Brentford FC introduces five-year rolling TAPs system | OneFootball

Key points to note on the new five-year rolling TAPs system:

From the 2025/26 season, Brentford will introduce a new five-year rolling Ticket Access Points (TAPs) system, rewarding active home and away attendance.

This update will reset TAPs at the start of the season so that TAPs balances only reflect points earned within the most recent four seasons, plus the current season.

From next season, TAPs earned before the 2021/22 season will no longer be included, and each new season will see points from the oldest year expire.

This ensures TAPs balances stay current, reflecting consistent home and away match attendance and ongoing support for the team. These changes have been developed through a consultation process with fan groups, including Bees United and Brentford Independent Association of Supporters (BIAS), who support this move as a forward-thinking approach to ticketing.

Don Tanswell, Bees United secretary, said: “Bees United board members were part of this process from the earliest discussions starting in November 2023.

“Bees United is supportive of this initiative as fans' access to away matches from next season should, in general, be spread across a wider range of fans with season ticket holders continuing to have access to purchase tickets in the different sales windows, based on this season's fixtures to date, for matches at all but the smallest grounds – while we appreciate there will always be a challenge to get as many fans as we would like into those grounds.”

Angelo Basu, BIAS chair, commented: “As BIAS, we support all Brentford supporters, and feel it is important that the changes announced today will encourage younger fans to have the chance to obtain tickets to away games whilst ensuring supporters who regularly support the club are not unfairly treated as a result of this change.”

Why change the current system?

The new five-year rolling TAPs system is designed to strengthen both home and away support by ensuring ticket access better reflects recent attendance.

Since their introduction in 2013/14, TAPs have accumulated without expiry, which has led to some fans maintaining high TAPs balances even if their recent attendance has been low.

As a result, fans who have attended more frequently in recent years may be in a lower priority TAPs bracket for purchasing tickets to high-demand matches, compared to those who attended more games in the past than they do now.

For example, over 1,000 season ticket holders who are in the top TAPs bracket (4,500+ TAPs) have not attended an away match in the 2024/25 season, up to and including the Crystal Palace fixture.

Similarly, over 1,000 current members who are in the top TAPs bracket (750+ TAPs) have not attended a home match this season, up to and including the Liverpool game.

The club's solution is to align TAPs balances with more recent attendance, ensuring fans who regularly attend matches are rewarded. The rolling TAPs system ensures active and newer fans have a fair opportunity to secure tickets for high-demand matches, while still recognising the loyalty of long-standing supporters who continue to attend.

As we look to the future, we also want to ensure we are ready for increased ticket demand during potential cup runs. A rolling TAPs model encourages fans to stay active in supporting Brentford’s journey.

What this means for you

The majority of fans will not be impacted by the new system. From the club's analysis, 75 per cent of season ticket holders will see little to no change in when they can access tickets to away games.

Additionally, under the new system, active members can move up sales windows more quickly and gain priority access to Category A home fixtures by regularly attending home and away games.

There is also a substantive benefit to families and groups. In the new system, if you regularly attend both home and away fixtures with your family and friends, your TAPs total will increase at a similar rate. Over time, the purchasing windows available to you will align, making it easier to purchase tickets together.

By adopting a rolling five-year system, fans’ TAPs balance will reflect their recent support, providing access to the biggest games for the most active fans. Whether you’re a season ticket holder or member, your attendance over the most recent five years will be reflected in your TAPs balance.

In the next 48 hours, the club will contact season ticket holders and members (with TAPs) via email with their TAPs balance for the new season under the new system, along with the expected priority windows they will be eligible for, based on current data.

Fans will receive these emails at different times. Some supporters may receive multiple emails corresponding to the different ticketing accounts registered to them, for example, adults and juniors.

Season ticket holders will still have priority access for away games

To maintain priority access for active supporters, season ticket holders with enough TAPs will be guaranteed the chance to buy tickets in the first on-sale window for high-demand Category A away matches. This ensures those with the highest TAPs can secure tickets during their priority window.

It is worth noting that for most away matches in recent seasons, all season ticket holders have had the opportunity to purchase tickets, and it is expected for this to remain the case.

This season so far, all away games - except Fulham and Bournemouth - went on sale to all season ticket holders and members. For members, tickets for home fixtures have been available for every match on the ticket exchange.

Reviews for exceptional circumstances

The club recognises that the introduction of the five-year rolling TAPs system may affect some fans due to exceptional circumstances, such as long-term illness.

To address this, and ensure fairness, fans can request a review of their TAPs level in cases of exceptional circumstances. Details of the individual review process for exceptional circumstances will be provided in the personalised communications that will be sent within the next 48 hours.

For more information about the five-year rolling TAPs system, visit the FAQ page or watch the informational video below.