Waiting Listers Rejection Letter

[Slim Pickings]

The timing of this announcement is quite frankly staggering - the pr in PR must be short for ***** - nice bit of momentum building for the next 2 weeks to the biggest game in 7 years and they go and **** off a sizeable proportion of dedicated fans, and that even before those not getting Paris tickets get notified. Unbelieveable

Still say May 2010 will be the deadline where the FAI have to bite the bullets and go for plan B. So not panicing just yet

Never felt so gutted after being rejected. Got my letter this morning too :mad::mad:

However I'm still trying to get my head round the maths. Plenty of people have done the calculations on here before and it seems that on average, there'd be about 3000 tickets leftover after the move. It was broadly assumed that these would be for the WL. Where have they gone? Surely they can't be keeping them for general sale, why would they do that when they can guarantee those tickets will be sold by awarding them to the WL!

The timing is also very suspect. With the furore over tickets for the French games, maybe they think that by rejecting the whole WL, the knee-jerk reaction will be to take up Vantage club seats. Doesn't make much sense (can't see anyone paying that kind of money) but then this is the FAI we're talking about. I'll be amazed if there aren't more off the WL offered tickets closer to the move (wishful thinking maybe).

[aidz1]

have been on the waiting list 8 years.
got the pfo letter this morning. have been taking 2 tickets for each match ive been offered (pointless friendlies in LR and all the croker games.)
now they are telling me thanks for the money, came in real handy to pay the rent in croker, now kindly pfo.
17,000 additional capacity and they offer 49 to ordinary fans..the numbers dont add up at all. Over 200million of the stadium was paid by the taxpayer (us) to pay for this new LR. Now the ordinary punter is not being accomadated, just the suits. This should be highlighted and made an issue on the airwaves. A huge waste of taxpayer money.
raging over the shower. expect to now get a pfo for france, even though ive been to all 9 of the 10 games in the group..
disgrace. shower of .......

[Kingdom]

I got the infamous pfo letter too, however I did get offered a ticket for France. How ironic. Dunno how I feel really. Well I do, gutted actually. I've gone out of my way consistently since I turned 18 to get to Ireland games, incl bribing a c*nt of a steward in Basle 400€ to get in, paying touts ridiculous amounts for tickets against Holland France and Switzerland.
And its not the money spent, as I'd do it all again ina heartbeat, its the prospect of not being surrounded by fellow minded supporters in the SS, the one genuine luxury I have in life.

Gutted. And its not something I'm going to forget in a hurry.

[galah]

about number 994 on the list and no pfo yet but presume its on the way too...that i can take ....gettin no france away ticket after being at every game is just a bitter pill to swallow

[tetsujin1979]

Got my letter today, last time I checked I was around 300 on the block booking list, I'll get on to the ticket office after the play offs and see where I stand now.

[ParkLife]

Is the number on the letter not your number on the waiting list??

[OneRedArmy]

I could've sworn the offer of Croker tickets to waitlisters was with a heavy caveat that they were guaranteed for Croker only and all bets were off when it came back to Lansdowne?

[elroy]

I could've sworn the offer of Croker tickets to waitlisters was with a heavy caveat that they were guaranteed for Croker only and all bets were off when it came back to Lansdowne?

Yes very much so, but understandably naturally enough given the new bigger LR a number of us WLs were hoping to be accomodated on the return. Im not sure how many is on the WL exactly but I know they have stopped taking applications with about 2 years or so. I have been on the WL for nearly a decade.

[dynamo kerry]

I joined it 5 years ago and after a year was no 1408 on the list.

Also in my search I found a reference to an email I Sent in complaining about a taoiseachs salute.. not seen that since oddly.


Anyway - gutted there's only a token wave at the waiting list. problem is we have almosst no way of fighting back. Let's face it the old block booking list with lads getting 8-10 tickets is going to be a millstone for years.

Vantage club is destined to be a disaster but the whole system has been pretty rubbish for years too.

[4tothefloor]

From a corporate perspective, the rugby is generally more appealing plus all the games are at the wkd, which is again more attractive for entertaining clients etc. The new LR is def too small from the IRFUs point of view.
The Rugby is going through a purple patch at the moment (their best ever in fact) so it's easy to see why they're over subscribed. There's people going to Rugby these days who have no clue of the game. A dip in fortunes in the future and LR might well be big enough for them.


If your on the wl 8 YEARS, does anyone on here know anyone who ever got promoted to BB from the WL?
I entered the waiting list some time in 2003. I tried previous to that but wasn't accepted on. By end of 2006 I was promoted to the full BB list. So I didn't even have a 3 year wait and I remember at the time that a lot of others got bumped up too.


