Newcastle United make big changes to ticket allocations for next season after fan feedback
Perhaps the only thing more common than injuries among Newcastle United players last season was the vocal dissatisfaction from fans regarding the ballot system for home match tickets.
The club implemented the ballot system to ensure fairness in ticket allocations for home games. However, in practice, it proved to be anything but fair. The system was convoluted, barely functional, and left fans with little to no choice regarding seating or ticket pricing. Although the system was adjusted throughout the season for greater transparency, fans remained largely unhappy with its operation.
After extensive consultation with fans via a survey, the Newcastle United Supporters Trust, and the Fan Advisory Board, the club has made significant changes to how the ballot system operates. The details of these changes can be found in full on the club’s website.
In summary, home ticket ballots will continue to be available to The Mags+, Mags, and Junior Mags members as they were last season. However, now, once a member has been successful in the ballot, they will have a 48-hour period to select their preferred seating area and pay for their ticket(s).
Following the allocation of ballot tickets, a member general sale period will begin. This will offer tickets on a first-come, first-served basis to those members who were unsuccessful in the ballot. Members seeking general sale tickets will need to act quickly once they gain access to the site.
To enhance the ticket purchasing experience, the club has introduced a new queue system for accessing the ticketing site.
“Members logging in before tickets go on sale will be held in an online queue. Once tickets go on sale, all members waiting to purchase a ticket will be randomly assigned a designated queue number. This stops supporters from needing to log in hours in advance and supports efforts to combat ticket touting ‘bots’.
“Once at the front of the queue, supporters will have TEN MINUTES to access the website and complete their purchase. If they fail to do so, they will be moved to the back of the queue.”
These changes sound promising and have the potential to significantly improve the ticketing experience for Newcastle United fans. The new system aims to provide a fairer, more efficient process and to combat the issues that plagued the previous ballot system.
The true test will be in how well these changes work in practice. Fans will be watching closely to see if the new system reduces the frustration and contention over ticket allocations, ultimately determining if the club’s efforts have successfully addressed the concerns of their dedicated supporters.
Newcastle United’s revamped ticketing system is a significant step towards fairness and efficiency. By addressing the flaws of the previous ballot system and incorporating feedback from fans, the club has demonstrated a commitment to improving the matchday experience.
If the new system works as intended, it could set a new standard for ticketing practices in the Premier League, ensuring that fans have a better chance of supporting their team from the stands.
