BB Croker letters

[Bluetonic]

EDIT : just noticed the way thats quoted it looks like it was from Bluetonic, its actually him quoting some eBay scum !

You could edit it and save my dignity :)

Edited: Cheers mate... I'm clearly selling my spares for only 100% markup :-)

[hp123]

These scum should not be allowed anywhere near these games. Must be some way of catching them. Makes you sick.

[antrimgreen]

I tell you what is very depressing, reading here that people got tickets and were 5,000 on the waiting list i was number 4,1** and was offered no tickets at all. I think it is a bloody disgrace that some of those on the waiting list did not get at least 1 ticket. Something really stinks here. How can people who are 1000 places below me get offered tickets and i get jack, maybe because i am from the occupied 6 counties of the Island. (who knows)

[hp123]

Sorry to hear you didn't get tickets but that is not the reason. My mate who has been to every away game in the last while and every home game, also didn't get tickets. HE's from Dublin.

[Bluetonic]

maybe because i am from the occupied 6 counties of the Island. (who knows)

You'd want to cop yourself on with that attitude, really the mind boggles. :rolleyes:

[WexDec]

Been offline for a while so will clarify what happened to our group.

Most letters arrived last Friday (Dublin city centre, Lucan) and mine was there when I got home in Wexford but I suspect it might've arrived before Friday given there were a few letters on top of it. A mate in Baldoyle only got his yesterday believe it or not. Another fella hadn't got his on Friday, Dublin northside too, and is away on hols now so has lost out but I think he wasn't being sent a letter at all now after reading some of the posts up here.

I put mine in by hand yesterday (wasn't sending 420 postal order and wouldn't have arrived till today....maybe), another guy posted yesterday morning and mate that only received his today luckily works around Merrion Square so is dropping it in today. Another mate got major hassle off his missus over the price of the tickets and was going to wimp out until I explained about no general sale, people on waiting list not getting sorted and most importantly the prices they're fetching on eBay. He's Oz-Irish so didn't realise the extent of the demand but has hopped to it now (said Oz play-off for WC was 35k which was considered massive so didn't expect this for such a big stadium, welcome to Ireland mate). One thing, considering some only received the letter yesterday I wouldn't worry too much about missing the deadline just get it in this week.

We all asked for lower stand 70 euro tickets except for one guy so think I can confirm the theory that it was people that asked for these that seemed to get sorted regardless of waiting list position. Myself and another were in 1,900s and got 3 Cusack Lower each. A mate in 4,100s got a pair of Hogan Lower and a mate in the 5,200s got his single lower stand ticket. One of the guys I got a ticket for was in the 5,000s but never got the original Croker appl form so I got his on mine quoting his Waiting List number though so hopefully it'll be officially recognised for his future sake although can't see it being much use immediately for the new LR.

So the odd one out was a fella in low 5000s maybe high 4,000s that went for Upper Cusack/Lower. He had no letter on Friday and is away now. I'm presuming he won't find one when he comes back. When the shift from that selection to the canal end became apparant from BB mails he said he had been offered lower cusack but still at 50e. He was, as I somewhat expected, pulling my leg as knew he'd get a ribbing for ending up on the canal end when arguing upper side tier was best value for money and breaking from the rest of us. Sorry about that misleading bit of info but looks like its come back to bite him and won't be sorted for anywhere.

[WexDec]

I tell you what is very depressing, reading here that people got tickets and were 5,000 on the waiting list i was number 4,1** and was offered no tickets at all. I think it is a bloody disgrace that some of those on the waiting list did not get at least 1 ticket. Something really stinks here. How can people who are 1000 places below me get offered tickets and i get jack, maybe because i am from the occupied 6 counties of the Island. (who knows)

Did you go for anything besides lower cusack/hogan ? Betcha did and if you read the other posts its been well established that at some point these became the only tickets available and the FAI wouldn't bump people that went for 50e tickets to 70e. Anybody noticed what the highest waiting list poster is that got 50e tickets ? If any ?

