Wigan Athletic have pulled a Christmas Cracker to help their fans get to watch them play at Leeds United on Boxing Day. The Wigan Athletic players have all clubbed together to allow 500 lucky fans travel to Elland Road on half price tickets.
Earlier this week the Yorkshire outfit, currently 16 in the Championship (not 3rd in the Premiership like their prices reflect), told Wigan that they must pay £36 for a ticket to watch the 26th December game. Last year on the 4th December the match price was £28 to watch two teams much higher in the league at that time.
For some reason the Club decided Boxing Day was a good enough reason to catapult this game to Category A instead of keeping it the same as last season. Our SLO has written to his counterpart at Leeds for an explanation as to why, but with no response as of yet.
Anyway, this deal will go a long way to make sure our voices will be heard and hopefully the boys will do the job on the pitch to show that high prices doesn’t guarantee a good result for the home side.
The Club Statement read:
Latics players to spread Christmas cheer and ’go halves’ on Leeds Boxing Day tickets.
Wigan Athletic players have spread a little early Christmas cheer by agreeing to ‘go halves’ on the first 500 away tickets sold in advance for the Sky Bet Championship match at Leeds United, which kicks off at 3.00pm at Elland Road on Boxing Day.
Leeds have made the match a Category A fixture, with tickets charged at £36 for advanced sales, and £41 on the day. Concessions, for Over 60s and Under 21s are £24 in advance or £29 on the day and Under 16s are £18 in advance and on the day.
Many Latics fans contacted Wigan Athletic this week to complain about the prices but unfortunately, the price of tickets for away matches is determined by other clubs and out of Wigan Athletic’s control.
Club captain Gary Caldwell explained the thinking behind the move:
“Christmas is an expensive time of year for everyone, especially football fans, and we want to show our appreciation to the fans who follow us week in week out by making this gesture.
“To have the fans behind us is a massive boost for the players and we know that we haven’t been able to give them as much back this season as we want, but if this helps to get them to Elland Road and give us their support then we are glad we can help.”
Jonathan Jackson, Wigan Athletic Chief Executive, added:
“It’s a lovely one-off gesture by the players and I hope very much the fans take up their offer because we need as many supporters there as possible.
“It is a situation we do not have any control over as a club, as it is the decision of every home club to set match day ticket prices for their own stadium and it is not up to us to comment upon that. But it demonstrates once more how the players genuinely appreciate the support they receive from our fans.”
How to take advantage of the offer
Half price tickets will be on sale to season ticket holders from 9.00am on Friday 12 December, with one ticket allowed per season ticket.
Tickets go on general sale Wednesday 17 December from 9.00am.
The offer closes at 5.00pm on Friday 19 December subject to availability.
Anyone wishing to purchase following this date, or when the first 500 tickets have been sold, will pay the original price.
The offer is available only in person or by phone on 0871 6633552 – it is not available online.
Anyone who has already purchased tickets for the match will be offered half of the price back. Please contact the DW Stadium Ticket Office for details.
