OVERSEAS SUPPORTERS We have reserved a total allocation of 100 seats (50 pairs) for sale, via ballot, to supporters who have been overseas for some years and therefore do not have a ticket purchasing history since 2014 (start of qualifying period for ticket access groups). If you’d like to enter this ballot, please email dave.messenger@watfordfc.com (with subject line ‘FA Cup Final: Overseas Ballot’) with your name, world time zone, full contact details and Fan ID number (if held) by 5pm BST on Monday April 15.
Just out of interest, exactly what ones are Category 1? I know people have complained about the rip-off prices, but the £45 I paid for a seat 13 rows from the pitch just to the left of the goal was just right given the venue, result, drama, atmosphere and length of the match (£45 for a two-hour match equates to £33.75 for a 90-minute one which is comparable to virtually all Premier League matches even after the away cap). Any further back, and the players at the other end of the pitch would have been too small. But then I know some people prefer a wider view of the stadium, so this is partly subjective - even so, I agree with others that £65 upwards is too much (not to mention how much it's going to cost in the final).
I'd also like to throw my name into the ring in the odd chance someone with a ST or Cat B doesn't want to go/can't go...
I find it strange the way they have worded that. Surely overseas supporters who have purchased since 2014 should also be eligible for this ballot? I'm hoping I qualify to boost my chances of getting a ticket.
My lad today told me he wants to stand with the 1881. Looks like we'll be in there then, no complaints from me.
I know and I'm not doubting that at all, was just saying that it can't sell out whilst at Cat A, so you might wanna expand your search to asking for Cat B as well
How many seats have the 1881 got? Was such a success that I was wondering if they could get more for these occasions in the future.
Yes - I guess I got lucky because I was able to get into the ticketing page and select a seat from the seating plan well before 10:00 on 22 Mar, and at the time I didn't know there was such a small section of cheaper tickets - I just wanted one close but not too close to the goal. And I'm not a season ticket holder, so goodness knows how many good seats had already been snapped up in the previous 24 hours! It's interesting looking at the map that the side view seats are generally more expensive. I usually prefer a side view, but for such a big match I wanted a section which was much closer to the goal and was guaranteed a good atmosphere with plenty of hard-core fans.
Tell her you've lined up a day out never to be forgotten. Chauffeur her to the Green Man. Leave her there for 3 hours whilst you attend the match. Return to Green Man with built in ride back home. Neither of you will ever forget the day.
Thanks to all of you who have been trying to help me with various info, and I have been checking your info out, but unfortunately it appears that the last ST me and my son held was in fact 2011/12 season, which has taken me totally by surprise as I genuinely thought it was only 3 or 4 seasons ago. My son, has checked our status and he thinks we are going to be Cat C for the final, which is our home ticket status and although this will not be confirmed until next Tuesday 16/4, he is pretty sure our cup final status is going to be Cat C, which is not very promising The reason for my earlier confusion was that we continued to go to quite a few games during the 1st couple of seasons after we gave up our ST's, but since my son got together with his now wife our game time curtailed a lot which was after the 13/14 season, ironically had our ticket purchases for that season counted my son thinks we would be in Cat B for the final Therefore I am still throwing our hopes out to anybody who maybe has a higher ticket status than us, but will not be taking their option up for whatever reason. If so please contact me through the conversation category on here, which I believe is the new Private Message category. Thanks in advance Jim VoR
Yea but there's a possibility I'd have a better chance in this ballot than being in Cat C. On this basis, there is no help for overseas fans who do attend matches. I'm the same category as someone who lives 5 minutes from the stadium and goes once a season.
Good luck TVOR. Cup Final Cat C might be more promising that you think though - there will still be 6000 tickets at worst on sale then. Almost certainly more as not every ST holder and Cat A will go. The key though will be getting in a position to buy the minute they go on sale.
Sucks don't it mate, I think you guys that come from overseas deserve a better category perhaps if you attend say 3+ games a season, or for those on a different continent the equivalent of 1 game a season should be enough. Good luck with the lottery though mate as I agree you probably have a better chance with that than Cat C, which I am incidentally.
Was the view OK there? My sister and I are in a slight quandary about whether to get tickets for the final through the SC Hornets group, or get them independently, like we did for the semi final. We are both Home Group B so should be fine getting tickets. The advantage of the SC Hornet group is, it takes away the hassle of getting the tickets; you know you'll be in a friendly group that won't be getting in drunken fights over standing up; and the tickets are in a great place for atmosphere as they are in that yellow band at the front. However, the disadvantage is - are they too near the front for a decent view (they are rows 1 - 14); is it better to be higher, rather than lower - as we were before? And will we jinx things if we change where we sit? Plus, if we are 4-0 down by half time, will I want to be standing at the front singing still, or will I wish I was up in the gods, able to sit down and sulk with a prawn sandwich? Suggestions please....
I think all this panic is unnecessary. City will probably return 9,000 unless of course a bunch of glory hunters come out of the woodwork, which I guess they have been for the last 6 years.
It would be mad if somebody like you who lives overseas and had made regular trips across for games didn’t quality, but some glory hunter like me who only makes an effort for the final does qualify.
Cheers UEA, but keep your ear to the ground in case you know anybody who be able to help me out. Thanks.
Confirmation received from Dave Messenger that I'm not eligible for the overseas ballot and that I'm in Group C along with a lot of others. Essentially no special circumstances for being a fan from NI who attends games. On the other hand, if I had never attended a game but was a fan from NI, I'd be eligible for the overseas ballot. Incredibly disappointed in the club, but nothing I can do about it. The back-up is still to watch it in Walkabout I guess!
I think if you do get a ticket via the ballot it's a pair of tickets... If you are lucky and have a spare ticket then my inbox is always open...
I don't know how many people will enter the ballot but only 50 people can win it (50 x 2 tickets equalling the 100 available). Whereas for Cat C there will be at least 6000 tickets, 99% of demand from the categories above will be already done and you're up against around 22,000 others (and I bet a fair few of those won't be going for them either). Better than a 1 in 4 chance of a ticket, as long as you're on the money at 9am ready to book. So, if my shoddy maths is right, if more than 180 people enter the overseas ballot your odds of getting a ticket are better in Cat C. Plus at least in Cat C your fate is in your own hands rather than relying on a lucky dip draw.
But Northern Ireland isn't overseas though. Seems strange his reasoning though, my brother who lives in Australia has an ID attended two matches in December and before that a couple of years ago, is probably Category C. He won't be going to the final anyway.