Let’s put something out there from the off. You are never going to create a perfect ticketing system that makes everyone happy.
It is one of those irritating givens in life like Monday mornings or taxes. As much as we may rightly pick out flaws within how any club operates their ticketing system, there will always be losers.
To those who cannot get tickets, the system is bad. To those that can, the system is working fine.
I put that intro in purely to foreshadow some of the surprisingly mixed responses to Chelsea’s new ticketing policy, which has predictably sparked strong reaction. Given the mood right now is – let’s put this diplomatically – atrocious, there is little to no goodwill afforded to any club announcement.
The major changes see the introduction of a ballot for members buying home tickets, season ticket holders having to physically attend 13 Premier League matches to ‘utilise’ their ticket, loyalty points being distributed to those that attend rather than just buying, increased ID verification for those over 16, and a chance for fans to opt in for an automatic cup scheme to purchase tickets for any home games in cup competitions.
The Supporters Trust statement on Wednesday afternoon rejected the newest proposals.
“Throughout the consultation process, the CST consistently made clear to the club that balloting would not be welcomed by matchgoing supporters and that the CST would oppose its implementation. The CST’s position remains clear.
“Chelsea FC must listen to its fanbase. Supporters want the club to pause, properly survey members, listen to supporter concerns and re-evaluate these proposals before pressing ahead with changes that many match-going supporters do not support.”
Many will see this latest announcement as just more evidence of the club completely ignoring the concerns of supporters in service of their own interests. Some cynical takes theorise the requirement for fans to attend is an attempt to deter potential boycotts amid growing protests.
Will a ballot completely ruin the ability of members to get tickets? That’s impossible to know. As are concerns that enacting fairness via a third party will see those who’ve been attending games for years overtaken by newbies.
Rather than citing my own concerns or ramblings on the matter, I asked Twitter for some thoughts. Maybe not the most rational idea for emotionally stable thought. Asking for the initial takes of season ticket holders, members and anything in between sparked a mixed array of responses.
Despite the valid concerns of the CST and other supporters about these changes, there are some that appear welcoming of them.
“Personally, the utility rule isn’t as draconian as I feared it could be, shift work makes attending 13 PL games tricky so glad forwarding is included. From a wider view, the ballot is unwanted, doesn’t address touting issues and doesn’t reward loyalty. What was the rationale?” - Martin Wickham
“Some parts make sense, some are terrible and nobody wanted a ballot. Smacks of window-dressing actual problems again.” - Rob Pratley
“All looks ok, apart from the ballot nonsense and how they are going to choose which seats you sit in. Fix the current system or do it again properly.” - DaveF
“Member. Happy with it all, including the ballot. I wrote to the club 4 years ago suggesting this change in LPs. Got there in the end.” - Steve Jefferies
“Member. Happy with a ballot and not having to be in an online queue during work hours.” - Vlowman
“Genuinely disgraceful. My Grandad is 86 and sometimes decides literally an hour before the game if he’s going to attend (he only lives a five-minute walk away). This year he has only made half the games due to his health. He has been going 50+ years and could now lose his ticket, which is wrong.” - Thomas Bath
“STH. Broadly ok with most of the changes (despite meaning I’ll lose loyalty points on any forwarded tickets, but understand the change). Ballot is a MASSIVE no no though.” - CFCDG
Whilst this can only be a small snapshot of takes, they do cite a variety of responses rather than blanket acceptance or rejection.
What is notable is that even in support, many are still concerned with how it will be implemented. Given the repeated issues within the ticketing system since the change to digital last summer, there will be valid scepticism.
And above all else, the biggest bombshell will be the imminent drop in pricing, which risks another price hike after a truly atrocious season on the pitch that has lost faith in footballing matters.
You’ll fit right in Emmanuel
It has been another quite normal week for BlueCo Inc. On Monday, Chelsea lost a now-record sixth league game in a row to a rotated 16th-place opponent, who then went on to get battered by Aston Villa on Thursday night.
On the same night in Alsace, Strasbourg fell to Rayo Vallecano in the semi-final second leg of the Europa Conference League. Failing to score at home and losing 1-0 on the night for a 2-0 aggregate defeat sparked fury from the stands.
This led to a viral clip where Emmanuel Emegha protested against his own crowd targeting fury at him given he did not play. Wearing his own clothes and stood in sunglasses, the forward refused to be restrained by teammates as he approached supporters to calm their frustrations.
This led Diego Moreira to storm away in frustration as the rest of Strasbourg’s squad stood almost still in shock.
In a broader context, the sight of growing apathy in west London and Alsace represents something meaningful. Not only a rejection of the multi-club model by Chelsea’s French counterparts, but also the sense that this ownership cultivates rejection from fans.