Hibs First

[JohnM1875]

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/hibs-first-1

Another membership from Hibs. Away ST basically but the price has gone from £15 fee last year to £50 this year. That's just to be able to buy the away ticket mind you. Seems a pretty hefty jump in price! Though there are a few added 'benefits'

Wondering if this'll stop any of the current away ST holders purchasing this year?

The price of Scottish football is obscene just now.

[matty_f]

Pay to jump the queue? That's nothing to do with being loyal, if I'm reading that, I could pay £50 and get priority even though i currently don't go home and away every week.

[AugustaHibs]

£50 a head is outrageous

[OstKurve Hibs]

Another piss take and attempt to dip our pockets,

[Ringothedog]

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/hibs-first-1

Another membership from Hibs. Away ST basically but the price has gone from £15 fee last year to £50 this year. That's just to be able to buy the away ticket mind you. Seems a pretty hefty jump in price! Though there are a few added 'benefits'

Wondering if this'll stop any of the current away ST holders purchasing this year?

The price of Scottish football is obscene just now.

The price is £25 not £50, it only becomes £50 if you take the HQ magazine

[B.H.F.C]

I actually don’t have too much of an issue with it. Value is probably the wrong word but I don’t feel it’s them just taking money for the sake of it as I think some probably will. By the time they administer the tickets and put on the end of season event (similar to the one they did for Away ST last week) they’re not going to be making much/anything from it with the number being capped.

Current Away ST requires you to commit to every game, even if you can’t go so the option to opt out of certain games is an improvement and would offset the cost of the scheme straight away on the rare occasion I miss a game.

[SteveHFC]

I actually don’t have too much of an issue with it. Value is probably the wrong word but I don’t feel it’s them just taking money for the sake of it as I think some probably will. By the time they administer the tickets and put on the end of season event (similar to the one they did for Away ST last week) they’re not going to be making much/anything from it with the number being capped.

Current Away ST requires you to commit to every game, even if you can’t go so the option to opt out of certain games is an improvement and would offset the cost of the scheme straight away on the rare occasion I miss a game.


Agreed. No issues with this at all even the value. Will sign up for this before the deadline.

[Ringothedog]

Pay to jump the queue? That's nothing to do with being loyal, if I'm reading that, I could pay £50 and get priority even though i currently don't go home and away every week.

You could also pay £25 and get priority

[JohnM1875]

You could also pay £25 and get priority

The £25 is for the u13 membership is it not?

[B.H.F.C]

The price is £25 not £50, it only becomes £50 if you take the HQ magazine

Not how I understand it. £25 only applies to the under 13 ticket, which doesn’t include the magazine.

[Logie Green]

The price is £25 not £50, it only becomes £50 if you take the HQ magazine

It’s only £25 for U13s who won’t get the magazine. It’s £50 for everyone else; there’s no option not to take the magazine.

[Ringothedog]

My apologies for being an arse and not reading the article correctly 🤡

[Mikey_1875]

I do notice there is an asterisk when signing up that says the £50 is exclusive of delivery/admin fees? Don’t currently pay for the postage but if that is to be added each game on top of the £50 I find it harder to justify the price increase.

I didn’t make the night last week so appreciate I might have missed something.

Also, I would hope the commitment to take a ticket for every match is still a part of the membership. I know on the face of it you might lose out on the cost of a ticket or two per season but I prefer it to be more about loyalty rather than just paying for priority where folk could essentially pay £50 to guarantee tickets for big fixtures and not go to any others. Doesn’t sit well albeit it doesn’t make a difference for me who would be going anyway.

[Pretty Boy]

So is this like the current away ST which means you are obliged to buy a ticket for every away game and the money is debited automatically?

Or is this as £50 payment just to get a priority window for the big games?

If it's the latter are membership numbers capped? I'd assume so or you could have more sign ups than allocation at the 3 games name checked.

[matty_f]

So is this like the current away ST which means you are obliged to buy a ticket for every away game and the money is debited automatically?

Or is this as £50 payment just to get a priority window for the big games?

I read it as the latter but with Away Season Ticket holders getting first dibs on the scheme.

If I read it right, the £50 means if the only away games you want to go are Tiny, Ibrox, Parkhead, and Hampden then you can pay it and get priority ahead of someone who goes to all the away games but doesn't pay it.

[wookie70]

I read it as pay 50 quid and get priority for away tickets with no obligation to go to any. Exactly the opposite of a loyalty scheme

[Danderhall Hibs]

I read it as the latter but with Away Season Ticket holders getting first dibs on the scheme.

