At the Celtic PLC AGM last week Michael Nicholson suggested that Celtic would be introducing a Ticket Exchange Scheme with Ticketmaster in the not too distant, future, perhaps in time for next season.
The Celtic CEO explained: “The club has 5000 matchday tickets and we balance that with a competing ticket exchange. We considered it in the summer but we’re looking at a deal with Ticketmaster…watch this space.”
Back in the summer on The Celtic Star we lobbied for the club to follow the example set by Hearts and introduce a Ticket Exchange Scheme which would benefit season ticket holders, fans without tickets and also the Celtic Foundation. Here’s a recap from our article dated 29 July…
Celtic should follow Hearts in introducing a Ticket Exchange Scheme
Having purchased tickets for the Women’s Scottish Cup Final at Tynecastle directly from Hearts I appear to have been added to their mailing list for the new season. So I now know that Hearts have new stadium announcers for the new season and that their home game against Ross County at the weekend is a sell-out.
And the Hearts manager Robbie Neilson is apparently a happy chappie after signing his new contract at the club.
“I’m pleased. We’ve been speaking about if for a couple of months so to get it sorted is great. It allows us to fully focus on the season ahead,” he said.
“First and foremost, I’ve really enjoyed my time back at Hearts. It’s a fantastic club to be at, and the team is doing really well. The board have been great, the Foundation of Hearts have been great, and there’s a platform now to build forward.”
Hospitality Packages are also on sale for the Hearts Premiership matches this season and just when you and me both are getting bored with this, there’s another item on today’s mailout from Hearts that caught my eye and many of you will be interested in. Hearts, you see, are offering a Ticket Exchange service this season to their season ticket holders.
Here’s how it works…
Due to phenomenal season ticket sales and unprecedented demand for seats at Tynecastle Park, this season Hearts will be offering a Ticket Exchange in the event of a home sell-out.
Key points of this Ticket Exchange scheme that Hearts are running as as follows:
– ST Holders will have ability to sell their designated seat at face value for any Premiership home fixture they are unable to attend
– If a ST holder sells their seat via Ticket Exchange they will receive 50% of the value as credit to their account.
What is Ticket Exchange?
Ticket Exchange, Hearts FC explains, is the Club’s official online resale platform which gives their Season Ticket Holders the ability to sell their designated seat at face value for any Premiership home fixture they are unable to attend.
If a Hearts Season Ticket holder sells their seat via Ticket Exchange they will receive 50% of the value as credit to their account. This credit can only be redeemed against next season’s Season Ticket. Hearts supporters will only receive credit if their seat is sold; if it is listed but remains unsold no credit will be added to their account. Season ticket holders will also have the option at the end of the season to waive or donate your credit, more details on this will be shared at renewal time. Any category of ticket can be listed, but all will be sold at Adult ticket prices on the Ticket Exchange Platform.
As soon as a match sells out Hearts will turn on the Ticket Exchange functionality and make their Season Ticket Holders aware across official club channels. Once Ticket Exchange is activated seats will continually become available across the stadium on Ticket Exchange right up until matchday with Season Ticket Holders able to list their seat up until four hours before kick-off.
Tickets purchased via Ticket Exchange are strictly non-transferable and non-refundable. If at the end of the season an account has more credit than the value of your season ticket renewal the surplus credit will be forfeited and is non-refundable. No cash alternative is available.
Hearts go on to provided instructions on both buying and selling a ticket on their ticket exchange, which you can read for yourselves HERE.
This type of scheme has been long overdue at Celtic Park and even over the past few weeks we have seen supporters unable to buy tickets for the friendly matches against Blackburn and Norwich City yet the stadium only being around tho thirds full.
With many games having being subject to re-scheduled kick-off times and some making it very hard, for instance, for all of the Irish season ticket holders to get over, then you can see why this scheme would be popular with Celtic supporters.
The opportunity for fans at the end of the season to donate the sums in their account to for example the Celtic Foundation is also attractive and benefits the charity wing of our football club.
Or supporters could simply save some money on the cost of next season’s renewal while Celtic are not only taking a 50% share of the re-sale transaction but are also ensuring that as many fans as possible are at the games.
The seat next to my own is bought every year by a chap who only ever shows up for theRangers games. (Update, he didn’t renew this season so that is now one of the 5000 matchday tickets Michael Nicholson talked about at the AGM). I think someone used it on one other occasion last season. Is that the only such example? Maybe it’s an extreme one but there are plenty other season ticket holders who can’t make games for a variety of reasons – holidays, work commitments, ill-health, family commitments and so on – and they would all welcome the opportunity to have a Ticket Exchange service like this in operation for Celtic supporters.
If Hearts can do it why can’t Celtic? We know that there is a huge waiting list for season tickets and that with Ange Postecoglou’s side as exciting to watch as Celtic have been in years, it’s unlikely that too many of these supporters are going to get a season ticket themselves anytime soon.
So surely this Ticket Exchange scheme is a no brainer for Celtic to implement?
Well it certainly looks like happening for next season and that is certainly good news for the wider Celtic support who are denied the chance to attend games then see empty seats when watch on television.
