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Topic Originator: rudeboy69
Date: Fri 1 Aug 18:59
I live in West Lothian and travel with my daughter (now 9) to watch the pars at EEP around 50% of the home games (for various reasons).
For 4 seasons, my daughter has had an U12 season ticket, and I just buy individual tickets for whenever we attend games at East End Park.
Today I went to EEP with my daughter to show them that she was in fact under 12 and to pick up her season ticket (purchased in May)
I was informed than they no longer sell season tickets to under 12s unless there is an adult buying a season ticket as well.
As we attend just over half the home games, this makes having a full season ticket a waste of money for me. If there was a 10 game option I would take it but there isn`t.
After a back and forward discussion where I informed them it is not possible for my daughter to come alone and she always attends with me as a paying adult, the club still refused to sell me her season ticket.
At roughly £1.50/game for her its worth me bringing her but if i am now going to be charged 8/9 quid a game then it simply may change how often bring her.
If this decision stays, then the cost to me bringing my daughter will increase by £60-70 a season. For a girl with no interest in football (but getting the pars bug), this is potentially us losing a future fan (and exponentially if she has family in the future). This also means she probably won`t want the 2 or 3 tops a season (she wanted last year) and the sausage roll at games, further losing the club money.
The club used safe guarding as an excuse but seemed to not show understanding as to how a 9 year old who lives 30 minutes drive away is going to be unsafe and attend alone.
It is unfortunate that other fans have tried to rip off the club through inappropriate season ticket use. However, this is a truly stupid decision the club has made to ban under 12s instead of not checking those entering with an u12 ST are of the required age and with an adult.
I am waiting for the club shop manager to phone me to discuss this but I feel the lack of foresight will become a stumbling block for us to get any resolution.
I can`t be the only person in this position and I do feel strongly the club need to address this.
Sorry for the rant
COYP
FRANK THE TANK FRANK THE TANK
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Topic Originator: Dave_1885
Date: Fri 1 Aug 19:07
I took my 4 1/2 year old along to the Stirling game last week. Thought would be wise as a lower crowd and a bit easier to access etc. she was very excited to meet Sammy the Tammy…..wasn’t there. Then the kids fan zone was non existent as well.
I understand it was a cup game v lower league opposition, but feel like for our first Saturday 3pm game the experience was a bit meh for her.
She lasted the full game, which was promising, but the lack of things pre game may have soured it.
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Topic Originator: rudeboy69
Date: Fri 1 Aug 19:09
Quote:
Dave_1885, Fri 1 Aug 19:07
I took my 4 1/2 year old along to the Stirling game last week. Thought would be wise as a lower crowd and a bit easier to access etc. she was very excited to meet Sammy the Tammy…..wasn’t there. Then the kids fan zone was non existent as well.
I understand it was a cup game v lower league opposition, but feel like for our first Saturday 3pm game the experience was a bit meh for her.
She lasted the full game, which was promising, but the lack of things pre game may have soured it.
I have persevered with my daughter and this is season 5. She now enjoys it but its taken some hard yards (especially when she went a full calendar year without seeing a win under McPake).
Keep at it
FRANK THE TANK FRANK THE TANK
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Topic Originator: fcda
Date: Fri 1 Aug 19:17
When a u12 ticket is purchased does it have to be next to the adult ticket? Just wondering if a mate with a season ticket could buy it on your behalf?
Post Edited (Fri 01 Aug 19:17)
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Topic Originator: rudeboy69
Date: Fri 1 Aug 19:23
Quote:
fcda, Fri 1 Aug 19:17
When a u12 ticket is purchased does it have to be next to the adult ticket? Just wondering if a mate with a season ticket could buy it on your behalf?
So yes they could attach the season ticket to another adult BUT that just renders the whole situation pointless.
They simply just need to only allow an u12 entry if they are physically with an adult.
