Newcastle United fans call for changes following ticketing survey

Newcastle United fans have outlined seven areas of concern following the Premier League club’s overhaul of ticketing processes.

The issues flagged come in the wake of a Newcastle United Supporters Trust survey at the start of the fledgling 2023-24 season. Thousands of season ticket holders and members responded with their views of the changes and how they had been impacted. 77% of respondents claimed to have attended a home match this season and experienced the new ticketing process first-hand.

The seven areas of concern were compiled after the club fully digitalised ticketing ahead of the 2023-24 season. Among other changes, regular ballot processes have been introduced for members and season ticket holders. In August, the club made a swift U-turn on its ballot procedures after an outcry from fans.

One of the issues flagged by fans is concern over the new timeframes of the ballot, which can make travel arrangements difficult.

Proactive approach

Here are NUST’s seven key areas of concern for NUFC members:

• Uncapped number of memberships leading to reduced chance of ballot success and concerns regarding away fans purchasing memberships
• Transparency regarding the amount of tickets available in each area and details of the numbers entering the ballots
• Timeframes of ballot making it difficult to arrange travel for those outside of the city
• Rewarding loyalty versus building the fan base; a balance the club will have to get right.
• Unable to select a seating area, which is a problem for those with mobility needs who want to sit in a standard seat
• One price category currently available for selection and some members would like the option to enter multiple categories
• No merchandise this year, which many members valued, particularly for junior members

NUST said: “As a member-led representative organisation, we took a proactive approach on current issues, designing a comprehensive survey covering various topics, including club memberships, the ballot process, digital ticketing, and box office experiences.

“Our goal was to gather insights and data from both our valued members and the wider fanbase to put directly to club management and to seek to influence the club to make better decisions on ticketing moving forward.”