SAFC is advising all supporters wishing to attend the forthcoming Boxing Day fixture against Leeds United to purchase their tickets in advance.
The visitors ticket allocation for this game, which is expected to be the biggest crowd of the season so far at the Stadium of Light, has been reduced by the FA Safety Advisory Group as Leeds United fans have been identified as causing a significant safety risk by persistently standing in seated areas of stadiums whilst attending away matches.
In order to ensure the safety of all supporters the Club, in association with Safety Advisory Group and Northumbria Police, has implemented measures to ensure that visiting supporters cannot purchase tickets in home sections of the Stadium of Light and in accordance with this initially there were to be no cash turnstiles available for this fixture. However, following discussions with Northumbria Police it has been agreed that a very small number of cash turnstiles will be operating for home supporters, supervised by the police.
There will be no £17 adult concessions available from the turnstiles and all concessionary seats for this match must be purchased from the Stadium of Light ticket office.
Supporters are urged to buy their tickets in advance to avoid any potential queues or delays on the day.
Opening hours for the ticket office prior to Boxing Day are as follows:
* Wednesday 22nd December 2004 10.00am – 5.30pm
* Thursday 23rd December 2004 10.00am – 5.30pm
* Friday 24th December 2004 (Christmas Eve) 10.00am – 1.00pm
* Saturday 25th December 2004 (Christmas Day) CLOSED
* Sunday 26th December 2004 (Boxing Day) 10.00am – Kick Off
Also, as a higher attendance is anticipated for this fixture, the sales and collection points will be extremely busy. SAFC advises all supporters who are purchasing or collecting tickets on the day of the game to arrive early.
SAFC Safety Manager John Davidson said: “The safety and comfort of all supporters is our primary concern on a match day. The Boxing Day match is always a popular fixture, this is a big game for the Club and our fans and attendance is expected to be high.
“The number of tickets available on cash turnstiles for this game is strictly limited and we would not wish supporters to be disappointed. We would therefore urge those supporters able to do so to purchase and collect their tickets in advance, thus avoiding the potential of queues and congestion on the day.”
Tickets will not be available on-line or via ticketing agencies and can only be purchased from the Stadium of Light ticket office. Those supporters wishing to purchase tickets via telephone for home delivery are advised that the last day tickets can be posted out is Tuesday 21st December 2004, to ensure delivery.
The Club would also like to advise supporters that the Black Cats Bar is now sold out for this fixture.
