Zero Carabao Cup final tickets guaranteed for 100,000 Newcastle United members – Fair? | OneFootball

Newcastle United members eagerly awaiting details from the club on how 2025 Carabao Cup final tickets would be allocated.

Ahead of Monday’s announcement for this final against Liverpool, the 100,000+ (the club have repeatedly refused to make public how many memberships have been sold, but that 100,000+ figure has been regularly mentioned in the media,, which from my personal experience of trying to get tickets for any home match, certainly rings true) Newcastle United members waiting to find out exactly how many Carabao Cup final tickets they will be fighting over.

Newcastle United members aren’t naive, certainly not the ones who regularly try to get tickets for home games, including against the likes League Two clubs Bromley and AFC Wimbledon this season.

We all know that demand for tickets vastly exceeds supply, even for early round cup matches against League Two sides.

So, fair to say, that Newcastle United members were very much well aware that then getting Carabao Cup final tickets is on a whole other level.

The club could sell the 31,939 tickets for Wembley, ten times over, and more.

Back in February 2023, Carabao Cup final tickets were very much on the minds of Newcastle United members.

There were seven priority sales periods for Newcastle United fans for that 2023 Carabao Cup final, the first five only for season ticket holders, then the final two were these:

Period 6: Members that have attended at least one home Carabao Cup match during the 2022/23 campaign

Ballot opens: Saturday 11 February at 10am Ballot closes: Sun 12 February at 8am Successful applications notified by: 5pm on Tuesday, 14th February

Period 7: Supporters with a previous purchase history that have attended at least one home Carabao Cup match during the 2022/23 campaign

Ballot opens: Sunday 12 February at 10am Ballot closes: Monday 13 February at 8am. Successful applications notified by: 5pm on Tuesday, 14th February.

The explanation coming out of the club was that with it having been 24 years since Newcastle United had got to a cup final, it was only right that season tickets would be overwhelmingly looked after. They would get the overwhelming majority of the cup final tickets for the 2023 final. Man U did it very differently, as like all other major clubs who had frequently got to cup finals, they made a significant minority of tickets available for their members in a separate ballot process, as well as the majority of tickets which went into a ballot/sales process for the Man U season ticket holders.

Newcastle United members would have preferred the situation to be different BUT a general acceptance that the club’s approach was understandable for this first cup final in 24 years.

Only a small unspecified number of 2023 Carabao Cup final tickets ringfenced to go into these ballots of sale periods 6 and 7 (potentially added to, if any unsold tickets left over that had been allocated to season ticket holders in the first five sales periods). The noises coming out of the club were that in the future, if Newcastle got to more cup finals, then the Newcastle United members would get more of a chance. Season ticket holders still allocated the majority of tickets BUT a significant minority of tickets for future cup finals, to see Newcastle United members having some kind of chance in future ballots.

IMAGO/Uk Sports Pics Ltd

Which brings us to Newcastle United members and the 2025 Carabao Cup final tickets, how they are getting allocated…

This time there are six ‘priority’ sale periods, the first five periods/pots are solely for NUFC season ticket holders.

You then get to the sixth, where Newcastle United members get their ‘chance’…

‘Subject to tickets still being available, a ballot will open for Pot 6.

Pot 6*: Ballot opens for season ticket holders enrolled in the Cup Scheme that did not attend a match, season ticket holders not enrolled in the Cup Scheme and Mags/Mags+ Members that entered a ballot and/or purchased a ticket for a home Carabao Cup match.

Ballot opens on Monday, 24th February at 12 noon. The ballot will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 25th February. Those fans that are successful in the ballot will be emailed by 5pm on Tuesday, 25th February. Seat selection opens at 12 noon on Wednesday, 26th February and closes at 12 noon on Thursday, 27th February.

*Ballot takes places subject to tickets being available’

Firstly, there is not a single 2025 Carabao Cup ticket that is guaranteed to go to Newcastle United members. Unlike 2023, no tickets at all are guaranteed to be available in a ballot that NUFC members can enter. This Pot 6 ballot may not even happen.

