In recent months we have been working very hard with the relevant authorities on plans to bring fans back to stadiums, and specifically Emirates Stadium, initially with reduced capacities.
Although our home fixture against West Ham United on Sunday 20 September will be played behind closed doors, based on the current UK Government guidelines, we hope to be able to welcome supporters back to Emirates Stadium on a reduced capacity basis from the Sheffield United game scheduled for Saturday 3 October.
While we finalise the details surrounding our reduced capacity matches, we want to update you on our plans to welcome you back to Emirates Stadium safely. In devising an agile plan for the season ahead, we are focused on maximising the number of supporters able to safely attend matches at Emirates Stadium and providing fair and equitable access to the limited tickets available for all season ticket holders.
The capacity at Emirates Stadium will initially be much reduced due to UK Government guidelines, Premier League directives and our responsibility to apply appropriate social distancing measures to ensure our fans can return as safely as possible. Based on our consultation with various fan groups we anticipate very high demand for the limited tickets available. Taking these factors into account we have determined that Gold season ticket holders and Premium members will have priority access to the limited tickets available. We hope to be able to safely increase the capacity during the 2020/21 season and we will share further information if we are able to allocate tickets to other member groups or non members.
Your safety
These are clearly exceptional circumstances and the health, safety and security of everyone is our top priority. When fans return to Emirates Stadium, extra measures will be in place to protect us all. This includes the introduction of new hygiene measures and intensive cleansing routines.
Furthermore, all supporters attending a game will be required to agree to a Code of Conduct devised in line with UK Government guidelines. It is essential that you take your time to read this Code of Conduct carefully.
2020/21 season tickets
We won’t be asking you to renew and pay the full amount of your season ticket until we have clarity on when we will return to full capacity matches. However, you now have the option to make an Initial Payment which will qualify you to enter the balloting process for the reduced capacity games.
How much is the Initial Payment?
Ahead of a regular season, you would normally pay the full amount of your season ticket upfront. In these unprecedented circumstances, we are asking for a proportion of that full amount up front in the form of the Initial Payment.
Gold members can view the Initial Payment amount in our FAQs here
Premium members can view the Initial Payment amount here
The Initial Payment is equivalent to the behind closed doors credit and any unused cup tie credits (General Admission only) from the 2019/20 season. Any combination of this 2019/20 credit, any accumulated ticket exchange monies and / or a debit or credit card can be used to make the Initial Payment.
Why are we asking you to make an Initial Payment?
Our intention is to renew season tickets during the 2020/21 season if the UK Government and Premier League guidelines enable us to return to full capacity. In this scenario, you may use your Initial Payment as a credit against your 2020/21 season ticket. You can also use your Initial Payment against your 2021/22 season ticket if we are not permitted to return to full capacity during the 2020/21 season. Importantly, the Initial Payment is also fully refundable if you later choose not to renew your season ticket for either the 2020/21 or 2021/22 season.
While we are operating at reduced capacity, we know there will be huge demand for tickets. It is therefore important that we secure, via the Initial Payment, a commitment to the balloting process from our gold season ticket holders and premium members.
Throughout recent months we have talked about the financial impact the pandemic has had on the Club. Normally, at this time of year, and at the beginning of the season, we would have received significant revenues and cash flow from season ticket sales. The Initial Payments will help us protect our revenues and cash flow which have been severely impacted due to the pandemic.
It is important to note, you are not obliged to make the Initial Payment towards your 2020/21 season ticket, and you have the option to take a season ticket holiday. If you opt to take the holiday, you will retain the option to renew your season ticket if/once we return to full capacity in the 2020/21 season or if you want to wait until the 2021/22 season before returning. We will communicate more information regarding your option to take a season ticket holiday in due course.
However, if you wish to be included in the ballot for the 2020/21 season, you are required to make the Initial Payment the towards your season ticket by 5pm on Thursday 10 September.
For more information please see our FAQs
How will the ballots be run?
As the capacity at Emirates Stadium will be significantly reduced and the demand is expected to be very high, we will ballot all home Premier League, UEFA Europa League and Emirates FA Cup fixtures in groups of matches. All fans who have paid the Initial Payment (before 5pm on Thursday 10 September) and registered for the ballot (before 5pm on Monday 14 September) will be included in all ballots for reduced capacity matches across the full 2020/21 season. Carabao Cup matches will be included in all ballots for premium members and we will issue further guidance regarding Carabao Cup matches for Gold season ticket holders in due course.
