You’ll see it at all the big sporting events in the US. A sea of the home team’s colors — and then pockets of the opposition in the first 5 rows.
Just look at these stills from January’s big matchups. Plenty of Packers fans watched the horrors intermixed with the 49ers faithful.
Even with college football, where there are usually designated sections for given teams, including away fans — there’s clashing colors in the stands and people are civil (if not downright disappointed and caught on camera). See: poor Clemson fans in the heart of LSU country.
And, despite the passion that envelops SEC football (remember, it just means more) … fans can reliably mix in peace and harmony and enjoy the day on the gridiron (and at the tailgate).
For English soccer fans, that’s very much not the case. The separation is by design. And it very much impacts how you’ll want and need to go about getting tickets to attend a match. It’s the first step in the rules of rooting.
There’s very little secondary market
The mixing of US fans at events is the product of the secondary market. Things like SeatGeek, StubHub, and Vivid Seats are baked into every sports fan’s strategy (especially, if you’ve ever listened to a podcast.) The evolution of the modern ticket tout on the street corner is a wonder for fans of all sports, wishing to hop in and see a match.
For football in England, it’s a different story. It really does mean more to your average fan of every club. And their expression of more might end up in a little more than folks making impolite gestures to one another. Hence, the separate sections in each stadium, the fleet of fluorescent stewards lining the aisles, and relative uniform of neutral clothing, with a scarf tucked in your pocket to avoid unwelcome jeers and harassment leaving the stadium.
And while modern British football is a physically safe place to be, there’s an observance of rules that should be followed in order to make that happen.
What does that mean for you, our aspiring ticket-buyer?
Registration has its privileges
To purchase any tickets, registering with the club is a must. So you’ll need to fill out the appropriate internet form and get a supporter number. With any ticket you buy, your name will be associated with your seat. That’s for everyone’s safety — but it also means there’s an enforcement of limits around ticket buying and requires a few extra steps.
(Yes, you are going to get the messaging from the club about joining up — Manchester United very nicely puts your name on a kit graphic when you “sign for the club”) …. And while you’ll have your favorite team, you need a supporter number in 95% of cases to complete a ticket transaction. And that’s one supporter number per ticket, usually. So sign ‘em all up. Besides, you’ll want the club emails to keep up on ticket on-sale details.
To really get the advanced tickets you’re going to want and need, considering a club membership with ticket purchase privileges is a strong recommendation. Membership will often confer the ability to buy what’s left after the various loyalty tiers have a chance to purchase their tickets.
Always root for the home side
Your best bet for any kind of ticketing is in the home end. So, whether a direct supporter or a neutral looking for atmosphere — it’s root, root, root for the home team. Without exception.
There’s just no room in the broader safety and club support equation for the kind of mixed fandom that American sports can facilitate. Marlins Man wouldn’t stand a chance in the home end with the Holmesdale Fanatics.
Away experiences seem awesome from the couch, but only the club’s most loyal and known supporters tend to get them. Less than 20% of the season ticket base will get to go home and away. So, good luck with that.
Furthermore, for those who do want to attend when your team plays away — if you are sat in the home end, and get caught rooting openly (or at all) for the away team, you’ll earn a visit from the fluorescent fleet and a trip out the gates to the street.
Sometimes, you need to stay away
When considering a multi-match epic, if there’s a club you really really dislike — and you can’t keep your passion under wraps — best to skip out on that one. But once you have your club registration number, you’ve taken your first step to being able to make a run to remember.
We’re doing all of this because the rooting experience in English football is amazing. Especially when the home crowd matches the intensity of the away section, in chants and energy through the match.
Mind the rules, have fun!
As a committed couch consumer based on the US — mind the rules of club registration and build your experience from the back. Get a supporter number, consider membership, and go through the official channels for purchasing tickets. If you keep these best practices in mind, you’ll have a successful football travel adventure.
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