[WexDec]

Just put my name down for a pair of CL final tickets and as is customary for European Championships and the World Cups you tick a box to indicate whether you'd accept higher priced tickets / alternative selection if your chosen preference isn't available.

This seems standard and I do understand why the FAI can't revisit everybody who wanted 50e tickets to see if they wanted the 70e ones which were the only left. They can't be doing multiple rounds of sales. This very obvious eventuality should've been built into the ticket application form cos erm.....its obvious it could happen.

If somebody for financial reasons didn't want to fork out 20 euro extra a game then grand they don't tick the box and would get no ticket offer, if no 50e left, but would maintain their place on the list either way. If they had ticked the box and then didn't accept the offer then they're off the list, end of. Doesn't that seem VERY simple and fair ???

That way those first on the list get precedence. Of course a two tickets per head (unless originally requested more when joining the list) would've made sure everybody on the list got sorted but that mightn't sell the place out so I would go for the processing the list sequentially option as above although I do think a 4 ticket maximum would be fair to avoid over abuse. Maybe the whole waiting list wouldn't have got sorted, actually most probably not, but those that have been on it for even 6 months should've.

[WexDec]

From mate who just dropped in his application now -

"Just back from handing in my payment in, no probs being late, she actually apologised(!) and said must be down to An Post"

No worries lads just get them in this week :)

[Istabraq]

Thats a load of crap. What is the point of a waiting list if people behind you get offered tickets and you dont. I have been talking to people who asked for upper hogan, but got offered lower davin, and accepted. I too would have accepted any ticket. I requested 4 from around pos 3,500 and got fa. 2 for davin would have done me. I also would have bought 2 at 70 euro. Im not fussy, but im very ****ed off at this shambles of a process. Doesnt really surprise me when it comes to the fai. Theyre a disgrace of an organisation.

[Newryrep]

The words stable door and horse bolted spring to mind.

Overall this is not man on the moon - these problems were all predictable

[Bluetonic]

Just incase anyone is wondering about how many tickets there were, its approx

31,000 50 euro tickets
28,000 70 euro tickets

[WexDec]

....one little caveat about our applications is that we (besides one upper tier request) physically put them in together with a note asking to be grouped if possible. Possibly this will happen for myself and another guy very close in the 1,900s who each got 3 Lower Cusack but next guy got lower Hogan. Point is possibly that might've helped the guys further on the list but seems overall we were simply blessed to opt for the lower tier.

I did have some suspicion that this nightmare scenario could be possible when there was no "permission to allocate alternatively priced seats" option as there ALWAYS is in lottery / advanced sale type football ticket applications. Going for lower tier seemed safer since giving us cheaper seats than chosen shouldn't need such permission if lower tier sold out. I think the 1,900s would've got sorted anyway but I'd reckon the last 1-2k on the list would've missed out by the 2-4ks being offered their alternative seats but that makes sense and would be fairer. Saying all that I never expected it to pan out like that just thought there was deffo a risk of it esp given previous form. I think they've f*cked up an unf*ckupable situation to be honest.

[antrimgreen]

Thats a load of crap. What is the point of a waiting list if people behind you get offered tickets and you dont. I have been talking to people who asked for upper hogan, but got offered lower davin, and accepted. I too would have accepted any ticket. I requested 4 from around pos 3,500 and got fa. 2 for davin would have done me. I also would have bought 2 at 70 euro. Im not fussy, but im very ****ed off at this shambles of a process. Doesnt really surprise me when it comes to the fai. Theyre a disgrace of an organisation.

100% Istabraq totally agree, the FAI are a mess, i remember a certain ex player once stating this how right was he. Completley gutted not to have got at least 1 ticket, i couldn't give a sh1te if i knew no-one around me, i just wanted to go. Waiting list should have been called lottery list.

[paul_oshea]

just keep an eye out on here lads coming up to the matches, im sure someone will have spares in the end. i might myself yet, not sure.

but i do know of one lad who got 10 and was around the 2K mark on the waiting list, granted he was gettting them for people, but these ppl go to fcek all matches, its not really fair.

