Open Letter Response

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUPPORTERS’ TRUST

RESPONSE TO OPEN LETTER FROM MATT JARVIS via @TOTTENHAMLATEST

12^th JANUARY 2014

Dear Matt,

Thank you for your open letter, posted via the @TottenhamLatest twitter account yesterday, which we appreciate was not intended to cause any offence.

Whilst we are grateful that you recognise that THST have a difficult job to do, it’s clear to us that the lack of communication you speak of may have occurred due to the fact neither yourself or @TottenhamLatest appear to actually follow our @THSTOfficial account on twitter, or be members of the Trust.

We appreciate that at this current time, there is a great deal of frustration and disengagement between the Club and its’ fans.

Please believe us when we say we feel exactly the same.

However, we don’t feel that this is due to the level of communication between the Club and the THST Board but rather the lack of two way dialogue between the Club and its’ supporters in general.

One of the many ways THST gauges the current sentiment of its’ members and the Clubs’ greater fanbase is by reading twitter, Facebook and various message boards.

In terms of your comments as to why we made a statement regarding the departure of Andre Villas-Boas, the overwhelming sentiment, a result of that lack of communication, was one of a high level of bewilderment as to where the Club would turn next.

As one of over 140 supporters’ trusts, THST is somewhat guided by Friends & Industrial Provident Society rules, meaning that when the Club doesn’t have a manager, it’s only right for us to speak as that is a matter of football governance. Once a manager has been appointed, this is no longer the case.

At that stage, if the Chairman of the football club is deemed to have made an incorrect decision, any movement that grows from that is consequently a pressure group. Something THST can never become itself.

Moving onto your questions:

1)    The appointment of AVB and the ‘new direction’ mentioned at the time

We can only believe that after the tenure of Harry Redknapp, the Club board wanted to move back towards a two-tiered level of management and one which was tactics-driven rather than motivational.

It is worth noting that only one of the current THST Board was in position at that time.

Regarding AVB’s departure, whilst the Club will not communicate to us the full reasoning for this decision, we can only assume that it was a combination of reasons, probably consisting of the style of play and the mismanagement of certain key players.

After our statement of 19^th December, calling for clarification from Mr Levy, we were advised on the 21^st December that a statement would be made on the 23^rd, which was the appointment of Tim Sherwood into the managerial role.

2)    Real Madrid/ THFC Partnership

THST was approached in late August 2013 by @e_spurs to deliver an e-petition they had organised to the Club calling for an end to the strategic partnership between Real Madrid and THFC.

Clearly, this was not our campaign. We were merely facilitating another fans group to gain access to the THFC hierarchy.

The e-petition was presented to the Club on the 7^th September and we have repeatedly asked the Club for a response. To date, we have been stonewalled and THFC are not prepared to make any comment on the partnership.

We can only suggest that fans draw their own conclusions as to whether or not this was a real partnership or merely spin used in Summer 2012 to make the sale of Luka Modric seem more palatable.

We would add that we would be amazed were THFC to now play Real Madrid in Ledley King’s testimonial match, scheduled for Summer 2014.

3)     Long/ short term ambitions and the new stadium

As Daniel Levy has repeatedly told THST over the last 13 years, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is always available for sale. It should be remembered what the ‘I’ in ENIC stands for.

Quite clearly, much work has been done to clear the site for the intended new stadium and the Sainsbury’s superstore and new technical college were erected very quickly. However, it is our view that no actual work has started in respect of beginning the build for the new stadium. As yet, the Club have not successfully secured a naming rights deal, which is absolutely fundamental to financing the stadium, although we do understand that the Club hosted several potential sponsors at the recent Liverpool home match on 15^th December.

Again, we are as frustrated as everybody that there doesn’t appear to be any light at the end of this tunnel as we feel the new stadium is paramount in addressing many of the problems with atmosphere and fan enjoyment that we are currently witnessing.

We hope these answers have helped your understanding of the current situation.

To help you gain a higher understanding of the work THST undertakes, please feel free to follow us on twitter (@THSTOfficial), Facebook (THST Official), LinkedIn (Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust) and read our Updates on our website: www.THSTOfficial.com.

As an aside, we will be opening up nominations to the THST Board this coming Friday (17^th January) ahead of our Annual General Meeting on February 26^th.

All paid members are eligible to stand for election and we urge those who feel passionately to get involved.

