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[oakroader]

Coventry City sell out Wembley ticket allocation for Championship play-off final​

By Ged ScottBBC Sport
Last updated on 2 hours ago2 hours ago.From the section Coventry

Coventry City had 40,000 fans at their last trip to Wembley in 2018 - the League Two play-off final win over Exeter City
Promotion-chasing Coventry City have sold out their ticket allocation for Saturday's Championship play-off final with Luton Town at Wembley.
The Sky Blues were allocated 36,237 tickets for the game - but all general admission tickets have sold-out - with only tickets for disabled fans left.
Tickets went on sale within 12 hours of Wednesday's 1-0 semi-final win at Middlesbrough.
City are making their third trip to Wembley in seven seasons.
But, unless the English Football League make more tickets available, this will be the smallest Sky Blues following at the new Wembley.
They were watched by 42,500 Coventry fans when they beat Oxford United to win the EFL Trophy in 2017.
There were then 40,000 for the League Two play-off final win over Exeter City in 2018.
City fans will be located in Wembley's West End - the same end they had for their previous victories.
Coventry also famously won their only previous final at the old Wembley, the 1987 3-2 FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur, when the ticket allocation was limited to 25,000 per club.
They did also play at Wembley against Everton in August 1987 in the Charity Shield, which they lost 1-0, but, in terms of Wembley finals, their record is flawless.
As of Friday, Luton had sold 28,600 of their allocated 36,493 seats.
Wembley has a stadium capacity of 90,000 but that includes the Club Wembley tickets in the Olympic Gallery, which do not always get used.

Sky Blues could generate seven-fold income boost​

If Coventry do win on Saturday and return to the Premier League for the first time since relegation in 2001, football finance expert Kieran Maguire predicts promotion could be worth at least £140m.
Maguire told BBC CWR that Coventry will earn at least seven times more revenue next season if they go back up to the top flight - and that the whole of Coventry will benefit too.
"Last year Coventry generated £18m from ticket sales, commercial arrangements and TV," said Maguire.
"If they go up to the Premier League, that is going to go about £130-140m minimum - and that is the worst case scenario, finishing bottom.
"For every additional place you finish higher, there is an extra £3m.
"It is very much driven by the broadcasting deal. The Premier League is exported to 198 countries around the world.
"And then you have the ancillary benefits as you will have TV crews coming to Coventry from all around the world, which is great news for the chamber of commerce. It is a chance for the city to showcase itself, as well as the positive benefit it has on the football club.

Coventry were relegated from the Premier League in May 2001 when they lost a 2-0 lead provided by a first-half Moustapha Hadji double to lose 3-2 to Aston Villa
"On average in the Championship a new shirt deal is worth half to one million pounds. In the Premier League it is more like seven to eight million.
"There are opportunities to set up new commercial arrangements of partners of individual products, you've no reason to increase ticket prices as you're going from 23 matches in the Championship to 19 in the Premier League and when it comes to hospitality packages, once again it's a different story.
"Selling Barnsley on a Tuesday night is hard work for the commercial department. But, if you've got Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool or Manchester City coming to town, everyone wants a piece of the action and you price accordingly.
"But costs do go up too. Take a club like Crystal Palace, who have been in the Premier League for 20 years, they made a profit in their first year but they have lost money ever since.
"And wages go up too, and, if you then survive a season in the Premier League, then the players and their representatives come back knocking at the door again."

 

[oakroader]

World Cup referee to take Championship play-off final as EFL announce match officials​

Michael Oliver with the whistle for Luton versus Coventry

 

[Super_horns]

World Cup referee to take Championship play-off final as EFL announce match officials​

Michael Oliver with the whistle for Luton versus Coventry

Decent ref but with VAR around who know what might happen.

 

[Caitlyn]

He was/is class, we were just bitter he left us for peanuts to a side in the same division who we’d had a relatively recent rivalry with at the time. And he was the one who negotiated/signed the clause which meant he could leave for peanuts thus fucking us over and he handed in his transfer request a week before the end of the window which gave us no time for a replacement. But no doubting his ability then.

I haven’t seen him play for a couple of years but I’d imagine he’d still be a very good player in League 1. I’d have him back as he’s an excellent player but I’m not bothered if we go elsewhere as there’s a bit of bad blood about how he left us twice.

