[Archived] Season Tickets 2012/13

[philipl]

The saddest aspect of this thread is that very many of the most passionate truest supporters of Rovers are arguing that the best way to support the club is to persuade other fans not to buy Season Tickets.

There could be no more eloquent testament to the evil spirit that has befallen Rovers in the past 19 months that is Venky's/Anderson/Kean.

[Roversider]

Why pick at the 6-7000 who are sticking around this time, in much the same way you did? Also, and I'll probably betray my ignorance here - although mainly my age, what were the main complaints from fans about The FA Cup Final?

The 1960 Final fiasco was all about tickets, I was a toddler at the time but I saw the impact in former fans still going on about it twenty years later. Apparently you couldn't get a ticket by a normal route but there were plenty around at inflated prices that were available via players and other club sources. The story that was passed around was that it was a sort of bonus for the players and club officials.

Huge amount of bitterness and a lot never came back again after queuing fruitlessly from the Aqueduct to Ewood. How much was that based on fact? I don't know but my first boss (in 1972) when asked why he didn't follow the Rovers pulled a wad of tickets from his office drawer and showed every cup round except the final. The semi-final was the last time he went.

The lesson is that once the habit is gone it doesn't come back and all you need is to repeat the same story why you don't go ad infinitum (or ad nauseum).

I followed Rovers through some really lean times amidst some appalling acts of football related violence. I still buy tickets and have renewed but I understand why others don't. As I've said before, let's not rip each other apart for the decision on whether we renewed or not.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Feel like something of a hypocrite defending a cause I've recently abandoned but there's quite a few flaws in these attacks on the ST renewers:

Nodrog - If everything is awful and football has gone to the dogs, why are you still posting on a football messageboard? I'm guessing because you can't resist getting even a little bit of a football fix. So how does that make you any different to those who still want to go to Rovers next season?

Topman - Have to agree with those criticising your aggressive anti-renewers stance when you've never had a ST in the first place. Yeah there are ST holders that agree with you but you appear to be the harshest critic of them all, and its about something you simply can't fully understand having never experienced it long-term.

Numerous posters claiming the renewers are helping/funding Venkys and Kean - What the fans financially contribute to this club is laughably insignificant. I'm sorry but its true, we are the cheapskates of all 4 leagues because in recent years Rovers, to their credit, have allowed us to be. The parachute payment money Venkys will be getting over the next 4 years is the equivalent of nearly 2 decades of season ticket sales. Buy one or not, it won't help or hurt Venkys in monetary terms.

[Roversider]

The saddest aspect of this thread is that very many of the most passionate truest supporters of Rovers are arguing that the best way to support the club is to persuade other fans not to buy Season Tickets.

There could be no more eloquent testament to the evil spirit that has befallen Rovers in the past 19 months that is Venky's/Anderson/Kean.

Please, please don't let's get into an argument who is the most passionate etc.., I believe we are all committed to the Rovers even if we don't always carry out the same actions.

If we really want to do something positive rather than negative then support BRSIT http://www.brsit.co.uk/

[Amo]

Topman - Have to agree with those criticising your aggressive anti-renewers stance when you've never had a ST in the first place. Yeah there are ST holders that agree with you but you appear to be the harshest critic of them all, and its about something you simply can't fully understand having never experienced it long-term.

Aggressive? Rawr!

I don't need to live in Syria right now to know it's not somewhere I'd wanna be.

Same goes for owning a ST. If you disagree with what I'm saying (that renewing based on the past 18 months is misguided) fair enough. Don't make it personal.

[Beta Ray Bill]

The saddest aspect of this thread is that very many of the most passionate truest supporters of Rovers are arguing that the best way to support the club is to persuade other fans not to buy Season Tickets.

There could be no more eloquent testament to the evil spirit that has befallen Rovers in the past 19 months that is Venky's/Anderson/Kean.

Most passionate and truest ?

Well thanks for insulting all of us who have renewed. I thought better of you.

