A Season Ticket To Watch TV?

Now that the Barclays Premier League's much touted 'Project Restart' has been agreed, the situation has more questions than answers when it comes to the practicality of hosting games and the further far reaching consequences of playing them behind closed doors.

West Ham United are due to contact all season ticket holders early next week with regards to potential refunds for the remaining five games that would have been played had it not been for the Covid-19 Pandemic, there is a suggestion that like several other clubs, the Irons will offer to let the remaining 'credit' roll over towards next season's season ticket renewal, by doing so the season ticket holder is guaranteed to renew at the original price.

On the face of it there seems nothing untoward, however there are no actual guarantees that games will be able to be played next season in front of crowds, and until there is an inoculation available the best that can be hoped for is a 10% attendance selected by ballot from season ticket holders. So what happens to the other 90%? This potentially difficult situation is just as much of a conundrum to clubs as it is to their fans, there are probably not many season ticket holders who are prepared to renew without knowing how many games they might see, especially if the 10% social distancing ruling is adhered to, even if the ratio is upped to 20% that would still leave the vast majority of fans unable to attend more than four home games per season!

How much are four games worth? It could be argued that some match day tickets for grade one games sold via ticket exchange go for serious money, as much as £60 for one game, but even using that figure we are only talking about £240 worth of expensive football. Something, somehow has to give, in the short term lavish signings will dry up for all but the 'elite' clubs that are financed by Sovereign States, and although clubs don't rely on gate revenue, no one knows if the viewing status quo can be sustained. The global love for the Barclays Premier League is based on the cut and thrust, speed and sheer physicality of the games accompanied by generally raucous and noisy crowds, recent experiences of the Bundesliga have shown just how sterile and uninspiring matches can be without crowds, will there still be such an appetite for the games without crowds?

It will be illuminating to see how West Ham manage a vast array of difficulties over the next couple of months, firstly there is the small matter of trying to stay in the top flight, which is by no means a small achievement at any time. The club will know the picture more clearly following Aston Villa's game in hand that they against Sheffield United, the result of which will give David Moyes a more accurate view of the task ahead of him. Secondly having found out which division the club will be playing in next season, there will be the complex matter of how much, if anything fans will be prepared to watch games that have extremely restricted crowds or games being played completely behind doors.

In order to watch games on Sky and BT Sport fans have to pay a subscription, so why would people want to pay their subscriptions and also a subscription to watch a team they cannot see live? Talk of 'rolling on' credits for the remaining five games towards next season's ticket renewal seem a bit premature because no one knows how the situation will develop, and unless guarantees of safety are in place there is little likelyhood of main stream football as we know it returning for some considerable time, so why would anyone want to pay for a season ticket?

With the exception of Newcastle United, no other club in the Barclays Premier League have 'taken' standing order payments for next season, and realistically how can they? Until there is a clearer picture it will be a case of 'watch this space', unfortunately 'this space' will probably relate to the size of the TV you are watching on instead of attending live games. Charging season ticket holders for games they cannot see, surely even David Sullivan couldn't get away that one could he?- Ed

With the exception of Newcastle United, no other club in the Barclays Premier League have 'taken' standing order payments for next season, and realistically how can they? Until there is a clearer picture it will be a case of 'watch this space', unfortunately 'this space' will probably relate to the size of the TV you are watching on instead of attending live games. Charging season ticket holders for games they cannot see, surely even David Sullivan couldn't get away that one could he?- Ed