Have long ticket queues become a thing from the past?

[Revolution]

I was informed that it was the most oversubscribed game ever. I got two via the club. I felt bad about it tbh.

One of only two Blades games ever I have tried and failed to get a ticket for, the other being the Hillsborough derby game in 1992.

 

[nopigfansintown]

One of only two Blades games ever I have tried and failed to get a ticket for, the other being the Hillsborough derby game in 1992.

I remember the Star doing a pullout with the ticket details on the back page. The requirements were pretty ridiculous.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

I was informed that it was the most oversubscribed game ever. I got two via the club. I felt bad about it tbh.

I remember I had a ticket in the Liverpool end for this game, but can't for the life of me remember the background story to how or why!

 

[Houston_Blade]

I’m definitely not a big Blade, in my 35 years of watching the Blades I’ve always just rang the box office and latterly gone online instead of queuing around the car park.

 

[Cheets]

I remember applying for some big game tickets via post (not living in Sheffield).

Not sure many people are applying for tickets with a stamped addressed envelope in 2025

I remember one year applying by post for Hillsborough derby tickets and it was more expensive in the Leppings Lane upper than lower, so on the cheque you had to write "Amount not greater than fourteen pounds" and leave the actual figure blank, so the ticket office staff could fill the amount in depending where you ended up.

 

[Jan Age]

I remember queuing for play off final tickets v palace.

Bunked the morning of school.

Got the tickets.

Returned to school about 10.30 with my pal who was with me and also got tickets.

Sent straight to headmaster.

He went in first to explain why he was late. He said he’d overslept as his alarm hadn’t gone off. Result, 1 week of detention.

Next up me … now I knew he was big Newcastle and football fan.

I explained I was a big Sheffield United fan and I’d been to the lane to make sure I got a ticket. Result a big smile, pat on the back and he looked after my ticket for me all day.

Honesty is the best policy !

 

[HillStreet Blade]

Talking of tickets, on Saturday my bar code changed to a QR code and I couldn't get in, steward let me in after everalmtries, did anyone else have this problem?

Yes, I couldn't get in the South Stand. Had to go to the ticket office and they printed a ticket for me. Hoping the problem is sorted.

 

[Pintor75]

Yes, I couldn't get in the South Stand. Had to go to the ticket office and they printed a ticket for me. Hoping the problem is sorted.

Mine was the Same stand

 

[ancientblade]

We got there after being delayed by traffic trying to get in the Scoreboard end. Mate was next to go in the turnstile when they shut them down because the temporary wall started to move. They were doing ground improvements at the time. We hung around outside with the other 10k plus Blades shut out. It has to be the biggest away following we ever took to a league game Derby's apart. I would say it was nearer 20k from Sheffield that day we were top of the league. Got in the Stretford End with 20 minutes to go when they opened the doors only to see Best score that goal.

yes we were at the scoreboard end both the snake and woodhead passes that day got clogged up with sheffield traffic man utd fans made sure we didnt get many in by queueing from 9.30 that morning our fans had no chance of getting in i think your right 20k locked out probably 10k from sheffield should have been an all ticket game and we should have been allocated the whole of the scoreboard end

 

[bladesince64]

We set off really early and the traffic was crazy. No tickets just pay at the turnstile and we were in the ground at around 1.30pm after a long slow journey.

The stadium was undergoing a huge rebuild so it looked like a reduced capacity.

After ko there were a lot of Blades in different parts of the ground and whenever we got some singing going a group of Manu fans would be appear and there would be a mass brawl.This was normal at most away games at that time.

It's almost legendary nowadays that there were 20,000 Blades locked out but I believe it could have been even more as it looked like almost as many were outside the stadium as there were inside.

No segregation, no monitoring of overcrowding, no stewards just lock the gates when it looked like each stand was rammed.

 

[Addison]

We set off really early and the traffic was crazy. No tickets just pay at the turnstile and we were in the ground at around 1.30pm after a long slow journey.

The stadium was undergoing a huge rebuild so it looked like a reduced capacity.

After ko there were a lot of Blades in different parts of the ground and whenever we got some singing going a group of Manu fans would be appear and there would be a mass brawl.This was normal at most away games at that time.

It's almost legendary nowadays that there were 20,000 Blades locked out but I believe it could have been even more as it looked like almost as many were outside the stadium as there were inside.

No segregation, no monitoring of overcrowding, no stewards just lock the gates when it looked like each stand was rammed.

They'd reduced the capacity down from 68,000 to 54,000 due to ground alterations at the scoreboard end hence why there were so many locked out. As for trouble it was happening all the way from the station up to Old Trafford. My cousin told me when he arrived Blades skins who were wearing Crombies with a white Yorkshire rose on were easily identifiable. We were on the coaches and it took ages to get over the Snake. It felt like half of Sheffield was going over the Pennines. Man U came to the coaches after looking for trouble and got a good kicking as many Blades including my cousin and his mates had been targeted whilst inside the ground and they'd had enough.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

In short, yes.

20 years ago, pre the introduction of Loyalty points, tickets for a Derby such as this would have gone on sale to ST holders all at once - and they would probably only have done them in person. basically unless you were at the front of the queue you weren't getting a ticket.

Now they can released the ticket buying window in bands of LP, and people can do online sales as well (as eligibility can be checked).

You won`t ever see people queuing round the car park again - its a relic from a bygone era.

but lets be honest, its nostalgia - its far better this way*


*not a comment on the merits/demerits of the LP system or our current implementation/use of it.