Following the announcement of West Ham United's new Stadium ticket pricing plans, the Club answer all the key questions for supporters below.
For more detailed FAQs about the general process of seat selection at the new Stadium, including the schedule of appointments at the Reservation Centre, please click here. Or if you cannot find the answer to your question, please email: [email protected].
For more detailed FAQs about the general process of seat selection at the new Stadium, including the schedule of appointments at the Reservation Centre, please click here. Or if you cannot find the answer to your question, please email: [email protected].
PRICING
Which prices have been announced today?
West Ham United have announced prices for Season Tickets at their new Stadium for the 2016/17 season; their first in the stunning new venue.
The prices stated reflect the amount that existing and new Season Ticket Holders will pay for the 2016/17 season. Match-by-match ticket prices (including those for away fans) will be announced in the first few months of 2016.
Why have West Ham reduced their Season Ticket prices?
The Club’s Board have long been advocates of making football more affordable for supporters and regularly offer discounts at the Club’s current home in Upton Park.
It has been their longstanding ambition to further expand that work to make football more accessible for the everyday working man when the Club moves to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
How will the reductions be funded? Will spending on strengthening the team be affected?
As has been well publicised, all Premier League Clubs will benefit from the new broadcast deal that will come into effect for the start of 2016/17 and West Ham are the first to publicly commit to spending some of that increased revenue on reducing Season Tickets prices for its supporters.
The increase in broadcast revenue coupled with the increased capacity at the new Stadium means the Club can afford to dramatically reduce Season Ticket prices without adversely affecting the plans to strengthen the team in the summer of 2016.
Why are there different price reductions across the four bands?
With the move to the new Stadium, the Club have taken the opportunity to create a new Season Ticket pricing structure that reflects the increased size and layout of the new Stadium and is more balanced from top to bottom. Applying a standard discount across all bands would have restricted our ability to do this.
The new pricing structure has been designed to create a greater number of affordable tickets so as many West Ham fans as possible can come and support their team on a regular basis and ensure the Stadium is full.
SEAT SELECTION
Can I upgrade my seat to a higher band?
Yes. Subject to availability, Season Ticket Holders will all have the option to move into a higher price band and the Club’s decisions on pricing will make it more affordable for supporters to do so.
That is why the seat selection process is being conducted in order of price band, from band 1 to band 4, so it is clear at each stage what seats are available in higher price bands.
In line with the Club’s seat selection principles, every Season Ticket Holder will have first choice on the best available seats in their existing price band before these are offered to supporters in a lower band wishing to upgrade.
Can I choose a seat in a lower price band?
Any Season Ticket Holder wanting to choose a seat in a lower price band than their equivalent at the Boleyn Ground may do so, but they will have to wait until all current Season Ticket Holders from that band have had the opportunity to select their new seat. This is to ensure Season Ticket Holders in lower price bands get first pick of the seats in their band and are in no way disadvantaged by the process or by their fellow supporters.
Where will each price band be located and how many seats will there be in each?
Supporters will be able to see the location of all seats in the price bands available to them at their Reservation Centre appointment.
I’ve already upgraded to Club London, am I still eligible for my Reservation Centre appointment as an existing Season Ticket Holder?
Yes. Each and every Season Ticket Holder for the final season at the Boleyn Ground is eligible for an appointment at the Reservation Centre.
Can I select my seat over the phone or online?
While supporters can select their seats over the phone if necessary, they are strongly advised to attend their appointment in person to take advantage of the cutting edge Virtual Venue technology, which will allow them to virtually ‘sit’ in their seats and look at the sightlines and surroundings that are right for them.
The Club will not have the flexibility to relocate Season Ticket Holders once the 2016/17 season has begun, so it is important that supporters are happy with their seats before they choose them. Supporters cannot select their seats online.
BAND 5 / 1966 SEATS
Who gets priority to choose seats in the new band 5 and when do they go on sale?
Band 5 seats will be made available after all Season Ticket Holders have had their appointment at the Reservation Centre. Existing Season Ticket Holders wishing to purchase in band 5 can then do so, after which supporters on the new Stadium Season Ticket priority list will be invited to the Reservation Centre to select from all remaining seats. It is probable that this will not be until February 2016.
What are the 1966 Seats and why have it been introduced?
The 1966 Seats have been named to celebrate 50 years since West Ham United’s most famous sons lifted the World Cup for England.
The 1966 Seats offer the chance to enjoy a VIP experience in the East Stand, with padded, named seats on the halfway line, a programme voucher and an invite to an exclusive player and manager event each season.
Unlike Club London, the 1966 Seats are purchased on a season-by-season basis, as opposed to committing for a three-year term.
Who gets priority to choose seats in 1966 Seats?
In keeping with the Club’s seat selection principles, supporters will have the option to upgrade (subject to availability) when they attend their Reservation Centre appointment.
Will there still be good views from band 1 seats in the East Stand?
Yes, absolutely. As the East Stand is a ‘Kop’ style stand with no corporate areas, it offers a large capacity for more than 20,000 fans. Because of the size of the Stadium and the increased capacity in each price band, there will be sufficient seats in the halfway line section to accommodate all supporters who currently have a comparable seat at the Boleyn Ground.
How will the seats in different price bands compare to those at the Boleyn Ground?
The Club have guaranteed that every Season Ticket Holder will be offered a comparable seat at the new Stadium, based on the price band and location of their seat for the final season at the Boleyn Ground. However, given the obvious differences in the shape, seating layout and capacity of the two grounds, no two seats will be exactly comparable, and the quality of each seat and sightline is subjective.
GROUPING
1) Existing groups
I already sit with a group at the Boleyn Ground and we want to sit together in the new Stadium. Can we sit together in the new Stadium?