If I read it right, the £50 means if the only away games you want to go are Tiny, Ibrox, Parkhead, and Hampden then you can pay it and get priority ahead of someone who goes to all the away games but doesn't pay it.

It wasn’t sold to the ASTs last week at the meeting they had with BK and LJ. Just an increase to be an away AST and by all accounts most were happy to pay more.

[CL0762]

So is this like the current away ST which means you are obliged to buy a ticket for every away game and the money is debited automatically?

Or is this as £50 payment just to get a priority window for the big games?

If it's the latter are membership numbers capped? I'd assume so or you could have more sign ups than allocation at the 3 games name checked.

Basically, it’s the away ST but without saying you’ll attend every away game.

I believe the membership is open to existing away ST first, then opened up for a further 150-200 people.

[Pretty Boy]

I read it as the latter but with Away Season Ticket holders getting first dibs on the scheme.

If I read it right, the £50 means if the only away games you want to go are Tiny, Ibrox, Parkhead, and Hampden then you can pay it and get priority ahead of someone who goes to all the away games but doesn't pay it.

Not keen on that at all.

I get the 'it's extra revenue' argument will be rolled out but it's creating a two tier system among the rank and file fans based on those who can afford to pay and those who can't. That's incomparable to something like hospitality which has always had an exclusivity about it.

[B.H.F.C]

So is this like the current away ST which means you are obliged to buy a ticket for every away game and the money is debited automatically?

Or is this as £50 payment just to get a priority window for the big games?

If it's the latter are membership numbers capped? I'd assume so or you could have more sign ups than allocation at the 3 games name checked.

Numbers to be capped at maximum of 500.

It’s different to the current scheme in that you will have the option to opt out of certain games. For the people it appeals to, it’ll be pretty rare that any of us will opt out I’d imagine but still ensures you have priority to the games that tickets are limited (which is probably the main reason folk sign up to the Away ST scheme in the first place).

With how they propose to operate it, I actually think it’s an improvement on the current scheme and don’t have too much of an issue with the £50. I don’t see it as some big money making scheme as, by the time you account for concessions, they’re going to take in less than £25k. For the cost of running and by the time they put on the end of year event it’s not like it’s a big money maker.

My one concern is that £50 becomes £80, the. £120 and so on. Where it sits just now, I’m OK with.

[hibsforeurope]

I’m a bit confused with the priority european part of the offer. How can the hibs first offer priority on European tickets when a normal season ticket also offers priority on domestic and foreign cup ties?

[Oscar T Grouch]

This suits me better. Was having to buy Ross County and Aberdeen tickets for midweek games I just couldn’t attend due to work commitments. It’s essentially a £10 increase with a sub for the quarterly magazine.

[Glory Lurker]

I suggested something like this on here for tiny tiney matches a while back and am still recovering from the bruises!

[B.H.F.C]

I’m a bit confused with the priority european part of the offer. How can the hibs first offer priority on European tickets when a normal season ticket also offers priority on domestic and foreign cup ties?

Nothing is really changing from the current setup.

You currently have Away ST who get their ticket first. Then home season ticket holders have a priority after that. Then general sale.

Hibs First is just a rebranding of the Away ST essentially.

[Hermit Crab]

What they have not told you is that there is no price difference between an adult and OAP, still £50 regardless.

Block 7 will also get tickets out with the scheme (which is totally wrong), and continue to cause chaos by piling into seats where they're not supposed to be at like Ross County earlier this season.

Corporate members and sponsors will also get tickets out with this scheme and that includes Hearts away. 4 tickets each if they want them.

Other than the big 3 aways, Hearts, Celtic, Rangers, and possibly the odd cup tie with a low allocation you'll never struggle to get a ticket if you're not a member. More and more clubs are selling direct to us these days.

All Hibs are seeing is an extra possible £25k for basically making away tickets available to members a few days before a general sale.

[Pretty Boy]

Nothing is really changing from the current setup.

You currently have Away ST who get their ticket first. Then home season ticket holders have a priority after that. Then general sale.

Hibs First is just a rebranding of the Away ST essentially.

Is it though?

If there is no longer an obligation to buy tickets for all away games then that represents a major shift.

