Manchester United's Ticket Allocation: How It's Done & What Fans Think
Getting tickets for a club like Manchester United can be like trying to find gold dust. Some may feel that they have a better chance of winning a lottery because of the demand that can surround them.
Indeed, getting matchday tickets for a game in the Premier League can be tough. Getting tickets for Cup games and European nights can be a little easier, but nonetheless, still difficult. Many have found it can be easier to obtain tickets from sites that offer them bespoke experiences for matchdays, with it possible to find packages that make the purchasing process a lot easier.
People who have looked at this method as an alternative to going through the official club site may have found the Manchester United Tickets from P1 Travel packages that can be explored. The company provides authentic and official access to matchday experiences and tickets in packages that can enhance any experience travelling to Old Trafford can offer.
Ticket allocations: what do fans need to know
As described, obtaining tickets for a Manchester United match can be extremely difficult. As one of the biggest clubs in the world, there is a demand that can often significantly eclipse the 74,310 capacity Old Trafford has. In addition, a vast number of tickets are already held by those who pay for a season ticket.
Given that a football match is played between two teams, there needs to be a fair way in which supporters of both clubs playing can have access to tickets. When it comes to a home game in the FA Cup, FA rules stipulate that they have to grant the away side an allocation of up to 15% (this figure is lower for EPL games). This means they can have a home allocation of 85% on offer.
Manchester United ticket allocation: how does it work?
So, how are Manchester United impacted by ticket allocation? Indeed, it can be different per game, while playing at home or away can also have a significant impact on the number of tickets the club may have available to sell to their fans.
As mentioned, there are rules regarding ticket allocation. After taking into account the 85% figure noted for FA Cup games, in numbers, this would translate to offering up to 63,163 tickets (based on the attendance capacity of the stadium) to their home fans. A significant portion of that number will have already been taken up by season ticket holders, thus drastically reducing the number of tickets that may be available for each game.
When playing away from home, the club will find that they may only have a small amount available. Given that they have the largest club stadium in England (only Wembley is bigger in terms of capacity), the number that they will be allocated for away games will tend to be relatively small. As per the guidance, the largest amount that they can be allocated will be when they head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch them face Spurs, the London Stadium after obtaining West Ham United Tickets, or Anfield to watch the classic and fierce derby between Liverpool and United. Each has a capacity of circa 62,000, meaning they could have around 9,300 tickets available.
However, this can then be impacted by other factors. Policing for each game is required and the number of officers available may have an impact on the ticket allocation. The game’s appeal and demand from supporters may influence the number offered. At the same time, the home side may not offer as many tickets as they can because they want as many supporting them.
What do fans say about ticket allocations?
Ticket allocation – especially from the perspective of away fans – has always been largely criticised. In truth, it’s a reality and something that will continue for as long as football matches are being played and tickets are being sold. Having quotas that need to be met can promote fan safety and encourage the growth of supporter engagement. Matchday experiences can be hugely positive for fans who attend, and the allocation limits that are in place can help to promote them further.
Everyone wants to see their team play, and those who don’t support Manchester United will often want to watch their team play against them because of the size of the club. For all of the issues that the Red Devils are experiencing, there aren’t many clubs as big as them or boast the same type of history.
As stadiums become more developed and grow in size, perhaps ticket allocation will become greater. Manchester United are looking at potentially expanding Old Trafford or moving elsewhere to hold more fans and improve the experiences offered to match-goers.
However, as there will always be more demand and supply, basic economics tells us that the market will never be equal or able to satisfy the desire for tickets. Nonetheless, there are many options available that can make the process easier and allow fans to get hold of tickets when they think they might not be able to.
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