TOPIC: Large Crowd Expected

Large crowd expected for tomorrows game if the phone que trying to buy tickets anything to go by .Waiting nearly 30 mins feel like giving up and giving game a miss.

A dozen in queue just now at Ground. Windows manned by Secretary and Media Asst!

Why is everything designed these days, against supporters being able to attend football matches? Clubs up and down the land trying desperately to keep their heads above water, yet Joe Public can't simply rock up before kick off and walk into the ground without queuing up for a reasonable amount of time.

CumbrianView wrote: More likely our club is tinpot. Be lucky if there's 3 thousand there I'll go for 2,490.

It's as if they're trying to make it as hard as possible to go and see a game.

Queues on phones, queues to buy tickets before hand, queues to buy tickets on the night and then there's no c**t there when you get in.

Yeah, I had a fair wait last week on the phone.

This "new" ticketing system, absolutely shite, can't add tickets to my ST like you could last year. I live a fair way way (nearly 2 hours, 130 miles) so I can't just pop down in my lunch hour and pick up a ticket and finishing work at 5.30pm (supposedly) means it's always tight getting to the ground in the first place never mind having to queue up to get my tickets.

On top of that, they haven't got the car park season tickets printed yet, I was told to "use last years for now".

Every year we seem to get more and more bloody tinpot.

19 minutes on hold (4th in queue) then 1 minute to buy. Nice, quick and easy once you get through, I just find you spend a lot of time on hold before getting through.

Managed to buy a ticket for myself (ST reduced) and another standard ticket, without any problems Armo.

cufcdeano wrote:
Yeah, sorry Deano, I didn't mean the buying was a problem (even though the lass did try and sell me tickets for D stand as "the East Stand hasn't been called that for years" and got them mixed up). The problem is because the tickets can't be added onto my season ticket. Previously, there was no need for a physical piece of paper. Now, already tight for time, I have to collect from the East Stand ticket office.

Ah that makes sense - I hadn't realised you could do that previously. Why have they scrapped it? Just because the new ticketing system doesn't support the functionality, or for other reasons?

I assume the new systems just isn't capable but i'm guessing.

cufcdeano wrote:
Youd think if it only takes a minute to make your transaction your wait time would be less than 19 minutes if there were only 3 people in front of you. Ill bet the same people taking the calls are also manning the windows.

Probably so DB. Don't really need a dedicated person to man the phones, but at the same time those phoning shouldn't have to wait ages until the queue at the window clears.

I phoned up for Preston tickets the week before last and was on hold (1st in queue!) for 15 minutes before giving up. Rang back an hour later and got through within 30 seconds, so really is hit and miss.

Possibly something to do with an 0844 number? Businesses tend to get a cut from these non-geo numbers.

Another complaint for me is the turnstiles itself, see how Mansfield had the electronic gates installed, just flash your barcode and you're in. We have someone standing there with a scanner. If Mansfield can afford it why can't we when they've had a few years in the Conference to deal with. I did see a few struggling with the concept as Carlisle fans aren't used to these modern ideas the way our club is being run.

Maybe its something the marketing guy should be made aware of?. Its one of the reasons i usually book online. I know it costs slightly more but a lot less hassle. Wonder if a 30 min wait would stop someone going to a game altogether?.

Armo wrote:
Yep, amongst others 084 numbers are chargeable. It's won't be much but it technically pays to keep customers on hold for a touch longer, so if it'sm the same people manning the windows too they'll probably take priority.

consumers.ofcom.org.uk/phone/how-much-do...ne-call-really-cost/

Mansfield may of had fancy electronic turnstiles, but they still had to have staff there to keep people moving smoothly through them, or at least there was when I entered!!!
Why not lets give the new system a go before slagging it off?

Kirkbyblue wrote:
Errr, because I did give it a try and it's been proved to be less functional and more inconvenient, at least for me?

Dancingbear wrote:
Of course a 30 min wait would stop the on-the-fence fans. Ticket office is (usually) open 10am - 5pm, 30mins out of their lunch hour is a big ask. 'aint nobody got time for that.

As for making the marketing guy aware. I would hope, if he was competent, he'd know. Even then, the club hardly engage with the fans any more.

Waited in a que of about 30 when i was down a couple hours ago.

Well I've tried on a number of occasions to get through to the ticket office and on my last attempt after being on hold for just under 11 mins and number 5 in the queue,the line was cut. I won't say what I think of the place right now but.......!!!

IMHO it's a very sad state of affairs when you can't just turn up to a ground and pay cash at a turnstile to get in and watch football....are people really that untrustworthy?

What changed so drastically that you're no longer allowed in without
-Giving your postcode,
-Having a 30minute phone call,
-A trip to two separate places to pick a ticket up,
-Unable to order a ticket online,
-Can't pay with a card either online or over the phone.....
Jesus, in the years I've been going to Brunton Park I'm sure a prison Tuck Shop has run with less hassle and mistrust.

I am sure this has probably been answered before but why does the ticket office need my post code and house number? What do they do with it as I never receive any snail mail from the club.

Arragorn wrote:
John Nixon comes round and pisses on yer flowers in the dead of night.