[Stuart]

The 1960 Final fiasco was all about tickets, I was a toddler at the time but I saw the impact in former fans still going on about it twenty years later. Apparently you couldn't get a ticket by a normal route but there were plenty around at inflated prices that were available via players and other club sources. The story that was passed around was that it was a sort of bonus for the players and club officials.

Huge amount of bitterness and a lot never came back again after queuing fruitlessly from the Aqueduct to Ewood. How much was that based on fact? I don't know but my first boss (in 1972) when asked why he didn't follow the Rovers pulled a wad of tickets from his office drawer and showed every cup round except the final. The semi-final was the last time he went.

The lesson is that once the habit is gone it doesn't come back and all you need is to repeat the same story why you don't go ad infinitum (or ad nauseum).

I followed Rovers through some really lean times amidst some appalling acts of football related violence. I still buy tickets and have renewed but I understand why others don't. As I've said before, let's not rip each other apart for the decision on whether we renewed or not.

Thanks. I knew it was about tickets but wasn't sure how it all came about.

[MarkBRFC71]

Typical armchair mentality – you don’t get it, it’s that simple.....Some of your lines above show that....

How do you switch off a passion?? How do you switch off raw emotion??

I think you don't get it pal, to be honest. I'm as passionate about the club as the next man (and have been since I got my first season ticket in 1982) but it's no longer the same club - everything that's happened since Venky's took over has destroyed the passion for most people. Will I miss going? Absolutely, and going to Chorley will be a poor substitute but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make hopefully for the greater good.

Tell me what good - in terms of ridding us of the cancer that is the current regime - renewing does?

IMO it sends a message of approval to Kean/Agnew - if we sell 8,000 ST's the reduction from last season is easily spinnable by Kean/Agnew as "bad fans" or a consequence to relegation. If only 1,000 renewed it would send a much clearer message to the goons from Pune that we're not prepared to let them take the p1ss out of us any more.

We tried vociferous protests last season and look where that got us - nowhere. 20,000 people singing "Kean Out" in a televised Premier League game beamed around the world and he's still there (and Agnew's appointment has only strengthened his position). For me the only, and best, option now is non-attendance.

It's got nothing to do with denying them my money - and everything to do with making a stand against a regime seemingly hellbent on destroying the club.

Each to their own at the end of the day but it's simple for me - we should be congratulating every fan who does not renew, and every fan who forces through a cancellation. The less season tickets we sell, the more cancellations we get, the better.

[ABBEY]

NOONE HATES THE SCUM MORE THAN ME AND I WONT LET THEM DRIVE ME OUT. I SING ROVERS TIL I DIE AND BELIEVE IT. I WILL BE THERE AND I WILL BE ABUSING KEAN AND THE TURD STAINS. THE SEASON TICKET MONEY IS ALLS THEY GET FROM ME ,I WONT BUY MERCH AND I WONT EVEN BUY A BOVRIL. IM NO SUPER FAN AND IM CERTAINLY NOT STICKING UP FOR THE SCUM.IF I STOP GOING I WILL STOP AND NOT RETURN. IF ANYONE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT GOING ,SAY IT TO MY FACE AND NOT BEHIND A PLASTIC SCREEN.MY HISTORY AT ROVERS WITH MY FAMILY GOES BACK AS FAR AS TIME AND I DONT WANT TO THE FAMILY MEMBER WHO STOPS IT.MY LAD STILL WANTS TO GO .

[Harrier7]

That Cup Final was the worst day of my life. My Dad and I managed to get tickets through his business connections, but I wish we hadn't. In those days there was no M6 and our coach went right through the middle of Wolverhampton on the way down. You can imagine the reaction of the locals as we passed through! The whole experience had been ruined in advance by the Dougan affair, and on the day the team was unrecognisable as the warriors who had battled through some thrilling matches on the way to Wembley. Not helped, of course, by the no substitution rule which applied at the time which handed Wolves a big advantage when Dave Whelan had to be carried off with a broken leg. Nevertheless, I renewed my season ticket immediately afterwards, which I would not be doing under the present circumstances were I still a regular supporter!

