STAND AND DELIVER!
Valiants opt to make seating switch for second leg of the play-off semi-final against Swindon
PORT Vale are opening the Hamil Road end to home fans for their League Two play-off semi-final second leg against Swindon
- a move that will see visiting supporters given the Bycars end.
Vale say their home capacity will be increased by 850 seats by opening the Hamil to Vale fans for the Vale Park game, on Thursday May 19 (7.45pm).
Meanwhile, the 2,200 allocation being given to Swindon in the Bycars matches the number of tickets Vale are being given for Sunday’s first leg at the County Ground (noon).
The Hamil end was opened to home supporters on Saturday when more than 2,000 watched a live screening of the final game of the regular season, at Exeter City.
Vale got permission to screen the game back at Vale having sold out their 1,300 allocation for St James Park.
And with demand likely to be high from Vale fans for both legs of the play-off semi-final, the club has made the change to get more home supporters into the ground.
Vale sold out the home stands for their last league game at Vale Park, against Newport, when the total crowd of 9,048 included just 318 Newport fans in the Hamil which holds 4,000.
The club say: “This stand ‘switch’ will mean an additional 850 tickets will be available to home supporters for this game (because of the larger capacity of the Hamil road stand versus Bycars stand).
“The club would like to thank Bycars stand season ticket holders, and other fans who usually use this stand, for their understanding and encourage them to help us fill the Hamil Road stand.
“To cater for these new arrangements, seats will be set aside in the Hamil Road stand for Bycars stand season ticket holders. Bycars stand season ticket holders will, of course, also have the opportunity to purchase a seat in another area of the stadium designated for home supporters between Thursday, May 12, at 9am and midnight on Sunday, May 15.
“Seating in the Hamil Road stand will be unreserved while seating in the Lorne Street and Railway stands will be reserved for this fixture.
“Tickets for the home leg at Vale Park will go on sale at 9am on Thursday, May 12 – to both season ticket holders and on general sale – via the Port Vale ticket office and online at port-vale.co.uk/tickets
“Supporters are advised that normal league match pricing will apply to the Lorne Street and Railway stands for the home leg at Vale Park.
“Pricing for tickets in the Hamil Road stand will be the same as for the Bycars stand for this oneoff fixture (and subject to future reviews).
“Home supporter tickets for this play-off fixture will only be sold to those fans who are: a) season ticket holders, b) on the club’s supporter database, c) have a verifiable purchase history with the club (up to May 9, 2022), d) buy in-person at the ticket office – with proof of a local address.
“Season ticket holders’ seats will be reserved up until midnight on Sunday, May 15 – after which, tickets for those seats will be released on general sale.”
Meanwhile, Vale are putting tickets for Sunday’s first leg at Swindon on sale to season ticket holders on Thursday, 9am.
Prices are as follows: £19 for adults, £15 for over-65s and students with ID, £10 for under-21s, £6 for under-18s, £1 for under-11s.
Vale say: “These tickets can only be purchased in
person at the Port Vale ticket office. There will be no online sales for this limited number of tickets.
“Individual Port Vale season ticket holders will be able to collect a maximum of eight match tickets for the away leg on behalf of other season ticket holders and must be in possession of those season ticket cards.
“Any tickets after May 12 will go on general sale at 9am on Friday, May 13 – again in person purchases from the Port Vale ticket office. These sales would be limited to two tickets per person.”
Northampton Town play Mansfield Town in the other playoff semi-final.