RSSGunners lumbered with unsold £46 seats for Prague and Pompey visits
IT’S three home games this week.
The non-televised encounter against Man City sold out. However neither Wednesday’s televised game against Sparta Prague nor Sunday’s televised visit of Pompey have yet.
For both games, £46 tickets in the upper tier are still up for grabs. They are the ones in the upper tier wings. I’ve sat there and it ain’t worth £46 when the lower tier (which always sells out very quickly) is £32.
It’s a great shame because the problem is not a lack of fans. It is a lack of fans willing to pay extortionate money for only a half decent view in an atmosphereless part of the ground for what is not on paper one of the highlights of the football calendar.
I’m not one for saying I told you so, but back in February when the club were pondering this season’s prices and in the light of our failure to sell-out for Blackburn at home in the FA Cup, I suggested and warned:
“Feasibly, prices for some of the far back seats on the upper tier wings could also come closer in line with those in the lower tier, where I’d argue the view is often as good and the atmosphere miles better. The spaces against Blackburn may have been due to having just two days to flog the seats but they were a warning nonetheless.
“…We may just see a small reduction for poorly scheduled TV games against average opposition.”
Sadly, we have not.
27 August 2007 at 10:43 am
It’s sad that fans have to pay big amounts to watch the teams that they love. With all the TV revenue and the other forms of revenue would it hurt the club so much to reduce ticket prices at least for certain games? I understand that the club needs the money but there’s got to be some way of allowing fans to watch matches at reasonable prices. Maybe if Arsenal draw or beat Sparta and we get our Champions League money, the club can reduce prices a wee bit. Unlikely though.
27 August 2007 at 11:53 am
yea ive sat up there, and i have to say, no way is it worth £46, my best days have been in the lower teir, seems to hold a better atmosphere and the chance to abuse the away team makes £32 a bargain.
27 August 2007 at 12:04 pm
There’s still time for them to sell out though, but yes, it is a bit much to pay, but I’d be surprised if they won’t be sold by the time Sunday comes around (the CL qualifier is hard to say, it’s a pretty hard game to get motivated for if you’re a paying supporter).
27 August 2007 at 12:08 pm
From what I can see the Prague game is now sold out. Well, it wasn’t listed on the site just now.
I think the Pompey game will sell out too, and the fact that these games take longer to sell out is a good thing. It gives more people the opportunity to buy tickets.
I do think £46 is too much for a ticket, but I disagree with the comment about the view. I have often sat in the wing blocks, and have always found the view to be excellent. When you are towards the back of the stand, then the view drops off, but, generally, the view is great. The atmosphere could be better, but you could say that about anywhere in the stadium.
27 August 2007 at 12:15 pm
Ye I bought a ticket behind the goal of the upper tier on general sale £46, it is extortion, but I’ve never been to a match inside the stadium. Sooo… I guess we’ll have to try it out for the first time and then complain about the seats.
27 August 2007 at 12:36 pm
I agree in that their pricing scheme makes no sense. You pay more money for the seats that have a worse view and atmosphere. The seats in the lower tiers should be more expensive. Then maybe Red Members might get be more willing to pay a little extra for a better experience as opposed to being up in the rafters. The Silver Members get all the best seats for a cheaper price.
And another thing… the concessions at Emirates are appalling. The food is awful and costs a bloody fortune. And it is impossible to get beer during halftime. That is why there are so many empty seats late in the first half and at the beginning of the second. Everyone is in the queue trying to get a drink! And I have had many times where I stood in the queue for 15 minutes only to be told they are no longer selling beer because the second half has started. Note to Emirates catering manager… separate the beer sales from the food!!! You will sell alot more beer and make shedloads more money. It is not rocket science.
As an American I am really shocked at how poorly football supporters are treated by the clubs. Its like being treated as a kid, that is unless you shell out the big money for the Club Level. You can´t smoke, you can´t drink beer in the seating area, here´s some crap food and beer and if you don´t like it then tough shit. I no longer spend any money inside Emirates except for a program.
It will be interesting to see how the new Liverpool ground will be run since Hicks and Gillette are involved. I would think they would bring some of their American efficiency and customer service experience to the table. Emirates desparately needs some.
Wenger??? Do you have any catering experience in your resume? Everything else you touch turns to gold. Can you sort it out for us? Please?
27 August 2007 at 12:38 pm
Frankly they should give unused seats away to local schoolkids to (a) give them a chance to go to a match and get hooked and (b) fill the stadium to create a bit of atmosphere.
They can randomise which school they do it for so you don’t get people holding back from buying a seat in case they get one free.
I can see all sorts of benefits, and surely it’s better to have a bum on a seat than non at all (after all, they’ll probably still buy food and drinks).
We need to be a bit more flexible rather than throwing away money with empty seats.
27 August 2007 at 12:45 pm
“Wenger??? Do you have any catering experience in your resume?”
