Wolves fans react to so many unsold tickets for Newcastle United match

Wolves fans have their next match on Sunday.

A first international break thankfully out of the way and Newcastle United the visitors.

I thought I would have a look to see what the Wolves fans were having to say about their team’s chances.

However, when I visited their main message board, my attention was instead caught by a long thread with numerous comments (see below) from Wolves fans about the number of unsold tickets there are, for Sunday’s match.

I had no idea and it turns out that their first home match against Chelsea had a fair few empty seats.

All a bit sad really when you hear this type of thing, especially when their stadium only holds around 31,000, Wolves fans blaming empty/unsold seats on ticket prices, unattractive football, poor results, not spending enough in the transfer window, the alternative and cheaper ways of watching matches from home… and so on.

The reason I was especially surprised was that not so long ago I recalled reading articles about big season ticket waiting lists and their club’s plans to expand Molineux to a 50,000+ capacity. Apparently, a big waiting list for season tickets is no longer a thing and I take it any plans for stadium expansion now on hold.

I think this is just another reminder of just how mad the demand for tickets is now on Tyneside, after we finally got rid of Mike Ashley. No European football and not exactly the most positive of summer transfer windows, yet for those fans without season tickets, an arguably even worse nightmare (if that were possible?!!) for Newcastle United members trying to get tickets for St James’ Park matches. Three home games having gone on sale so far and selling out within minutes, tens of thousands of members in the online ticket queues left disappointed.

Wolves fans reacting to the number of unsold tickets ahead of the Newcastle United match at Molineux, commenting via Molineux Mix:

‘Another early season home game, albeit televised and it has gone to general sale.

Lots of seats in the opposite corners still up for grabs.’

‘Hope the club are looking forward to having Newcastle fans in the home ends…’

‘I have been both a season ticket holder and member previously but didn’t take up the offer of either this time round.’

‘It was good to hear some fosun out chants Saturday.’

‘It wasn’t that long ago that there was talk of increasing the capacity at Molineux. I presume that has now been put to bed. Wolves, like many other clubs feel they can charge what they want and people will still pay up. In these difficult times it just doesn’t work like that.’

‘Fosun do not care who is sat in that seat as long as someone has paid top dollar for it. For there to be a rethink and it to really affect them needs to be a lot of empty seats. Later in the season and certainly next season will be the acid test.’

‘If it almost sells out after price rises, then it shows they’ve got the prices pretty much spot on.’

‘That’s a disgusting attitude.’

‘I feel it’s as much to do with disillusionment as prices rises.’

‘It will be a number of factors: disillusionment, cost of tickets, wider cost of living issue, boredom of midtable plodding every year, boredom of atmos and live games, ease of tv access.’

‘Unfortunately for there to be real change there has to be a big change in attendance, talking low 20ks attendance for a prem match.’

‘You can’t increase match tickets to that of a top 6 team, yet have the second least investment in the division add to that being in deprived area. All for a 1/2 of one players wages.. it’s awful business sense.

Don’t underestimate the ‘feel good factor’ when it comes to building a successful football business.’

‘The proof of the pudding will be later on in the season. If we continue losing the stand will get emptier as no one is paying those matchday prices to watch your team get humiliated. We’ll get stands like the championship where corner blocks won’t be sold out.’

‘If we have so many housands on a season ticket waiting list how are there general sale tickets still available, surely these would’ve been sold in the close season to one of the many on the waiting list ???’

‘There aren’t thousands on a ST waiting list any more, anyone who wanted one got one this Summer.’

‘Newcastle is still a reasonably big game.

Chelsea was, and, if that sold out, it took until days before.

If we’re in this position over two big games, what’s it going to be like later in the season?

In November we have Palace and Southampton in consecutive weeks. Will people really pay £100+ for both?

We have Ipswich 11 days before Xmas.

Fulham on a night in February.

So I think the fact Chelsea and Newcastle have struggled to sell out will alarm them, and they’ll already know what’s coming and they’ve made a mistake.’

‘We ‘could’ go to Newcastle game – 4 ex season ticket holders, then members, now ‘just’ supporters but with travel and food would costs thick end of £250.

That’s just too much for an afternoon out.’

‘I’m sure it will be a complete sellout.’

‘I’ll have a pound with you on that.’

‘Not sure it will sell out, Sunday afternoon and on sky plus category A pricing.’

‘Having given up my st, was Chelsea sold out as in no empty seats?’

‘There was quite a few empty seats knocking about…’

‘I don’t think it was quite sold out.’

‘Fans happy to watch via other methods.’

‘Yep, I’m one of them. The prices to watch live at the ground are ridiculous. Subsidising an ownership with such disdain to the local fans and helping pay outrageous wages to millionaires is low on my priorities.’

‘Id never thought I’d be part of the armchair club either but now it’s like a badge of honour. Saving us both thousands of pounds

Var can stick it and the prices

A lot of home games will go to general sale. We’ve never been rich fan base.’

‘The waiting list evaporated this season.

The overwhelming majority jumped on there under Nuno, when we had a good team, looked in contention for European places, had fair prices and brought in decent names without selling off the crown jewels. ‘

‘Any one else sceptical about the attendance figure announced for the Chelsea game? There weren’t vast swathes of empty seats but there were significant blocks of empties in the wing stands.’

‘Do owners give a f…? of course not, they don’t care whether the person buying the ticket is from New York, Newcastle or Neachells.’

‘Loads of seats still unsold in the Quadrant Upper and Lower for Newcastle.’

‘Empty seats galore can’t say I’m surprised. Why would people want to pay full price when the game is broadcast live on sky.’

‘Wonder if Jeff has thought to give the top 6/7 clubs those sections as well and treat them the same as cup games.’

‘Tourists should be able to fill them…’

‘Another factor is that attendances will go up if the team is winning. If the team is winning then usually it is playing good entertaining football. The whole match day experience is more enjoyable and in demand.’

‘This is what’s so insulting. Fosun’s new policy is to spend less, and therefore win less, and therefore have lower attendances.

in order to compensate for this they put up prices to ensure revenue doesn’t fall.

it’s exactly like Cadbury shaving 10 grams off every bar and put the price up by 10p.

i’ve bought newcastle tickets but im watching on tv. The whole atmosphere around wolves is dreary and depressing.’

‘The difference is, when Cadbury shaves 10 grams off every bar and puts the price up 10p, you don’t get people trying to put other people off from buying Cadbury bars, because of the price increase. It is a personal decision, if you don’t want to eat the chocolate, that is fine, if others do, it is their choice.’

‘The odds for this one (selling out) don’t look great, it’s on the telly and it’s a game that typically finishes 1-1. Given Newcastle aren’t firing on all cylinders I’d hope we could get better but I’d bite your hand off at the minute to get another point on the board 🙁

Completely understand why people aren’t going mad for tickets, looks like they’re trying to prevent away fans buying them by requiring a supporter history too.

Appreciate I’m being pessimistic and people from ‘The Mag’ will end up trawling this thread as usual so that’ll be me in “print” yet again.

I’ll be at St James’ for the reverse fixture in Jan, praying for another Matt Doherty late finish. Suspect we won’t take a full allocation for that one given the terrible scheduling.’

‘I presume that the club are not surprised at the amount of tickets on general sale. They must have expected this scenario when increasing the prices.

Personally, I will not pay to watch a premier league game. It is called the greed league for a good reason and I will not contribute to that.’