Secondly, even if some tickets do end up reaching this Pot 6 ballot, the 100,000 (or however many it is) Newcastle United members (who have applied for at least one Carabao Cup home match ballot) will be fighting for these minimal number of tickets, with all the season ticket holders who haven’t already got a ticket.

The club said (see below) in Monday’s announcement, that their Fan Advisory Board had advised them on how to fairly allocate these 2025 Carabao Cup final tickets.

I would be shocked and very disappointed, if this (club appointed) Fan Advisory Board have indeed advised that it would be best for the 100,000 (or however many) Newcastle United members to NOT be guaranteed a single cup final ticket between them.

Nobody is claiming (not me anyway) that Newcastle United members should get all the cup final tickets, however, to not be guaranteed any automatic chance, no matter how small, isn’t right or proportionate.

What do you have if you don’t have at least some hope?

Liverpool announced their allocation of tickets to fans for this 2025 final and it was very different.

They guarantee tickets for ‘season ticket holders and members with three or more (Carabao Cup) games’ this season, they’ve had five of these matches with two of the five at home.

Then after that, it is a ballot for the rest of the Carabao Cup final tickets amongst Liverpool ‘Season ticket holders and members with two (Carabao Cup) games’.

Bottom line is that there are guaranteed to be thousands of Liverpool members who will get Carabao Cup final tickets in that guaranteed ballot.

As things stand, Newcastle United members aren’t even guaranteed to be able to get hold of a lottery ticket for any part of the Newcastle United allocation, never mind actually win a lottery and be able to buy a ticket.

How many guaranteed Carabao Cup tickets should there have been to be fought over by Newcastle United members?

That is of course quite another debate.

However, I think more than ZERO should have been the starting point.

In reality, surely it would have been fair for at least 10 percent of the Carabao Cup final tickets to be made available for Newcastle United members, 3,000 or so as a bare minimum. Obviously the odds still massively against any NUFC member being successful BUT at least some hope, able to dream of being there at Wembley.

Newcastle United official announcement on Carabao Cup Final Tickets – 2 February 2023:

Newcastle United can confirm ticket information for supporters for the Carabao Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 26 February 2023 (kick-off 4:30pm GMT).

PRIORITY PERIODS

Ticket sales will be split into separate priority periods based on eligibility criteria automatically contained within your club ticketing account.

The club sought feedback from Newcastle United Supporters Trust to ensure fairness and transparency.

Period 1: Season ticket holders with 25+ loyalty points AND have attended at least one Carabao Cup match during the 2022/23 campaign.

Tickets on sale from: Monday, 6th February at 10am (all times GMT) Ticket sales period closes: Tuesday, 7th February at 8am

Period 2: Season ticket holders that have attended four home and at least one of the away Carabao Cup matches during the 2022/23 campaign.

Tickets on sale from: Tuesday, 7th February at 10am Ticket sales period closes: Wednesday, 8th February at 8am

Period 3: Season ticket holders that have attended three or four home Carabao Cup matches during the 2022/23 campaign.

Tickets on sale from: Wednesday, 8th February at 10am Ticket sales period closes: Thursday, 9th February at 8am

Period 4: Season ticket holders that have attended one or two home Carabao Cup matches during the 2022/23 campaign.

Ballot opens: Thursday, 9th February at 10am Ballot closes: Friday, 10th February at 8am Successful applications notified by: 5pm on Tuesday, 14th February

Period 5: Season ticket holders that have not attended a Carabao Cup match during the 2022/23 campaign.

Ballot opens: Friday, 10th February at 10am Ballot closes: Saturday, 11th February at 8am Successful applications notified by: 5pm on Tuesday, 14th February

Period 6: Members that have attended at least one home Carabao Cup match during the 2022/23 campaign

Ballot opens: Saturday 11 February at 10am Ballot closes: Sun 12 February at 8am Successful applications notified by: 5pm on Tuesday, 14th February

Period 7: Supporters with a previous purchase history that have attended at least one home Carabao Cup match during the 2022/23 campaign

Ballot opens: Sunday 12 February at 10am Ballot closes: Monday 13 February at 8am. Successful applications notified by: 5pm on Tuesday, 14th February.