I could've sworn the offer of Croker tickets to waitlisters was with a heavy caveat that they were guaranteed for Croker only and all bets were off when it came back to Lansdowne?
Is correct. Was stressed in almost every letter that the FAI sent out at the time as regular block bookers were also given the opportunity to increase their allocations. It was made clear that on return to LR the old allocations would apply.

[tetsujin1979]

Is the number on the letter not your number on the waiting list??
it's just a customer reference number, should be the same number you use to buy tickets on fai.ie

[Bluetonic]

Is foot.ie going to continue to allow the transfer of tickets for homes games once we get back to Lansdowne?

It's understandable that the odd time during a campaign someone might not be able to go under a block booking ticket but it's clear that a lot of people are "helping out their fellow fans" for less glamorous games purely to have the tickets available for the bigger games.

It's a real catch 22 situation. As long as these block bookers are easily able to pass on their unwanted tickets the waiting list is going to be just that, waiting, however in the meanwhile those on the waiting list will take any ticket they can get ensuring the block bookers aren't out of pocket and therefore allowing them to take their full allocation continually. The list seldom moves, everyone gets frustrated.

In my opinion there isn't really that much difference between this reselling of tickets at face value and being a tout, they are both scalping for personal gain in the long run, depriving others of tickets.

[SuperDave]

Is foot.ie going to continue to allow the transfer of tickets for homes games once we get back to Lansdowne?

It's understandable that the odd time during a campaign someone might not be able to go under a block booking ticket but it's clear that a lot of people are "helping out their fellow fans" for less glamorous games purely to have the tickets available for the bigger games.

It's a real catch 22 situation. As long as these block bookers are easily able to pass on their unwanted tickets the waiting list is going to be just that, waiting, however in the meanwhile those on the waiting list will take any ticket they can get ensuring the block bookers aren't out of pocket and therefore allowing them to take their full allocation continually. The list seldom moves, everyone gets frustrated.

In my opinion there isn't really that much difference between this reselling of tickets at face value and being a tout, they are both scalping for personal gain in the long run, depriving others of tickets.

Don't forget allocations will fall back to their original level when we go back to Lansdowne, so people holding excess tickets and only using them for big games will happen less.

I still agree with you about the catch22 although I don't think it will be as big a problem as you think. I am also mighty ****ed off about this though.

[Bluetonic]

I still agree with you about the catch22 although I don't think it will be as big a problem as you think. I am also mighty ****ed off about this though.
A lot will depend on 1) If we qualify for the World Cup 2) where we are seeded in the draw for the Euros 2) who we get drawn with

If we get seeded second, draw some unattractive countries and don't qualify for the World Cup there'll be a distinct lack of interest for the next couple of years in my opinion, therefore a lot of tickets being resold.

[citizenerased]

A lot will depend on 1) If we qualify for the World Cup 2) where we are seeded in the draw for the Euros 2) who we get drawn with

If we get seeded second, draw some unattractive countries and don't qualify for the World Cup there'll be a distinct lack of interest for the next couple of years in my opinion, therefore a lot of tickets being resold.

were seeded 3rd again, already confirmed

[Greenforever]

Is foot.ie going to continue to allow the transfer of tickets for homes games once we get back to Lansdowne?

It's understandable that the odd time during a campaign someone might not be able to go under a block booking ticket but it's clear that a lot of people are "helping out their fellow fans" for less glamorous games purely to have the tickets available for the bigger games.

It's a real catch 22 situation. As long as these block bookers are easily able to pass on their unwanted tickets the waiting list is going to be just that, waiting, however in the meanwhile those on the waiting list will take any ticket they can get ensuring the block bookers aren't out of pocket and therefore allowing them to take their full allocation continually. The list seldom moves, everyone gets frustrated.

In my opinion there isn't really that much difference between this reselling of tickets at face value and being a tout, they are both scalping for personal gain in the long run, depriving others of tickets.

Id agree with your sentiments, the very odd time one of our gang cant genuinely make a game, the ticket is passed on to one of the gangs kids or close friends, normally foc.

THere is one poster in particular encouraging peolpe not to buy from the FAI when they have a direct sale but to buy off him????????

I would tell anyone who buys tickets in this manner to keep the stubs and build a file of the games they have been to and email them into the ticket office requesting the tickets in their own name.

[yablazer]

Got the rejection Letter aswell. I'm going to email Off the Ball on Newstalk, see if they can do a piece on it, maybe get someone on from the FAI.