[jim mk2]

The 1960 Final fiasco was all about tickets, I was a toddler at the time but I saw the impact in former fans still going on about it twenty years later. Apparently you couldn't get a ticket by a normal route but there were plenty around at inflated prices that were available via players and other club sources. The story that was passed around was that it was a sort of bonus for the players and club officials.

Huge amount of bitterness and a lot never came back again after queuing fruitlessly from the Aqueduct to Ewood. How much was that based on fact? I don't know but my first boss (in 1972) when asked why he didn't follow the Rovers pulled a wad of tickets from his office drawer and showed every cup round except the final. The semi-final was the last time he went.

The lesson is that once the habit is gone it doesn't come back and all you need is to repeat the same story why you don't go ad infinitum (or ad nauseum).

I followed Rovers through some really lean times amidst some appalling acts of football related violence. I still buy tickets and have renewed but I understand why others don't. As I've said before, let's not rip each other apart for the decision on whether we renewed or not.

I remember the 1960 fiasco well and there were many, many fans who never stepped inside Ewood again as a result of the perceived sleight over Wembley tickets.

However, by comparison 1960 was a storm in a teacup compared to the current situation which has the potential to damage the club deeper and for much longer than all those years ago. My view is I understand why fans are not renewing but fans who vow to stay away for some reason or another in my experience never go back, or at least only attend less often than they used to do. Like many things, watching football matches is a habit and once that habit is broken it is hard to get it back.

For certain, Venky's are damaging the club but by staying away there is a risk that fans are damaging the club in the long term too.

[MarkBRFC71]

NOONE HATES THE SCUM MORE THAN ME AND I WONT LET THEM DRIVE ME OUT. I SING ROVERS TIL I DIE AND BELIEVE IT. I WILL BE THERE AND I WILL BE ABUSING KEAN AND THE TURD STAINS. THE SEASON TICKET MONEY IS ALLS THEY GET FROM ME ,I WONT BUY MERCH AND I WONT EVEN BUY A BOVRIL. IM NO SUPER FAN AND IM CERTAINLY NOT STICKING UP FOR THE SCUM.IF I STOP GOING I WILL STOP AND NOT RETURN. IF ANYONE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT GOING ,SAY IT TO MY FACE AND NOT BEHIND A PLASTIC SCREEN.MY HISTORY AT ROVERS WITH MY FAMILY GOES BACK AS FAR AS TIME AND I DONT WANT TO THE FAMILY MEMBER WHO STOPS IT.MY LAD STILL WANTS TO GO .

As I said, each to their own - I'm not criticising those who have renewed just trying to get across my opinion why I think it's the wrong decision. I love Rovers as much as anyone, and it's obvious that long-term the best thing for the club is to rid it of the current owners and their stooges. For me the best way to achieve this is a mass demonstration by way of boycott. It's sad that it comes to this, as I'll be the first male generation of my family to wilfully NOT attend where I can since the 1890's, but I think everything else has been tried by way of protest to no avail and this is our last option. If that fails then lord knows where we go from there ....

[he6rt6gr6m]

As I said, each to their own - I'm not criticising those who have renewed just trying to get across my opinion why I think it's the wrong decision. I love Rovers as much as anyone, and it's obvious that long-term the best thing for the club is to rid it of the current owners and their stooges. For me the best way to achieve this is a mass demonstration by way of boycott. It's sad that it comes to this, as I'll be the first male generation of my family to wilfully NOT attend where I can since the 1890's, but I think everything else has been tried by way of protest to no avail and this is our last option. If that fails then lord knows where we go from there ....

I completely agree, and have been saying this since last season. People shouldn't feel "forced out" as the last thing these owners want is fans not to pay to come to watch BRFC. So why would Venky's be forcing them out? It's a decision, and a mature one at that, to boycott the whole thing. Support the club in your own way. Wear classic shirts, go to away games, reserves and academy games. There's still plenty of ways to support your club. A season ticket isn't the be-all-and-end-all of it.

[Paul]

Aggressive? Rawr!