Yeah for sure, I didn't fully understand why this supporter would say such stuff considering Luke has played very well in the Championship, I suppose it is just opinion but the contractual stuff I didn't know about.

 

[oakroader]

tickets all sold out within 15mins...what a fucking abortion..traveled hundreds of miles and been to every wembley appearance,apart from 1959... (not born yet)...and not got a ticket due to some spotty prick of a teenager whos just bought his first season ticket and got 6 of the fuckers....not fucking amused...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Very sad to hear that. The thing has been a shambles from the word go basically, the 6 tickets per season ticket holder wasn’t great and then been compounded by Ticketmaster being absolutely horrendous.

There is an LTFC ticket exchange Twitter account who are retweeting people who are selling at face value prices. Hope you get one

 

[BelizeHatter]

Oh man. Sorry to hear that Oaky. What a joke. Hope you manage to get one. There have to be plenty floating about, but it should never come to this

 

[Super_horns]

Some including Rob Edwards have obviously been having a whip around for the ticket office staff after a tough week (and generally for their work over the years )

https://twitter.com/x/status/1660766285204955136

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

The closer we get the more convinced I am that we’ll lose. Just cannot imagine us in the Prem, it’s felt so distant for so long.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Im so confident Im scaring myself, wondering where the fuck the pessimist went. Not because we are better, or favs, or finished higher, deserve it more ( both sides are VERY deserving). Doesnt matter who we are playing. Just feel it in my gut.

Means jack shit of course ;-)

Theres a lot of talk of 'what if' around the Club. Mostly due to there needs to be a lot of work on The Kenny and its impact on how that focus affects/delays the new Stadium....... I really hope the playing staff arent looking ahead at all. One iota of over confidence or dreaming and its gone. We are up against a very difficult opponent and need to be 100% from minute one.

May the best team win. If thats not us, i couldnt have hand picked a better choice from anyone in the Championship.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

The closer we get the more convinced I am that we’ll lose. Just cannot imagine us in the Prem, it’s felt so distant for so long.

Like you I just cannot envisage it happening, to be honest it’s never even entered my head as a genuine possibility as a Luton fan. It happens to other clubs not us.

Very weird feeling.

 

[BarrieOwl]

Good luck to both sides, fought back from off the field shite to have a crack at the big boys

 

[codaplenty]

Hi there Oaky
Just reading about the ticket cock up and do hope you manage to get one mate
Best of luck in the final, what a journey the hatters have had over the last few years and now you find yourself within touching distance of the holy grail. Enjoy the day

 

[oakroader]

Hi there Oaky
Just reading about the ticket cock up and do hope you manage to get one mate
Best of luck in the final, what a journey the hatters have had over the last few years and now you find yourself within touching distance of the holy grail. Enjoy the day

Cheers buddy
But alas no luck
Will be watching on the box with tenterhooks hoping for the best and preparing for the worst…
All aboard…
Has the Luton train reached its final destination???

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

oakroader few tickets going on sale again in 30 minutes

Good luck my friend!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1661702680618622980

 

[oakroader]

oakroader few tickets going on sale again in 30 minutes

Good luck my friend!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1661702680618622980

thank you too my friend sumo for the head's up...i got on at 2.10pm...all gone...

 

[Super_horns]

Sorry to hear you couldn’t get a ticket .

Always frustrating when you see so many non fans get them but we’ve all had them I guess .

We would be very much the same and I’ve does seem on Twitter most fans seem happy with how the ticket office had handled things .

Good luck to those going .

Take sun cream and lots of money!!

Now I probably should wish Coventry win really but I suspect many would like to see Rob Edwards go up to get one over our owners !

 

[oakroader]

will it be a beautiful sky blue day...or...a stunning tequila orange sunset evening???...
i'm a bag of nerves hoping for the latter...
can't help thinking this could be our last shot at the promised land until our new stadium becomes a reality to finance another challenge...

 

[BelizeHatter]

Oh its our last realistic shot for quite a while.

Theres big teams coming down and up. The shit shows are realising they are going to wither and become stuck as Championship staples if they dont sort themselves out very soon, and look like they might. The vultures will circle and we will lose most/all of our spine. Morris Locks and no Nakamba. Lose those and without almost impossible amazing recruitment, another shot will be very very difficult.