Thank you.

THST Board.

Hull City Statement

THST wishes to register its strong support to Hull City fans and their "No To Hull Tigers" campaign, being fought against the owner of the club.

We believe it should be remembered that the owners of Football Clubs are merely custodians and that whilst they, managers and players come and go, the only real constant is the clubs' supporters who would have to live with such a name change.

We call on the FA and relevant footballing authorities to make sure that proper, meaningful consultation is undertaken on this issue and that the wishes of the fans are listened to and acted upon.

THST BOARD WEEKLY UPDATE

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUPPORTERS’ TRUST

Last 7 Days Update

19th August 2013

THST have been extremely busy in the past week, raising fans concerns with both the Club and the Premier Leaguearound our immediate campaign issues (Away Tickets, Loyalty Points, Balcony Banners, StubHub, Fan Groups,Away Travel).

Wins:

The Premier League has accepted THST’s call for all Away tickets to be offered to visiting clubs on a sale or return basic. Historically, 50% of allocations were available to clubs on a Sale or Return basis and 50% Sale only,hence clubs were inclined to take the smaller allocation. This should encourage clubs to take full allocations, meaning more tickets for fans. (The only condition now is that 50% of the ‘second’ allocation has to be sold).

THST also proposed to the Premier League that clubs must submit confirmation of all Away ticket pricing and allocations for the forthcoming season by early July, before any ticket windows open, to avoid fans applying for matches ‘blind’ without prices etc. The Premier League is taking this to the next Chairman’s meeting for a vote.

THST backed a proposal of Club and Trust representatives to end the categorisation of Away games, which result in the supporters of clubs at the top of the league, within the Category A bracket, consistently being charged top rates for Away tickets. This will be discussed at the next Premier League Chairman’s meeting.

Loyalty Points:

THST have responded to a large number of concerned and frustrated fans regarding the Season Ticket holders Loyalty Point readjustments. The four year cycle, introduced last summer, has seen some long term ST holders fail to qualify for tickets to the first two away games of the season.

THST have taken these concerns on board and are currently working hard with THFC to push on the actions from THST’s Loyalty Point meeting on 15th July once the season proper has started.

StubHub:

THST are continuing to monitor StubHub activities and have reminded THFC of their agreement to provide transactional data after each game this season. This data will provide THFC and THST with a greater understanding of StubHub’s advantages and disadvantages.

THST will monitor StubHub throughout the 2013/14 season.

Atmosphere/Fan Groups:

THST have arranged a joint meeting for 10th September to discuss ways to improve the atmosphere at WHL, without forcing anything ‘artificial’ on fans who may not want an all singing, all dancing match day!

Present at the meeting will be representatives from fan groups already active in this area (The Fighting Cock, Revive The Lane, Spurs Youth). Guest speakers will also be present, along with the representatives of the FootballSupporters Federation and, hopefully, from THFC, also.

Meanwhile, THST continue to liaise with fans and THFC to orchestrate the installation of fixed banners across the Park Lane and Paxton balconies this season.

Away Fans Survey:

During the past few weeks, THST have continued to push the “Away Fans Survey” on Twitter. Early findings from this survey have been passed onto THFC to enable them toassess the demand for any subsided travel to future Awaygames.

The Survey will run for another fortnight and, those who have not yet completed the survey, please do so. Link here:

http://svy.mk/13GF8vX

Stacy Mowle Appeal:

THST are currently organising an online auction for the Stacy Mowle appeal. Further details will follow asap.

Antwerp Arms:

The Antwerp Arms is Tottenham’s oldest pub and is under threat of closure. A community group have formed with the intention of taking ownership of the pub. A member of the THST Board sits on their committee and is advising with procedure around obtaining a feasibility study, initially.

THST have submitted a letter to Haringey Council backing The Antwerp Arms Association’s application to list the Antwerp Arms as an Asset of Community Value.

Premier League Away Fans Experience Workshop:

THST attended the Premier League Away Fans Experience Workshop, at the invitation of THFC, at Cardiff City Stadium on 9th August. Details of the workshop will be published in a post later this month.

End.

Revised information for Palace Away 18/8/2013

REVISED

Hi Katrina,

My name is Furhad Zaidi I'm one of the board members of the CPST. I thought I would provide a quick guide on how to get to Selhurst Park and places to drink for your supporters.

