In February’s West Ham Fan Advisory Board minutes, the Club confirmed they are actively monitoring the utilisation of season tickets and contacting supporters if they did not list or forward their ticket to a family member or friend.
The Club also confirmed they will make Fan Advisory Board Supporter Representatives aware when the minimum use policy began to be enforced.
This appears to confirm that the club want to bring in a scheme similar to Brighton, Arsenal and Manchester United where if you miss a set of home games or don’t list them on ticket exchange you lose the right to renew that season ticket the following season.
Brighton have recently introduced a utilisation policy meaning you lose the right to renew after missing five games without listing them on Ticket exchange while it is harsher three missed games before you lose your season ticket at Arsenal and Manchester United.
Many white empty seats can be seen at the London Stadium each home game with a freedom of information request by Claret and Hugh as many as 21,000 ticket holders missing from a game against Brentford last season. On average 8,750 ticket holders are missing from each and every West Ham home over the past two seasons.
Whilst I see why clubs are doing this, some if the blame must go to changing fixture dates for tv. My dad has been a season ticket holder for years and has to travel to get to games by train. Now elderly, he will not travel on public transport after dark which means moving saturday 3pm games to later times or Mondays are not obtainable. Thus must apply to others or those working aswell.
I’m the same boat as well.My friend i go with to West Ham is giving up his season ticket but i still want to go even though i will be billy no mates!
I’m a fit senior but like your dad Sally i don’t particularly want to go to the evening games especially as my wife doesn’t wants me to go neither.
The compromise i think would be to go the weekend afternoon games and put the evening kick off on ticket exchange even though the club rips you off on them.
I gave up my season ticket last year because I’m 75 and find it difficult to attend a number of games due to scheduling. Travelling to late night mid week games is impossible, and Sunday transport often meets with rail maintenance too. The loss of many Saturday 3pm games hits some fans hard.
Well thats sweet, so perhaps WHU should stop claiming full house attendance of 65000 they only claim that figure on the fact WHU have sold all season tickets and as for posting them on ticket exchange thats because they are missing out on another payment for that seat.
Im 68 and my brother 78 and cant always make matches more so Saturday and Sunday night then midweek matches crazy scheduling
Only 3pm kick offs on a Saturday have a full attendance. There are always tickets available for other matches on ticket exchange. Alas with the demands of tv we have less and less 3pm Saturday k/os
Many s/t are in kids names who can’t be up till midnight on a school night
Absolutely, I have commented on my elderly father travelling but understand your perspective with kids too. It’s about time clubs looked after the real fans rather than the armchair supporters and demands of sky tv. But unfortunately those days are gone
It’s quite simple really. Ask lady Brady.
We are customers now. Not fans….sadly
I support this so strongly. It is often very hard to get tickets, especially with the kids. It’s infuriating that so many are wasted… it’s been like that since we moved. Was always possible to get tickets at Upton Park.
Should question how ticket touts have them for sale WHU should crack down on this practice which they were supposed to have been doing for years not penalise true paying supporters
Nailed it 👌