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The Olympic Stad Pick Experience

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 27/04/2016 - 11:20

Westfield Stratford is much like a mirror image of Westfield in White City, except the Stratford one has the Hammers 'Reservation' take away outlet! Ray Winstone's distinctive voice booms out via the promotional video, an audio assault which the poor blighters who work there have had to endure many thousands of times, saying how we are going to 'ammer the opposition when they turn up at what has been cruelly dubbed as The Tax Payers Stadium. The irony of using Big Ray is that his voice is synonymous with Bet 365 in play, whereas West Ham are sponsored by their fierce rivals Betway, perhaps they might put a bid in for his services during the summer transfer window.
Anyway, to continue the 'experience', those people lucky enough to even be at the arse end of the queue duly turn up to their allotted time slot, shortly after the aforementioned 'promo' is shown an agent sits down to show what seats are available, and it can be confirmed that as of yesterday (26.04.2016) there are very few left and even fewer choices! Essentially the only remaining seats are (a) up in the gods (b) next to the away fans (c ) next to the broadcasting towers, there is also the caveat that seats will not be available for FA Cup matches because of the need to offer 15% of the available seats for away fans, a signed declaration is required from the season ticket purchaser before completion. The next stage is paying and receiving your seat allocation and registration numbers which are highly important, but the on line validation process might confuse some, on completion of the process and just before departure fans are obliged to have their photo taken twice, once with a scarf and then once making the crossed hammers sign, this is ostensibly for giant background pictures because the original 'wrap' has been turned down. The fact that a two year ticket purchase is mandatory is not in itself an issue, after all the 'economy' seats are priced very keenly and so most fans are happy to stump up, there is also a loan facility so no one is left out, all of this is very encouraging, but there is one nagging doubt. During the signing up process it is made known and is common knowledge that these last seats were only available because of the club's decision to increase capacity from 55,000 to 60,000, therefore what is disturbing is that people are still being asked to pay a £10 registration fee to join the priority list, one which is currently over subscribed by 30,000! So basic maths shows West Ham will make an extra £300,000, peanuts in today's ludicrously bloated football industry, the people at the end of that list don't have a hope in hell of ever getting a ticket, definitely not for years, so shouldn't the club be more transparent about the waiting list? It would be rather a decent gesture if the club's hierarchy were able to publicly announce the success of the season ticket issue while at the same time warning how long it may take to get your ticket if you are on the priority list, it might be an even better gesture if they were to offer the money back to people who now realise they are unlikely to ever get their hands on a ticket. It would be an inexpensive PR coup, and would help endorse the fact that West Ham United really is moore than a club. - Ed

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mcbikeman's picture

the club today and asked what is the point in having an Academy membership anymore? for work reasons It is pointless for me to buy a season ticket and I asked how many tickets would be on general sale for matches to which I did not get an answer so when I pointed out that after season ticket holders Academy members were meant to get the next chance for tickets that came available because we pay a small yearly premium for that privilege again I was met with a brief splutter and it is being looked into as much has yet to be finalised! whatever was meant by that load of bulls**t it has given me reason enough to consider not to continue with my membership as what would be the point?

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282 users have voted.
nevillenixon's picture

Totally correct, although academy membership does still entitle you to a match day ticket price reduction and supposedly priority access to match day tickets, but the numbers don't seem to add up, no one seems to know how many tickets, if any, will be available for non-season ticket holders. I believe there is some weird FA rule that a certain percentage of tickets have to be available..we are going to look in to it! - Ed

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141 users have voted.
mcbikeman's picture

about the whole allocation of tickets was the decision to let season ticket holders invite a couple of friends to buy season tickets as well...that was wrong in my eyes....after all current season ticket holders that wanted to had taken up the opportunity to get in first after that it should of been offered to all registered Academy members only then should the chance to purchase extra tickets for current season ticket holders of been offered.....so if you had been a member for years(like me)someone who may not have been but new a season ticket holder had the chance to purchase one ahead of others who to my mind have not been given a second thought...personally this does not affect me like I mentioned because of work but to many others I know they feel hard done by.

