Wigan Athletic have so far failed to sell at least 10,000 of their allocated tickets for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Millwall.
This has prompted the FA to take the unprecedented step of opening a zone for neutral fans.
Both clubs were allocated just over 31,000 tickets for the game.
While the Championship club are expected to sell their full complement, Premier League side Wigan are struggling to sell their section.
A maximum of 6,000 tickets from what was originally a Wigan section will now be sold to neutrals before Saturday’s game.
But even with sales in the neutral zone, it is understood the authorities expect a minimum of 14,000 empty seats at Wembley.
Wigan’s failure to sell out their section is not altogether unexpected, with the club averaging just short of 19,000 for home matches in the Premier League this season.
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s semi-final between Manchester City and Chelsea, although that match is expected to sell out in the next 24 hours.
Wigan Athletic declined to give details of exact ticket sales when asked.
Appears that the rumours of ticket sales being at 19,000 seem to be true. Looks like we’ll be ridiculed for being the only team in history to have tickets taken off them. To be honest does anybody care? Like most people on here I would rather have a lower number of true fans then people just tagging along for the day.
considering we only get 16/17 on an average game, if we get 20k at Wembley that is good going as far as I know. I also knopw there are people who are hoping we get through and will go to the final – they can’t afford both.
Its a semi-final two hundred miles away against a Championship team with thuggish fans, and we have a great chance of reaching the final to play either the Premier league champions or the European champions. Add to that, that currently the UK is experiencing probably the worst recession of all times!! Said when the draw was made I would be delighted if we sold 20k tickets!
We are taking all our home support to wembley so what do they expect us to do conjure up non existent fans,who gives a toss what people in the media think
The f.a have to take the blame for this.If this game would have been a 3 oclock k.o we would have shifted these tickets, the stupid k.o time coupled with transport problems is putting people off, there has been no concideration shown to wigan fans,semi finals shouldnt be held at wembley
75,064 Bolton v stoke.we will be lucky if our semi final gets 60,000.stoke sold out,bolton sent 6,000 tickets back.so therefore Bolton sold around 25,000.they too had to return to Wembley again if they won.
I just don’t think we have enough people in wigan ,who like latics, to sell anywhere near 25,000.the ordinary folk of wigan who have no allegiance to latics,should at least support their town.they ought to be ashamed to call themselves wiganers.
I couldn’t give a flying what the media anybody else is saying. The simple facts are that
a) The semi should not be at Wembley
b) Ridiculous K.O time, considering the transport problems
c) Cost, considering theres’s every chance of returning, average folk just can’t afford two trips. I will only be able to afford one trip, which i hope is he final fingers crossed.
d) Wembley is on Millbrawl’s doorstep. No wonder they’ve sold their tickets. Its easy for hangers on to travel. It would be like a day trip to Bury market for us. :huh:
e) The F.A give sweet F.A about all of the above :angry: