Arsenal Tix '08/'09

[akofman12345]

i've been posting around the ticket threads, and I'm sorry if i seem a bit paranoid , but i have some questions/ concerns.

My High School Graduation present is a trip to London for 10 days to see Arsenal/Arsenal related things and two of my friends (both Arsenal fans) are coming with me. We will be in London for the first two games of the season (West Brom- Home, Fulham-Away). I just wanted to know from anyone in aa, or anyone who has knowledge of the matter, if i have a good chance of getting 3 tickets for each match, provided off course that all of us sign up for aa, do the pre-pay, etc.

Im in no way requesting the tickets (until i can), but I just wanted to know because my parents have been asking, and so i can get at least a bit of piece of mind concerning my trip in two months.

Again, I'm sorry that i have to be asking all of this, and i don't want to come off as if im requesting tickets now.

[aa tickets]

Hi guys (and gals?),

Just wanted to say thanks for the various suggestions/thoughts/etc. you've been posting. And thanks in advance for your patience with us (me really) as we get going this year. Rick's shoes, at least the proverbial ones, are massive so filling them is going to be an interesting endeavor... As I get more comfortable with the whole process I'll post more - just under this username, at least for now. And sometimes it'll be Simon posting as aa tickets.

And even though I'm American, I live in London so there will still be the time difference you've been used to with Rick.

-Meredith

[HeliGunner]

Speaking for those newbies who have paid through the nose for "other" sources of Arsenal tickets, thanks go out to Arsenal America! Your patience is amazing.

Let's get it on.
:D

[ArsenalTexan3]

One thing that Arsenal Scotland does is you have the ten week request thing that Arsenal has used on all supporters clubs. You send in a ticket request to one person(which given the size of ASSC isn't not a bad thing). Usually they are able to get you the tickets, but in cases such as Liverpool, Manwho, chel$ski and sp:rolleyes:rs, a lottery is usually formed.

In some cases depending on the match, the club is able to get tickets from other clubs. I strongly recommend ArseAm to try and use this since there are a number of tickets already to try and form a partnership.

[HighburyGoon]

In some cases depending on the match, the club is able to get tickets from other clubs. I strongly recommend ArseAm to try and use this since there are a number of tickets already to try and form a partnership.

Rick would either give tickets to or receive tickets from fellow supporters clubs at just about every match. The thinking is that those relationships will continue.

[Jeff L]

Fantastic!!! 32 out of 38 games are kicking off on Saturday afternoons at 3 o'clock!

1. Where did you get that info from?

2. Is that 3 o'clock London time or Harare time ? :D

[Lanesra]

1. Where did you get that info from?

2. Is that 3 o'clock London time or Harare time ? :D

The fixture list, it must be true

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Pre-pay at time of ordering will almost certainly be part of the new system, at least to start, due to the 'crunch' that comes at the beginning of each season in which we have to order months worth of tickets before any person every sets foot in London. In previous years I've advanced (and others) ArsenalAmerica several thousand to cover the expenses but this year we would prefer to try some payment when ordering option with refunds sent if we're unsuccessful at finding tickets. It helps weed out bogus requests and guards against no-shows (of which we seem to have every season).
That's not really going to be feasible for some people. A lot of us are students and dropping £400 on tickets at once just isn't possible for me. That'll just knock every student out of the ability to go, which isn't fair since a lot of students are AA members, and some of us have history of showing up for games and paying.

A deposit of £75-80 I could just about swing, or maybe paying in installments, but if you're asking me to pay £400 before a ball has been kicked I won't be renewing my membership and exploring other avenues for tickets.

[HighburyGoon]

That's not really going to be feasible for some people. A lot of us are students and dropping £400 on tickets at once just isn't possible for me. That'll just knock every student out of the ability to go, which isn't fair since a lot of students are AA members, and some of us have history of showing up for games and paying.

A deposit of £75-80 I could just about swing, or maybe paying in installments, but if you're asking me to pay £400 before a ball has been kicked I won't be renewing my membership and exploring other avenues for tickets.

Are you serious? I mean, would you ask Ticketmaster if you could pay in installments?

[Frankgarrison]

That's not really going to be feasible for some people. A lot of us are students and dropping £400 on tickets at once just isn't possible for me. That'll just knock every student out of the ability to go, which isn't fair since a lot of students are AA members, and some of us have history of showing up for games and paying.

A deposit of £75-80 I could just about swing, or maybe paying in installments, but if you're asking me to pay £400 before a ball has been kicked I won't be renewing my membership and exploring other avenues for tickets.

Look, I sympathize to a certain degree but if you or anyone else is planning to attend EVERY game during a particular time period (a semester or school year), then I don't understand how you can complain it is UNFAIR to have to pay just like everyone else. Is your argument that since you're going to SO many games, you ought to be given special consideration for payment of tickets? Doesn't that strike you as a bit petulant? Why do you deserve special treatment?

Season ticket holders pay for their tickets in June I think, 2 months before a ball is kicked. Silver and red members pay for their tickets, in full, well over a month before a ball is kicked. They don't get installment plans. Follow the rules. If you can't afford to pay for a ticket, no ticket. That's life. Maybe skip a match? Maybe go see Orient or Brentford instead?