It's a disgrace really, 49 extra block bookers accommodated in a 17,000 rise in capacity. Joke. Need to put pressure on the FAI through the media somehow. Any other ideas?

[elroy]

"All general admission seats in Aviva Stadium have been allocated to those long standing members who previously held a block booking in the old LR".

I may be interpreting this wrong, but to me it looks like the old BBers are potentially going to receive tickets in line with those ordered for Croker...i.e. they are not reverting to their original allocation in old LR.

This may explain why only 49 WLers have made the cut.

This leaves a sour taste in the mouth and is nothing short of terrible timing by the FAI. The letter isnt clear enough on the whole process if you ask me. Perhaps the motivation to sell more vantage level tickets is behind this decision and its timing.

[Newryrep]

"All general admission seats in Aviva Stadium have been allocated to those long standing members who previously held a block booking in the old LR".

I may be interpreting this wrong, but to me it looks like the old BBers are potentially going to receive tickets in line with those ordered for Croker...i.e. they are not reverting to their original allocation in old LR.

This may explain why only 49 WLers have made the cut.

This leaves a sour taste in the mouth and is nothing short of terrible timing by the FAI. The letter isnt clear enough on the whole process if you ask me. Perhaps the motivation to sell more vantage level tickets is behind this decision and its timing.

Elroy You could intrepret that way but I dont think that was the intention or what happened. No BB to my knoweldge on any of the sites advised they retained their CP allocation and the letters have gone out I think. Unless they have sold out Vantage - unlikely there will be 1000s of tickets available. FAI want approx 150-200e per ticket per game (good luck trying to sell those on a wet wednesday against faores), fans will only pay 70e max per ticket, the FAI will have to bite the bullet and accept the fans price otherwise the seats are empty. There might well be another friendly somewhere/sometime to make up the shortfall and in the end WE will pay for it somewhere down the line

[elroy]

50,000 capacity.
10,000 premium.
5,000 away.

Leaves 35,000 for general sale.

Old block booking was max 32,000 and this included all sponsors tickets etc..,



Assuming your numbers are reasonably accurate, there is a gap here that is unexplained by the FAI. I think it was reasonable for WLs to expect that 3-5k of the WL would be accomodated in the new LR. Hard to figure out unless there is a motiviation on the part of the FAI to try and get some WLs to opt for Vantage tickets.


Unless they have sold out Vantage - unlikely there will be 1000s of tickets available. FAI want approx 150-200e per ticket per game (good luck trying to sell those on a wet wednesday against faores), fans will only pay 70e max per ticket, the FAI will have to bite the bullet and accept the fans price otherwise the seats are empty. There might well be another friendly somewhere/sometime to make up the shortfall and in the end WE will pay for it somewhere down the line


I have no doubt WLs one way or another will get tickets at FV for the likes of the Georgia/Monte games, however its always the first/second seeds games that are more high profile, attract the bandwagon/corporates and these are the games that the WLs will lose out. Not particularly just or fair but this was the case in old LR and unfortunately looks set to continue.

[Bluetonic]

I would tell anyone who buys tickets in this manner to keep the stubs and build a file of the games they have been to and email them into the ticket office requesting the tickets in their own name.
Excellent idea. I see the same people crop over time and time again with spares thinking they are doing people a favour.

[Milesmayhem24]

Got my letter today as well. Fairly annoyed as I got my rejection email for the Paris game too not to mention the fact that my invoice for the home game never arrived!!

Think emailing Off the Ball is a good idea. How can only such a small number be taken off the list when there is such a large increase in capacity. I would question the logic if even mentioning that it was only 49 in the letter, surely that is just going to p*ss people off. I've been on the list about 4 years and am still around about 1,200. I reckon at this rate it will be another 240 years before I get block booking, and barring miracles I don't think I will be needing them then!!

[Paddy the Dog]

I got the waiting list rejection letter too. In looking through these posts the lowest WL number I've seen is about 3,000 although someone suggested there are 6,000 waiting listers. Here's one for ya, my waiting list no. is about 17,000. I was on the waiting list just before Staunton was appointed and had a WL no. of about 3,000, but I fell off the list and was given a new number in the 17,000's when I re-applied. I was then offerred a BB for this campaign and was delighted.

Just cos I'm number 17,000 doesn't mean I'm less annoyed to get the letter than you lads who have clearly been on the list a lot longer and therefore are correctly placed higher in the Q for when a BB space becomes available, although I should have seen it coming (the letter)!