Yes. Season Ticket Holders who currently sit together at the Boleyn Ground will also be able to move as a group. When supporters receive details of their appointment, they will be able to create and register their group online and attend their Reservation Centre appointment together.
2) New groups
i) I want to 'group' with Season Ticket Holders who sit in my price band, but do not currently sit with me. Can we sit together in the new Stadium?
Season Ticket Holders in the same price band are welcome to group together. When supporters receive details of their appointment, they will be able to create and register their group online and attend the Reservation Centre together.
The Club will look to allocate the seats that most closely fit the group's requirements, though the area selected may not be directly comparable for members of the group with the best seat location.
ii) I want to 'group' with Season Ticket Holders who sit in different price bands. Can we sit together in the new Stadium?
Season Ticket Holders currently in different price bands are also welcome to group at the new Stadium, but will be required to group with the individual in the highest band. This is to protect the rights of Season Ticket Holders in lower price bands and ensure that they are in no way disadvantaged by the process or by their fellow supporters.
The Club will look to allocate the seats that most closely fit the group's requirements, though the area selected may not be directly comparable for members of the group with the best seat location.
BRINGING NEW SEASON TICKET HOLDERS
How will introducing new Season Ticket Holders work?
Subject to availability, every Season Ticket Holder renewing for the 2016/17 season will have the opportunity to introduce up to two new Season Ticket Holders at the new Stadium. Any existing Season Ticket Holder will be able to bring the new Season Ticket Holders with them when they choose their seat at their Reservation Centre appointment.
Do my two new Season Ticket Holders have to sit in the same band as me even if I choose to upgrade?
The Club would reasonably expect that supporters bringing new Season Ticket Holders with them will wish to sit together at the new Stadium, but they are not required to do so.
Based on the lead Season Ticket Holder’s location for the final season at the Boleyn Ground, new Season Ticket Holders are eligible to sit in the same band or higher at the new Stadium. This is again to protect the process and the priority of supporters sitting in lower bands.
Why are the Club allowing Season Ticket Holders to bring two new guests with them?
The Club fully expect the Stadium to be full come August 2016. Therefore we wanted to give Season Ticket Holders the first chance to group with other existing Season Ticket Holders or friends or family that previously had not held a Season Ticket at the Boleyn Ground when they attend their appointment.
That is why, when existing Season Ticket Holders choose their new seats, the Club is giving them the opportunity to bring up to two of their friends or family to become new Season Ticket Holders and sit together as a group.
The only practical way of doing that is to allow those new Season Ticket Holders to choose their seats at the same time as the existing Season Ticket Holder who is introducing them.
With the increased capacity at the new Stadium and the fact that every seat offers an excellent view of the action, the Club are confident that all such requests can be accommodated without affecting the quality of the options available to other existing Season Ticket Holders still waiting to choose their seats.
PAYMENT
How do I confirm my seat at my Reservation Centre appointment?
Season Ticket Holders will be asked to pay a non-refundable 25 per cent deposit of their total ticket price at the end of their Reservation Centre appointment to secure their seat. The remaining 75 per cent will be due by June 2016, in line with the normal window for Season Ticket renewals.
A deposit is required as at all times, the Club need to know precisely which seats have been allocated to ensure that supporters who are still to select their seats have access to the best seats still available.
Without some form of financial commitment from Season Ticket Holders, this would prove exceptionally difficult. The Club is therefore asking supporters for a 25 per cent deposit to secure their chosen seat, which is payable at the Reservation Centre appointment.
Will I still be able to pay for my Season Ticket on finance?
Supporters are able to finance the cost of their season ticket through our Finance Partner V12 Finance.
There will be two options available:
- Finance the entire Season Ticket upfront with payments starting one month after your successful application
- Pay your deposit and apply for finance in June of 2016 in line with normal Season Ticket renewals
What concessions are the Club offering children?
The Club have introduced a flat rate £99 Season Ticket fee for all Under-16s, which is ten per cent cheaper than the old flat rate for Under-10s, and considerably cheaper for those older children who previously bought Season Tickets in the 10-16 age category. This represents a massive saving all round for young people and their parents.
Will there be a family seating section in the new Stadium?
Yes. The Club’s Reservation Centre adviser will be able to provide information about the family seating options available to each Season Ticket Holder at their appointment.
Will all Under-16s qualifying for £99 tickets have to sit in family seating sections?
No, the rules will be exactly the same as at the Boleyn Ground. There will be a flat rate of £99 for Under-16 Season Ticket Holders in bands 1, 2, 3 and 4 and in the new band 5.
All Under-14s must be accompanied by a full paying adult in all areas of the Stadium. Within the family seating sections, there must be at least one Under-16 supporter per two individuals over that age.
ACCESSIBILITY SEATING
Accessibility seating has historically had a price band of its own at the Boleyn Ground, so where do disabled fans sit in the priority order?
All disabled supporters, both wheelchair users and ambulant, will be entered into the same process as all other Season Ticket Holders and the scheduling of their Reservation Centre appointment will be based on their location at the Boleyn Ground for the final season.
The Club are contacting all disabled supporters to advise them of which band they currently sit in.
As a wheelchair user, can I bring additional guests and can they sit with me?
As with the current operation, all disabled supporters are entitled to a complimentary carer seat located next to their seat. If any additional seats are required, the Reservation Centre staff will endeavour to seat them as close as possible but it cannot be guaranteed that they will be directly next to one another.
How has the new pricing for accessible seating been determined?
West Ham United already offer some of the best rates for disabled fans in the Premier League but felt it was important that disabled fans enjoyed a discount like all other Season Ticket Holders at the new Stadium.
The disabled adult Season Ticket price is still approximately 50% of the full adult price, while concessions will see further discounts on that price of up to 28%.
Note: all answers provided are correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.