Ticket allocation

[Posh]

A bit disappointed with the process the club have gone through to allocate tickets. With only one home match in a season it would have been good to have supported those who have supported the club. There’s enough data to make it fair.

1. Season ticket holders 2020-21
2. Season ticket holder 2019-20 (these never asked for money back for lost games)
3. Those who donated to the club’s fundraiser, bought shirts or just donated.
4. Shrimps Trust members
5. IFollow single match payers

Having not bought a season ticket, like many others, because of Covid but having spent well over £400 backing the club, I’ll be disappointed if I and the many others who’ve done the same miss out.

[Ego Tripping]

19/20 season ticket holders absolutely should have been included. I’d normally not have much sympathy for non ST holders who can’t get a ticket in this situation but this season it’s absolutely understandable why some didn’t get one this year. The club really need to recognise that quickly. I can’t imagine there are many. On the others you’ve suggested I suspect that cumulatively the numbers might be more than the total allocation of tickets and/or cross referencing the people would be a big job. Something the club needs to look at (better database) in the future as it’s not that hard when done properly.

Hope you get a ticket

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

A bit disappointed with the process the club have gone through to allocate tickets. With only one home match in a season it would have been good to have supported those who have supported the club. There’s enough data to make it fair.

1. Season ticket holders 2020-21
2. Season ticket holder 2019-20 (these never asked for money back for lost games)
3. Those who donated to the club’s fundraiser, bought shirts or just donated.
4. Shrimps Trust members
5. IFollow single match payers

Having not bought a season ticket, like many others, because of Covid but having spent well over £400 backing the club, I’ll be disappointed if I and the many others who’ve done the same miss out.

Living away I don’t go for the season ticket option but choose to pay on the day for the games I attend every season. I am a trust member and pledged a considerable amount via the crowd funding. I’ve been at the majority of the really big games for the last 50 years or so and would love to be at this one! However I’ve sort of resigned myself to not being there this time due to demand outstripping supply. I sincerely hope that those lucky enough to get entry can vocally drive the team onto victory. I would love to be at Wembley for the third time and think there will be a lot more tickets available for that should we make it.

UTS

[marky No.1]

This is so gut wrenching knowing you guys that have followed the team all over the place for years have to go through this process, there are many others too

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

It is what it is Marky. The current situation must be a nightmare for the club to resolve at short notice. On top of everything else they have to find staff to open up again and all the other logistics involved. The last thing I or any other supporter would surely want would be to put additional pressure on Rod or the other board members who must be pulling their tripe out to get the game on. They do an amazing job and in the current situation we need to cut them some slack. If however we get to Wembley and I can’t get a ticket I would be truly mortified. Hopefully if we do win through things will be more relaxed by then and there will be plenty of tickets available.

[marky No.1]

Dunno how the Wembley tickets will work, can't remember what happened last time, but obviously there was plenty of space for everyone

[Posh]

I wasn’t that critical of the club, just disappointed. Understand there’s a lot to do, albeit with a few weeks notice.

My business works with data and to aggregate databases, fire off an email to different priority groups, and give them a one-time use code to book tickets isn’t something that’s complicated or takes a lot of time. However, fully understand that the people or systems may not be able to deliver that.

[marky No.1]

Ouch, doesn't happen often and probably not expected.

I will be quite upset if people are around that ive never seen for years

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

I and I suspect many others will try to get a ticket on Saturday but I’m guessing the line will be pretty much permanently engaged and I’m not sure how booking on line will work. It’s normally straightforward but then your not competing against many others at the same time. We live in hope!

[marky No.1]

Yes, the worst nightmare is a spinning circle or transaction timed out..
I had a card transaction paying me today that said void, meanwhile the guy paying me showed me the money had gone out of his account on his phone...
30 minutes wait to get through to the card company.... fortunately he was honest and 5 minutes later he said the money had been refunded back in to his account

[Westgate Wanderer]

As of 06:30 Friday morning I'm still waiting for my email confirmation! Only been a season ticket holder since the late 70's! I also know of 5 other ticket holders with no contact from the club. Can't use phone at work so unlikely I will be going to the match

[marky No.1]

Martin Thomas put a message out last night for any season ticket holders that hadnt received an email, to email the club.
shop@morecambefc.com

[Keith]

As of 06:30 Friday morning I'm still waiting for my email confirmation! Only been a season ticket holder since the late 70's! I also know of 5 other ticket holders with no contact from the club. Can't use phone at work so unlikely I will be going to the match

Have you checked your SPAM folder? I had two emails from the club that had gone to SPAM.

[Keith]

Rod on Radio Lancs.

https://twitter.com/BBCLancsSport/statu ... 1233745921

[simmy]

My nephew and I put each other down on the Forms that we had to complete so that we could be allocated seats next to each other.

My ticket application was emailed to him along with his own but I have received no email from the Club confirming that this had been done. We are sorted, but I wonder whether others who are saying that they have heard nothing are in the same situation as I was.

[Westgate Wanderer]

Phew!! Email arrived at 12:50 today! I can imagine the ticket office was a bit busy today so i'm glad they got round to me. Was worried about the must be paid for by noon bit really. Sorted now so thanks to the ticket office. COYS

[Andy D]

this is a bit like the lifeboat situation with the sinking of the Titanic,

i see the point about previous season ticket holders, but we do have fans who have been going for years and don't miss game's who've never had season tickets and live from week to week with finances.

[Andy D]

might be worth asking the club if they need any volunteers, like turnstiles, stewards, ball boys/girls?

