European night ticket policy

Before the scramble for tickets begins tomorrow for season ticket holders only, I'm curious as to what people think regarding the current policy of allowing season book holders to buy up all tickets for European nights?

Last season it didn't bother me as I thought it was a decent way to reward holders in what was a special year. And allowing a couple more each for friends seemed fair enough. This looks however like something that is going to be standard going forward. Not actually sure what I think about this and would be curious to hear what the consensus is on here?

A fair reward for season book holders or an unfair way of freezing out guys who can't make every match?

 

I think it's a * disgrace. It actually really * me off if I'm being totally honest.

Some of us live too far away from Celtic Park to justify buying a season ticket and the chances are if you live that far away from Glasgow you won't know a season ticket holder either. What is a person in that situation to do? Watch it on TV and be grateful I suppose. Celtic will then happily plead with the same fans they exclude for the big matches to come and buy tickets for a snoozefest at home to Ross County or St. Mirren a few days later though.

I've no gripe with season ticket holders getting first refusal on Champions League tickets, they've earned the right to that privilege, but the club have gone way too far down that road with their present policy. It excludes a great number of people who would love to go to these matches and puts tickets into the hands of people on a 'who you know' basis. I hate that.

 

A fair reward for season ticket holders and their family/friends. If the tickets would get on general sale, people who shouldnt get their fingers near these tickets would get them.

 

Posted up in good faith there wanting to help out a fellow tim, I can see both sides to the coin

 

The fact the phone line and online was blocked to * last year i believe that last year only season ticket holders who went to the ticket office got them for friends or what ever * disgrace . What about the people who go to alot of other games all season , no you cant go because that * who does not attend but has a season ticket has got his package and 3 mates who have never been to a league game !! Thats what i think lol

 

Neither. The board clearly feel that rewarding season ticket holders in this way is the best way to maximise matchday income in the medium term. Fairness doesn't even enter into it. Let's face it, with no Rangers and interest in the SPL where it is, the CL games are the only bargaining chip the board have for selling season tickets.

 

I don't think it's fair. It's fair that ST holders are getting them for £84, but that's enough for me. There are guys out there that make most games, cup games, away games, yet struggle to get to the CL nights? That is pish imo

 

I have to agree with Markybhoy its a * disgrace, Although in another sense there is too many glory hunters who will only turn up to European nights, Which leaves out season ticket holders who turn up week in week out.

 

Like who ? Who are these people you speak of lol

 

No, but see the ST holders alright with there package's 1st it would leave 15k ish for a general sale

 

Although that may be true it should also be noted that the board are being unbelievably fair in the prices. £28 per game for ST holders is as good value as you will get, especially in the UK. Even at £38 for non ST holders it is still a bargain.

 

Yeah what i meant is that they should be first choice for tickets, But not be able to buy more than 1, it should be 1 per season ticket. Per each European game ofcourse, So if they get the match package for the 3 home games they should only be able to buy 1 package

 

Agree 100%

 

It is fair that season tickets get looked after yes.

But what have their families and friends got to do with it ?

 

Well they clearly feel this fair pricing is the best way forward. I can only guess why, but I trust them. The magic of these CL nights is the only thing we have at the moment. These special nights make us a lot more money than matchday tickets alone. I still remember when Rangers tried the route of charging an arm and a leg in the mid 90's, which led to some shocking attendances against CL opposition. I hope I never see that happen at CP. These nights are what keeps me warm through the winter (to borrow an expression from Tommy Burns) and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

 

This is how I see it. Season book holders should rightfully get priority and cheaper tickets. But friends of season book holders are no more or less deserving than anyone else. It basically comes down to who you know and how lucky you get.

 

I was at all three qualifiers. I reckon those three ticket stubs should get me first refusal after season ticket holders.

 

Really don't like it, I'm a season ticket holder but I live in London so I can't afford to go to every game, 3 CL games plus transport is just too much. Desperately want to go to at least one though, I'll be really * off if I can't get a ticket to one game because they were all sold as part of 3 match packages.

 

People who buy the tickets with the general idea to sell them on for a ridiculous profit. That's who I think he is talking about and I completely agree with him.

The more tickets that go on general sale the more chance there is of this happening.

 

The hard fact is there is no solution that will please everybody but what is clear to most I think is that the current system for CL games is unfair.

Nobody is against ST's being allowed to buy a 3 match package and that is only fair. However for those ST's who live abroad and obviously can't afford to take on the costs of attending 3 midweek CL games I think they should be allowed to opt in to buy one or two CL games of their choice.

So let's assume circa 15,000 are left after the ST allocation is taken up. Allow 3,000 for CSC's leaves 12,000 and the question of a fair way to distribute.

My idea would be for every time a non ST buys a match ticket for a home or away game and directly from Celtic those games add up and allow each buyer to be placed in a category. Very similar to the European away system, cat' A,B, C etc.

It'd be very easy for Celtic to keep a database of who has attended the most games and it's those guys who get first chance of the 12,000 tickets. Cat' A then B and so on.

To be fair to everyone in that system if you get a ticket for the first CL game then you don't automatically stay top of the list for the second match. ie only those who didn't get a first CL match ticket can apply for the second game. Same process for the 3rd game.

Now obviously you are still left with those that for various reasons can't attend many games but want to see a CL match. For that maybe a small amount 1500-2000 could be set aside for general sale on a first come first served basis? Proof of ID and address required to ensure you are not a ST or on the non ST category list.

Not fool proof I agree and probably some tweeks needed but surely a much fairer system than anything we have just now? Thoughts and should I speak to Peter?:icon_mrgreen: