There is the ticket exchange. Since I took out a membership earlier in the season, there's only been two home games where I couldn't get a ticket on it at all. I didn't buy any yet, so had to release them back into the system, but even with all the priority schemes and criteria in place, there was a ticket there eventually if I wanted one.
As regards protests, the owners won't go and the ticket prices won't change, so what is the point? It's not really the same as the protests to help get the previous yankers out the door.
Quite right. The whole thing seems pointless, prices will rise, its a given. Complain and bi*ch all you like but for me its typical SoS BS. This is only happening because the SoS want to appear to do something right. The simple fact is, they are as voiceless and pointless now as they ever have been. You will get people arguing now about what im writing, there is no argument, they never had a say, and never will, but let them maintain themself, they will soon get into their heads they are as pointless as fighting whoever is in charge of LFC.
They can put out statements until they are blue in the face, they can get angry, they can propose whatever actions they like. The fact is, they have no influence whatsoever.
Hate to say it, but deal with it. Pay or not, it wont make a jot of difference for each seat.
I know this is a forum and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
But, that said, you two have made a show of yourselves here...
Prices rise, it's a given? Yes, care to hazard a guess at how far over inflation Premier League ticket prices have been rising?
You can get a ticket on the exchange? Yes you may well be able to do so. But that sort of implies the current prices are at a reasonable and acceptable amount.
Normal Spirit of Shankly moaning? They weren't voiceless or pointless... The club went out of their way to acknowledge issues and invited them to be part of a process to look at dealing with the terrible atmosphere at the ground and ticket prices. The club approached them. And then they ignored them. They ignored the counter proposal and the owners apparently not even provided a reply to that proposal. The Anfield Wrap podcast on the Ticket Working Group suggested that the Liverpool based staff acknowledge the grievances but the American owners didn't approve changes that could have dealt with ticketing.
The atmosphere is terrible, I can only think of a handful of times I have been in my life and it's been genuinely as good as I hoped for. I'm not a local and there are a huge number of ageing moaners in the ground who don't help and are largely locals. It isn't purely about dividing locals vs. traveling fans but you have to remember that long before people from abroad gave a sh*t about Liverpool the local fans still did.
Part of the mystic of the club is the Kop, the atmosphere and emotion. I'm guessing neither of you are locals either, can you honestly say that the draw of the passion isn't part of why you support the club? Increasing prices do have an impact on who can and who can't attend matches.
Ultimately the club belongs to the fans, to everyone. It's not just some faceless cereal brand you can pick and choose to purchase. But you shouldn't be increasing the ticket prices at a time when you don't
need to in order to achieve profits. The new television deal, including international rights, is huge. They increase every time. Yet as the need to charge fans more and more is ebbing away the trend towards raising prices continues.
It's simply taking people for a ride. Liverpool Football Club would be nothing without the fans. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But pricing out people who cannot afford to keep paying rising prices, especially people who live in the community without which the club wouldn't be what it is, just doesn't sit well with me.
We have an official Printing partner or something now, I saw it on the flashing electronic advertising boards. We have an official airline and an official club tailor and all these things. These are ways of the club acknowledging the need to be a forward thinking business while not putting an unnecessary burden on those wish to support the club by attending games.
I'm Scottish, my father is a Scouser. I have only been to Anfield using a ticket in my own name a once or twice. Every other time it has been through uncles who I can beg a season ticket off of but they've had to give theirs up over time. I've never been what I consider a regular so this isn't the moaning of someone from SoS.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I find both of your posts baffling at best and frankly embarrassing at worst. They amount to 'shut up and accept it, pay up or shut up' which is not only flippant but a little arrogant.
We are all entitled to our say as fans, but I just think it always stinks a little of hypocrisy when people attack the groups which are trying to maintain the atmosphere and values of the club.
The same atmosphere and values which attract so many people from outside the city of Liverpool to start caring about the club in the first place. The clue is in the name, Liverpool Football Club.
It's absolutely vital that the club remains routed in the community which helped it grow into what it is today. It isn't a f**king NFL franchise to move around to a bigger 'market' where people can pay more for a ticket.
And if it was just a normal club where the atmosphere and values didn't matter to supporters as much, I doubt you'd be here posting.
And finally. Even leaving aside the club specific stuff. A huge part of the success of football and the reason it is loved worldwide is that it is the sport of the people. It doesn't have as many barriers to participation like other sports. It used to be but increasingly isn't a sport for the common man. When you continually raise the prices well above inflation, due to greed, you are slowly pricing out people. You are making it less about participation for everyone and more like the opera, for those who can afford the finer things...
Football clubs need to remember how it is that they got to be in this incredibly lofty position they now find themselves. They got there by generating loyalty and firing the emotions of the people who support the club for life.
And you know what? Even if all the other clubs don't bother to respect their fans, I think Liverpool should.
The game should be as affordable as possible for as many as possible.