WBA defend taking 1,800-seat allocation for Everton game

West Brom defend taking 1,800-seat allocation for trip to Everton

Albion decided against taking the full allocation of 3,000 tickets for the trip to Everton because recent away followings have been undersold.

Read more at www.expressandstar.com/sport/west-bromwich-albion-fc/2017/02/28/west-brom-defend-smaller-everton-allocation/#p90xxDAbKgqcYqBb.99

Some fans eager to go to Goodison Park on Saturday, March 11, have been left disappointed after the Baggies sold out their 1,800 allocation on Monday.

The game has taken on added significance because Manchester United won the League Cup final on Sunday, meaning seventh place will gain a Europa League spot should a top six team win the FA Cup.

Albion currently sit in eighth, four points behind Ronald Koeman’s team, after an impressive run of one defeat in eight league matches.

However, the club say they decided to take the smaller allocation after analysing recent away followings and the last three trips to Goodison Park.

The Baggies were unable to sell out allocations smaller than 1,800 for the recent trips to Southampton and Middlesbrough, although the game on the south coast was on New Year’s Eve, and the long journey north on deadline day was on a Tuesday night.

Albion sold out their 1,400-seat allocation at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day, they sold out their 1,700-seat allocation for a 12.30pm Saturday kick-off against Spurs in mid-January, and 3,000 supporters made the trip to West Ham for the last away game.

However, the club expected more interest in that fixture because it is the first season the Hammers have been at the London Stadium.

By contrast, the previous three visits to Everton with an 1,800 allocation were significantly undersold, and when they made the decision the Baggies hierarchy felt there was nothing to suggest the club would be able to sell anywhere near 3,000 tickets.

Because the Toffees do not buy the tickets back, Albion estimated that – if they took the full allocation – they would end up giving more than £30,000 to one of their competitors.

The club’s average away following has halved in the past 10 years from roughly 2,500 to around 1,200 or 1,300, although interest has increased this season because of performances.

Realising the demand for more tickets, the Baggies have now taken the full allocation of 2,100 for the trip to Watford on April, 4.

This is not the first time the club has come under scrutiny this season over away allocations.

In September, their decision to take 1,600 seats for the trip to West Midlands rivals Stoke City instead of the full 2,900 allocation was labelled ‘cautious’ by supporters’ club chairman John Homer.

ExpressandStar.com