Ethihad seating issues last night.?!~

[dave10]

Excluding members reserved seat dissatisfaction, did you have problems last night getting into Ethihad? Were you turned away? Only 43,000 there yet essentially sold out. What's the solution? Essendon members that didn't go last night, why didn't you take advantage of the seat sell back option?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Standing room tickets only were available for people trying to upgrade AFL memberships at the ground (and for general public I assume).

I don't know how or if the "sellback" system works. I've tried it a few times (I battle to get to Saturday games) and have never sold my seat, including when the game is supposedly "sold out" (West Coast game).

This is simply the new membership system at work. Club or stadium aren't worried, they've sold all the seats, whether they're used or not.

 

[Kong]

I didn't use the sell back seat option because I couldn't be bothered, and I've heard the success rate isn't amazing, anyway.

 

[The Prosecutor]

I've tried using the resale function against Brisbane and West Coast, but Essendon couldn't get their shit together and the website wouldn't even let you put it up for resale.

I see it has been rectified now however.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I resold my wifes seat the other week. Never got notified about it, so be interesting to see if I get credited. I know it was sold though cos some dude sat in it and I saw he had the number on his ticket...

 

[yaco55]

Have to wonder how they got 56,000 in the stadium for the State of Origin.

 

[stugots]

Sold mine for the West Coast game without any probs, & decided to spring for some good seats off ebay for last nights game because there was just crap available off ticketek early in the week & although I appreciate my reserved seats up on Level 3, Level 1 is worth the extra cash & to sit with friends/family, but then get to the game & theres plenty of good seats vacant everywhere

gives me the shits

 

[IriDiuM]

I had a single ticket put up this week and it didn't sell. Guess thats partly because not many ppl go to the footy by themselves.

 

[doug85]

I traveled from Albury to the game and was most shitted off when I could only get standing rooms tickets. I was even more pissed off when I noticed all the empty seats on level 2 &3.

Ticket officer was a total bitch to boot.

 

[dave_27]

The reserved seat system implemented this year is shambolic, for the 2nd home game at Etihad in a row its been standing room only yet Level 3 had more holes in it than swiss cheese and the attendance just 42k again. Before this year standing room only left at Etihad guaranteed a crowd in the high 40's.

It was a joke walking around Etihad pre game and seeing dad's and there kids sitting on the floors in Standing Room at Etihad when there are so many seats available on Level 3 that remain vacant every home game.

In the end like the WC game, it was another attendance atleast 5k below what you would expect us to draw.

 

[Kong]

In those cases, why don't people just go up to level 3 and take the free seats?

It's no biggy.

 

[The Prosecutor]

In those cases, why don't people just go up to level 3 and take the free seats?

It's no biggy.

The problem is the club has forced members who can't make it to every game purchase reserve seats.

At least with the GA memberships, people could purchase a reserve seat should they want to go to a game.

 

[dave10]

The reserved seat system implemented this year is shambolic, for the 2nd home game at Etihad in a row its been standing room only yet Level 3 had more holes in it than swiss cheese and the attendance just 42k again. Before this year standing room only left at Etihad guaranteed a crowd in the high 40's.

It was a joke walking around Etihad pre game and seeing dad's and there kids sitting on the floors in Standing Room at Etihad when there are so many seats available on Level 3 that remain vacant every home game.

In the end like the WC game, it was another attendance atleast 5k below what you would expect us to draw.

It is a problem because all those empty seats on level 2 and 3 (rows in some instances) were the empty Essendon members seats. Sat nights would be the worst I suggest as people go out on Sat night. Since last year Essendon has upsold about 7,000 extra memberships to include a season seats. This is why Essendons 'sell out crowd' has dropped from about 48,000 to 44,000. Incidentally, a few years back it could get 50,000 to a few home games when it sold only about 16,000 'season seats'.

I can only hope they get their house in order before the Hawthorn game. It would be terrible if this match was witnessed by only 44,000 people. It would not be tolerated by Essendon, AFL or the football public for that matter. This is when the issue will likely come to ahead.

The conspiracy theorist in me suggests the club is 'not too concerned' about this as it may use the fact it is selling more season seats and thus reducing the match day capacity of the venue for Essendon games as a political asset in building a stronger case that Ethihad is too small for all Essendon home games and needs to be back at the MCG.

 

[Doss]

What will be interesting is to contrast the Geelong and Hawthorn games. If some of the games this year are anything to go by, it's quite possible the Hawthorn game will be 'sold out' and only have 45-46k- Because it's our home game and that seems to be the trend with our home games now.

The Geelong game, on the other hand, is a Geelong home game. Would not be at all surprised if that ends up getting a higher crowd, tbh.

 

[Long_bomb]

i dont really know how to re-sell mine. plus from reading the above seems a bit pointless too..

 

[daffo]

I'm an AFL member. I walked up to the game and couldn't reserve a seat (only standing room) which was quite annoying.

 

[dave10]

What will be interesting is to contrast the Geelong and Hawthorn games. If some of the games this year are anything to go by, it's quite possible the Hawthorn game will be 'sold out' and only have 45-46k- Because it's our home game and that seems to be the trend with our home games now.

The Geelong game, on the other hand, is a Geelong home game. Would not be at all surprised if that ends up getting a higher crowd, tbh.

Almost certainly correct with your prediction as Geelong probably only have about 10,000 annual seats on the night. My prediction assuming all teams involved are doing well still:

Geelong V Essendon - 51,000
Essendon V Hawthorn - 44,000

 

[lemon chicken]

I'm an AFL member. I walked up to the game and couldn't reserve a seat (only standing room) which was quite annoying.

Do you do this for all Etihad matches? I find it very easy to get a level 1 seat in the AFL members, most of the time on the day of the match when buying online. I'd rather pay the booking fee than stand in the rain for half an hour at a ticket window.

 

[daffo]

Do you do this for all Etihad matches? I find it very easy to get a level 1 seat in the AFL members, most of the time on the day of the match when buying online. I'd rather pay the booking fee than stand in the rain for half an hour at a ticket window.

Normally for Essendon games I do reserve a seat early which is no problem. I had a bucks night that night and wasn't planning on going to the game. Because we lost to Melbourne I wanted to see how the boys would react so I went for a half. It wasn't worth it.
FYI - I walked up to the Melbourne game and got awesome level 2 seats.