West Ham season ticket holders renewing for next season have agreed to updated terms and conditions which include a new clause in which the club could withdraw their season ticket if the holder does not attend seven or more Premier League matches.
All season ticket holders are required to tick a box on renewal online to say they accept the new terms and conditions which say: “Failure to attend more than 7 Premier League games may result in the Club withdrawing your season ticket. Utilising the Official Ticket Exchange or Official Ticket Transfer will constitute as attending.”
The new clause has been introduced to combat the ongoing problem of empty seats at the London Stadium where supporters have bought cheap seats but have failed to use them for every game and have decided not to put them on the club’s ticket exchange.
A club source has told Claret and Hugh have the new clause would only apply a tiny percentage of season ticket holders when looking at the total of non-attendance figures for this season but was a deterrent to ensure season ticket seats are fully utilised.
On average 1,500 season ticket holders use the Ticket Exchange facility each league game and the club hopes that trend will continue and improve next season with the introduction of Ticket forwarding to friends or family.
There are claimed to be over 55,000 on the waiting list for a season ticket.
The full update Terms and Conditions can be found at http://seasontickets.whufc.com/terms-conditions
My wife and I are season ticket holders in the 1966 area. Currently we live in the States but will be retiring back home within 2 years and then will be using the tickets personally for every game. Currently we get to 4/5 games, our kids another 4 and the rest we donate to The Bobby Moore Fund who sell the remaining tickets to W H supporters to raise funds.
I have checked with holders in are area who confirm that the seats are being used.
Question, will this new “rule” effect us?
If you donate to the Bobby Moore Fund using ticket forwarding then you will not be penalised and they will not count as absent. As long as the seat is used by someone no issue. In reality they would talk yo you first to see if there are any special circumstances
This statement
“Failure to attend more than 7 Premier League games may result in the Club withdrawing your season ticket. Utilising the Official Ticket Exchange or Official Ticket Transfer will constitute as attending.”
I suppose it is a minor improvement and for people like Philly above it would be useful but speaking as someone that doesn’t have but would like a season ticket it looks very poor, somebody could attend no games in a season and put all of them on the ticket exchange (which would be very odd admittedly) but they are still denying other fans who would attend most if not all home games a season ticket and forcing them to pay significantly more a season than if they had an ST. Surely it also says to ticket touts you can put 7 of your tickets on the official site or ticket trader and sell 12 on the black market to still make a profit out of them doesn’t it ?
Touts don’t have to even put 7 tickets on the official site – as long as they sell the ticket to someone then the seat isn’t empty and then they have ‘attended’.
Just to clear it only counts if your seat is empty! If lend it to someone else, forward it to someone or put it on ticket trader it won’t count to the seven and your out rule.
I am told even if you put it on ticket trader and it doesn’t sell it still won’t count against you!
After 7 leagues with your seat empty the club will write to you and ask if there is a valid explaination such as an illness. If the club receive no response they may cancel your ticket and sell it to someone else.
I don’t remember seeing this tick-box when I renewed (on the 24/4), it wouldn’t effect my decision but has it just been introduced in the last few weeks?