There’s been a lot of debate around away match ticket allocation this season. THST has kept a season-by-season record of the away application process since 2012, and that gives us a chance to analyse the trends.
There’s been a lot of debate around away match ticket allocation this season. THST has kept a season-by-season record of the away application process since 2012, and that gives us a chance to analyse the trends.
The findings have to be understood in context:
There are currently c 19,500 Season Ticket holders at Tottenham Hotspur. This will increase to c 37,500 over the next couple of seasons. But the away allocation remains the same. So the vast majority of Season Ticket holders will miss out on tickets before they even reach members.
Roughly 9% is taken from the average 3,000 away allocation for corporate Season Ticket holders. The Club is intending to increase that to 13% once we move into the new stadium, leaving even fewer tickets for General Admission fans. We have registered our opposition to this. The Club’s response is that making tickets available to corporate members does not always lead to the offer being taken up and that the increase is a pro rata reflection of the increase in the number of premium packages available in the new stadium.
The inescapable fact is that far more fans want away tickets than there are away tickets available.
A close look at comparisons between points required this season and last season brings out the following observations:
In summary:
Despite the ‘perfect storm’ that has fuelled demand in the last two seasons, the trend over the last five seasons is clearly upwards, with fewer away games going to general sale, and an increase in most cases in the number of points required for a ticket.
We’ve produced an infographic detailing the loyalty points required for all Premier League away games from 2012-13 onwards, which is available to download from this web page.
In addition, we’re providing Excel sheets incorporating the same data.
Thanks to Justin Ford for his graphics work.
THST Board
May 2017
- We’ve challenged for the title in two consecutive seasons, and played some of the best football seen in years.
- This season, qualification for the Champions League meant more matches were played on a Saturday, making away trips more convenient.
- The £30 away ticket price cap was introduced this season. That meant an end to £50 trips to United and City and £60+ trips to the Emirates and Stamford Bridge.
- One Hotspur membership increased by well over 10,000 this season, putting yet more pressure on the average 3,000 away allocations.
There are currently c 19,500 Season Ticket holders at Tottenham Hotspur. This will increase to c 37,500 over the next couple of seasons. But the away allocation remains the same. So the vast majority of Season Ticket holders will miss out on tickets before they even reach members.
Roughly 9% is taken from the average 3,000 away allocation for corporate Season Ticket holders. The Club is intending to increase that to 13% once we move into the new stadium, leaving even fewer tickets for General Admission fans. We have registered our opposition to this. The Club’s response is that making tickets available to corporate members does not always lead to the offer being taken up and that the increase is a pro rata reflection of the increase in the number of premium packages available in the new stadium.
The inescapable fact is that far more fans want away tickets than there are away tickets available.
A close look at comparisons between points required this season and last season brings out the following observations:
- Arsenal showed a small increase but was not the most popular away game this season.
- Chelsea remained roughly consistent with last season, despite the £30 price cap delivering one of the biggest price reductions.
- Liverpool showed an increase from last season, from 258 to 301 points for Season Ticket holders.
- Manchester City showed a clear rise, from a general sale match to 168 points for Season Ticket holders. The Saturday 5.30pm kick-off in a good town to visit will have fuelled demand, along with our sensational win at the Etihad last Valentine’s Day.
- Similarly, United showed a clear rise. From a members match to 198 points for Season Ticket holders. Our improved form at Old Trafford in recent years was undoubtedly an influence.
- West Ham showed an increase from 303 to 354 points for Season Ticket holders. This year was our first visit to the London Stadium, and came at a vital stage of the season.
- Palace increased from 300 to 361 for clear view tickets (somewhat of a misnomer in the Arthur Wait stand!)
- Swansea showed a clear rise from a members match to 178 points for Season Ticket holders despite being a midweek game. The frantic end to that game will probably see this remain a popular match in the 2017-18 season, also.
- Leicester increased from members to 295 points for Season Ticket holders. But the nature of our relationship with Leicester has changed and the timing of this match – right at the end of the season – will have had an impact. This match was also subsidised down to £20 for adults by Virgin Media.
- Everton jumped from a solid members match to a 240 point Season Ticket match. Timing for this fixture would have made a difference, however. It was the opening game of the season and a Saturday, as opposed to the Sunday after New Year in the 2015-16 season.
- West Brom leaped from a solid members match to a 250 point Season Ticket match.
- Southampton reverted to a little above the level seen in 2014-15.
- Stoke remained a members match.
- Sunderland continued to go to General Sale.
- Bournemouth remained consistent from last season. This will always be artificially high because of the smaller allocation.
- Similarly, Watford showed an increase from 356 to 399. Again this will always be higher because of the smaller allocation.
In summary:
- 3 out of 19 Premier League away games went to members, including one to General Sale. The other 16 went to Season Ticket holders.
- The lowest Season Ticket points cut off was Manchester City at 168.
- The highest Season Ticket points cut off with a full allocation was Crystal Palace at 361 points for a clear view ticket.
- The number of games accessible to members decreased to 3 this season. This compares to 10 last season, 14 in 2015/15, and 15 in 2013/14.
- Games going to General Sale is now a very rare occurrence.
Despite the ‘perfect storm’ that has fuelled demand in the last two seasons, the trend over the last five seasons is clearly upwards, with fewer away games going to general sale, and an increase in most cases in the number of points required for a ticket.
We’ve produced an infographic detailing the loyalty points required for all Premier League away games from 2012-13 onwards, which is available to download from this web page.
In addition, we’re providing Excel sheets incorporating the same data.
Thanks to Justin Ford for his graphics work.
THST Board
May 2017
| loyatly_points_infographic_1_alt.pdf |
| thst_lp_summary_2016-17.pdf |
| thst_lp_summary_2012-2017.pdf |
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