Seat Counters - 2023/24

[Didsbury Dave]

A lot of those people don’t use their FA Cup final tickets. They pass them on or sell them on. That’s the problem. People who don’t support either club aren’t going to pay for travel to Wembley, drink, food and a hotel. It’s far easier to sell their tickets for a couple of hundred quid to a third party ticket touting website and watch the match at home, or pass the ticket on to somebody who hasn’t worked at grass roots level football, doesn’t support either team, and just wants to go to an FA Cup final. Once the tickets are distributed by the FA they couldn’t give two shits where the tickets end up, and who has got the tickets. I bet a fair chunk of FA Cup final tickets aren’t used at all, with some people not even bothering to sell them on or to give them away.

That’s not how it works. I’ve explained it on here loads and can’t be arsed again.

In a nutshell there about 10,000 corporate tickets on the middle tier which can be given to anybody but the rest of the stadium is split 50/50 for fans of the clubs.

 

[Stephen230]

A lot of those people don’t use their FA Cup final tickets. They pass them on or sell them on. That’s the problem. People who don’t support either club aren’t going to pay for travel to Wembley, drink, food and a hotel. It’s far easier to sell their tickets for a couple of hundred quid to a third party ticket touting website and watch the match at home, or pass the ticket on to somebody who hasn’t worked at grass roots level football, doesn’t support either team, and just wants to go to an FA Cup final. Once the tickets are distributed by the FA they couldn’t give two shits where the tickets end up, and who has got the tickets. I bet a fair chunk of FA Cup final tickets aren’t used at all, with some people not even bothering to sell them on or to give them away.

You’re making a lot of assumptions based on not much there.

Of course there’s always going to be somebody looking to make a few quid. I doubt you’ve any evidence to suggest that number is ‘a lot’.

I know for a fact that you’re wrong about the FA not giving a shit what happens to them once they’re handed out. I know from personnel experience that I was required to return used ticket stubs that originated from the FA, in the past. The organisations that receive them are very clearly made aware that any tickets found to be resold will reflect very poorly on them. And more than likely have any future requests denied.

As the other guy has pointed out. These tickets are usually over subscribed. Why would anybody go the trouble of applying, paying and then not bother using them?

 

[jrb]

They are not free. I wouldn't go out of my way to pay £145 a ticket and then let them not be used.

You get them in twos, so £290 just to waste them?

I never said they were free. How do you know they are (all) £145 tickets, out of interest? Regardless of why the FA sell them, it’s still 23,000 tickets that don’t go to fans of either City or United. Edit. Minus the level two tickets that are being sold on the OS, which are part of the officl allocation.

 

[jrb]

That’s not how it works. I’ve explained it on here loads and can’t be arsed again.

In a nutshell there about 10,000 corporate tickets on the middle tier which can be given to anybody but the rest of the stadium is split 50/50 for fans of the clubs.

10,000 corporate tickets on the middle tier minus the middle tier tickets that are being sold on the City and United OS ticket websites? Where’s that 10,000 corporate, middle tier, ticket figure from, just out of interest?

 

[jrb]

Regardless of the exact amount of tickets the FA are selling to fans who don’t support City or United, 30,500 tickets still isn’t enough for the fans of of City and United for the FA Cup final.

 

[Corky]

I never said they were free. How do you know they are (all) £145 tickets, out of interest? Regardless of why the FA sell them, it’s still 23,000 tickets that don’t go to fans of either City or United.

I was with clubs/associations who used to get them for FA Cup and League Cup finals too, they were all fairly central near the Royal Box so assumed this carried on, plus they are the red ones no club has access to.

We had a raffle each year for the right to buy two tickets, and often asked for more. The more depended on who got there. I know they dish them out for free for the Community Shield though.

 

[Stephen230]

I never said they were free. How do you know they are (all) £145 tickets, out of interest? Regardless of why the FA sell them, it’s still 23,000 tickets that don’t go to fans of either City or United. Edit. Minus the level two tickets that are being sold on the OS, which are part of the officl allocation.

Even if they were the very cheapest tickets, it’s still virtually a ton for a pair.

What would give you reason to bet that a ‘fair chunk’ of people would go to the trouble of applying, paying and then not bother using them?

 

[jrb]

I was with clubs/associations who used to get them for FA Cup and League Cup finals too, they were all fairly central near the Royal Box so assumed this carried on, plus they are the red ones no club has access to.

We had a raffle each year for the right to buy two tickets, and often asked for more. The more depended on who got there. I know they dish them out for free for the Community Shield though.

Fair enough. I’m just interested to find out how and why so many semi-final and cup final tickets end up being given to people who don’t support either team.

 

[Corky]

Fair enough. I’m just interested to find out how and why so many semi-final and cup final tickets end up being given to people who don’t support either team.