[Ego Tripping]

this is a bit like the lifeboat situation with the sinking of the Titanic,

i see the point about previous season ticket holders, but we do have fans who have been going for years and don't miss game's who've never had season tickets and live from week to week with finances.

Sincerely hope you get a ticket. It is though a tough one for the club. I’m normal circumstances they would use tickets from previous games and you’d have no problem getting a ticket. From the Trusts recent newsletter the club have said they didn’t really have many options and couldn’t use ifollow due to GDPR issues.

They do also mention that they are looking at some innovative ways to improve things for 21/22 season. I’ve posted on here a few times before that for me membership schemes (giving discounts on tickets for small up front fee) and monthly direct debit option for season tickets are a must on the modern world.

[Posh]

Well done to the Shrimps Trust for at least raising the issues (full responses below), though there was little time to action anything. I do feel some of this is very disingenuous. No mention of the previous year’s season ticket holders, which for me is the easiest one. I also don’t agree with the GDPR issues for iFollow. I went through the registration process last night to check and it clearly states the data is held by EFL Digital and the club.

The Shrimps Trust Board held a meeting on the evening of Wednesday 12th May via Zoom to discuss the play-offs and published ticketing arrangements for the home leg of the semi-final.

Through various means including direct emails to the Trust, the Morecambe FC Facebook Fans page, Shrimps Voices and Twitter, we have condensed the main concerns of fans and are sending them to the Club for their response.

The Trust acknowledge that the Club are in a unique and challenging situation in respect of allocating tickets for the upcoming League 2 semi-final at the Mazuma Stadium. Not only is the capacity much reduced to a number outside of the Club’s control, but there has been a very narrow window to devise the best system for issuing tickets which ensures that those deserving of a ticket to the game have an opportunity to purchase one.

We continue to work with and communicate with the club and will update our members as information is received

Question 1

The ticket prices for the semi-final are between 7%-50% higher than the advanced purchase ticket prices for a league game for the season and do not include the provision of any hospitality. Does the Club have a rationale for the increase?

MFC Response

The price increases have occured due to a flat pricing structure being introduced in the seated areas. The other adjustment was for the 14-18 age group being treated as Concessions rather than Juniors or Young Persons. This is very much a unique structure that relates to this one-off game only.

Question 2

Tranmere Rovers have offered free tickets to those season ticket holders who have supported their Club this year by purchasing a ticket without being able to see any games until now. Was this an option that was considered by Morecambe FC?

MFC Response

The Club did consider this but was advised by the EFL that only a very limited number of free tickets will be allowed and this number is much lower than the number of Morecambe FC season ticket holders. We can't comment on how Tranmere Rovers have done it. However, we do fully appreciate that season-ticket holders for 2020/2021 have been limited to iFollow all season and we will soon be publishing the Club's approach to ensuring that this is properly recognised. This will obviously be done before we open season ticket sales for next season.

Question 3

There has been criticism of the Club’s use of a Google form for season ticket holders to apply for tickets with vague instructions on how to complete the form causing lots of confusion. Does the Club have any reflection on this approach and how it might work better in future?

MFC Response

This was a one-off decision in response to a one-off challenge. We're looking to simplify and automate the process of buying tickets as much as possible to make access to the Mazuma on matchday as smooth as possible in normal circumstances. These just weren't normal circumstances and a quick solution needed to be found. This system was used to ease the process of ticketing in line with our Covid-19 protocols.

[Posh]

Question 4

Are Morecambe FC planning to open the stadium in any way for the viewing of play off away games?

MFC Response

No, the Mazuma Stadium is still a functioning Covid-19 vaccination centre and is running these sessions next week. These sessions average 100 people with the highest daily number being 1,500 local people being vaccinated. The Club can't wait to get back to normal, but the vaccination programme is central to this and therefore takes precedence next week.

Question 5

Under the current ticketing arrangements for the home leg, you have to register for a ticket using the internet, pay via an email and be issued with an e-ticket. This is understandable with COVID restrictions but does limit those supporters either by choice or because of a disability, i.e. learning, those that can not use a smartphone, tablet or a computer and may be unable to find someone to help them. These people could be season ticket holders or long term fans. What assistance can the Club give, particularly to those who may have a disability from using electronic devices and who may wish to attend the game?

MFC Response

Again this was very much driven by the unique challenges that COVID restrictions present and the short timeline that we had to work to. The aim going forwards is to make access to games as easy as possible, thus making sure that we don't exclude anyone who wants to see live football again. Individuals have been telephoning the Club with specific issues and these problems have been sympathetically dealt with.

[Posh]

Question 6

Can the Club clarify if under 14’s are included in the season ticket allocation and are they for free as per current season tickets?

MFC Response

Unfortunately, under EFL rules, we are restricted to the number of free tickets we can offer meaning we were unable to fulfill the offer in these circumstances.

[Keith]

I also don’t agree with the GDPR issues for iFollow. I went through the registration process last night to check and it clearly states the data is held by EFL Digital and the club.

But is there an 'opt-in' & 'opt-out' of direct marketing option? Without that option, the data can only be used for the reason it was provided. Obviously, in this case, I can't see anyone being upset by the club contacting them and offering priority booking, but it would still be a breach of GDPR.

[Posh]

Weirdly I can’t post Question 7 and answer because of a SQL error despite being the most important one. Anyone else want to try?

[al1]

Personally I think all the above responses from the Club are fair,one thing the Trust should do is push for members to be second in line after season ticket holders for future big games.This could drive membership up in future.