Why is it we always make an a***e of the simplest things, like buying a ticket for gods sake. The nonsense about postcodes, what's that all about, alot of people don't give there own anyway..

Come on Carlisle, make some effort to make the match day / fan experience worth something. We are sick of the same old, same old...

Intrigued to go and see how bad this is myself.

Seems absolutely shocking but having read all this kind of stuff on here for the last few years I have no doubt it is 100% true. Had a play about on the online ticketing last week, can't believe how bad it is.

So that's why my flowers keep dying

Struggled trying to buy tickets for Saturday online yesterday, pissed me off.

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

I bought tickets this morning on the phone, for the next 2 games. Was number 3 in the queue which took just about 15 minutes to get through. My problem however was when I got answered, I don't know if getting tickets for 2 games was the problem. I had to repeat myself a few times and it was not as smooth as normal. When I asked for 1 x Adult and Junior package and 1 x Senior and Junior package (this deal is nothing new btw) I was put on hold for at least 7 or so minutes! Just as I was about to hang up she came back on and finalised everything, maybe she needed the toilet, maybe she served a few at the window. I recognised her voice she has been there a while. Total call time when finished 24mins

That is, by any measure, totally unacceptable.

HuntingHorn wrote: Yes people are that untrustworthy... the club used to lose thousands from turnsile operatives letting their mates in free or pocketing the cash. In fact all clubs, whether football or other, leak money at turnstiles if they are manual.. However, there are lots of good systems now on the market... and lot's of them work on a lease payment scheme rather than having to make a huge up-front investment. All stadiums should have a fully automated entry system and a cashless stadium system, meaning there is no opportunity for thieving little charvers to pocket the clubs cash, and allowing the club to tie in spend to some form of loyalty promotion system. In 5-10 years virtually every stadium will be cashless and you will have to top up a card before the game card to purchase anything. It's the future, embrace it.

Thatll please the floating fan whos just queued 15 mins for a cuppa

We must be the only professional club in the land where you can walk in and out the main side stands at half time with no one checking tickets or anything.
You could easily walk up them stairs at half time and get in for free.

Contactless payments, so quick and easy, the club should take payments this way at ticket office and bars, but don't.

Dancingbear wrote: It probaly won't please the floating fan but it will be a much better and quicker system for those who regularly attend though. It should speed up entrance to the ground, cut down the ridiculous amount of money the club pays loads of "stewards" to check your ticket 5 yards before the tunstile. It will speed up service at food an drink outlets as there is no need to mess about with money or change, it commits peoples money up front to the club helping with cashflow, and crucially it allows the club to get infrmation on individuls spending patterns and allows them to target incentives and rewards to indivduals. Not great for the floaters but potentially much better for hardcore supporters once they get their heads around it. I'd expect the Paddockites to be enraged by any change though.

Northumbrian wrote:
Contactless payments, so quick and easy, the club should take payments this way at ticket office and bars, but don't.

RonBacardi wrote:
Very true, works so well in Germany - the only people who complain are those who are not regulars basically. Not too sure if it is a good idea in away ends mind, need plenty of helpers available to actually credit the card - so many people are miffed by the use of a machine to add the credit.

What would be hard about a ticket machine that took notes so you could still use cash? No chance of the gateman slipping a twenty in his pocket then.

If you piss off occasional fans you will never expand the fan base. As sky etc know the best policy is to take your regulars for granted and give the fairweather types a better deal

I have to agree, here in Oz we have paywave up to $100 (about £50) all you do is place your card on the machine and bingo you go through the turnstile. These are called cash gates. 1 minute and your through, easy and the money is in the clubs accounts instantly.

Walking through the MCG on monday, was a complete eye opener to how backward CUFC is on everything we do for fans enjoyment. Maximimising returns off this enjoyment. And making exclusive so everyone wants associated with it.

MCG memebers ($900 - £450) has 22,000 members and a 20 year waiting list. You can get to everything that's played there, Cricket, AFL, Football etc.

Below is the members lounges where you enter ballots (2,200 per game) and bars.





Bar



I know Melbourne is a big city, but this is the sporting environment you can get for your money!

Arsenal's stadium was like being in a 5 star hotel but even the club house at Walsall and Bedford Town where there was a crowd of about 300 which had a club house offered a better match day experience. At Carlisle home fans go to the beehive, away fans the rugby ground If theres a big away following - the Griffin, Cally, Travel Lodge - all lost revenue.

Northumbrian wrote:
To be fair theres not much point in them doing that anyway

Urban Designer wrote: And now with the magpie opening again as a sam smiths establishment...cheap drink here so that will entice fans home and awau before a game

Sent from my GT-I8200N using Tapatalk

Wheres the Magpie at? Never heard of that one.

Victoria road..ont way to botcherby...down past the prem in on warwick road..then turn right..its a big pub with a decent size car park

Sent from my GT-I8200N using Tapatalk

Ah yes - know where it is - thought it had closed down for good.

Northumbrian wrote:
I bet I can think of one that won't be up to date.

Mush wrote:
I wasn't far off 2,950 there tonight.

56 more than I predicted.

Good effort.

Do you want to see pics of Wembley, Millennium, Emirates, Old Trafford all within 200 miles of each other? Where is your next ground like that?