We didn't get semi final tickets.

 

[jrb]

Even if they were the very cheapest tickets, it’s still virtually a ton for a pair.

What would give you reason to bet that a ‘fair chunk’ of people would go to the trouble of applying, paying and then not bother using them?

In that case, there shouldn’t be a single empty seat at the cup final, regardless of who gets a ticket. Let’s wait and see shall we. And if there isn’t a single empty seat, fair enough.

 

[jrb]

We didn't get semi final tickets.

So, the tickets outside of the City and Chelsea allocations for the semi-final went to who? Do you know by chance? Not having a go at you. Just interested to know where those tickets ended up.

 

[Stephen230]

In that case, there shouldn’t be a single empty seat at the cup final, regardless of who gets a ticket. Let’s wait and see shall we. And if there isn’t a single empty seat, fair enough.

There’s a minimum of hundreds if not low thousands of empty seats at every single game of football anywhere, due to various reasons.

Not quite sure what it’ll prove when that is the case at this game but yeah, we’ll see.

 

[jrb]

Like all City fans I just want as many ticket to go to City fans as possible for the FA Cup final. That’s it. If the FA want to distribute FA Cup final tickets to people who don’t support City (or United) for whatever reason, that’s their decision, but it’s not a decision I agree with.

 

[Corky]

So, the tickets outside of the City and Chelsea allocations for the semi-final went to who? Do you know by chance? Not having a go at you. Just interested to know where those tickets ended up.

Club Wembley and similar as far as I know, no idea really. Clubs get less for the final so I thought that was the football family allocation.

The only time I won the raffle was back in 1992 LC and I bought them for a mutd relative, some were annoyed that I didn't pass them over being a City fan. These days I wouldn't have bothered entering the raffles.

 

[jrb]

There’s a minimum of hundreds if not low thousands of empty seats at every single game of football anywhere, due to various reasons.

Not quite sure what it’ll prove when that is the case at this game but yeah, we’ll see.

I’m not being funny Stephen, but there won’t be hundreds or thousands of empty seats at the FA Cup final. You’ll always get some empty seats due to no shows, etc.

The seating on the lower tier either side of the players tunnel always looks a bit sparse before, after and during the match,with most people sat there drifting to their seats after both halfs have started.

 

[jrb]

I’m not being funny Stephen, but there won’t be hundreds or thousands of empty seats at an FA Cup final. You’ll always get some empty seats due to no shows, etc.

The seating on the lower tier either side of the players tunnel always looks a bit sparse before, after and during the match. With most people sat there drifting to their seats after both Half’s have started.

A quick Google search

Do you know if this this still applies?

https://www.thefa.com/-/media/cfa/middlesexfa/files/e-handbook/2021-22/5---applications-for-tickets-and-foreign-opposition.ashx

 

[I'm not really here]

I personally have never had a problem with the FA using the cup final as a way thanking the wider football community with an opportunity to watch their showpiece game.

There’s thousands of people who dedicate huge chunks of their life to keeping football running at grassroots level. Mainly at a level a million miles away from the handful of clubs that usually make the final.

Whether you agree with it or not, the final isn’t just about the two finalists and their supporters.

Honestly can't argue with that....

 

[Stephen230]

I’m not being funny Stephen, but there won’t be hundreds or thousands of empty seats at the FA Cup final. You’ll always get some empty seats due to no shows, etc.

The seating on the lower tier either side of the players tunnel always looks a bit sparse before, after and during the match,with most people sat there drifting to their seats after both halfs have started.

I’m well aware of that mate. Same as England international matches, no matter how big the game. I’d be almost certain that the majority of those are hospitality guests getting tucked into the freebies in the bars and restaurants.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Fair enough. I’m just interested to find out how and why so many semi-final and cup final tickets end up being given to people who don’t support either team.

My mate who lived in Norwich got one of the Norwich City tickets for the Stoke final.

They were in the top tier about 10 rows behind me & my lad in the same block over the corner flag.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

10,000 corporate tickets on the middle tier minus the middle tier tickets that are being sold on the City and United OS ticket websites? Where’s that 10,000 corporate, middle tier, ticket figure from, just out of interest?

Yes, that's the rest of the middle tier which isn't given as part of the club's allocation. Then there's the central block on the bottom tier. The rest is given to the two clubs. Some of them ( I believe around 7/8000 for each club) aren't part of the official allocation but they are in the club's end. When you request a ticket from the FA as a member you have to state who you support and what catagroy and you are given (or refused) a ticket in their end.

If all of that 7/8000 isn't taken up the remainder come back to the club and are sold. That's why we sometimes get an "extra" allocation. It hasn't happened yet this year but there's a chance, depending on takeup.

Hope that makes sense.