[elroy]

Thats a load of crap. What is the point of a waiting list if people behind you get offered tickets and you dont. I have been talking to people who asked for upper hogan, but got offered lower davin, and accepted. I too would have accepted any ticket. I requested 4 from around pos 3,500 and got fa. 2 for davin would have done me. I also would have bought 2 at 70 euro. Im not fussy, but im very ****ed off at this shambles of a process. Doesnt really surprise me when it comes to the fai. Theyre a disgrace of an organisation.

Hang in there Istabraq all is not lost yet. Im well ****ed off with the FAI as well cos was looking forward to have tickets guaranteed for a change but I think there is still a reasonable chance we'll get sorted. Tickets for the slovakia I doubt will be too hard to come by and with a bit of luck we'll get sorted for wales as well.

[gspain]

Did the people on thew Waiting list who did not get tickets take them for all the friendlies?

[WexDec]

It transpired from previous discussions that approximately only the first 1,800 on the waiting list were ever offered friendly tickets and expected to take them to maintain their list position (I'm presuming the last bit)

[Schumi]

i do know of one lad who got 10
10??? That's ridiculous with some people getting none. :rolleyes:

[highlight100]

If there was a big concert on in Croke Park tickets would be probably limited to 4 per person to give as many genuine fans a chance of going but it seems with the FAI a lot of people got to buy as many tickets as they liked to do with what they liked.

[antrimgreen]

The protocol used for ticket distribution by the FAI, looks like it has been generated by a bunch of children at primary school. How people can get 10 and six is uneal, my gripe is that they have got tickets and will give them to people who are not on the waiting list which means the some people on the waiting list are left feeling like they have being taken clean up the b*m...

[paul_oshea]

10??? That's ridiculous with some people getting none

i know, he is a good mate and his uncle has been a block booker for 15 years or so, he always got tickets for matches, but its not fair i agree!


tickets and will give them to people who are not on the waiting list which means the some people on the waiting list are left feeling like they have being taken clean up the b*m

ya well that is the case fora few of the tickets my mate is sorting ppl out with, but at teh same time these wouldn't have been aware of a waiting list, nor would they use the internet that often.

[WexDec]

The protocol used for ticket distribution by the FAI, looks like it has been generated by a bunch of children at primary school. How people can get 10 and six is uneal, my gripe is that they have got tickets and will give them to people who are not on the waiting list which means the some people on the waiting list are left feeling like they have being taken clean up the b*m...

Sorry mate but I have to take great umbrage with that statement. I think its bang out of order to insult the intelligence of primary school children like that. In fairness they'd have done a lot better and in true primary school style just copied an existing system (another organisation's homework) that actually worked. They'd also have an innocent sense of the fairness of a queue - make sure everybody is at least sorted out with original request rather than having a first come, first served have as many as you like and feck those behind you system.

I think the FAI has studied how people queue for buses, the tried and trusted free for all approach.

(above rant reminds me of the Gift Grub "Brownies" incident :D )

[WexDec]

10??? That's ridiculous with some people getting none. :rolleyes:

Remember the line in the original application form that said only make "reasonable" requests........vaguely......or was it realistic ? Either way was bullsh*t.

Someone had joked before (might've been on different forum though) about the time Homer Simpson was second in a queue and the first guy bought all 5,000 tickets......prophetic ! :rolleyes:

[WexDec]

at the same time these wouldn't have been aware of a waiting list, nor would they use the internet that often.

Is that really relevant ? We all live in the same world and most people would've found out about the list by word of mouth (getting an e-mail or text from your mate counts these days) or by actually trying to sus out if there was a waiting list and how you got yourself on it. That could've been done by phoning them, snail mailing them or asking at the TO. For years I was unaware that there was a waiting list and thought the whole BB setup was a closed shop presumably via clubs. Once I found out myself I let my mates know who I always go to friendlies and unglamourous competitive matches with. Takes a bit of proactive interest in the first place before you "find out" about the list. Granted there was probably a deluge coming up to the prospect of Croker and a realistic chance of getting precious tickets (its more likely over 6k now if they've closed the list down).