I don't have the time to attend every away game now so I'm no longer an away ST holder (I was for the 1st season it was active). I can afford £50 and might well pay it to guarantee myself a ticket for Tynecastle though. I have no intention of attending any more than 3 or 4 other away games all season but if I can skip the queue for a game I do want to attend for an up front fee with no other obligation then I'll likely do it.

The current system has a built in deterrent to avoid doing the above because it would automatically cost you £25+ every other week. For a one off fee for priority access the goalposts are well shifted. It's no issue for existing away ST holders if they are happy with the increase and still intend to attend all away games but it's creating an additional tier among those not currently away ST holders.

[Hermit Crab]

Nothing is really changing from the current setup.

You currently have Away ST who get their ticket first. Then home season ticket holders have a priority after that. Then general sale.

Hibs First is just a rebranding of the Away ST essentially.


A few things are changing, you'll no longer be debited the money directly from Hibs, its up to the fan now to purchase the tickets for the games they want to go to. You'll no longer be able to get group tickets at the big 3 away games. There will be a ballot for low capacity games. Its not a loyalty scheme, its hibs way of trying to make easy money.

[hibsforeurope]

Nothing is really changing from the current setup.

You currently have Away ST who get their ticket first. Then home season ticket holders have a priority after that. Then general sale.

Hibs First is just a rebranding of the Away ST essentially.

I’m generally not against the idea, I’d probably sign up, but both hibs 1st and season tickets can’t both offer priority for the same cup games.

[B.H.F.C]

Is it though?

If there is no longer an obligation to buy tickets for all away games then that represents a major shift.

I don't have the time to attend every away game now so I'm no longer an away ST holder (I was for the 1st season it was active). I can afford £50 and might well pay it to guarantee myself a ticket for Tynecastle though. I have no intention of attending any more than 3 or 4 other away games all season but if I can skip the queue for a game I do want to attend for an up front fee with no other obligation then I'll likely do it.

The current system has a built in deterrent to avoid doing the above because it would automatically cost you £25+ every other week. For a one off fee for priority access the goalposts are well shifted. It's no issue for existing away ST holders if they are happy with the increase and still intend to attend all away games but it's creating an additional tier among those not currently away ST holders.

I just don’t view it as creating an additional tier. To me it is a refined, and better version of the current Away ST scheme.

I raised the point of people doing what you suggest and was told the club will monitor uptake of tickets through the scheme. If you’re not taking tickets you might not necessarily stay on the scheme although I think that type of thing should be made clear from outset.

[B.H.F.C]

A few things are changing, you'll no longer be debited the money directly from Hibs, its up to the fan now to purchase the tickets for the games they want to go to. You'll no longer be able to get group tickets at the big 3 away games. There will be a ballot for low capacity games. Its not a loyalty scheme, its hibs way of trying to make easy money.

What money are they making from it? Less than £25k they’ll take in. A night like last Thursday doesn’t get run for free. Double the numbers for next year and you’ll not be far off any money being gone on that alone.

I’m not sure what you mean about group tickets for the big three away games? Or the bit about there being any ballots? I’d have thought that would be fairly standard if we were to get an extremely small allocation.

I agree it’s not a loyalty scheme but it’s never been sold as such.

[B.H.F.C]

I’m generally not against the idea, I’d probably sign up, but both hibs 1st and season tickets can’t both offer priority for the same cup games.

Hibs First will have priority first. As currently happens with the Away ST.

[hibsforeurope]

Hibs First will have priority first. As currently happens with the Away ST.

You can’t sell season tickets offering priority when it’s not getting them priority, unless thy purchase another add on.

[B.H.F.C]

You can’t sell season tickets offering priority when it’s not getting them priority, unless thy purchase another add on.

But nothing is changing from the way it’s been in the last however many seasons the Away ST has been in existence. They’ve been getting access to tickets ahead of a home season ticket holders for years. That simply continues under the new scheme which has a different name.

[hibsforeurope]

But nothing is changing from the way it’s been in the last however many seasons the Away ST has been in existence. They’ve been getting access to tickets ahead of a home season ticket holders for years. That simply continues under the new scheme which has a different name.

I get that, but thy need to remove the priority wording from the normal season ticket info.

[BoomtownHibees]

I get that, but thy need to remove the priority wording from the normal season ticket info.

