age. Information is so important for marketing so the club should look to collect it when it can. A proper loyalty system which encouraged assigning tickets or a ticketing system that made you assign tickets would solve this issue, neither should be difficult to organise

[gaz1875]

Has the ticket price been reduced? I thought the West was £40 now £35.