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145 users have voted.

And that's how you hear stories about arsenal fans getting season tickets for our first season whilst real hammers can't. As for people paying a tenner for the priority list despite having no chance of getting one (e.g. Me) why not offer those guys first option to the juventus friendly, so they can at least get to experience the new stadium at a pestegious game with a bit of atmosphere! Personally I'm right narked off about needlessly paying that money. Put me right off even trying for tickets next season. When those Johnny come latelys drift away the club is gonna need people like me, and I will remember this and the way it has been done.

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145 users have voted.

I was a season ticket holder for years,then cos of commitments have been academy member for years...ive supported the mighty hammers for the best part of 50 years,but will 10 game a season fans like me & my family get a look in for a seat on matchdays at the O.S??very,very unlikely...oh but i will continue to get dozens of e-mails every week urging me to buy merchandise!Affordable prices are great (if you can get a ticket!!)

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147 users have voted.
nevillenixon's picture

It appears there will become a situation whereby people have to obtain their seats through word of mouth from season ticket holders who do not attend. There will be quite a lot of people who have bought season tickets who will not attend that often, only for the elite matches, therefore there will either be plenty of gaps in the seating or people will start to seat share.

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130 users have voted.

Must admit nev that's was gona be my idea to seat share. If I'd been more organised I could have got a group together to share out the games attended. I'm gona be right peed off if I can't get a ticket yet seats are empty.

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197 users have voted.

I have missed a lot of games this season due to serious illness & being in hospital.
For every game I have not been able to attend I have offered my season ticket up on the ticket trader service in the hope of getting a few bob back or some credit but not once has it been taken up. I questioned this with the relevant disabled authorities stating that the games I missed were all a sell outs & got the reply " just because the game has sold out, it does not mean that your ticket was sold" ...how the hell does that work then ?? .

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197 users have voted.
asheshammer's picture

Anyone who thought it would be easier to get tickets at a stadium with twice the capacity of the Boleyn Ground thought wrong. Maybe if we were still in the bottom half and flirting with relegation, but not when pushing for Champions League football in the next few seasons. I feel the pain of all those die-hard fans hard done by in the cruel world where "selling out" is the way. Not so much a family club anymore, really, despite what the Dave's say. But for all that, I can't wish for the nostalgic experience at the expense of being in the Premier League. Aston Villa will enjoy the nostalgic experience for a few seasons in the Championship. What it takes to return from the wilderness nowadays just got even harder.

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211 users have voted.

Next season, new stadium tick, bigger crowd tick, easy train travel tick, affordable tickets tick, chance of getting a ticket probably less than this season! Not happy as I have supported West Ham since 73 and am just as likely to watch a game against Doncaster and less likely to watch the bigger teams I can't help think something just isn't right!

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212 users have voted.
mcbikeman's picture

i have been a lonnnnnnnngggg time hammers fan and go to see them play no matter who....big five or bury its in the blood but next season it just wont be possible...as you say all the johnny come latelys who have jumped on the bandwagon now made it impossible...I have just paid£100 for a season ticket to watch Sutton utd in the national league next season...I will still try to get a ticket (though god knows where from) to see west ham next year but I have a feeling it will be like the lottery you hope and pray for your numbers to come up but the reality is your gonna be getting up at 5am Monday morning and head out to work

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157 users have voted.

Catch 22 mcbikeman. Only chance of getting a ticket is if we fail I. Our endeavours to become big time but why would we want to wish that?

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163 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

I have to admit I went a long a few months ago with the intention of getting a band 1 ticket but as there were only band 4 left I bought two (nearly the same price as one band1) knowing that family or friends will want / need a ticket and this will be the only way to see West Ham particularly if we continue to be successful. I live now to the West of London and with the crossrail completed you will travel from Reading to Stratford in less than an hour. This will considerably increase our appeal and fan base and ticket pressure will be crazy. Small club? I dont think so!

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167 users have voted.

M6 when you say season tickets sold out does that include the extra ones they annouces were going on sale?

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197 users have voted.

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