New improved Away Ticket Scheme

Universal Away Ticketing Scheme 

Last 10 away games including away friendlies are taken into account–  ie approximately  two campaigns  so should be a representative timescale. Scheme starts next campaign .

·        2 campaigns is only an approximation of the 10 games as there could be away friendlies  - games in London etc would be viewed as away friendlies

·        Essentially 4 years so it should be a representative timescale

·        If tickets ever became scarce , then friendlies give new applicants a chance to get their foot on the ladder

·        As Game 11 is added Game 1 drops off

·        Next WC campaign is unlikely to be scarce for tickets so it’s a perfect test bed

Each away game is allocated  1 point , (unless allocation clearly does not cover demand) those with the most points are allocated tickets down to where the number of tickets remaining  is less than the number of people on the relevant points then a ballot will be undertaken

·        Straightforward 1 point no matter where the location is  as long as its an away game

·        Where demand exceeds supply a point is not awarded ( tickets will though) otherwise those on the most points could pull away from those on lesser points only because of the low allocation eg Andorra and not because of those on lesser points not wanting/able to go to the game.(however may be looked at if abused ie applications with no intention of going)

·        Points will only be awarded if tickets are sourced from the FAI – no home tickets/freebies etc will be considered

·        If implemented the TO will then be able to state that due to an allocation of x No of tickets those on y points or better are eligible for tickets – thus negating the need for every man and their dog to phone the TO in the weeks prior to a match asking for tickets tying up their resources

A Season Ticket holder will be awarded 3 points per campaign – so there is an incentive but it doesn’t unfairly impact too much on those who are not season ticket holders

·        Home games are NOT a level playing field where as away games are , as practically everybody will need a flight to get to an away game ( UK away games for UK based fans notwithstanding) however…….

·        Season Ticket holders/Block bookers  HAVE to be incentivized/rewarded , I feel 3 points per campaign will achieve this and is a compromise on ALL parties

·        The 3 points shall be added on 1^st Aug at the start of the relevant campaign ie Aug 2012 Aug 2014 etc

·        The maximum number of points achievable is thus 16 ie a season ticket for 2 campaigns  and the full 10 away matches ie (3 x 2) + 10 = 16. Non season ticket holders maximum is 10

·        At the beginning of the third campaign the first 3 points awarded for the season ticket will drop off to be replaced by another 3 if a season ticket is renewed, or none if the season ticket is not renewed

·        Individual home games are not considered

Each request for tickets must be backed up by naming who the tickets are for  ie the tickets can be in one name but all the recipients must be named

·        Self explanatory  - it is not up to the person in who’s name the tickets are in to decide who gets the tickets – it is the FAI’s. The tickets must go to the named recipients

·        This should also eliminate the multiple requests from different members of the same group which distorts the actual demand and will thus make allocating tickets easier as the actual demand is known

·        It is primarily to cut down on unnecessary expense rather than sending out tickets individually

·        Eg Season Ticket No/Cust Ref  No 15550 Newryrep – Recipients 15550A Newryrep, 15550B  Mrs Newryrep

Random checks can be undertaken for proof of travel and ticket collection in the destination city is also an option

·        Self explanatory – may be required if it appears the system is being abused – points can be deducted if no proof offered (the Scots acknowledge it is an issue for them)

·        % Ticket collection in a destination also may be used as proof of travel as well  if timescales for ticket distribution are particularly tight due to late arrival of host tickets

·        A ticket stub is not proof of travel – proof required would be hotel bill in persons name ATM withdrawal/CC withdrawal, boarding pass possibly

Cost – To be honest it should be standard practice for a company to keep its customers details up to date HOWEVER if a small cost is incurred I would propose a small increase on the - 2 euro handling fee on each away ticket 

·        I have taken some soundings regarding the Scots system which is £20 (E23) a year but has 32500 members and I AM NOT convinced that it couldn’t be streamlined down to the basics – ie just keep our records up to date

·        We don’t need a membership pack with free gift, newsletter, city guides etc so for that reason I am against a blanket payment every year from all

·        We must be the only customers that have to pay to have our records updated

·        Also I am loath just throwing money at a ‘problem’ as it rarely solved anything – see Irish Health service for further proof – copyright Bertie Ahern

·        HOWEVER there are likely to be some costs with it and since it is primarily an away scheme I would propose an increase in the 2 euro ‘handling’ fee per ticket to 5 euro. (not even the price of a foaming pint of Stella Artois in Dublin)

Club allocation

·        Allocation will be as per their individual members records in the universal scheme when the  ticket allocation is scarce

·        where tickets are not scarce they can have as many tickets as they want – same as everybody else

It is by no means a perfect scheme but it is IMO

·        Fair

·        Transparent

·        Relatively easy to understand

·        Relatively easy to implement

·        Not an impediment to new members

·        In no way restrictive

·        An incentive to become a Season Ticket Holder

·        A nicely balance  between the home v away, regular away v occasional away, hardcore v big game Charlie

Finally it would be in an individual fans interest to get their own record with the FAI, or as a minimum  have it via a trusted partner/friend/sibling/mistress/Supporters Club  and not rely on the whims of casual acquaintances/some guy down the pub,/a dads friend 2^nd cousin who if tickets are in demand for big games can withhold them if it suits them.

Also if the away game is important, handy to get to, in a glamorous destination or a combination of all three do not EXPECT to get a ticket if you have no record with the FAI, so DONT come on here/ Joe Duffy and bleat about not getting a ticket because hopefully there will be a scheme in place.