Getting tickets to see Manchester United play at Old Trafford is a dream for many football fans. As one of the most popular and successful clubs in the world, demand for Man United tickets is incredibly high. However, with some preparation and planning, you can greatly improve your chances of securing seats to see the Red Devils in action.
Plan Ahead
The first step is to plan ahead. Tickets for the biggest Premier League matches like the Manchester derby sell out months in advance. So you’ll need to be organized and think about games you want to attend well before the season starts.
As soon as the schedule is announced, look at the calendar and make a shortlist of the matches you want to target. This could be big derbies, games against top 4 rivals, Champions League nights, or matches over the holiday period. The earlier you decide on target games, the better prepared you’ll be.
Get a Membership
Signing up for an official Manchester United membership greatly improves your chances of getting tickets. There are different tiers of membership, with higher levels giving you priority access to home match tickets.
The higher the membership level, the earlier you can purchase tickets during the pre-sale windows. For example, Executive Club members can buy tickets several days before Standard or International members. So if you’re serious about attending games, it’s worth purchasing the best membership you can afford.
Use the Ticket Exchange
Manchester United operates a Ticket Exchange system for members to buy and sell spare tickets. Season ticket holders often list seats for matches they can’t attend on the Exchange. So checking the site regularly as matchday approaches is a good way to pick up last minute tickets.
You can also place requests on the Ticket Exchange for particular matches you want to go to. Other members can respond and arrange to securely sell you their spare seats. This helps provide access even when initial ticket sales are fully sold out.
Hospitality Packages
If budget isn’t a concern, corporate hospitality packages guarantee you match tickets along with a host of extras. This could include drinks, multi-course meals, matchday programs, a Q&A session with a club legend, and seats located in exclusive executive areas of the stadium.
Hospitality packages are expensive but take the stress out of sourcing tickets yourself. They provide exceptional Old Trafford experiences and comforts that even regular fans don’t receive. The only downside is the high costs, with packages ranging from £299 per person to over £1200 depending on the opposition and matchday extras.
Third Party Ticket Sites
Authorised ticket resale marketplaces like LiveFootballTickets.com are an option if you’ve missed out on tickets through the club. Reputable sites like these partner with season ticket holders listing spare seats for upcoming games.
Tickets purchased this way can be quite expensive due to high demand. But the benefit is guaranteed valid matchday tickets when buying from a trusted source. Make sure to compare prices across a few resale sites to get the best deal.
Touts and Scalpers
Another way to pick up tickets is from touts and scalpers outside the stadium on matchday. This extremely high risk practice is not recommended and you’ll likely overpay for unofficial tickets that could be fake or cancelled.
However, with care and some due diligence, in very rare instances it’s possible to find last minute face value tickets from touts. Only consider this as an absolute last resort and take steps to validate tickets ahead of time and accompany the seller to the turnstiles.
Try Your Luck on Matchday
Keep checking the Ticket Exchange right up until kick-off, as last minute tickets are sometimes listed. You can also try your luck at the ticket office windows outside Old Trafford on matchday, which sometimes release spare tickets if they’re unsold.
This is very hit and miss though and should be seen as a backup plan if your other ticket efforts fail. The chances of picking up tickets at the window are very slim due to enormous demand.
Join the Waitlist
If tickets aren’t available through any of the above options, make sure to join the season ticket waiting list. It can take several years to reach the top, but when your name comes up you’ll have the chance to purchase season tickets and guarantee entry to all home matches.
Best Matches to Target
While any chance to see Manchester United is special, if your goal is to attend Old Trafford, you should target less in-demand games. Rather than chasing impossible tickets for the Manchester derby, aim for matches against lower ranked teams or European group stage fixtures.
Here are some of the more attainable matches to focus on:
Opponent | Competition |
---|---|
Leeds United | Premier League |
Southampton | Premier League |
Bournemouth | Premier League |
Sheriff Tiraspol | Europa League |
FC Copenhagen | Europa League |
Targeting these less popular games will make landing tickets much more achievable.
Join a Supporters Club
Manchester United Supporters Clubs provide another avenue for securing match tickets. These independent fan groups are located worldwide and have allocated tickets for every game of the season.
By joining a recognised branch close to your location, you can access their ticket allocation. Supporters Clubs split tickets fairly between paid up members either by rotation, attendance points or lottery. So joining early in the season gives you the best shot at tickets when they are distributed.
Travel Packages
Travel companies like Thomas Cook Sport offer Manchester United ticket and travel packages for fans coming from outside the UK. These include match seats, nearby hotel accommodation, and return travel between the hotel and stadium.
Travel packages take care of all the arrangements for an Old Trafford trip. However, they are generally more expensive than sourcing tickets yourself. Factor in the costs of travel, lodging and food on top of ticket prices to see if a package makes sense.
Become a Season Ticket Holder
The only 100% guarantee of attending every Manchester United home match is to purchase season tickets. But due to decades-long waiting lists, these are essentially impossible to obtain unless you already have a season ticket.
The only option is trying to find an existing season ticket holder who cannot attend every game and is willing to share or sell you their seats for certain matches.
Sites like SeatPick allow season ticket holders to transfer tickets to other fans on a game-by-game basis. So check for season seats here as they’ll provide the best value and assurance when buying second-hand.
Conclusion
Getting tickets to see Manchester United is no easy task, but with early planning, perseverance and use of all avenues, it’s certainly possible. Don’t expect instant success – be prepared for setbacks along the way. But following the tips outlined above maximizes your chances to fulfill the dream of watching the Reds play at the iconic Theatre of Dreams.