No point in having a waiting list if someone can essentially hold the place in the queue for his 9 mates. If that happened in a physical queue outside a ticket office for anything, 9 lads joining up midstream just before the sale started, there'd be agro no doubt. Not knowing there was a queue is hardly a valid excuse.

Anyway at least the lads getting the tickets are fans and they're not going on eBay. Although you'd think your mate would've told them to get their name down on the list in the first place as he was obviously was aware of it, internet or not, as they'll get nought for LR (unless the FAI do the same again !). Not blaming them just the nonsense system, sorry.

[Newryrep]

No point in having a waiting list if someone can essentially hold the place in the queue for his 9 mates. If that happened in a physical queue outside a ticket office for anything, 9 lads joining up midstream just before the sale started, there'd be agro no doubt. Not knowing there was a queue is hardly a valid excuse.

Anyway at least the lads getting the tickets are fans and they're not going on eBay. Although you'd think your mate would've told them to get their name down on the list in the first place as he was obviously was aware of it, internet or not, as they'll get nought for LR (unless the FAI do the same again !). Not blaming them just the nonsense system, sorry.

WexDec , in principle i dont have a problem with this if when he went on the waiting list asking for 10 tickets but it practice it probably should be limited to 4 max to prevent touting.

No point in having a waiting list if circa 20K can get tickets off their mates for the games at Croke Park.

They could retrieve the situation by having the current ticketing arrangements only valid for the next 4 games. I dont think anybody could justifiably complain.

tickets get offered as per the logical way as described previously, BB, waiting listers with previously requested No of tickets , with preferred availability options etc as any other organisation would do

However i wouldnt hold my breath

[Bluetonic]

They could retrieve the situation by having the current ticketing arrangements only valid for the next 4 games. I dont think anybody could justifiably complain.

tickets get offered as per the logical way as described previously, BB, waiting listers with previously requested No of tickets , with preferred availability options etc as any other organisation would do

However i wouldnt hold my breath

I don't know how many time this has to be said but this WILL be the case.

[Newryrep]

I don't know how many time this has to be said but this WILL be the case.

BT i was refering to the next 4 games. I assume the current ticketing arrangement are for all the games at Croke Park over the next 3-4 years.

[galwayhoop]

The amount offered to those on the waiting list should be the same as what they've originally applied for when joining the list, thats the only fair way. Otherwise it makes a mockery of asking people how many tickets they require when joining the list. Someone on the waiting list 5 years looking for 3 tickets should never be offered 2 tickets. The list is there for a reason - to prioritise people and their requests not to give everyone the same spread.

of course you are right.

i said 2 becasuse that is what i was on waiting list for. but you're right just fairly distribute the tickets as per the amount requested and as per the list in numerilogical (sp?) order

as for people getting 10 and others not getting any or not being accomodiated in other parts of the groumd - the mind boggles

BTW how many BB's (actual number not individual posters!!) were receiving tickets in the 'old' landsdowne

[Bluetonic]

BT i was refering to the next 4 games. I assume the current ticketing arrangement are for all the games at Croke Park over the next 3-4 years.

I wasn't aware of any games being scheduled in Croke Park after 2007.

[WexDec]

WexDec , in principle i dont have a problem with this if when he went on the waiting list asking for 10 tickets but it practice it probably should be limited to 4 max to prevent touting.

I agree, there's no problem in asking for 10 but should've been told sorry mate but here's the 4 max allowable. I really wonder what limit they do apply, I wouldn't have thought near double figures would've been possible. 6 maybe at the very abs max but 2-4 is the football standard elsewhere.

[WexDec]

No point in having a waiting list if circa 20K can get tickets off their mates for the games at Croke Park.

They could retrieve the situation by having the current ticketing arrangements only valid for the next 4 games. I dont think anybody could justifiably complain.