What really annoyed me, and it's been mentioned before, is the timing of the letter. It is in everyone's interest to mobilise huge support and intensity for the France games, yet thousands of people who are about to attend the home leg have been kicked in the teeth with the rejection letter. It won't affect our support, and let's face it when it comes to 14th Nov we'll be full of enthusiasm, but it certainly leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The letter should have been issued after the play-offs.

Now, interestingly, I found out today I was succesful with my application for 2 tickets for Paris. So my weekend is both bitter and sweet. I'm interested in how the FAI decide who gets tickets and who doesn't, and it is very poor that their ticketing policy is anything but transparent. This lack of transparency leads to a lack of confidence in supporters that the tickets and BBs are being dealt with in a fair manner.

I have little doubt that those who make decisions regarding tickets and BBs read this forum, but the only way to change things is to write to the association directly with your concerns. I wrote to FIFA complaining about a lack of transparency regarding the decision to seed play-offs, yet our own association is illustrating the same lack of transparency regarding another important issue.

For the day that's in it, trick or treat? Treat, with going to the Paris game, and trick, with no guaranteed seat in LR. There are thousands of people ahead of me on the list so, on reflection, I'm happy to have had the opportunity to attend a full home campaign. I'll be joining the ticket merry-go-round with the rest of ya for the next campaign.

[harps1954]

Know a fella who got the letter this morning accepting him onto the BB scheme. He only joined the waiting list at the start of the current campaign. Joke.

I'd take what this fella told you with a pinch of salt. No-one was able to join the Block Booking waiting list for the past three years - it was suspended before we moved the games to Croke Park. So, if he told you that he only joined the waiting list last year (before the current WC campaign) he is quite frankly talking through his hole.

[DeNiro]

I think the waiting list figure is somewhere around 7,000. May be open to correction on that! Nonetheless, more than 49 people should have got tickets for the Aviva. Disgraceful really.

[gspain]

Old stadium - approx capacity 35,000
away fans allocation 3,500
children's seats council seats etc assume maybe 2,000

approx 29,500 block bookings

New AVIVA stadium

capacity 50,000
away fans 5,000 (2,500 for euros)
Vantage Club 10,000
council members, children's section etc maybe 3,000 now

still allows for approx 2,500 more block bookings.

Now this is where the problem might be. The clubs and leagues have been moaning about their allocation for a while. I wonder if the extra bbings are being allocated here. I don't know and haven't even heard a rumour to this effect but I know of senior and junior clubs requesting extra or indeed any tickets.

Irrespective of that I still expect the WL to be allocated tickets from the away fans allocation and from unsold Vantage Club tickets. Not ideal but not bad.

[jbyrne]

Never forget going to all the home games for the WC 2002 only to be shafted for the play-offs so your man could give the ticket to his daughter. The FAI had an ideal chance to thin this process out by asking people did they want to cut their allocation.


they did. i cut mine from 6 to 4 for this campaign

[Newryrep]

Old stadium - approx capacity 35,000
away fans allocation 3,500
children's seats council seats etc assume maybe 2,000

approx 29,500 block bookings

New AVIVA stadium

capacity 50,000
away fans 5,000 (2,500 for euros)
Vantage Club 10,000
council members, children's section etc maybe 3,000 now

still allows for approx 2,500 more block bookings.

Now this is where the problem might be. The clubs and leagues have been moaning about their allocation for a while. I wonder if the extra bbings are being allocated here. I don't know and haven't even heard a rumour to this effect but I know of senior and junior clubs requesting extra or indeed any tickets.

Irrespective of that I still expect the WL to be allocated tickets from the away fans allocation and from unsold Vantage Club tickets. Not ideal but not bad.

whenn I was phoned circa July I was told I was about 500 in the list with about 2000 ahead of me ie average 4 tickets per request. 49 people at 4 per reqquest is 200 ish what happened the other 2300 I wonder:rolleyes:

[Real ale Madrid]

People should only be entitled to 1 ticket each 2 max.

got my rejection letter last night - on the list about 4/5 years and number 1500 or so.

Disapointed but not surprised.

Hopefully the delta will be issued to clubs.

[SuperDave]

Vantage club is 10,000

Box level is 1,300

So the total for that is 11,300 if I understand correctly.

[gspain]

Vantage club is 10,000

Box level is 1,300

So the total for that is 11,300 if I understand correctly.

You are probably right - wasn't sure if the boxes are counted in the 10,000.

The clubs and leagues would argue that they provide significant work on the ground in football throughout the country and deserve an allocation as well. I know some do but many don't.

The secretary of your local GAA or rugby club will get tickets for big games whereas the secretary of the football club probably won't.