Newcastle United official announcement – How to buy Carabao Cup final tickets – 10 February 2025:

Newcastle United has announced ticket information for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 16th March (kick-off TBC).

The club extends its gratitude to the Fan Advisory Board for their valuable feedback on the ticketing distribution process.

Tickets will be sold online in priority periods based on specific criteria (details follow below) and supporters will be allocated to a designated ‘pot’ in line with their eligibility.

Only one ticket per supporter can be purchased.

Eligible supporters in Pots 1-3 will receive an email from the club by 6pm on Monday, 10th February to advise which pot they are in.

Those supporters in Pot 4 will receive an email once it is confirmed tickets will be available to purchase. Supporters in Pot 5 will receive an email if any tickets remain after the Pot 4 ballot closes. Supporters in Pot 6 will receive an email should any tickets remain after Pot 5 ballot closes.

It is the responsibility of each supporter to ensure their contact details are correct in their online ticketing account.

During their relevant priority period, supporters will be directed to purchase (or to enter a ballot depending on ticket availability in their allocated pot) online at book.newcastleunited.com. Please note that sales for general admission tickets cannot be conducted in person or over the phone.

The price categories will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis in each pot, subject to availability.

Disabled supporters who require additional support during their relevant eligibility period can purchase tickets online or by contacting the Box Office, during office hours, on 0344 372 1892, subject to availability. Full details on tickets for disabled supporters are included below.

Ticket sales will be split into separate priority periods based on eligibility criteria automatically contained within your club ticketing account.

The priority periods take into consideration fans enrolled in the Carabao Cup Scheme and ticket usage (e.g. the number of times the named season ticket holder attended each Carabao Cup fixture and did not forward the ticket to another supporter or list their ticket for resale).

The six Carabao Cup fixtures included within the criteria are Nottingham Forest away, all Carabao Cup home games against AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea and Brentford, and both legs of the semi-final against Arsenal.

Pot 1: Seat selection opens on Wednesday, 12th February at 12 noon to season ticket holders enrolled on the cup scheme who attended at least five Carabao Cup matches.

Pot 2: Seat selection opens Thursday, 13th February at 12 noon to season ticket holders enrolled within the cup scheme who attended four Carabao Cup matches.

Pot 3: Seat Selection opens Friday, 14th February at 12 noon to season ticket holders enrolled within the cup Scheme who attended three Carabao Cup matches.

The purchasing window for Pots 1-3 closes on Sunday, 16th February at 12 noon.

Subject to tickets still being available, a ballot will open for Pot 4.

Pot 4*: Ballot for season ticket holders enrolled in the Cup Scheme that have attended two Carabao Cup matches. Ballot opens on Monday, 17th February at 12 noon. The ballot will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 18th February. Those fans that are successful in the ballot will be emailed by 5pm on Tuesday, 18th February. Seat selection opens at 12 noon on Wednesday, 19th February and closes at 12 noon on Thursday, 20th February.

Subject to tickets still being available, a ballot will open for Pot 5.

Pot 5*: Ballot for season ticket holders enrolled in the Cup Scheme that attended one Carabao Cup match.

Ballot opens on Thursday, 20th February at 12 noon. The ballot will close at 12 noon on Friday, 21st February. Those fans that are successful in the ballot will be emailed by 5pm on Friday, 21st February. Seat selection opens at 12 noon on Saturday, 22nd February and closes at 12 noon on Sunday, 23rd February.

Subject to tickets still being available, a ballot will open for Pot 6.

Pot 6*: Ballot opens for season ticket holders enrolled in the Cup Scheme that did not attend a match, season ticket holders not enrolled in the Cup Scheme and Mags/Mags+ Members that entered a ballot and/or purchased a ticket for a home Carabao Cup match.

Ballot opens on Monday, 24th February at 12 noon. The ballot will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 25th February. Those fans that are successful in the ballot will be emailed by 5pm on Tuesday, 25th February. Seat selection opens at 12 noon on Wednesday, 26th February and closes at 12 noon on Thursday, 27th February.