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Are you serious? I mean, would you ask Ticketmaster if you could pay in installments?
Do I buy from Ticketmaster?

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Look, I sympathize to a certain degree but if you or anyone else is planning to attend EVERY game during a particular time period (a semester or school year), then I don't understand how you can complain it is UNFAIR to have to pay just like everyone else. Is your argument that since you're going to SO many games, you ought to be given special consideration for payment of tickets? Doesn't that strike you as a bit petulant? Why do you deserve special treatment?

Season ticket holders pay for their tickets in June I think, 2 months before a ball is kicked. Silver and red members pay for their tickets, in full, well over a month before a ball is kicked. They don't get installment plans. Follow the rules. If you can't afford to pay for a ticket, no ticket. That's life. Maybe skip a match? Maybe go see Orient or Brentford instead?
Season ticket holders are wealthy. I'm not wealthy.

There are no rules yet, this is an idea. I'm saying this is a bad idea. It disadvantages students like me who save up money to go to games, and it also disadvantages people in unique situations (since I live in London). I don't take more than my fair share of tickets, in fact I gave up tickets last year for games so other people would go. The games I did go to were either low demand games nobody shows up for other than people like me who lived here, and games I applied for 2 hours after the fixture list came out. And frankly it annoys me that I'm basically not going to be able to go participate in ArsenalAmerica because people who are NOT me didn't pay for tickets. I paid for my tickets last year. I even paid for a game I missed because it was my fault I missed it. And the response from AA is that I can't go to games because I don't have £400 sitting in my pocket right *now*? Red and silver members don't get access to games in May now, so why should I pay now for games in May?

Look, this is not the law. There should be flexibility here. I (and this goes for other people too, but I only know my situation so who else am I going to argue about?) pay for my tickets, I don't not show up and leave people hanging. People like Aaron and Rick have my phone number, know where I live. And I post here all the time. I'm not a faceless, nameless person who asks for 2 tickets for Bolton and never shows up again. I'm not asking to pay day of like I usually did last year, but there needs to be another way.

I understand the need to not be left hanging for tickets since Arsenal tickets are so ungodly expensive (which is why I watch quite a lot of Crystal Palace football..), but it's a draconian solution. And if it happens, what's the point of an ArsenalAmerica membership?

Perhaps a third way is the club (AA) only asks payment for tickets they actually order there and then, so if I ask for a game in May, I don't pay for that game until the club needs to order tickets in March or April or whatever. IMO this is like the Red Sox asking fans to buy World Series tickets right now and then we'll refund you if we don't make it. Oh, thanks, that's £400 I might have really needed.

[goonersf]

Season ticket holders are wealthy. I'm not wealthy.
Look, this is not the law. There should be flexibility here. I (and this goes for other people too, but I only know my situation so who else am I going to argue about?) pay for my tickets, I don't not show up and leave people hanging. People like Aaron and Rick have my phone number, know where I live. And I post here all the time. I'm not a faceless, nameless person who asks for 2 tickets for Bolton and never shows up again. I'm not asking to pay day of like I usually did last year, but there needs to be another way.


Everyone's situation is different, but I think it's completely unrealistic to expect a ticketing system so flexible that it accommodates people, simply because of a personal relationship with the Arsenal America members handling ticket requests, or because of their personal financial limitations.

For better of worse, the Arsenal America ticketing system needs to treat all Arsenal America member's ticket requests equally. A truly egalitarian system will make the same payment requirements of every member.

This will help streamline the system for Simon & Meredith, whose task of coordinating all requests, is already difficult enough.

Personally, I think asking for a deposit (refundable if tickets are unavailable) when the initial request is made is more than reasonable, with the remaining payment due when actual tickets are confirmed by AA.

Paying in full up front is also OK with me as long as you are guaranteed tickets. However, I don't think we should ask members to pay in full, if there is a chance the tickets won't materialize.

One ticketing system to rule them all. ;)

[idiparker]

Ticket requests will be rolling. We're not going to be taking requests for games in May sometime in August. It's too much of a hassle and would result in us holding money that we don't want for far too long. We also hope to be able to refund people as soon as we know whether our formal requests have been approved.

I think we may have two systems--a formal one that we work through Arsenal and our season ticket stash, and then a 'network' system in which we try to put people in touch with those who have spares, etc -- a more cash and carry system.

I should note that our system is **primarily** designed for Americans traveling over for a game. As many people need to get the tickets first confirmed before they buy airline tickets, book hotels, we like to try to sort that out formally in advanced so they have a guaranteed seat. We help Americans residing in London try to see as many games as possible, but that's not our first priority.

Andrew (a.k.a the guy who has fronted ArsenalAmerican over $14,400 for tickets at the moment).

[SLO-Gunner]

Personally, I think asking for a deposit (refundable if tickets are unavailable) when the initial request is made is more than reasonable, with the remaining payment due when actual tickets are confirmed by AA.