I don't need to live in Syria right now to know it's not somewhere I'd wanna be.

Same goes for owning a ST. If you disagree with what I'm saying (that renewing based on the past 18 months is misguided) fair enough. Don't make it personal.

Again when did you last go to Ewood or another ground to watch Rovers? It's a simple question.

[sambo]

I think the people who didn't protest have a lot to answer for. It allowed Kean etc to spin it as a minority, which perhaps it was for one stage. A lot of the same people who slagged off the protesters were the same people who were sat on their hands at those home games, only leaving their seat or showing any sort of passion on the rare occasion we actually scored. I saw the same people at every march, the same people with the foresight to see that discontent against VenKean was essential. They'd still vociferously back the team inside Ewood (a lot of the protesters were in the Darwen End, easily the most atmospheric section of the ground), but that did no good obviously.

People like Hughesy have ticked me off especially. The amount of stick he gave the protesters and the mocking, patronising, 'I'm a better fan than you' tone he gave to those fans was shocking. Then, come the Wigan game he was discussing the need for a big protest aimed at Venky's/Kean. As fickle as anything, and only jumping on the bandwagon when the protesters were finally proven right that Kean would take us down.

I know some people couldn't protest for their own reasons and it's been discussed a thousand times on here, but if the thousands inside Ewood who so passionately shouted that they want Kean/Venky's out during the Wigan game had shown the same passion and enthusiasm for the cause earlier, perhaps things would have changed. Not definitely, but the ill feeling we see now towards Venky's is long overdue, and will only serve to delay any sort of positive outcome with regards to them finally selling up/changing their ways.

This year, I will join any marches/organised protest movements, but I will not set foot inside Ewood. I can't support that rodent on the touchline, nor can I support cockroaches like Agnew and Anderson. I can't contribute any money to Venky's destroying our club. Supporting the team hasn't worked in the past due to the chaos and incompetence we now see, and it won't work now. The lunatics have taken over the asylum. It pained me for a long time last year to go to Ewood and cheer on the 'Rovers', as this was no longer the Blackburn Rovers we all loved. Cheering on the team was almost, in a perverse way, a means of backing Kean and what he's doing at the club. It didn't feel right. I just wanted him gone. It was surreal, but I was ready for relegation for a long time, as it was inevitable, and the sooner it happened the quicker people would turn against the owners/manager. Don't get me wrong, I'd have liked to stay up, but it was almost impossible and would have only been for another year, hence why I was so ready for it to finally happen and to be put out of my misery.

I'm not going to slag off you season ticket holders, but I think an empty Ewood is the final protest left. It's heartbreaking, and will be one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am only 20 now, and have had a season ticket since I was 6. I can't be bothered with Hughesy or someone of that ilk playing the 'armchair fan' card, as I am quite the opposite. I just think staying away is the best option right now until things change.

RTID

[blue_n_white99]

Most passionate and truest ?

Well thanks for insulting all of us who have renewed. I thought better of you.

read his post again, you have paraphrased and misinterpreted....." very many Most passionate and truest" is what he said, not all

I think the people who didn't protest have a lot to answer for. It allowed Kean etc to spin it as a minority, which perhaps it was for one stage. A lot of the same people who slagged off the protesters were the same people who were sat on their hands at those home games, only leaving their seat or showing any sort of passion on the rare occasion we actually scored. I saw the same people at every march, the same people with the foresight to see that discontent against VenKean was essential. They'd still vociferously back the team inside Ewood (a lot of the protesters were in the Darwen End, easily the most atmospheric section of the ground), but that did no good obviously.

People like Hughesy have ticked me off especially. The amount of stick he gave the protesters and the mocking, patronising, 'I'm a better fan than you' tone he gave to those fans was shocking. Then, come the Wigan game he was discussing the need for a big protest aimed at Venky's/Kean. As fickle as anything, and only jumping on the bandwagon when the protesters were finally proven right that Kean would take us down.

