THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE is going all out to fill as many of the 90,000 Wembley stadium seats as possible for its Checkatrade Trophy Final with a ‘kids for a tenner’ promotion.
It comes amid fantastic sales among Coventry City and Oxford United fans of approaching 70,000.
Although English Football League (EFL) sources told us they are very pleased with the expected attendance based on sales so far, they today marketed the promotion in the hope of getting even more bums on seats.
An EFL press release today, accompanied with promotional photographs including with Sky Blues players Jordan Turnbull, Ryan Haynes and Stuart Beavon, read: “In this day and age, £10 only goes so far, but this season it could get you into Wembley to watch the Checkatrade Trophy Final.
“Ticket sales for this season’s final have been selling fast, with excitement building as Coventry City and Oxford United prepare to go head-to-head on Sunday 2 April for the first time under the famous arch.
“… The £10 ticket price applies for supporters aged 16 and under. The final has captured the imagination of young supporters from both clubs, with more than 10,000 junior tickets having been purchased to date.
It will be the Sky Blues’ first trip to Wembley for 30 years, but for Oxford, the national stadium is familiar territory, having played in the final of this competition last season, losing out to now Championship side Barnsley.
EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: “It has been very encouraging to see how ticket sales have progressed and it is great that so many young fans are coming to watch what promises to be an exciting and competitive final.
“The £10 offer is fantastic opportunity to experience a special occasion at Wembley Stadium, the home of football in this country, and I urge as many of our finalists’ young fans and families to take advantage.”
Kevin Byrne, Founder and CEO of Checkatrade, said: “We’re delighted that the EFL are offering this fantastic deal to young supporters for what should be a great game of football. As a proud community-driven business, we’re thrilled that youngsters from across the country can experience Wembley at a competitive price.
“This is a great opportunity to attend the home of football and we look forward to seeing lots of young supporters at the Checkatrade Trophy Final on Sunday 2nd April.”
More than 41,000 tickets have been sold to Sky Blues fans for next month’s return to Wembley after 30 years.
Today’s figures from the football club indicate a slowdown in sales since some 7,000 were sold on Monday, the first day of general sale to anyone at six tickets per person, after weeks of sales exclusively to priority categories of fans.
Because of the high demand, the English Football League released an additional 6,300 tickets on Monday to Coventry City, bringing the total available to 45,741.
The precise amount snapped up by mid-morning was 41,232 for the Checkatrade Trophy final with Oxford United.
It is understood Oxford have sold around 25,000 tickets so far. The Football League Trophy Final record attendance in recent years is 72,315, set by Walsall and Bristol City two years ago.
Should the Coventry City tickets sell out, club sources and the EFL have said there is still the possibility of more tickets becoming available, depending on demand from Oxford fans.
We revealed earlier this week Coventry City are in line for a potential £600,000 windfall – based on an attendance of 75,000 at the 90,000 capacity stadium, including a £100,000 winners’ prize (the runners-up get £50,000).
Fellow League One club Oxford took 33,000 fans to Wembley last year versus Barnsley for the same competition. But some of their fans’ groups have publicly called on their fellow supporters to support a national boycott of the tournament this year in protest at the inclusion of Premier League under-23 teams.
It was reported 30 years ago that Coventry City took 50,000 to the old Wembley for the 1987 Charity Shield game, double the 25,000 tickets officially released to Sky Blues fans for the historic FA Cup final earlier that year.
Queues formed once again on Monday outside the Butts Park Arena ticket office, which has been predominantly for those needing tickets allocated for disabled supporters.
HOW TO BUY:
Supporters will be able to buy via the following methods:
– Online: eticketing.co.uk/CCFC
– Phone: 0844 453 9134 (Monday – Friday, 8am to 8pm. Saturday/Sunday, 8am to 6pm.)
– In person: Tickets can also be purchased at the Butts Park Arena Ticket Office, but the club advises that, due to the increase in demand, please expect significant queues.