Agree about waiting list being pointless but in fairness I think those on the list that didn't get any tickets for these 4 games could actually justifiably complain when if there was a limit in place some if not most of them would've been sorted.

Unlikely they'll change it for any future Croker matches (I too thought you meant LR there at first). For one its a hell of a lot easier to just send out the same invoices to all the same people for the same seats and then just handle withdrawls rather than redoing this whole (f*cked up) process. For two to redo it in a proper fashion would be admitting they were wrong/shortsighted in the first place :eek:

[WexDec]

I wasn't aware of any games being scheduled in Croke Park after 2007.

Logistically its extremely likely isn't it. LR will hardly be up and running by the time the WC qualifiers come around ? Unless Stan (plez God he won't be there) in his infinite wisdom has us playing all the away games first starting with the biggest team.

AFAIK and correct me if I'm wrong as haven't been there since the San Marino match but if LR is still intact as it is why are the Irish football (next month) and rubgy teams currently playing in Croke Park for 1.5m rent ???

[Newryrep]

I wasn't aware of any games being scheduled in Croke Park after 2007.

Global warming ?

[kev107]

I wasn't aware of any games being scheduled in Croke Park after 2007.

Planning permission hasn't gone through yet for the redevelopment of Landsdowne road. they reckon even if it goes through in the next few weeks it will be late 2009 before ready to move into (2010 knowing the FAI).

So I'd say all games in 2008 and most (if not all) of 2009 will be in croker

[Bluetonic]

Global warming ?

Munster unrest.

[Bluetonic]

So I'd say all games in 2008 and most (if not all) of 2009 will be in croker

Even though I'd imagine its a sure thing, I'd wait for GAA Central Council to meet and discuss it first.

[elroy]

I think its fairly safe to say our home games for the next three years will be in croker. The system now is a mess, i can imagine what it is going to be like when we return to LR.

Im so ****ed off about the whole thing, Im tempted to get on to Matt Cooper (he has a bit of a vendetta against touting) or someone like that and get him to get John Delaney on and explain to us how they have completely managed to fcuk a simple process up and **** off numerous genuine Ireland fans in the process. (Oh and for genuine, that doesnt include that "genuine" supporter on ebay who doesnt want to screw us all over)

[Newryrep]

Im so ****ed off about the whole thing, Im tempted to get on to Matt Cooper (he has a bit of a vendetta against touting) or someone like that and get him to get John Delaney on and explain to us how they have completely managed to fcuk a simple process up and **** off numerous genuine Ireland fans in the process. (Oh and for genuine, that doesnt include that "genuine" supporter on ebay who doesnt want to screw us all over)

Questions from average fan to be answered

1. why were 20K on the waiting list (say 4 per waiting lister 5000 on list) not able to be accomodated when 26K tickets should be available - using previous figures 33K BB 59K seats avaiable

2. why were BB offered additional tickets before waiting listers

3. why was there no preference selection so if area's were filled then their next choice would be chosen.

4. How many of the waiting listers were bypassed because point 3 was not available.

5. Of the 5000 on the offical waiting list how many got their tickets and how many tickets were there

6 with the waiting list scheme now closed how many are currently left on it?

7. Why was there not a limit put on the number of tickets that each person can receive like practically every other organisation do

8. How many BB's have had they allocation removed for touting tickets in the last 5 years

9. What reactive steps are the FAI taking now that their tickets are ending up on ebay fleecing the fans eg sting operation charity donation etc

10. What best practice did the FAI study when devising the allocation of seating/tickets

11. Do the FAI believe that the current system is fair when it appears 20K have bypassed the waiting list scheme and got tickets. if not what do they propose to do with it.

[WexDec]

It does make it seem a lot worse that those on the list MAY have lost out on much more than just 4 matches

[WexDec]

Very comprehensive Newryrep. Maybe add in a point asking will the current allocation persist if additional matches are played in Croke Park after this year since it is unlikely Lansdowne will be available for the World Cup qualifiers. If so BB waiters would miss out even more due to points 2, 3, 7 & 11.