I know some people couldn't protest for their own reasons and it's been discussed a thousand times on here, but if the thousands inside Ewood who so passionately shouted that they want Kean/Venky's out during the Wigan game had shown the same passion and enthusiasm for the cause earlier, perhaps things would have changed. Not definitely, but the ill feeling we see now towards Venky's is long overdue, and will only serve to delay any sort of positive outcome with regards to them finally selling up/changing their ways.

This year, I will join any marches/organised protest movements, but I will not set foot inside Ewood. I can't support that rodent on the touchline, nor can I support cockroaches like Agnew and Anderson. I can't contribute any money to Venky's destroying our club. Supporting the team hasn't worked in the past due to the chaos and incompetence we now see, and it won't work now. The lunatics have taken over the asylum. It pained me for a long time last year to go to Ewood and cheer on the 'Rovers', as this was no longer the Blackburn Rovers we all loved. Cheering on the team was almost, in a perverse way, a means of backing Kean and what he's doing at the club. It didn't feel right. I just wanted him gone. It was surreal, but I was ready for relegation for a long time, as it was inevitable, and the sooner it happened the quicker people would turn against the owners/manager. Don't get me wrong, I'd have liked to stay up, but it was almost impossible and would have only been for another year, hence why I was so ready for it to finally happen and to be put out of my misery.

I'm not going to slag off you season ticket holders, but I think an empty Ewood is the final protest left. It's heartbreaking, and will be one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am only 20 now, and have had a season ticket since I was 6. I can't be bothered with Hughesy or someone of that ilk playing the 'armchair fan' card, as I am quite the opposite. I just think staying away is the best option right now until things change.

RTID

+1

[Ossydave]

The low attendances will be blamed on the impact of relegation, the media will make us out to have fickle, glory hunting fans, you can just see it now how this is going to pan out.....

[Kendalrover]

The low attendances will be blamed on the impact of relegation, the media will make us out to have fickle, glory hunting fans, you can just see it now how this is going to pan out.....

The national press will not be interested. The Daily Mail have already taken Rovers off their premier league page. Try finding a Rovers story in the DM now.

[thenodrog]

It's a complex situation, and the reality is that neither boycotting nor attending is likely to achieve anything. Sad but true.

Well the grounds of my house should benefit from a bit more TLC and I might get my handicap down too.

[thenodrog]

Numerous posters claiming the renewers are helping/funding Venkys and Kean - What the fans financially contribute to this club is laughably insignificant. I'm sorry but its true, we are the cheapskates of all 4 leagues because in recent years Rovers, to their credit, have allowed us to be. The parachute payment money Venkys will be getting over the next 4 years is the equivalent of nearly 2 decades of season ticket sales. Buy one or not, it won't help or hurt Venkys in monetary terms.

There is an old saying..... If you want something different to happen.... you have to do something different.

[thenodrog]

I think the people who didn't protest have a lot to answer for. It allowed Kean etc to spin it as a minority, which perhaps it was for one stage. A lot of the same people who slagged off the protesters were the same people who were sat on their hands at those home games, only leaving their seat or showing any sort of passion on the rare occasion we actually scored. I saw the same people at every march, the same people with the foresight to see that discontent against VenKean was essential. They'd still vociferously back the team inside Ewood (a lot of the protesters were in the Darwen End, easily the most atmospheric section of the ground), but that did no good obviously.

People like Hughesy have ticked me off especially. The amount of stick he gave the protesters and the mocking, patronising, 'I'm a better fan than you' tone he gave to those fans was shocking. Then, come the Wigan game he was discussing the need for a big protest aimed at Venky's/Kean. As fickle as anything, and only jumping on the bandwagon when the protesters were finally proven right that Kean would take us down.

I know some people couldn't protest for their own reasons and it's been discussed a thousand times on here, but if the thousands inside Ewood who so passionately shouted that they want Kean/Venky's out during the Wigan game had shown the same passion and enthusiasm for the cause earlier, perhaps things would have changed. Not definitely, but the ill feeling we see now towards Venky's is long overdue, and will only serve to delay any sort of positive outcome with regards to them finally selling up/changing their ways.

