COME ON CITY, SAY SOMETHING!!

[john@staustell]

I have read some real horror stories in the last 3 weeks. All coming to a head last night with hundreds locked out, surrounding unfortunate and helpless stewards with hand-held scanning devices. Various permutations on the total inefficiency of both the cup scheme and this new outsourced ticketing company. It's a wonder we managed to get so many people at all.

I remember standing in the pissing rain queuing for an FA Cup ticket against Leicester. I think the Kippax was being rebuilt and we later only had about 20,000 at the match anyway. In the queue we were joking 'God help us if we ever get to a final' as the ticket office took hours to serve a few people.

Move on, fast forward to 2011, in many ways the slickest and richest club in the world. the ground wins awards, the pitch wins awards, the website wins awards, even the team wins awards. But the ticket office is till the same as in the 90s, or WORSE! Total and utter shambles.

What is missing in all this customer service nightmare is any statement from the club. A statement of apology, an admission that things are completely cocked up, a statement and a promise to get things right asap.

COME ON CITY, SAY SOMETHING!!

[Hazy2]

I got in so no beef there, however Napoli fans sat in my seats Level 2 east stand 206 all keeping there heads down until they scored.
Something not right there.

[Beefymcfc]

Bloody hell, I noticed there were a few people having to speak to the lads in hi-vis but nothing on that scale. My lads card wouldn't work so they just used their card to let him in. They seemed to be doing this for quite a few and I didn't see many pulling their hair out 'cos they couldn't get in.

And, did those Napoli fans have tickets for your seat? If so, you need to speak to the club 'cos it suggests they double sold your seats.

[Hazy2]

Bloody hell, I noticed there were a few people having to speak to the lads in hi-vis but nothing on that scale. My lads card wouldn't work so they just used their card to let him in. They seemed to be doing this for quite a few and I didn't see many pulling their hair out 'cos they couldn't get in.

And, did those Napoli fans have tickets for your seat? If so, you need to speak to the club 'cos it suggests they double sold your seats.

We were moved as per Uefa rules according to the club, I was on the same row but in 202, walked up at Half time to have a word with the boys I go with, and they pointed out 12 normal fans, all with Napoli colours all front row. Is there any point talking to City, Calling the ticket office or emailing gets no joy, I only got the text advsing where I am sitting yesterday.

[Hazy2]

Just to add the stewards spent all the 1st half asking them to calm down, so not Uefa guests I am sure.

[lets all have a disco]

I got in after the game had started,bit gutted to miss the music but hey ho.

[Beefymcfc]

I got in after the game had started,bit gutted to miss the music but hey ho.

Me too mate. That's what all of us were going on about, the music. Not the clubs fault but one of the lads who forgot his SC - plonker.

[Hazy2]

Just spoken to a pal, who was asked twice to move by fans with tickets for his seat.

[Renato_CTID]

Once upon a time a football game was a great event for everybody in all the world, much more in the land where this sport was born.
But today we all are living in the era of media technology, mates! So even if Bobby Manc and our clever Sheikh would be able to bring Manchester City in the highest levels let's forget Maine Road's enthusiasm at our new ground. Video killed the football show, sad to tell for me this bad truth!

[Im_Spartacus]

I was so convinced my ticket wouldnt work I checked with the ticket scanner folks before queuing up. Says a lot when you have that much confidence about the system that you almost "know" that it will go tits up.

Some of you may remember the similar situation League Cup Semi - I didnt get in until after 25 mins had gone because of the ticketing shambles, even though it was my own ST seat!

[steveo_88]

I've had problems in the past when I had a citycard which was usually to do with the card not being updated. So I get to the front of a long que at gate P swipe my card and nothing. Then leg all the way back to the ticket office, que for it to be scanned again, then que again to get in!

[Moonchesteri]

I was so convinced my ticket wouldnt work I checked with the ticket scanner folks before queuing up. Says a lot when you have that much confidence about the system that you almost "know" that it will go tits up.

Some of you may remember the similar situation League Cup Semi - I didnt get in until after 25 mins had gone because of the ticketing shambles, even though it was my own ST seat!

I do that every time I come over. I also always send an email to the club asking for them to confirm my card is activated for the match. as a result I haven't had problems lately. Simple, innit?!

[john@staustell]

I was so convinced my ticket wouldnt work I checked with the ticket scanner folks before queuing up. Says a lot when you have that much confidence about the system that you almost "know" that it will go tits up.

Some of you may remember the similar situation League Cup Semi - I didnt get in until after 25 mins had gone because of the ticketing shambles, even though it was my own ST seat!

I do that every time I come over. I also always send an email to the club asking for them to confirm my card is activated for the match. as a result I haven't had problems lately. Simple, innit?!

I think people were getting the 'this e-mail will be replied to within 7 days' message mate. Up to 70 minutes on the phone, wrong seats/no seats issued, big rows at the box office, all that sort of thing.

[King Kev]

The guy sat next to me on Wednesday night was disabled and has a disabled person's season ticket.

He rang the dedicated number for disabled supporters to book his usual space for the Napoli game and was told it has already been sold to somebody else! He rang before the deadline for booking your own seat so there was no reason at all why the club should have sold his place.

Because of this he was allocated a normal seat (as if things weren't bad enough he had to sit next to me!) whilst his helper was several seats away on a different row!

This is obviously not good enough and somebody from the club needs to take responsibility and get this sort of thing sorted out.

[Nickyboy]

i had no issues whatsoever. But as these mentioned horror stories already state, the club seems to have a general issue with the ticketing system. If they can get one right they should all be right.

my only gripe is getting about 4 emails and 3 texts confirming my seat!!

[Ted Hughes]

I don't understand why they can't get this right. It should be a high priority. They do all this research about 'matchday experience' etc, well imo, spending an hour and a half trying to book a ticket on line is part of the 'matchday experience' as is being made to queue up 3 times & miss half the game or finding someone sat in your seat, like some have suffered.

If I have to go through that same shit to book a ticket next time, I'm not going & that's that. I never miss a game if I can help it but I'm not having anymore of that shit. If they can't be arsed, neither can I.

[psut1]

I have never had any problems like this, my cards have always worked. Weds bowled up 10 mins before kick off 2mins queing and bosh

[Wonderwall]

I havent had much trouble down the years, I have been pretty lucky and found the online service to be very good (when available).

Do they still play the goals down the phone when you are in the queue waiting for someone to answer the phone, and they must turn the volume up full fucking belt as well, that irritated the fuck out of me and I have put the phone down on many occasions because I cant stand listening to that belt out at earbursting volumes

[dazby]

Spivtix is the way to get tickets for City matches. He should run the whole show.

[roblues]

We changed our payment details a week ago. Since then the club have sold us two tickets to every available game by direct debit - approximately £500 on the credit card. Needless to say they are now trying to address the situation and arrange the appropriate refund (we are in the home cup direct schemes but these were tickets for Munich, Everton away etc!)