[hp123]

Maybe this is too simplistic, but should it not just be one name, one ticket? I know current block bookers have a few tickets for each game. BUt should it not be run like a season ticket for a club? It would cut out alot of touting too. People who currently receive tickets from a block booker could be given the option to block book themselves.

[Bluetonic]

Maybe this is too simplistic, but should it not just be one name, one ticket? I know current block bookers have a few tickets for each game. BUt should it not be run like a season ticket for a club? It would cut out alot of touting too. People who currently receive tickets from a block booker could be given the option to block book themselves.

There is no need to change anything, just implement the system that is in place already.

Block Bookers as per normal amount
Waiting list in order as per original amount request
General sale.

Simple as.

[elroy]

Newry rep after that list I think Im gonna go ahead and email Matt Cooper and see has he any interest in raising this with the FAI, its the only way we'll get some answers and maybe get something done about it. If the likes of the tosser on ebay flogging tickets for over 6 times the face value is how tickets in croker are been distributed something has to be done about it now.

[hp123]

There is no need to change anything, just implement the system that is in place already.

Block Bookers as per normal amount
Waiting list in order as per original amount request
General sale.

Simple as.


Well when there are block bookers selling tickets on eBay, I think there is a reason to change the system. One fan, one ticket. Works in every football ground in the world every weekend. Maybe we could manage it for 3-4 home games a year.

[Bluetonic]

Well when there are block bookers selling tickets on eBay

There is at present ONE block booker selling tickets on ebay.

The system that is in place at present works when implement correctly, it also should suit the FAI as there is a lot less administration. When implemented correctly I fully support it as a fan, and would not like to see a one ticket system introduced.

[Newryrep]

Newry rep after that list I think Im gonna go ahead and email Matt Cooper and see has he any interest in raising this with the FAI, its the only way we'll get some answers and maybe get something done about it. If the likes of the tosser on ebay flogging tickets for over 6 times the face value is how tickets in croker are been distributed something has to be done about it now.

Elroy glad to help

He did do an item briefly about the distribution of rugby tickets for Croke Park as i think one of the girls in his office had problems.

Needless to say good luck

[hp123]

There is at present ONE block booker selling tickets on ebay.

The system that is in place at present works when implement correctly, it also should suit the FAI as there is a lot less administration. When implemented correctly I fully support it as a fan, and would not like to see a one ticket system introduced.


I respect your point of view, but have to disagree. The system has worked well for the people who have been on the block booking scheme a long time. I've been going to game for years, but only recently heard of the block booking, think I got on a year or so ago. I used to get school boy tickets and then when finished school I've been lucky enough to get them through LOI clubs.
I got tickets for the upcoming intenationals. I applied for 1 ticket. I told any friends who I go to the game with to get on waiting list aswell. We all applied for one ticket. When people are given more than one it leaves it open to touting.
There may only be one on ebay at the moment. we'll see the same scum crawling the streets around croker with many tickets being sold over face value.
I think the whole system needs to be relooked at. And when moving to a new stadium there is no better time. Accomodate all current holders, and put a proper system in place for getting new people on the ladder.

[Bluetonic]

There are many ways to implement a ticketing system, the best way is obviously to have everyone register with the FAI as a member and have their photo printed on the back of each ticket distributed, be that singly as you mention or via a block booking grouping. Obviously this increases the admin overhead massively.

The crux of the matter is that the current system works fine when it is implemented correctly.



I think the whole system needs to be relooked at. And when moving to a new stadium there is no better time. Accomodate all current holders, and put a proper system in place for getting new people on the ladder.

There may not be availability to offer waiting listers tickets from the newly developed Lansdowne as outline earlier in this thread.

[Collyontour]

They could issue every block booker with a number and print the number on each ticket allocated to that person. At the games, they could encourage people who buy off tout scum to report them. Simple. And then ban them for life.