Selhurst Park is served by three main stations: Norwood Junction, Thornton Heath and Selhurst

Thornton Heath and Selhurst (on the same line) - Trains from Victoria

Norwood Junction - Trains from East Croydon, London Bridge and now also connected by the new(ish) London Overground network. 

Thornton Heath

There aren't any pubs which are solely designated for away fans. Thornton Heath seems to be a decent bet with Flora Sandes, The Railway Telegraph and The Thomas Farley being pubs that are happy to welcome away fans. Most pubs will be opening in the morning to due to the early kick off (please check).

Norwood Junction

The William Stanley is the only pub which is open to all fans. The Cherry Trees have had a sign outside in the past stating home fans only. The Portmanor is now the new home of the Holmesdale Fanatics and is one pub to avoid for away fans.

What I would advise your fans is the following:

1. Aim to get to Selhurst Park for around1pm. Despite Palace and Tottenham having no issues in the past its still a London derby so there will be a heavyish Police presence with possible checks going into the stadium (by stewards).

2. Beer and food can be purchased from inside the stadium as well. So to alleviate the rush around the Thornton Heath and South Norwood pubs, some fans may want to go straight to the ground.

3. It also might be a good idea for some fans to get off at Forest Hill (one of the stops before Sydenham and drink at the local JD Wetherspoons Pub called the Capitol. The staff at the Capitol have reliably informed me that they will be opening at 9am. They will be less busy and fans will be more likely to get served quicker. Forest Hill is roughly 10 minutes away from Norwood Junction station on the London Overground network.

Here's hoping for a great game to start the season.

All the best

Furhad  

Pub Advice for Crystal Palace Away 18/8/2013

Our friends at CPST (the Palace Trust) have provided us with details on where to drink before Sundays big kick off.

"Hi Katrina,

My name is Furhad Zaidi I'm one of the board members of the CPST and look after our Twitter account with my colleague Liz Wells. 140 characters isn't enough to convey a message so I thought I would provide a quick low down on how to get to Selhurst Park and places to drink.

Three main stations: Thornton Heath and Selhurst (on the same line) - Trains from Victoria

Norwood Junction - Trains from East Croydon, London Bridge and now also connected by the new(ish) London Overground network. 

Thornton Heath

There aren't any pubs which are solely designated for away fans. Thornton Heath seems to be a decent bet with Flora Sandes, The Railway Telegraph and The Thomas Farley being pubs that are happy to welcome away fans.

Norwood Junction

The William Stanley is the only pub which is open to all fans. The Cherry Trees have had a sign outside in the past stating home fans only. The Portmanor is now the new home of the Holmesdale Fanatics and is one pub to avoid for away fans.

What I would advise your fans is the following:

1. Aim to get to Selhurst Park for around1pm. Despite Palace and Tottenham having no issues in the past its still a London derby so there will be a heavyish Police presence with possible checks going into the stadium by stewards.

2. Beer and food can be purchased from inside the stadium as well. So to alleviate the rush around the Thornton Heath and Norwood pubs some fans may want to go straight to the ground.

3. It also might be a good idea for some fans to get off at Forest Hill (one of the stops before Sydenham and drink at the local JD Wetherspoons Pub called the Capitol or the Hob. They will be less busy and fans will be more likely to get served quicker. Forest Hill is 10 minutes away from Norwood Junction station.

All in all it will be a good occasion.

All the best

Furhad "

2012/2013 Season Review DVD Competition

To be in with a chance to win 1 of 2 copies of this brand new DVD please visit : https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T2NMTGR

Rebranding Update

The THST Board are delighted to announce that Charlotte Hamilton, @charlottepeachy, will be undertaking the rebranding project for THST. Huge thanks!

Board Update

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust

Board Update

28th May 2013

We’re sorry to announce the departure of Tracey Wilkinson from the THST Board. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Tracey for her hard work during her two spells on the Trust Board and we wish her well for the future.

After internal discussions, there are no plans to replace Tracey on the THST Board at this time.

End.

Statement re: THFC/StubHub Partnership

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust

Statement re: StubHub Partnership

21^st May 2013

In relation to the Commercial Partnership between THFC and StubHub, which sees the latter take over the running of the THFC Ticket Exchange from next season in year 2 of a 3 year deal, THST has discussed the arrangements in detail with the Club, Supporters and internally amongst our own Board.