[aidz1]

If the expansion of landsdowne road is only facilitating increased corporate attendance, then the €200m the taxpayer (us) invested in this project is crazy...

it would have been better leaving LR as it was and distributing our money to playing facilities and small stadia throughout the country.

[jbyrne]

If the expansion of landsdowne road is only facilitating increased corporate attendance, then the €200m the taxpayer (us) invested in this project is crazy...

it would have been better leaving LR as it was and distributing our money to playing facilities and small stadia throughout the country.

the terracing was close to being condemned as a dangerous structure and i am sure the west stand wasnt too far behind.

the facilities in the stadium will increase the match day revenue through the bars and restaurants and this will go back into the game. whatever way you look at it an increased capacity will lead to an increased amount of fans getting in. i would guess that many corporates had block bookings before and if/when they took out vantage seats they probably passed the block booking to others or kept it for their own use. corporate fans are fans too you know

may be a silly point but id say the age profile of our fans getting into the stadiums is getting much older all the time. the block bookings started in 1992 and id say a fair amount of those are still in the same hands. if the tickets are not passed onto a new younger generation of fan then the stadium will continue to be filled by auld lads going out of habit and adding nothing to the atmosphere

[jok1]

That is the one major fault with the BB scheme, younger fans are locked out by the old brigade, the fairest system is one BB number one ticket. Still really disappointed with not getting tickets for the new LR. The media aren`t that bothered either.

[Junior]

The problem is that BB will simply get handed down....

I remember reading an article about Old Trafford Season Ticket Holders that said based on date of birth records x% couldnt possibly be still alive!!!!!!

Just handed down to other family members / friends / colleagues etc... whilst remaining in the original owners name.

Its the way of the world - not sure how you get round that.

[gspain]

The problem is that BB will simply get handed down....

I remember reading an article about Old Trafford Season Ticket Holders that said based on date of birth records x% couldnt possibly be still alive!!!!!!

Just handed down to other family members / friends / colleagues etc... whilst remaining in the original owners name.

Its the way of the world - not sure how you get round that.

Read it too - one was 106. :D

I believe the FAI allow you to change the names.

It is a problem and no real way around it. However there will always be people dropping off.

In both 1992 and 1998 into 1999 the block bookings opened up. The China friendly cleared quite a few off the waiting list. I hadn't heard of anyone else coming off it until the famous 49.

I expect in reality everyone on the WL will be offered tickets for games in the Aviva. A bad campaign or a couple of friendlies v Canada and China would probably clear quitre a few off. The novelty of the new stadium will wear off.

[Green Tribe]

got rejection letter for aviva also last friday. If we don't qualify i expect more ppl to be moved up the list very quickly

[Greenforever]

may be a silly point but id say the age profile of our fans getting into the stadiums is getting much older all the time. the block bookings started in 1992 and id say a fair amount of those are still in the same hands. if the tickets are not passed onto a new younger generation of fan then the stadium will continue to be filled by auld lads going out of habit and adding nothing to the atmosphere


Careful buddy.....im one of them auld lads:D, and am fed up being told to sit down by young kids behind me at matches

And ive been getting tickets from the ticket office since the early 80s

Seriously no way around it, the people on my block booking have changed, my 2 daughters now get tickets but they replaced auld lads who added nothing to the athmosphere anymore:D

[Polster]

may be a silly point but id say the age profile of our fans getting into the stadiums is getting much older all the time. the block bookings started in 1992 and id say a fair amount of those are still in the same hands. if the tickets are not passed onto a new younger generation of fan then the stadium will continue to be filled by auld lads going out of habit and adding nothing to the atmosphere

Ah JB, that I have to say is one of the worst things I have heard on here. I have been going since 87 and blockbooking since 91, granted I was only 14 in 91. I think you are going into very murky waters here. I have been very annoyed by the 'young' brigade at some games who clearly are on a jolly and have very little knowledge or respect for the game, this is the same across a lot of sports, don't get me started on the GAA. I class myself at 33, not old, not youngster, but from all my experiences home and away I have to say it has been an honour to share a pint and a chat with our more distinguished/elder fans. These guys are the backbone of our support, and to suggest they should step aside in some kind of 'Logans Run' scenario because they apparently can't shout as much as they could 20 years ago is terrible.

To be fair to all, I have to say I wouldn't brandish any set of supporters with the same brush. We have great young people supporting to. I just think we should be very grateful and appreciative of the older people who have followed us through good times and bad.

Remember jbyrne, one day you will be considered old to, and will you be happy to step down and give your seat over to someone who can jump around a bit more than yourself? I know I wont be.