Cambridge United

• Season tickets on sale 9am Monday 24^th August
• Capped at 1,000 due to limited capacity at the Abbey when crowds return
• Club introduces two stage process that will guarantee season ticket holders a place at every possible match with crowds
• Club CANNOT guarantee an exact seat - very unlikely fans will have exact seat they want
• Free streaming through iFollow to season ticket holders for all home games and Club working hard to make all away games free too, subject to EFL approval

Cambridge United are pleased to announce season tickets will go back on sale on Monday 24^th August (9am) for the 2020/21 Sky Bet League Two season.

Due to the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, there will be a delay for supporters being able to attend all matches in the EFL and the current advice suggests that all of September’s fixtures will be played behind closed doors.

This is a complex situation and with the information the Club has received thus far from the SGSA (Sports Ground Safety Authority), local SAG (Safety Advisory Group) and the crowd modelling study conducted at the Abbey Stadium by Movement Strategies for when crowds return, supporters should expect a different process for securing season tickets, match tickets and changes to where they can watch games at the Abbey for the forthcoming season.

However, Cambridge United have kept two overriding aims front of mind whilst establishing the best course of action. Firstly, our aim is to do everything we can to allow as many of our fans as possible to attend games at the Abbey Stadium safely when crowds do return. And secondly the Club has looked to ensure that those who purchase season tickets receive value for their support, via free match streaming of games and a guaranteed place at every match when reduced crowds are re-introduced.

Season Tickets On Sale 24^th August – Capped At 1,000

The Football Club will be placing 2020/21 season tickets back on sale on Monday 24^th August. Currently we do not know when supporters will be allowed back into the ground, although current estimate from Government is that fans will be allowed back from 1 October. We must accept that this date may change and will be dictated by the assessment of risk of virus transmission. We do know that the Club will have to work with a reduced capacity. Therefore, Cambridge United must introduce a cap of approximately 1,000 more season tickets, on top of the 613 fans who have already purchased earlier this year, to ensure that the Football Club does not oversell the limited capacity we will be working with.

Priority Purchase for Existing ST Holders - 2019/20 season ticket holders will be given priority purchase between Monday 24^th August at 9am and Thursday 27^th August at 4pm to secure their 2020/21 season ticket, before any remaining season tickets are placed on general sale. All tickets purchased will be manually checked against our database of 19/20 season ticket holders. To do this online at cufcdirect.com, existing season ticket holders must do so from the same online account they purchased their 2019/20 season tickets.

Two Stage Ticket Process Introduced – Priority to Season Ticket Holders

The number at which the Abbey Stadium’s capacity will be limited to, will depend on how many supporters attend games in social bubbles. Essentially the greater number of fans who attend in larger social bubbles, will increase the ground capacity for a fixture. Likewise, the capacity will decrease if supporters attend in smaller social bubbles or on their own.

Cambridge United will therefore introduce a two stage process for season ticket holders to complete in order to guarantee their place for each home fixture as the season progresses. This will also allow the Club to establish how many remaining tickets are available for general sale for each respective fixture.

Stage One – Secure a Season Ticket (Available from 9am Monday 24^th August)

• This season ticket will guarantee a supporter a priority window before each and every home fixture at the Abbey in which crowds are permitted!
• FREE MATCH STREAMING - Season ticket holders will also receive iFollow live match streaming free of charge for all home League games, and the Football Club’s intention is to also provide all away fixtures for free too, subject to EFL approval.

Stage Two  - Match by Match Priority Window (Available throughout season)

• There will be a priority window in advance of every home fixture at the Abbey Stadium, for season ticket holders to confirm their attendance and how many fellow season ticket holders they will be attending with in a social bubble.
• Stage two will of course NOT include an additional fee for season ticket holders when they confirm their attendance!
• Once the priority window deadline has passed in advance of each fixture, all remaining tickets up to the Football Club’s limited capacity will be placed on general sale as match tickets.

To be fully transparent and absolutely clear about the two stage process…by securing a season ticket at stage one you will be 100% guaranteeing the ability to be at every home League fixture (Cup fixtures TBC), available when crowds are permitted. However, completing stage one alone will not be enough to attend fixtures. Season ticket holders must complete stage two on an ongoing basis throughout the season during each priority window, or their place will be put on general sale once the deadline has passed.

Seat Availability

The Football Club cannot guarantee supporters will be able to sit in their exact seat, due to the SGSA guidance which will mean supporters from different social bubbles have to sit a safe distance apart. In fact for full transparency, it is extremely unlikely supporters will be able to secure their exact seat every week.

However when crowds return, in order for clubs to have the maximum space available for home supporters to attend fixtures, there will be no away crowds at any fixtures. This therefore opens up the Mead Plant & Grab Stand for Cambridge United supporters, and ensures the Club has additional seating to provide to home fans.

Fans Who Have Purchased 2020/21 Season Tickets Already

In relation to the 613 supporters who purchased 2020/21 season tickets during the two week window earlier this year, once again the Football Club would like to re-iterate its immense gratitude for the support shown during such an uncertain period. For these supporters, stage one of the two stage process detailed above, has already been completed and Cambridge United will be in contact via email later this week.

Pricing

Cambridge United is hopeful that our fantastic supporters recognise the unprecedented challenges the Football Club has been faced with and understand that every decision made has been done so with the best intentions to allow as many fans as possible to attend and offer value to those purchasing a season ticket.

The pricing structure for season tickets set out earlier this year (see below) will remain in place, and whilst the Football Club understands the reduced value to supporters with the start of the season set to take place behind closed doors, we hope that with the addition of free iFollow streaming for all home AND away fixtures (subject to EFL approval), will make up for this.

How to Buy Season Ticket from Monday 24^th August

On sale online, over the phone and in-person from 9am on Monday 24th August to existing 2019/20 season ticket holders. Remaining places will go on sale from Friday 28^th August at 10am.

ONLINE – Head to www.cufcdirect.com. Reminder - Existing season ticket holders must use the same online account they purchased their 2019/20 season tickets, in order to take advance of priority purchase between Monday 24^th – Thursday 27th.

OVER THE PHONE – Call 01223 566 500 to arrange a season ticket. We expect heavily congested phone lines, so please be patient.

IN-PERSON –  For those who are unable to use the online store or secure a season ticket via telephone, the Club will be opening up a Ticket Office window between 9am – 12pm on Monday 24^th August and Tuesday 25^th August. However, for all those who are able to secure online and over the phone, we strongly encourage you to do so. 

Organisation of crowds when fans are allowed into games

In order to maintain social distancing there will be new arrangements for entering the ground and moving around once inside. Full details will be made available ahead of any games that fans can attend. We will need the active cooperation of everyone attending a match to make our new systems work so as to keep everyone as safe as is possible.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions in relation to season tickets for the 2020/21 season, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via info@cambridge-United.co.uk or by calling 01223 566 500.