It is our conclusion that, whilst StubHub offers an improved deal for Season Ticket Holders, who are now able to recoup 100% of their outlay for the games they are unable to attend once a fixture has sold out, the absence of an upper pricing limit remains a concern.

We are assured that the StubHub marketplace is self-regulating and that measures are in place for THFC to monitor any seller persistently asking significantly above face value for home match tickets. THST will also be monitoring for examples of tickets being exchanged for unreasonably high figures and will discuss further with both Tottenham Hotspur and with StubHub UK themselves should we observe transactions that warrant further discussion.

StubHub Q&A with THFC

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust

StubHub: the new official ticket exchange

Q&A with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club

4th May 2013

The end of the 2012/2013 season also sees the end of the original Spurs Ticket Exchange. This has been replaced by a partnership with StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) an eBay company, where the seller sets the price for match tickets with no upper limit. 

Concerned at Spurs’ decision to move into the secondary ticketing market, Darren Alexander, Joint Chairman andKatrina Law, Secretary of THST, requested a meeting with Ian Murphy, Head of Ticketing and Membership and Jonathan Waite, Customer Services and Supporter Liaison Manager at THFC, to address our worries. This was scheduled for the 4th May, prior to the home game against Southampton.

The day before the meeting, THFC provided THST with a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document on StubHub. These FAQs should be read in conjunction with the following Q&A. 

Having sight of this information ahead of the meeting enabled us to explore the more searching questions rather than focusing on the practicalities of the system.

1) In 2006, THFC stated their opposition to moving into the secondary ticketing market. Why the turnaround?

StubHub wasn’t present in the UK in 2006. THFC spoke with another company regarding secondary ticketing at that time and part of their proposal was to retain an allocation of tickets that they could sell directly using flexible pricing. This was unacceptable to THFC and remains the case now. 

THFC spoke with two secondary ticketing companies in 2012 to discuss the possibility of a relationship. Following a lengthy dialogue, StubHub was happy to work in line with THFC’s requirements and stipulations and an agreement was concluded. 

StubHub, who launched in the UK in 2011, is purely an exchange facility and at no point did the company request an allocation of tickets to sell directly.

Hence, the offering is now different to that discussed in 2006.

2) Who, within THFC, is responsible for the decision to move the ticket exchange to StubHub?

Ian Murphy, Head of Ticketing and Membership, along with a member of the commercial team at THFC conducted discussions with the interested parties in early 2012.

Based on the commercial deal on offer, StubHub was recommended to the THFC Board, who made the ultimate decision.

This is a commercial arrangement. Football clubs always need new income streams, and the increased TV revenue should not be a smoke screen for this. Every club received the same TV deal; hence the gap still needs bridging with other teams.

3) How is THFC’s relationship with Ticketmaster affected by the partnership with StubHub?

THFC’s contract with Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.co.uk) was due to expire at the end of this season. It has actually been extended for another 2 years.

Ticketmaster declined to compete for the ticket exchange business, as it’s not the company’s speciality.

Ticketmaster will continue to operate all normal sales via the ticket office, with StubHub running the ticket exchange.

4) With StubHub being activated once a home game has sold out, how many games are we actually talking about? How many games sold out this season?

The current ticket exchange was activated for every home Premier League game this season. Every PL home game has sold out.

An average of 700 tickets were sold via the exchange for each home match, with the exception of Arsenal, where c 200 tickets were sold on the exchange.

5) Do you have to be a Spurs member to buy a ticket on StubHub?

No.

6) What checks are in place to ensure tickets are bought by home fans only?

All tickets sold via StubHub for matches at White Hart Lane are subject to the Tottenham Hotspur Terms and Conditions and Ground Regulations. This states that tickets are for home supporters only and anyone found to be supporting the visiting team will face ejection from the stadium with no refund due. This is exactly the same process currently in place for any tickets sold via general sale.

THFC do have the ability to restrict sales via StubHub to members only on advice from the Police etc. for specific matches.

7) Can Lilywhite and Bronze members buy tickets via the ticket office and subsequently sell them on StubHub?

No. Only season ticket holders can sell their seats on StubHub and only once a game has sold out. 

8) Will THFC monitor season ticket holders who persistently sell their seats at inflated prices?

THFC will monitor all aspects of the relationship over the course of the StubHub agreement (which runs until the end of the 2014/15 season). THFC have spoken to other Premier League clubs who have used the system throughout the current season and they have not seen any issues of people exploiting the system.