The Initial Payment window is now open and will remain open until 5pm on Thursday 10 September. Once you have made your Initial Payment, you will receive a confirmation email which will include a link to register for the ballot. The ballot registration window will open at midday on Thursday 3 September and will remain open until 5pm on Monday 14 September.
Payment for each successful fixture ballot will be deducted from the payment card that you register when you enter the ballot. Please note, payment for match tickets will not be deducted from your Initial Payment, but you can use your Initial Payment as a credit against your 2020/21 season ticket should we return to full capacity and you choose to renew during the 2020/21 season. You can also use your Initial Payment against your 2021/22 season ticket if you renew next season. Finally, after we have run the final ballot, you will have the option to request a refund of your Initial Payment should you choose to not use this as a credit against your 2021/22 season ticket.
You can enter the ballot as an individual or as a group of up to four people in general admission and club level areas, and six people in seasonal dining areas. It is your responsibility to ensure that your group is adhering to current UK Government guidelines on mixing households, and all members of your group must have made the Initial Payment and registered for the ballot by the deadline specified above.
If you are successful in the ballot, you/your group will be automatically placed into an area of the stadium that is the equivalent price, or as close as possible, to what you would normally pay for your season ticket. Unfortunately, due to reduced capacity, high demand and social distancing measures, we can’t guarantee your regular seat.
Please note, we will not be permitting refunds on tickets won in the ballot, but we will be enabling the Ticket Transfer service for fans that have purchased tickets but are no longer able to attend. If you are part of a group, you will be able to transfer individual tickets that you are unable to use, but changes to the group must adhere to current Government guidelines with regards to mixing households.
For more information on the ballot process, please see our FAQs
Why are season ticket holders being asked to enter a ballot now for all reduced capacity games in the 2020/21 season as opposed to opting into individual games?
While we are operating at reduced capacity it is important that we secure a commitment to the balloting process from our season ticket holders, and if we are able to increase capacity during the 2020/21 season, it is important that we retain that commitment.
This is a similar approach to the season ticket model where fans commit for the entirety of the season and it gives fans the best chance of attending as many matches as possible. As with the season ticket model, this will avoid a situation whereby the club requires to sell a large amount of tickets for matches later in the season where fans have no commitments to buy tickets.
How much are fans likely to spend on reduced capacity games during the 2020/21 season?
Gold members can see match by match ticket prices here
Premium members can see match by match ticket prices here
Ticket verification
We are aware that season tickets are often held in the names of previous purchasers or a single family member. During these extraordinary times, it is vital that we know exactly who is entering the stadium for supporter safety and the Government’s Track and Trace scheme.
To ensure that Emirates Stadium is as safe and secure as possible, fans who register for the ballot will be asked to confirm or amend their personal details through a form that we will send via email. This is an opportunity for fans to amend the name on the season ticket to reflect the name of the person attending. There will also be a further opportunity for fans to amend the name of the person attending using Ticket Transfer once you have been successful in the ballot.
It is vital that you do this accurately as supporters will be required to show a valid form of personal identification that matches the name assigned to the ticket to ensure entry to the stadium.
For more information please see our FAQs
Disabled supporters
Disabled supporters will be able to apply to enter ballots as above. Tickets for personal assistants will be issued as necessary when the applicable season ticket holder is successful in the ballot.
Away matches
We are awaiting Premier League guidance on whether away fans can attend matches. We will share more information when we are able to do so.
Arsenal Women
Our away fixture against West Ham United Women on 12 September will be the first Barclays FA WSL fixture to be a supporter pilot event. The game will be open for West Ham Women season ticket holders only and will be shown live on BT Sport.
We will share more information on ticketing for our other WSL fixtures as soon as possible.
Thank you to all our fans for your support, patience and cooperation during this difficult time. We look forward to welcoming you back to Emirates Stadium as soon as it is safe to do so.
Please note, all Gold and Premium members will receive an email from the Club with more information regarding next steps.
For more information on the return of fans to Emirates Stadium, please see our FAQs
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