Empty seats at Tynecastle again as Celtic fans locked out

Hearts made the decision to cut Celtic’s allocation this season to just one section of the Roseburn Stand. That one section has a large amount of seats covered, further limiting the amount of tickets that Celtic fans get.

After Hearts boasted about their Season Ticket waiting list, their fans have once again failed to turn up and back the team, meaning they missed out on a second win over Celtic for the season.

The decision by the club, which was no doubt influenced by theRangers’ decision to slash Celtic’s allocation for the Glasgow Derby, clearly isn’t having the desired effect as fans of the Jambos aren’t interested in seeing Celtic (or theRangers).

There would have been a full away end in the Roseburn Stand had Celtic had the option to sell these tickets, which would have easily filled the empty seats.

Even during the Romanov-era, Celtic had the full stand. Hearts’ city rivals are considering following the lead and cutting numbers themselves. Which is ironic given their fan behaviour over the years.

Granted if the game wasn’t on TV, maybe some more Season Ticket holders might’ve gone along but the likelihood, as Hearts and their fans know, is that these games are picked up by Sky Sports. The empty seats don’t look great on the TV, either.

As a supporter that has regularly visited Tynecastle over the years to see Celtic, it is one of the best grounds in the country. The layout of the stands and proximity to the pitch makes it a cauldron. The full stand is obviously desired but even the half of the Roseburn is appropriate for the size of the Celtic support and the fact that the stand sits half empty anyways.

The footballing authorities should work towards fixing a level on away fans which, if unsold, then reverts to the home club. Celtic Park is no different and this is something that should be attended to for next season.