THFC are aware of a small number of people who currently use the ticket exchange quite regularly as they are unable to attend matches on specific days for a number of reasons (temporary relocation, work commitments etc.).

The introduction of StubHub’s system is aimed to provide an additional benefit to season ticket holders in the event that they are unable to attend a home match.

9) What fee did Spurs receive for this partnership?

The details of any agreements are commercially sensitive and subject to a confidentiality agreement.

10) Did this deal include perimeter pitch side advertising and, if so, was this sold to StubHub at the going rate?

Yes, it was factored into the deal at the going rate.

11) StubHub charges a commission of 12% per transaction to the seller and 15% per transaction to the buyer. In order to recoup face value of £45.00 on a Category B seat in the East Stand Lower, the seller would need to ask £51.15 for their ticket. The buyer would, therefore, pay £58.82 for the same ticket. How can this be fair? Even to recoup face value, another Spurs fan would be paying almost £60 for a £45 ticket. 

The old exchange was a buyer’s market. Season ticket holders only recouped between 75% and 85% of face value when selling via the exchange. This system means they can set the sale price for their ticket, although there is no guarantee that the seat will sell at the listed price. The season ticket holder will be able to amend the list price if they wish to.

12) Making football affordable for all fans is close to the Trust’s heart and this rankles. How can THFC justify the figures the buyer would now be paying for a face value ticket at a time when people are struggling to afford football and with national campaigns on ticket pricing gathering pace? Could THFC look at ways to add value to the Bronze and Lilywhite memberships as a counter balance? Offering 1,500 – 2,000 tickets to Bronze members during their priority window, as an example?

THFC are aware that some of the comments on the new system have suggested it is detrimental to the membership offering. The sales process for home tickets will remain the same in that priority will be given to Bronze, and then Lilywhite members for all home matches in the same way as it has worked for a number of seasons.

There is nothing to suggest the introduction of the StubHub facility will alter the level of ticket availability to members. THFC will continue to monitor this, though, to ensure the membership remains the primary route for ticket priority andthat availability to members will not reduce.

13) Would THFC relax their position on the transfer of tickets via other sources in light of this deal?

No. StubHub is a recognised partner of THFC, so the only official way to exchange match tickets. 

THFC will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police and the Premier League to take the strongest possible action against those that attempt to sell tickets unofficially, either in person or via unofficial websites.

The Club does not ignore the issue of selling tickets on the street around White Hart Lane and we regularly make requests to the police to take action against these people. THFC has no jurisdiction over the public highways or criminal offences that occur there.

At every match, THFC deal with numbers of people (often from abroad) that have been the victims of fraud, often paying vastly inflated sums of money for tickets that do not even exist. Additionally, THFC regularly uncover organised groups that hold a number of memberships to obtain tickets to sell on illegally. There is an active sharing of information amongst all Premier League clubs to identify these groups and ban them.

This sort of activity will continue to be a key focus for THFC moving forward.

14) Does the StubHub deal exclude cup games?

No. StubHub will be activated once ANY home game in ANY competition has sold out.

15) Executive lounge members are excluded from the current deal. Why?

At the moment, there is no need to include them. THFC will however monitor and look to add this facility if it is proved worthwhile.

16) StubHub is an open market place with no restrictions on the number of tickets bought or the price asked. What is there to prevent someone from buying 10 tickets and then selling them on at inflated prices? How is this not touting?

This process is called ‘flipping’ (purchasing a revenue-generating asset and quickly reselling (or ‘flipping’) it for profit) and has been monitored. There aren’t actually many examples of ‘flipping’ and it is very rare indeed for the tickets to sell at more than their original price.

Photo ID is required upon collection of the tickets on match days, also.

StubHub is self regulating. If a ticket is listed too highly, it won’t sell.

THFC is urging fans not to dismiss StubHub without seeing it in action and to reserve judgement until it is fully in place. THFC have also received positive communications from season ticket holders praising the introduction of the new system, because it is more beneficial for the fans that are paying the most money. 

17) Where is the money from the StubHub partnership going?

It’s not ring fenced. As with all commercial agreements, any revenue will go into the central Club budget to help fund ongoing operations.

For more information, please contact:

Katrina Law

Secretary, THST

@THSTOfficial

thstmail@btopenworld.com