This is what concerns me.. there had been pre-covid some talk about if you were in the ACS for 19/20 you were guaranteed it for 20/21.. but not sure if that will now still apply as due to the limited cup games played in 19/20, surely the eligibility for certain competitions outstrips the maximum places in the ACS. I can't recall a home cup game I didn't attend since I started going on my own card.
If stadiums aren't at full capacity next season then I doubt people will be guaranteed ACS if you were previously in it, plus next season is a free hit and no credits will be awarded. However, the season after it could well happen and they would go back to people who were in the ACS last season.
the overall number of eligible people is more than ACS seats but in theory you could just guarantee ACS seats to the same people that were on it in 19/20 but that's very closed shop like
Not really and not as closed shop like away games are. Giving people guaranteed ACS is rewarding loyalty, just like STH are rewarded, or people with x amount of aways are awarded, or people with 18 homes etc. In all cup competitions last season and the season before, there were still plenty of tickets on sale for people who weren't in the ACS. Yes CL were harder to come by in later rounds, but they were still available and there were loads for the League Cup. FA Cup was a bit harder when we drew Everton to get tickets, but I've not been in the ACS for the FA Cup before and I've always managed to get a good amount of games over the last few years.