So lets take it.

I personally am ambivalent as I love being a Champ side and as a Prem side we will get spanked badly every single week barr the idd result here and there. Ive been lucky and seen and been to wins against the Liverpools Man Us Spurs Arsenals etc..... But..........for the Club and fans that go every week, the new ones it will generate, the Town uplift......it will be amazing.

Its happening. We are going to win. The Town are going up.

COYH

 

[BelizeHatter]

.........Also 2020 deserve a return on investment. Even if thats just a return of investment. Thank you Gents. So yeah. Premier League.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Good luck to Tom and Luton.
Good to see two teams battling it out who were both in L2 not so long ago. That gives hope to the rest of us who dont have the resources to buy our way there

 

[LeonTheGreen]

May the best team win. Two teams that give me hope maybe we can follow in a similar trajectory if we can establish ourselves next season.

My prediction is a narrow Luton win, 2-1, winner coming either towards the end of 90 minutes or in ET.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

As mentioned above I think the league next year is going to be brutal, with the teams coming down, Sunderland and Boro are going to remain strong, 2 really good sides coming up from League 1 and youd expect the likes of Norwich, Watford, WBA to not be as poor again. Definitely feels a real prime opportunity for one of either us or Cov.

Anyway, there’s a game to be played. Honestly not expecting a classic and wouldn’t be at all surprised if it goes the full distance. Think it’s going to be very cagey, with very few chances. Both teams utilise a solid defensive base of which to perform, Might come down to a mistake ultimately.

Can see it being 0-0 and to pens and then…who knows.

 

[Daz_3000]

Decent ref but with VAR around who know what might happen.

Geordie so will probably favour Coventry.

 

[Daz_3000]

Hope you play out a good final for the Neutral. I’m gonna want Luton to win but honestly have a feeling that Coventry will go up. 3-2 to Cov is my prediction and may go past extra time. Gyokeres to score at some point.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Well today's the day ladies and gentleman. The nerves have been kicking in all week, but I am quietly confident. I think Luton have proven over the season that they have the better team. Whilst Coventry have some great individuals, and I certainly wish them the best of luck, I think the Hatters will do enough to shade it over 90 minutes. Bar a couple of hiccups, Luton have been incredible since the World Cup and have match winners and match savers in the side.

If you look back in recent years, Luton have always been a bit marginally ahead of Coventry in terms of position. I’d like to think this is our time. The £170M winners cheque is club changing for us… most of us having already spent it in our heads.

I am going to predict that Luton will win 2-1, but Coventry to score in the last 20 minutes to create the nerviest of nervy finishes. Luton are more than happy to let the opposition have the ball but press hard - something that Coventry are probably weaker against. They will want to try and counter attack us.

I just hope we turn up and the team that turned up at Wembley last time and at the Stadium of Light don't do this time.

Team prediction:
GK Ethan Horvath
RWB Codey Drameh
LWB Alfie Doughty
CB Tom Lockyer
CB Gabe Osho
CB Amari'i Bell
DM Marvelous Nakamba
CM Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu
CM Allan Campbell
FW Elijah Adebayo
FW Carlton Morris

Subs:
James Shea, Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley, Jordan Clark, Fred Onyedinma, Cauley Woodrow, Jack Taylor

 

[oakroader]

the weather's gonna take it's toll on our pressing...hope we pace ourselves accordingly...
luton till i die...
keep the faith fellow hatters...

 

[Railway Blue]

tickets all sold out within 15mins...what a fucking abortion..traveled hundreds of miles and been to every wembley appearance,apart from 1959... (not born yet)...and not got a ticket due to some spotty prick of a teenager whos just bought his first season ticket and got 6 of the fuckers....not fucking amused...

If Luton make it will they start next season in their new stadium?

 

[oakroader]

If Luton make it will they start next season in their new stadium?

Nah…2026 is the projected date mucker..,

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Good luck to both teams today. Don't have a preference for the winner. Be nice for Edwards to show the clowns at Watford what they could have had if Luton win, be deserved for Robins after what he's done with Coventry to have a shot at the Premier League. Hoping for a good game. Suppose should favour Coventry due to the Dave Speedie/Kev Smith links.