Like everything DAFC we just make life difficult without thinking through simple solutions
FRANK THE TANK FRANK THE TANK
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Topic Originator: NMCmassive
Date: Sat 2 Aug 00:38
Just to play devils advocate!!!!
I can kinda see what the club are saying. One of the only ways they’ve got to make sure an adult doesn’t buy an U12 ticket for themselves is to stipulate that to buy an U12 ST it’s to be bought in conjunction with an adult ST. Even then it won’t be 100% successful.
I really do also see your point of view and trying to keep football as affordable as possible 🤷🏻♂️ it’s a loose loose situation for everyone
COYP
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Sat 2 Aug 06:53
That`s no rant, Rudeboy, more a heartfelt, impassioned plea. The club employee you dealt with is quite new to the post, I believe, and was just following instructions.
I suggest you email Drew Main, the Pars SLO, who I`m sure will be able to sort this out for you. Only 2 Scottish clubs can risk alienating future fans, and the Pars isn`t one of them.
Andrew@dafc.co.uk
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: parsmad68
Date: Sat 2 Aug 07:31
Reminds me of the McDonald situation where a certain food must come with everything despite whether you want it or not. No flexibility in a world where software rules what people can buy.
In answer to your question. Are the Pars turning away future fans, the answer is an unequivocal yes.
The issue of adults buying children’s seasons tickets is separate and should be dealt with as such.
In an electronic age there is every possibility to link your purchased ticket to a season ticket. So if you don’t go, your child ticket is automatically invalid. There are other scenarios that could be played with different circumstances but the club have went for a minimum viable product instead of exploring all potential scenarios and options. I.e. they are maximising their profits against flexibility. This is a club decision but again answers your question that there are scenarios where they are turning away potential future fans.
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Topic Originator: Never10yairds
Date: Sat 2 Aug 07:33
I’d like to buy my son a season ticket but due to working down south, offshore and abroad I won’t be buying one myself as I’ll miss too many games to make it worthwhile. I do have the option of buying my boys season ticket next to my parents tho and they might even take him when I’m not here. If it weren’t for my parents having season tickets I’d be in the same boat as you.
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Topic Originator: stoo61
Date: Sat 2 Aug 07:44
Wandered in due to the extreme thread title and tbh the main thing im surprised about (as a non parent) is that the club ever sold U12 tickets on their own. I had always assumed £21 was a massive deal for a full season ticket holder only. A good deal for the ST holder and the club.
I see no upside for the club to block a seat for an entire season for £21 without a full price ticket alongside. Drawn to its logical (and admittedly improbable) conclusion you could end up with thousands of seats blocked and empty most weeks.
Seems to me like the club may be getting a little more professional on the ticketing side of things. Stamping out the misuse of tickets especially by those who clearly want to take from the club by purchasing a cheaper ticket than they are entitled to. (Not suggesting the OP is doing that whatsoever but clearly some people are and have been for years)
I understand those who have, in past, been able to purchase an U12 ticket on its own might be perturbed but seems like the correct and dare I say it obvious decision for a business with a sellable asset to make and not only that, they`ve created a huge saving for full season ticket holders with children. Win win.
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Topic Originator: oapar
Date: Sat 2 Aug 07:46
Turning fans away is the exact opposite of what the club are trying to achieve right now.
When the free u12 season tickets were introduced the rule was, that they had to be purchased with an adult/concession season ticket. Unfortunately over time, the rules were ignored by some people selling tickets and a new way of selling u12 tickets emerged, allowing an u12 season tickets to be sold without the purchase of an adult/concession season ticket at the same time.
The club is trying to run a professional business and the safety aspect, is one concern. If the tickets are not purchased at the same time, there is no guarantee that the u12 would be seated next to a responsible adult.
This has probably come to light when the season ticket purchasing regulations were reviewed, following the discovery of the number of season tickets that were purchased incorrectly.
Any anger should maybe not be directed at the club, but at those who have `made mistakes` whilst purchasing their tickets, and costing the club valuable income.
Post Edited (Sat 02 Aug 07:51)
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