Pleas for a proper physical alternative to digital season tickets have fallen on deaf ears from the club this evening.
Senior stakeholders from the club virtually met supporters’ groups this evening but the ticket office refused to concede and instead insisted those who can not use a mobile phone or print from home would need to visit the ticket office to have a ticket printed out ahead of each and every game.
Hammers United put out a statement following the meeting saying:
To confirm that digital tickets will be used for the Betway Cup match and the first three home Premier League games. Supporters without phones/computers will need to go to the ticket office on matchday and ask staff to print tickets off for them. It is advisable to get to the ticket office well in advance of the KO off time. Some members have expressed concern and we have asked the club for another meeting where we will raise these concerns and ask the club to consider all options.
Manchester United and Liverpool are leading the way by giving choice to their supporters by demonstrating they care about those with disabilities or without access to technology. West Ham claims to be an inclusive club but in this regard, they are discriminating against a minority of their fanbase who struggle with technology.
Feel free to email ticketoffice@westhamunited.co.uk and copy in supporterservices@westhamunited.co.uk if you disagree with the club’s stance on this issue.
You couldnt make it up.
All we keep hearing from football is the game is nothing without supporters.
The club(like others) are at a cross roads with many of our supporters, many have got used to not going, that bug that keeps us going when we don’t want to has gone for many over the past 2 seasons.
The club should be doing everything it can to make our lives easier.
We’ve lost many fans disillusioned with the move to the athletics stadium.
We’ve lost many others disillusioned with the atmosphere around the club, it’s no longer we’re all in this together, it’s faceless stewarding, take it or leave it attitude.
We are now about to potentially take out a lot of older supporters who don’t do digital and online.
We are also taking out people who share season tickets as they have done for years who maybe can’t afford one on their own.
This club loves to alienate itself from its true supporters, and no matter what they say the couldn’t give a toss.
All these committees and boards are worthless, they pretend they are engaged and they are not, it’s lip service.
Man U, Liverpool, the two most successful clubs found an easy way.
Did the old cards need changing? NO, or let people have the option, it’s not hard.
6 months ago they are begging to get us back, now they don’t care, they’ve sold the season tickets so stick two fingers up at those mugs again.
I’ve had my ticket for nearly 40 years, this isn’t the club I grew up loving.
This club is about greed and stuff anyone who needs help.
This club couldn’t give a S***.
Very eloquently said, and very true. Saves me the effort of writing exactly the same thing. 10/10😀😀
Yet more proof of the poor judgement of Brady and the team she’s built at West Ham. She’s basically asking the elderly to stand in long queues, which will only get longer as a result of this pig-headedness, in typically cold and wet weather. I’m reminded of the very short stint I “served” on the SAB a few years ago, I asked her why there hadn’t been a section of the OS given over to under-18 fans and parents, in the way there was at UP, which would allow some younger fans, who the Club were rightly encouraging to come along to matches, to be protected from some of the more boisterous shall we say elements in the ground. Her reply: there are too many under-18 fans.
I sincerely hope that our board reconsider this strategy, match day support is the life blood of the club, we come in all shapes, sizes, ages and physical levels, surely we can’t have a system where those that need the most help are asked to endure the most arduous task!
well said david , spot on
Sadly, this is just another example of Brady & Co refusing to listen to the views of the fan base and feeling they know best. I dread to think of the queues at the Ticket Office for fans needing tickets to be printed. It’s discriminatory against those who don’t have a smart phone or computer/printer at home and shows the contempt the Club have for the fans.
Even though I have a smartphone and know how to use it, I would prefer a season ticket card. There should be choice. Technology has been a significant part of my working life for the last 40 years and, because of that, I know how frequently it can go wrong with ensuing chaos. I am seriously considering not using my smartphone and queuing up to get a ticket printed at the Ticket Office. Perhaps the very long queues every match day will force a change of mind.