Paying in full up front is also OK with me as long as you are guaranteed tickets. However, I don't think we should ask members to pay in full, if there is a chance the tickets won't materialize.

This sounds reasonable enough from both ends.

[idiparker]

Personally, I think asking for a deposit (refundable if tickets are unavailable) when the initial request is made is more than reasonable, with the remaining payment due when actual tickets are confirmed by AA.

Paying in full up front is also OK with me as long as you are guaranteed tickets. However, I don't think we should ask members to pay in full, if there is a chance the tickets won't materialize.


It will be something like this because we never really know the price of the tickets until we get them back from Arsenal. It's actually quite a problem for us.

We buy the tickets with a Visa Debit Card. Our 'credit', aka the money we have available to buy tickets, is usually the club dues or any advances members make. The problem is this is a delicate balancing act, and at times we've had to make emergency payments into the account to cover massive weeks (i.e. weeks when we buy tickets for 3-4 games at once). We've had some declines on the card and Arsenal occasionally gets really really annoyed. We're hoping that by having people put some money in at the start, we'll be better able to handle the cash flow, along with weeding out some of the BS requests we get.

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Personally, I think asking for a deposit (refundable if tickets are unavailable) when the initial request is made is more than reasonable, with the remaining payment due when actual tickets are confirmed by AA.

I'm fine with a deposit (I said that in my first post), I just wasn't cool with paying for all tickets up front. It actually costs me money to pay for all tickets up front, since even if I had money for every game I would be forgoing the generous interest rates paid by banks here.
Ticket requests will be rolling. We're not going to be taking requests for games in May sometime in August. It's too much of a hassle and would result in us holding money that we don't want for far too long. We also hope to be able to refund people as soon as we know whether our formal requests have been approved.

I think we may have two systems--a formal one that we work through Arsenal and our season ticket stash, and then a 'network' system in which we try to put people in touch with those who have spares, etc -- a more cash and carry system.

I should note that our system is **primarily** designed for Americans traveling over for a game. As many people need to get the tickets first confirmed before they buy airline tickets, book hotels, we like to try to sort that out formally in advanced so they have a guaranteed seat. We help Americans residing in London try to see as many games as possible, but that's not our first priority.

Andrew (a.k.a the guy who has fronted ArsenalAmerican over $14,400 for tickets at the moment).
$14K? Pff. ;)

Seriously, that's a fair solution. I'll probably go to four to six games this year and I'm not planning to skip payment, but in this period when I'm working to pay my rent and my loan hasn't come in, I just don't have the money for all six games right now. And being in London, I've called Rick a few times last year at the last minute to find a ticket, which he has gratefully obliged for low-demand games (Bolton, Sevilla). I'm fine with being back of the queue for people who only fly over once every other year since it's more important to them, I just want a setup where I'm not expected to pay for six games at once because that's just not possible for me. A formal/informal setup works for everyone, because I'll happily watch a low-demand team like Stoke at the last second and then you make sure there's not an empty seat for Chelsea because Joe Blow stiffed you.

Also, I'd ask for a sticky on deadines to apply for tickets for X games (i.e. apply by March 16 for May 16, Man U-Arsenal). I gave up my ticket to OT last year because of money and because AA didn't get enough tickets for all the people who were flying over, and no one's stoppin me going this year..:D

[Ziegler1988]

Ticket requests will be rolling. We're not going to be taking requests for games in May sometime in August. It's too much of a hassle and would result in us holding money that we don't want for far too long. We also hope to be able to refund people as soon as we know whether our formal requests have been approved.
Also, I'd ask for a sticky on deadines to apply for tickets for X games (i.e. apply by March 16 for May 16, Man U-Arsenal). I gave up my ticket to OT last year because of money and because AA didn't get enough tickets for all the people who were flying over, and no one's stoppin me going this year..:D
I can see a lot of people being disappointed for Chelsea H and ManU A; they will book flights before they find out if they're successful and they could end up without a ticket for either match. Maybe take requests for those matches in January and explicitly let people know they may not get a ticket if the demand is too high?

EDIT: Also, just a suggestion, but could people living in the UK for the season be treated like everyone else for say 3 matches and then have to settle for extras for other matches? I don't really think it would be fair to make us a lower priority for every match and two to three matches is usually the number that travelling Americans go to. I'm fine with not being able to go to every match that I want through AA, but I think my membership should allow me to be on equal footing for two or three matches of my choice.

[goonersf]

I should note that our system is **primarily** designed for Americans traveling over for a game. As many people need to get the tickets first confirmed before they buy airline tickets, book hotels, we like to try to sort that out formally in advanced so they have a guaranteed seat. We help Americans residing in London try to see as many games as possible, but that's not our first priority.

Andrew (a.k.a the guy who has fronted ArsenalAmerican over $14,400 for tickets at the moment).

$14,400? Wow. Above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you for your unselfish commitment.

And I agree that Americans traveling over should get first priority.

[HomeatHighbury]

Maybe skip a match? Maybe go see Orient or Brentford instead?

Make sure to sit in the wooden stand at Brisbane Road. That way you feel a sense of adventure while watching Orient--the place could go up in flames any second! ;)