Oh, he makes an absolutely wicked lasagne.
27 August 2007 at 12:47 pm
I’ve never had any problem getting food or beer at half-time. You do have to be quick, though! The food isn’t great, the burgers are a bit rubbish, but the pies and hotdogs are ok, but it is all too expensive. For a pie, pint and programme you are adding £10 to the cost of the ticket, more if you have a pint before / after the game, and have to pay for your travel there, but that could be another £10. So, now you are paying nearer £66 to see a game! That is a lot of money.
27 August 2007 at 12:51 pm
¨Oh, he makes an absolutely wicked lasagne.¨
Heh… I forgot about that. Although I would stay well clear of his lasagne.
27 August 2007 at 12:56 pm
Having sat all over the Emirates, it’s nonsense to say that the upper tier has worse views.
The back half of the upper tier feels a long way away, but still has clear, panoramic views. The lower tier is fine if you’re on the halfway line, either end and the shallow rake makes for a disappointing view. This is reflected in the prices, which have been the same since Highbury. It’s expensive yes, but Arsenal are by no means the worst offenders. Given that we have World-record membership and usually sell out eventually, you can’t really blame the club.
As regards atmosphere, unless you’re in. or next to the Red-Action section there’s just no guarantee at all. Sometimes it’s noisy, often not. Depends on the opposition and the way the game goes. Spurs, United and Pompey last year were noisy and electric atmospheres. Plenty more were quiet and dull. It’s just not like Highbury, where your noisier fans reliably sat behind the goals.
27 August 2007 at 1:16 pm
Ive sat in the upper tier. The view was good, but the atmoshere was soooo shit.
As for the food on offer. I wouldn’t even bother. Buying crap at those prices is a joke. Nah thanks
27 August 2007 at 1:38 pm
I think the view in the upper tier is just fine - the atmosphere rubbish - but frankly the atmosphere all over the ground isn’t great - apart from around Red Action. I don’t agree that it’s not like Highbury. My experience of the upper tiers at Highbury were that the atmosphere was crap there too. Too many Arsenal fans do not want to shout or cheer. The food is is daylight robbery as is the beer.
27 August 2007 at 2:22 pm
The prices at Arsenal are the highest in Europe.WHY?
The are nealry 10.000 fans who have been priced out.Those people who generate the atmosphere.They are not there anymore.
The pricing is staggering to be honest.Compare that with other clubs and you will see the difference.
27 August 2007 at 2:53 pm
Reply to Harry Barracuda
Arsenal do give Free tickets to local schools for most home games through community schemes and the Double Club.
27 August 2007 at 3:19 pm
were do red action sit…ive never been but i wanna sit near them
27 August 2007 at 3:22 pm
Actually the Man city match was televised on ESPN.Can anyone tell me why there were so many empty seats, although the stadium PA announced the the att to be 60000+.At firt I thought there were red Arsenal shirts -but on closer look they were indeed empty seats.
27 August 2007 at 3:23 pm
can someone mail this page to arsenal.com??? ive read page after page after page of fans views, but does anything get done? i went to the intermilan game, sat in the upper ties, row 12 right on the half way line, it was a lovely view, but that atmosphere sucked unless we had a shot on goal. i was surrounded by kids and their parents and if i sang i felt like i was going to be lynched !
27 August 2007 at 3:29 pm
plus the food is utter crap ! anf for that money it is shocking. £7.50 for a tiny soggy piece of cod and a few chips ! disgraceful blatent act of ripping the fans off by arsenal, i wont buy it again. makes sense to have seperate kiosks for beer and food though.
I was also very very very very very dissapointed with how far the fist row of fans in the lower tier are from the pitch. who designed the stadium??? they aid it was designed to maximise atmosphere???? fans far away from the pitch, the rich big knobs section breaks up the atmosphere between the upper and lower tiers so badly, liverpools kop end which is all one tier is bang on, it will be amazing and to be honest, it was common sense, i think in our rush to get a new stadium the board and designers over looked fundemantal things when considering the atmosphere.
27 August 2007 at 5:29 pm
The Spuds can tell you how good Wenger’s cooking is ,ask West Ham !!!!
Off to see Barcelona v Bilbao Sunday, TH14 might be cooking,Wenger gives good lesson’s.
Gooner cook my evening fill now. : Arsenal 3 Portsmouth 1 /Barcelona 3 Bilbao 0
27 August 2007 at 6:43 pm
The Portsmouth game appears to be sold out now!
27 August 2007 at 9:02 pm
Chefmac… …have to agree with you think Hicks & co’s idea of a 20.000 seat Kop was Genius if only Arsenal had done a North Bank and Clock End stand then fill a tripple corporate area for the West and South tiers it would have been pure Genius but as in the words of Keith Edelman who wrote me back after I sent him my opinions… …”The new ground has been created for the enjoyment of all Arsenal fans” eg the corporate wankers who complain every time we sing and stand up! I have had so many complaints (due purely to singing and standing and telling wankers who leave early to piss off and support chelsea instead) I asked if I could be moved to the red action area so that we could create one atmospheric section in the souless concorete bowl… …my answer was a 50 quid voucher and a no! stupid farking Arsemanagement.
