iFollow Update
Argyle kicked-off their Sky Bet League One season on Saturday with an impressive 1-0 victory over Blackpool at Home Park.
While supporters were unable to attend the Theatre of Greens in person, season-ticket holders and supporters who purchased match passes were able to follow the Pilgrims on a live video stream.
The club hopes to be in a position to share statistics on a ‘virtual attendance’ in the coming days, which we would like to continue on a regular basis while supporters are unable to attend the Greens’ fixtures in person. However, at this stage, we have not received a total figure of match passes and season-ticket code redemptions from the EFL.
From the data available to us, and taking on anecdotal feedback from the Green Army, the majority of season-ticket holders were able to access their match redemption codes without trouble. However, there were a number of instances in which this was not the case – and the club is sympathetic to supporters who were unable to redeem their codes in time to witness the Pilgrims’ victory over Blackpool on Saturday.
Fans are reminded that codes can be redeemed from the moment that they are received, and we strongly encourage the Green Army to ensure that their match pass is activated well in advance of match-day, to avoid problems as the game draws close.
In order to ensure that you are ready for match-day, please follow the guidance outlined below:
- If you are able to, set the following address to your safe senders list: argyle@communicatoremail.com
- At least two days before a (league) match, check your email for your unique voucher code.
- Be mindful that, as the codes are sent via our CRM partner, the email could land in your spam/junk/promotions folder. Be sure to check there if no email has been received to your main mailbox.
- Register the code on iFollow as soon as you can (preferably not on the day of the game to allow for support time, if required).
- You can only register codes via the website, and not through the EFL iFollow app.
- Ensure you have entered/saved payment details for your account. Even though you will not be charged, a billing card is required to activate your code.
- Logon to iFollow in advance of kick-off to check that your stream is working – this can be via internet browsers (Chrome is preferred), mobile browsers, or the EFL iFollow app (smartphone or tablet). The stream is available one hour before kick-off.
- If the stream is not working but your code has been activated, please try another browser, as this often resolves the issue.
Supporters are reminded that, although the club is a user of the iFollow platform, we do not operate it, and it is managed by the EFL. While the club has access to your codes and can assist you in the event that you have not received them, we are limited in our ability to provide technical support.
iFollow is a league-wide product. As such, their technical support team can be inundated with requests for support during peak periods. iFollow technical support can be contacted by emailing ifollow@efl.com.
We are also aware of queries regarding revenue distribution from iFollow match passes. For clarity, in Carabao Cup fixtures, the revenue from match passes purchased by both the home and away teams is pooled, and distributed evenly between the two clubs.
For our Sky Bet League One fixtures, the distribution is slightly different. The home club receives approximately 97% of revenue from each match pass purchased (after tax) on their website, plus a proportion of the match passes purchased by the away side, commensurate with the likely away attendance at that fixture. This figure is agreed between the two clubs in advance, on a game by game basis, using historical attendance data.
As an example, if Argyle were to sell 2000 match passes for a Sky Bet League One fixture at home, we would receive all of the revenue generated from those 2000 passes. If the away team would historically bring 200 supporters to Home Park for the game, then Argyle, as the home club, will receive the revenue generated from the first 200 passes purchased by the away team. Thereafter, the away team retains any revenues.
In short, the best way to support Argyle financially is to purchase a match pass from pafc.co.uk/iFollow
Supporter Relations Manager, Siobhan Robbie-James, said: “I hope fans can appreciate that in these unusual times we are doing everything possible to ensure no-one misses out on match-day, albeit a digital one!
“We appreciate the feedback we’ve received regarding iFollow and have passed this feedback onto the EFL to review these technical issues.
“To assist supporters with their code redemption, we have created a number of resources dedicated to help guide people through setting up an account, to finding their voucher code and how to apply it.”
To access the resources on how to set up or activate your account, as well as locate your match voucher codes and apply them, click on the following links:
Setting up and activating your account
How to redeem a match pass code
The Home Park Ticket Office team were available throughout the week building up to, and on the day of, Saturday, 12 September to staff assist with any season-ticket voucher code queries, and this service will be running again ahead of next home league game on Saturday, 26 September against Shrewsbury Town.
If any fans have technical questions regarding the live stream, they are advised to contact the EFL directly via ifollow@efl.com.