As the Scottish Cup semi-final beckons on April 20th, with a highly anticipated clash between Celtic and Aberdeen set to kick off at 12:30, the allocation of tickets has sparked discussions far and wide. In an intriguing turn of events, the decision has been made to grant Celtic a larger share of the tickets for their showdown at Hampden Park, a move that reflects the historic turnout trends of both clubs.
Celtic have consistently demonstrated their ability to bring a sea of green and white to Hampden, turning the stadium into a cauldron of support for their team. On the other hand, Aberdeen, while having a dedicated and loyal following, have not historically matched the numbers Celtic can bring to the national stadium. This disparity in fan turnout has been the driving force behind the decision to allocate more tickets to Celtic for the upcoming semi-final.
This approach to ticket allocation, while practical, has reignited the debate over fairness and equality in football. The initial proposition suggests that a 50/50 split in ticket distribution would serve as a fair starting point, offering both sets of fans equal opportunity to support their teams in such a crucial fixture. Should one club struggle to sell out their allocation, the logic follows that the remaining tickets could then be offered to the more populous fanbase, ensuring a packed stadium and vibrant atmosphere for the match.
The argument is made that the sales performance of clubs in semi-finals could inform their ticket allocations for finals, rewarding clubs that can guarantee strong fan attendance and contribute to the spectacle of the occasion.
While the decision has been made with attendance trends in mind, it also highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing club traditions, fan expectations, and the desire to fill stadiums with enthusiastic support.
No matter the outcome, the semi-final between Celtic and Aberdeen is set to be a massive tie for both clubs. Celtic looking to retain their trophy while Aberdeen look to turn a very poor season into something positive.
Aberdeen released this statement on the matter:
“The Club requested the opportunity to sell up to 50% of the tickets, with any unsold tickets by an agreed date being allocated to our opponents. Disappointingly, this has once again been declined based primarily on historical ticket sales at this stage of the competition.
“As a result, the Aberdeen allocation for this match will be for up to 19,000 tickets, almost identical to the Viaplay Cup Final in December, split between the South Stand and West Stand, depending on demand.”