Food won’t improve has already gotten worse… …all I have to say is A.F.C.
Ashburton Fish and Chips!
27 August 2007 at 9:03 pm
oh Red Action is in the NW corner
27 August 2007 at 10:01 pm
Don’t understand the whinging it’s like the Gooner On-line. I used my season ticket for the first time on saturday, after 8 years on the waiting list my last a standing ticket on the north bank cost £60 this in block 100 £1,065! When I chose my ticket the lower teir ST allocation had gone, the corners under the screen are fully sold to season ticket holders. Generally the first 16 rows of the upper tier are season ticket holders. I have never had a problem getting a beer at 1/2 time there is a dedicated serving point for drinks. The food is pricey but the pies are pretty good, (the food company is American) if you think the Emirates is bad wait to you try Wembley! Also the club report as the attendance all sold seats not those occupied.
28 August 2007 at 8:53 am
Hi guys, I’m a flight attendant from Singapore. How can I get ticket to watch my beloved Arsenal? I’ve a duty flight early October.
Thanks so much.
28 August 2007 at 9:01 am
I just checked the website and the Prague game is open to callers at the box office only. Although Portsmouth is apparently not sold out when you go through all the blocks are red and you can’t buy a ticket.
I think that it has more to do with three home games in a week than anything else, although I have made a decision this season to only go in the lower tier. Partly because of the cost but mostly because there is no atmosphere in the upper.
28 August 2007 at 10:14 am
the problem is that while the average fan will be unwilling to pay the 46pounds there are many out there who will pay it.
28 August 2007 at 1:47 pm
The ground has 40,000 club level and season ticket holders leaving 20,000 available to silver-red and then general sale. The Box Office needs to get it’s act together as the information is often out of date.
I’m sure the lower tier availability will improve once the season ticket buy back is enacted.
I see incresing criticism of the ground’s design, no clock no north bank etc. It comes down to the club’s brief I’m sure Edleman will have asked for the most homogenous product where all seats have a great view rather than Liverpool’s ground where some of the sight lines in the “new” kop will leave alot to be desired. This corporate brief makes the ground ideal for European Finals, Internationals etc but we do pay in individuality particularly because apart from the roof the stadium is the same as Benfica’s Stadium. The club could improve individuality by naming some of the general admission bars. Last post-match entertainment was announced as being outside block 31 hardly inspiring.
28 August 2007 at 3:21 pm
I thought about going but they’re both on the telly and £46 plus travel is way way too much in comparison. I’ll wait until i can get cheaper ticekts
28 August 2007 at 6:38 pm
wenger ejected an offer to take adrino on loan firstly becuase he trust in his squad and secondly inter asked for an arsenal player on loan in return wenger wont say who.
29 August 2007 at 10:33 am
Rosicky!
29 August 2007 at 6:58 pm
was looking to see diaby play all summer, y is he not playin yet i know he was suppose t b injuried but i thought he would b back by now, he is much better than flamini
30 August 2007 at 10:24 am
Fact is that even if they cut the ticket prices by 50% people would still complain and go on about £25 being too much and they could get a ticket, pie and program for 2 bob in the 60’s.
Vote with your feet, don’t go if you don’t want to pay the high price. Simple as that.
19 September 2009 at 12:55 pm
The Emirates though based on the same brief as the Stade de Luz differs in a number of fundamental ways;
Due to planning restrictions on overall height the four separate tiers were squeezed into a smaller space. The lowest tier of seating actually accomodates more people than Benfica’s but suffers as to achieve this the rake of the seating is alot shallower. The first row of seating also starts at cinder track level whilst at the Stade De Luz its pitched up by about 2 feet(as a consequence they’ve raised the pitch level at the Emirates so the first few rows of seating can see over the electronic advertising hoardings!). The back row of the lower tier at Benfica’s stadium also sits closer to the ceiling under the second tier thus enabling a steeper terrace.
The fourth tier at the Stade De Luz has more seating in the corners, probably due to site limitations at Ashburton Grove the designers needed what available corner space to accomodate the steel supports for the roof trusses.
I believe the Emirates is a flawed design as to accomodate the corporate brigade on the second(club) & third(boxes) tiers they’ve sacrificed the view for the fans on the lowest tier. Also the shallowness inhibits a real atmosphere from being generated in this tier.
The designers should’ve incorporated the club & box level tiers to create a three tier stadium & infilled the corners with the space that had been freed up. They would’ve also have been able to increase the rake on the lower tier thus greatly improving views & atmosphere.