I don’t think they do. Season ticket holders will still get priority over non season ticket holders. It doesn’t state that season ticket holders will be given top/first priority

[scottish_sleepy]

I don’t think they do. Season ticket holders will still get priority over non season ticket holders. It doesn’t state that season ticket holders will be given top/first priority

Agreed.
The wording on the home season ticket application should clearly state priority is after those in the new scheme.
If the limit is around 500 members then there's only around 300 tickets left for the home season ticket holder who have "priority".
Even worse if block 7 are also getting some sort of priority as mentioned by an earlier poster.
It'll be getting to the level that home season ticket holders pretty much won't be able to get tickets for ibrox or parkhead.

[Chorley Hibee]

Is there any truth to Block 7 having priority to tickets?

I've still not renewed my season ticket, because of various reasons, but if there's any truth to this, then there's another reason to add to the list.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

Is there any truth to Block 7 having priority to tickets?

I've still not renewed my season ticket, because of various reasons, but if there's any truth to this, then there's another reason to add to the list.

I’d imagine a lot of the guys have the away ST anyway?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LewysGot2]

Agreed.
The wording on the home season ticket application should clearly state priority is after those in the new scheme.
If the limit is around 500 members then there's only around 300 tickets left for the home season ticket holder who have "priority".
Even worse if block 7 are also getting some sort of priority as mentioned by an earlier poster.
It'll be getting to the level that home season ticket holders pretty much won't be able to get tickets for ibrox or parkhead.
This has been the case for years. AST gets priority for Away games. Then any other game - cup ties at home, trips to Hampden etc the same as any other ST holder.
Issues don't arise at most grounds. Only Mordor and Parkhead where there's just 800 or 900 tickets or a wee team away in the cup. It doesn't stop folk going anywhere else freely...

Hibs don't want a loyalty system per se - it's been confirmed this is the case - so the hybrid that allows those who go every week to be able to is the continued option. Only now with more flexibility and a financial lay out of 50 pounds up front.

It's also the case that there's plenty non ST holders seem to get their hands on tickets for Tynie etc - which is clearly courtesy of ST holders who give out their client reference numbers without a thought for other ST holders who might have gone. Its an imperfect science all round

[B.H.F.C]

Is there any truth to Block 7 having priority to tickets?

I've still not renewed my season ticket, because of various reasons, but if there's any truth to this, then there's another reason to add to the list.

At the Away ST event last week, Block 7 were raised. Lynn from the ticket office said that they are regularly allocated tickets together. She didn’t say that they are allocated tickets together as a matter of priority, at the same time as Away ST tickets are allocated for instance, which would obviously be a different thing altogether.

[marinello59]

At the Away ST event last week, Block 7 were raised. Lynn from the ticket office said that they are regularly allocated tickets together. She didn’t say that they are allocated tickets together as a matter of priority, at the same time as Away ST tickets are allocated for instance, which would obviously be a different thing altogether.

If they have been regularly allocated tickets together at Tynecastle or Parkhead then given the speed they sell out at it would only be possible if they had priority over everyone else.

[PHeffernan]

If they have been regularly allocated tickets together at Tynecastle or Parkhead then given the speed they sell out at it would only be possible if they had priority over everyone else.

At away games Block 7 stand together where they want then their main guy tells folk with tickets for the seats there that it is sit where you want :-)

[LewysGot2]

If they have been regularly allocated tickets together at Tynecastle or Parkhead then given the speed they sell out at it would only be possible if they had priority over everyone else.

They explained the away club often wants them in a specific spot. It's a security thing in some respects. Apparently Ben K meeting with them this week to speak about aspects of their behaviour at games that are of concern to the club...

[Hermit Crab]

Is there any truth to Block 7 having priority to tickets?

I've still not renewed my season ticket, because of various reasons, but if there's any truth to this, then there's another reason to add to the list.


Yes they kind of are, thats how the 50-100 of them all get seats together at Tynecastle etc. Its wrong imo.

[Carheenlea]

So we have went to a perfectly good system where those who had supported the club on the most regular basis were given priority for high demand games - to an Away Season Ticket - and now a “membership” that gives fans priority only if they stump up £50 for the privilege.

The AST didn’t suit me as I’m not able to guarantee I’d make every game, but those who did were quite rightly first in line for those high demand occasions.

Despite not having an AST, there has only been one occasion where I didn’t get a ticket (Tynecastle, but then secured a spare from a friend). Think I’ll continue with taking my chances for Tynecastle/Ibrox/Parkhead rather than throwing £50 down the tubes.

[LewysGot2]

So Hibs have responded to feedback and are reducing subscription for those already an AST holder to £30 over 13, £20 under 13.

New members will pay £50 and £25 respectively