Just 19,258 fans turned out on the night with Gordon Strachan even speculating beforehand that the credit crunch was responsible.
But the first attention should be directed at the horrendously inept Celtic ticket services.
Perhaps they might like to compile figures as to how many fans attempted to buy tickets on the day only to be told that the only way to purchase them was to attend Celtic Park before 5PM.
Do Celtic actually want people to go to their games or not?
Every other major event staged has promoters bending over backwards to sell tickets. Football, it seems, is the only public event where you cannot purchase a ticket online or over the telephone to be collected at the venue.
How many fans missed out on the chance to go to the match because, if they were unable to turn up in the East End of Glasgow during the hours when most people work, there was no alternative? Would it really be impossible to, for example, issue some tickets in a city centre Celtic Shop and keep the outlet open until 7pm?
Why can you collect tickets for any Celtic game at the ticket centre up to kick-off but not arrange to do the same at Hampden Park?
And before the club blames, the Co-Op, the SFA, the Scottish Football League and state of the Parkhead power supply, perhaps someone would be good enough to explain what overtures were made to Hampden Park to allow fans to watch football.
From swipe cards to the infamous magic turnstiles of old, Celtic have had a reputation that would have shamed Ceauşescu’s Romania when it came to bureaucracy, dodgy practices and customer service in its ticketing department.
In recent years, far from modernising, that has got worse. There appears to exist a collective attitude that suggests some pre-season shmoozing is all that is necessary to encourage people to part with season-ticket fees and forget about them until the next July.
Well, with millions of people being forced to review their spending, Celtic better start treating its supporters as customers, rather than mugs to be put through any inconvenience for the privilege of paying a grossly inflated ticket price.
Season ticket sales slowed over the past year and season 2009/10 may well see those occasional supporters taking on a new significance. The club would do well to be more professional, courteous and accommodating.
 |
--
4 comments:
You could purchase tickets right up until kick-off, from Portakabin ticket offices at Hampden - I saw the one at the Celtic end of the ground. This was in the press and is a regular occurence for games at Hampden that do not sell-out.
Doeasn't surprise me in the least - though like many Celtic fans I avoid buying the mainstream papers.
However, surely the ticket office should have that information, rather than saying "but this is the day of the game", as if that somehow means something.
When called they insisted that going to the ground was the only option they were aware of and seemed bemused by the suggestion that they should have full information.
The official CIS Cup page on the Scottish Football League page said:
"Admission to this match will be by ticket only.
Please note that individuals not in possession of a match ticket are requested not to approach the environs of the National Stadium, Hampden Park.
Tickets for this match will only be available from the following outlets and supporters should contact these outlets to find out when they will be on sale.
Celtic F.C.
Ticket Office, Celtic Park, Glasgow.
(Tel: 0871 226 1888)
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Shop, Tannadice Park, Tannadice Street, Dundee."
There was also no mention of the availability on the relevant page of Celtic official website.
Not for the first time, a very poor show from them.
Celtic wanted names and addresses of any non season ticket holders that were purchasing tickets.
I think, they thought if they made it known that you could get tickets at Hampden this would stop them getting this information and they couldnae build a file up on you.
Kevin: I'm sure you're right.
The Celtic website insisted that names, addresses and dates of birth be provided for anyone for whom a ticket was purchased.
Sure, we want to stamp out hooliganism - but we are not talking about gettin a job with the MoD! We are talking about fans going to watch football.
That used to be allowed - even encouraged. If Celtic ticket services didn't deliberately withhold the information that tickets would be on sale, there should be explanations as to the rank incompetence of those on the phone who behave as if such enquiries were tantamount to asking if space dust has anti-gravitational properties.
Q: Can I get to the ame tonight?
A: Sure, either come to the ticket office or buy your ticket at Hampden.
Obviously that's too much for Celtic - perhaps Dr John ID-Card has had been put in charge of the ticketing.
Post a Comment