Representatives of Glentoran and Portadown, today held a productive meeting at Windsor Avenue with the IFA, the Stadium Management Company and Ticketmaster, regarding preliminary organisational issues for the 2014/15 Irish Cup Final to be held on the 2nd May 2015.
The National Stadium
The IFA confirmed that they are awaiting a full structural report on the infrastructural integrity and safety of the West Stand at the National Stadium before a decision can be made on the venue for the final. Options have been discussed, with the opinion of both clubs sought, but we have been asked not to publically speculate or comment on these at this stage. Another meeting has been convened, w/c 13th April to finalise this matter.
Tickets
The IFA further confirmed that they have entered into a contract with Ticketmaster. All ticketed matches held at the National Stadium, will now fall under this contract. We discussed at length issues surrounding allocated seating and ticket availability for our supporters unable to access Ticketmaster online. The following therefore has been agreed.
- Seats will be allocated.
- However, Ticketmaster will liaise with both clubs to ensure that significant sections of the ground can be block sold at the clubs direction. This means that all Shareholders, Vice Presidents, Life and Season ticket holders, Supporters clubs and 250 club members, will be able to purchase tickets with the assistance of the club at a reduced booking fee.
- Once the venue for the final has been confirmed a meeting will be convened at the Oval with representatives of supporters clubs in particular to provide information on block bookings. GSC's will be able to book and also reserve extra tickets, all seated together. The reserved tickets will be held for a period of time to be confirmed. Should the GSC not take up its full reserved allocation after the deadline, these will return to general sale for the groups listed above.
- A section of the ground nearest the sterile area will be available for block booking as a 'singing section' It is envisaged that only full priced tickets will be available for this area to ensure that children are encouraged to be accommodated in a more appropriate section of the stand. We appreciate this may inconvenience some of our older yet still vocal fans and apologise in advance.
- Tickets will be priced at £15 Adult and £8 concession.
- There will be a limit to the number of tickets an individual can buy in one transaction (not applicable to GSC's) but the actual level will be decided in conjunction with the club. We do not envisage that this will be less than 8 tickets per transaction.
- No tickets will be available for purchase until after the next planning meeting.
- We are in discussion with Ticketmaster to provide a physical ticket sales point at some of our remaining home games, for those supporters that either can't or don't wish to buy online or indeed wish to pay by cash.
The kick off at the request of the BBC, has again been set for 2.30pm. Glentoran will be accommodated in the away dressing room, as in 2013 at whichever venue the game is eventually played at.
We will keep you updated via the official site as further information becomes available.