Club move to ensure home tickets remain in Baggies hands
ALBION have put a block on ticket orders placed on official Ticket Exchange Partner viagogo’s website for Sunday week’s sell-out home date with Manchester United (ko 4pm).
The club have made this unprecedented step in a bid to clamp down on away fans attempting to purchase tickets in home areas for Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game as United manager.
Any orders lodged on viagogo AFTER 8am on Wednesday, May 8 – around the time that United confirmed Sir Alex’s retirement – will not be honoured by Albion.
A club spokesman said: “viagogo is the official ticket marketplace for the vast majority of Barclays Premier League clubs.
“The club joined forces with viagogo at the start of the season to enable season ticket holders to sell their seat to another Albion fan when they cannot make a game. The club verifies all such sales before tickets are distributed.
“We noticed on Wednesday that, within minutes of Manchester United announcing Sir Alex’s retirement, there was a huge spike in ticket orders being placed on viagogo.
“With Manchester United’s help, we have identified that the vast majority of these orders were lodged by United season ticket holders/members.
“Therefore, we will not be honouring any ticket orders lodged after 8am on Wednesday, May 8.
“This is in keeping with all terms and conditions which stipulate that the club reserves the right not to honour orders from buyers that are suspected to be opposition fans.
“The safety of fans is paramount, which is why we so vehemently uphold the rules regarding the segregation of supporters.”
Albion have also moved to remind all supporters that Stilecards and match tickets should only be sold/assigned/transferred to another Albion supporter with the prior written consent of the club.
“We are working closely with the local authorities to limit the potential for away fans to obtain tickets in the home sections,” added the spokesman.
“I am sure that the vast majority of our supporters will keep their tickets and come and get behind the team – like they do at every home game.
“However, we are monitoring all platforms – like ebay – where there is the potential for tickets to fall into the wrong hands.
“Anyone who sells their ticket for a price greater than face value without the consent of the club is regarded as ‘ticket touting’, which is a criminal offence.”