This year, I will join any marches/organised protest movements, but I will not set foot inside Ewood. I can't support that rodent on the touchline, nor can I support cockroaches like Agnew and Anderson. I can't contribute any money to Venky's destroying our club. Supporting the team hasn't worked in the past due to the chaos and incompetence we now see, and it won't work now. The lunatics have taken over the asylum. It pained me for a long time last year to go to Ewood and cheer on the 'Rovers', as this was no longer the Blackburn Rovers we all loved. Cheering on the team was almost, in a perverse way, a means of backing Kean and what he's doing at the club. It didn't feel right. I just wanted him gone. It was surreal, but I was ready for relegation for a long time, as it was inevitable, and the sooner it happened the quicker people would turn against the owners/manager. Don't get me wrong, I'd have liked to stay up, but it was almost impossible and would have only been for another year, hence why I was so ready for it to finally happen and to be put out of my misery.

I'm not going to slag off you season ticket holders, but I think an empty Ewood is the final protest left. It's heartbreaking, and will be one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am only 20 now, and have had a season ticket since I was 6. I can't be bothered with Hughesy or someone of that ilk playing the 'armchair fan' card, as I am quite the opposite. I just think staying away is the best option right now until things change.

RTID

Exactly right. How frustrating was it to be ridiculed whilst walking on the marches? How frustrating was it to see people walk along the same route for 10 mins either side of the march but wouldn't or couldn't be bothered to join in? The looks one received when you told people that you had been on the protest march.

That soured me greatly and imo caused a certain split amongst the supporters. People crying about our plight now who did sweet fa at the time need to look in a mirror.

[47er]

read his post again, you have paraphrased and misinterpreted....." very many Most passionate and truest" is what he said, not all

+1

+ another 1. About time it was said.

We were hardly dancing on the terraces last season!

The only point I'm trying to make is that Agnew can spin it if we turn up and he can spin it if we don't - there is no proven course of action that's definitely going to work.

Some people will decide to boycott, some won't, but they all want the same thing and should be allowed to respond in the way they feel will be most effective.

Whatever you say, buying a ticket for this season doesn't automatically mean a vote of confidence - if you buy a ticket and then protest inside the ground then it is impossible for it to be described in that way.

It's a complex situation, and the reality is that neither boycotting nor attending is likely to achieve anything. Sad but true.

Protest away------they are not listening, but they will take your money.

[47er]

Thanks. I knew it was about tickets but wasn't sure how it all came about.

Roversider has it wrong. There were no queues because tickets were sold by post! You applied and waited to see if you got one. School friends of mine sent in applications from every relative they had in the hope one would succeed.

Didn't apply to me cos I had a season ticket

Lots of other reasons for fans' disgust though but I''m too depressed to go into them.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

I have a 12 year old with learning difficulties, even he says we have a rubbish manager, he doesn't understand the nuances of the fight, but doesn't enjoy the "experience". I have no problem with anyone renewing, the Rovers is in my blood, but I choose not to renew, just like the other three forty somethings I go with, together with their children. We have made a considered decision on the basis it is not the same club anymore and we cannot continue to support a rancid regime. Football, win, lose or draw should be an enjoyable day out, you don't mind if we are at least competitive, but under Venkys we are not. Going to Ewood fills me with dread, that's not how it should be. I've been in bad times before, but at least it was our team, playing for our fans, now it is something very different.

[Amo]

Again when did you last go to Ewood or another ground to watch Rovers? It's a simple question.

It's a pointless one that only serves your ad hominem agenda.

Stick to the point - Is it or is it not misguided to buy a ST next season?

I've argued YES on the basis that Venky's have destroyed the club and have no respect or concern for their public. Therefore, buying a ST is basically giving them a vote of confidence and setting yourself up for another jolly rogering. Explaining why it's not easy to stop renewing is not a counter-argument for the foolishness of backing those who have spat in your face for 18 months. Some fans come out and admit they're suckered in and they don't know any better. At least they're honest and don't try to dress it up as anything more than that.