Old Trafford is one of the most iconic stadiums in world football. Home to Manchester United Football Club, it has a capacity of over 75,000 fans and a rich history stretching back over 100 years. Watching a match at Old Trafford is on many football fans’ bucket lists. If you want to experience the thrill of watching Manchester United play at their legendary home ground, you’ll need to get your hands on some match tickets. Here’s a guide on how to buy tickets to see a game at Old Trafford.
When Do Tickets Go on Sale?
Manchester United will announce when batches of tickets are going on sale to members and the general public. This is usually 6-8 weeks before a game. Tickets sell out extremely fast, so you need to be ready to buy as soon as they are released. The club announces ticket on sale info on their website and social media channels. You can also sign up for email alerts so you don’t miss the announcement.
Can I Get Tickets in the Home End?
Yes, general ticket sales do include home end tickets. However, the majority of these tickets are reserved for Manchester United members. Becoming an official member improves your chances of getting home end tickets tremendously. There are different tiers of membership packages, with priority access for home tickets increasing for higher tiers.
How Do I Become a Member?
You can sign up for an official Manchester United Membership on their website. There are adult and junior packages available. Prices start from around £32 per season for an adult. Members get priority access to home match tickets before the general sale opens. The higher the membership level, the earlier your booking window. Other membership perks include discounts at the club store, a membership pack and magazine, and options to buy away match tickets.
Where Else Can I Get Tickets?
If you miss out on home tickets in the general sale, don’t panic. There are a few other options:
Hospitality Tickets
The club offers premium matchday experiences through their official hospitality packages. These include a match seat in exclusive areas like the Manchester Suite or Stretford End Quadrant, plus a host of fine dining, live entertainment and complimentary bar options. Hospitality tickets are expensive but guarantee you a seat at the game.
Ticket Exchange
Manchester United operates a Ticket Exchange system where season ticket holders can sell home match seats they can’t use. Tickets sold through the Exchange can provide good availability close to matchday. Prices vary per match and availability is not guaranteed, but it’s worth checking as kick-off approaches.
Ticket Reselling Sites
Tickets are often resold on secondary sites like LiveFootballTickets.com and StubHub. Prices are inflated so expect to pay a premium if you buy this way. Be careful to only use reputable sites to avoid fake or invalid tickets.
Matchday
On some matchdays, additional tickets are made available on a first-come, first-served basis from the ticket office at Old Trafford. These are often returns from opposing teams who don’t sell their full allocation. Going to the ground on the day is risky, but for less popular matches you may pick up late released tickets.
How to Buy From the Official Website
When Manchester United announce a ticket sale, here are the steps to give yourself the best chance of getting seats:
1. Login and Get Ready
Make sure you have an online member account set up in advance. Have your login details handy ready to access as soon as the sale starts. The website gets very busy during sales, so being prepared saves vital time.
2. Join the Queue
You will need to join an online queue when getting into the ticket sale. Typically this will open about 30 mins before the advertised start time. Get in the queue as early as possible – you’ll be assigned a random place so the earlier you join, the better chance of being near the front.
3. Select Your Tickets
When you reach the front of the queue you will have 10 minutes to book your tickets. Move quickly but don’t panic. Browse the interactive seat map and click your preferred seats for the match you want. Aim for one of the home ends like the Stretford End or Sir Alex Ferguson Stand for the best atmosphere.
4. Checkout
Once happy with your ticket selection, proceed through the checkout process. Have your payment card details handy so you can complete the payment as fast as possible.
5. Don’t Give Up
If you don’t get tickets first time around, keep trying! Tickets are normally released across a number of sale windows. Persistence and preparation will pay off eventually.
Booking Hospitality Packages
Here is the process if you wish to book official Manchester United hospitality packages:
1. Browse Options
Use the ‘Matchday Hospitality’ section of Manchester United’s website to view the different lounge and dining options. Hospitality can be booked by match or on a seasonal basis for multiple games. Packages offer varying levels of luxury, fine dining menus and legendary former player appearances.
2. Register Interest
Once you’ve found a hospitality package that interests you, register your interest via the website. A member of the hospitality team will then contact you to discuss availability and provide a quote. They can advise on the best options for your budget and preferences.
3. Book Your Package
To confirm your booking, you will need to pay a 10% deposit. This reserves your package. The remaining balance will be due approximately 4-6 weeks before the match date. Your booking confirmation will contain all the details about what’s included, venue access times, dress code etc.
4. Get Excited!
Look forward to enjoying exclusive Old Trafford hospitality! Arrive on matchday in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and make the most of your VIP experience. After the final whistle, you’ll be able to relive the action over a fine dining meal and post-match entertainment.
Purchasing Resale Tickets
If buying resold tickets from secondary ticket sites, here are some tips:
– Choose Reputable Sites
Purchase from well known, established ticket platforms like LiveFootballTickets or StubHub. These have buyer guarantees so you get recourse if issues arise. Avoid lesser known sites that may sell fraudulent tickets.
– Check Reviews
Read reviews by other buyers to get feedback on the reliability of ticket sellers on resale sites. Look for any negative experiences before committing to buy.
– Confirm Details
Check that the tickets match the details advertised – correct date, opposition, seat location etc. Reconfirm this with the seller before purchasing.
– Use Safe Payment Methods
Pay via secure payment methods like PayPal which offer buyer protection. Avoid bank transfers with sellers you don’t know.
– Be Wary of Scams
If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is! Incredibly low prices or hard sales tactics are often red flags for scams. Stick to reputable sites and sellers to avoid losing your money.
– Act Fast
Popular matches sell out extremely quickly. If you spot a good deal, don’t hesitate or you’ll likely miss out.
– Check Delivery Policy
Some sites allow digital ticket delivery, others will courier hard copies. Understand delivery times so you get tickets in hand before matchday.
Getting Tickets on Matchday
Here are some tips for trying to get tickets on the day of the game:
– Arrive Early
Get to the ground as early as possible, ideally at least a few hours before kick-off. This boosts your chances of picking up any returns that get released. The ticket office often has long queues so factor that in.
– Ask Around
Scalpers and touts sometimes try to offload last minute tickets around the ground. Buying from them is risky though as tickets may not be genuine.
– Try Your Luck
As kick-off approaches, you could get lucky if members of the away support have not shown up and extra seats become available. Be bold and ask stewards if they know of any returns.
– Be Flexible
You may have to compromise on seat location to get a ticket at the last minute. Don’t be too fussy – getting inside Old Trafford should be your priority!
– Prepare to Pay More
Leaving it until matchday often means paying inflated prices from touts or resale sites. Weigh up if getting a ticket is worth the extra cost.
– Have Back Up Plans
If you strike out on tickets, don’t ruin your whole day! Have a backup activity planned like a stadium tour. You can still soak up the atmosphere.
– Enjoy the Experience
Hopefully your persistence pays off! If you are successful in getting a matchday ticket, soak up the unbelievable atmosphere inside the iconic Old Trafford. Sing your heart out and support United!
Conclusion
Obtaining tickets to see Manchester United play at Old Trafford takes patience, persistence and preparation. Members get priority access to the most popular matches against rivals like Liverpool or Man City. If you miss out at the initial sales phase, keep trying right up to matchday as availability can change. Booking hospitality packages or using resale sites are good alternatives but come at an inflated cost. However you manage to get your hands on the golden tickets, make sure you arrive early to enjoy the electric atmosphere inside England’s largest club football stadium. Singing under the famous floodlights with 75,000 fellow United fans will be a lifelong memory. Glory Glory Man United!