Fan Letters: "There are some valid points being made about Sunderland's ticketing system"
03/25/2025 02:00 AM
Thoughts on the ongoing debate about away tickets and the atmosphere at the Stadium of Light are on the agenda today! Got something to say? Email us: RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Roker Report,
l do believe that the suggestion made by the previous contributor is a valid one. I've had a season ticket since the days of Roker Park and I try to go to three or four away games but find it very difficult to get tickets.
l know a lot of supporters go to quite a few away games but some of those only go to away matches and not home games.
Arthur Thompson
Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Arthur. Thank you for your letter.
Our most recent edition of 'Fan Letters' certainly seemed to cause a stir when it was published (perhaps unsurprisingly), but as I said in my previous reply, there doesn't seem to be a viable solution that will satisfy everyone.
On the other hand, I don't think fans having a go at fellow supporters is a particularly healthy thing, either.
After all, we all want the club to succeed and as supporters, to have as many chances of seeing the Lads play live as possible, so hopefully the club continues to strive to make the ticketing system as fair as it can possibly be.
Dear Roker Report,
Me and my dad are season ticket holders at the top of the south west corner, and since we moved there a few seasons ago, we've not sat down at a single game — the same as everyone in the south west corner upper tier.
A few months ago, there was an online survey asking for fan opinions on having safe standing in the south west corner, to which 97% (or something similar) responded they would want it put in.
However, when renewing season tickets, it says there's only safe standing at the top of the south stand, which would suggest nothing is changing in relation to safe standing in our area.
Surely if everyone stands anyway and virtually everyone wants it, we might as well have safe standing, and I can't see it doing the dire atmosphere any harm.
Ethan Mitcheson
Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Ethan. Thank you for getting in touch.
Personally, I'm not sure how much of an impact more safe standing areas would have on the atmosphere.
For me, it's what happens on the pitch that has the biggest impact and if the players can play as we know they can, more often than not, the crowd will feed off that and the whole thing will become much more lively.
Let's hope this Saturday's clash with Millwall is a case in point!
Dear Roker Report,
I think the simple reason for the lack of atmosphere and general dissatisfaction with the team (apart from the poor performances, of course) is that the vast majority of fans are thinking, 'Here we go again. We get a little bit hope for the Lads and they blow it again as usual'.
I hate saying this but it seems ingrained in the minds of Sunderland fans that we'll fail again.
Even though I've said all the above, I pray that I'm totally wrong — and you can give me as much grief as you like when we achieve promotion!
Keep the faith and FTM always.
John Robson
Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, John. Thank you for your letter.
I do agree that there's a part of the Sunderland fans' mindset that's probably expecting things to go wrong at any given time, and after what we've been through in recent times, I don't think people can be blamed for thinking like that.
The past decade has been incredibly turbulent and although things are much healthier now than they've been for a while, it's important that the club doesn't stop striving for more and to continue to give the fans something to believe in.
Dear Roker Report,
I'm sixty three years old and I thought my hatred for the Saudi skunks had reached its peak. What a surprise, I got up this morning and found I can actually detest them a little bit more.
I'm planning on getting up ten minutes earlier tomorrow morning so I can hate them for a bit longer. Sorry for the rant, I feel better now.
Keep up the good work.
