[Archived] F.a. Cup Semi Finals

[Manchester Blue]

If you want to drive I've always found parking at Ladywell Metrolink station (just off the M602) for free and taking the tram to Exchange Quay (£1.30 return) to be best. You can usually get on the first tram back as it's going out of the city. Once back at the car you're on the motorway in 2 minutes.

Good call, forgot about that option, I parked at Eccles for and England game but Ladywell is probably easier to find.

[sleepyjack]

What's OT like for parking?

I've heard it's £8 for the official car parks else "fiver to watch yer caaar mistah" from the local chavs.

The train (and therefore the pub) is looking tempting...

On Saturday it was £4 in a massive and secure car park next to the Imperial War Museum, about five minutes walk from OT.

[jim mk2]

Warning : don't park at the Old Trafford cricket ground . It takes 45 minutes to get out.

[Roar of the Rover]

That link says East stand, Stretford End is West Stand, we'll presumably have the old K stand. It's the stand we were in for the league cup semi finals. Looking at the prices i've sat in the £35 ones at both ends and they were decent views and obviously the £45 corner ones are our usual spots. To be honest any apart from North stand tier 3 are decent view.

Your reading a post that was on the 18th of March, if you carry on below when it gets to the 19th it should be there.

[John]

Going to stay overnight in Manchester on the Sunday....

For those who know, will there be plenty going on a Sunday night in Manchester....? (I presume the answer is no)

Any suggestions of bars/clubs to go to in the evening?

[RevidgeBlue]

"Tickets are priced at £25 / £35 / £45 / £55 and will be sold via the ticket offices of the four semi-finalist clubs. The ticket allocations for each club will be confirmed later this week."

At the fans forum last night it was indicated that the allocation for both clubs would be in the region of 30k.

[b12_simon]

For people that don't know the area i've always recommended the Lowry for parking, it was a fiver last I check and perfect location for getting away. However I was down there last year after it was murder for getting away presumably cos of the large numbers using it as opposed to a normal match day. Train probably best and a few beers.

Cheers MB (and others who've chipped in).

Train and a few beers wins - £16 return from Bham is less than petrol and I'm due a decent pre-match drink (recent pre-match pints have had all the quality but lacked in quantity)

[thenodrog]

Warning : don't park at the Old Trafford cricket ground . It takes 45 minutes to get out.

Doesn't that depend whose bowling?

[Mike Graham]

If you want to drive I've always found parking at Ladywell Metrolink station (just off the M602) for free and taking the tram to Exchange Quay (£1.30 return) to be best. You can usually get on the first tram back as it's going out of the city. Once back at the car you're on the motorway in 2 minutes.

Hi there Only 2 Garners.

have you ever tried the UU Con Sols car park which is only 1/4 mile from Old Trafford.

I can give you a good contact in UU HR (!!!!!!) who will book a parking space for nought and only takes 2 mins to get out of.....except the queue when you get on the main road.

Mike

[modes98]

£16 return from Bham is less than petrol

£13 for me! problem is getting from New Street to home, Getting one to International means leaving manc an hour earlier, unless a stop over is called for.

[Mike Graham]

Do you lot reckon we'll sell our allocation out?

no

[RovertheHill]

Going to stay overnight in Manchester on the Sunday....

For those who know, will there be plenty going on a Sunday night in Manchester....? (I presume the answer is no)

Any suggestions of bars/clubs to go to in the evening?

Depends what you want. Young and trendy - I'm told Panacea on John Dalton St is somewhere you can no doubt pay over the odds for drinks. I personally like Duke's 92 at Castlefield as you can have a conversation, but then I'm old like that Plenty of bars on Deansgate and the Printworks.

I got the tram to OT for an England match a few years ago - never again! I was going to park at OT but Jim's put me off. Used to work at the Oakland House (the UU Place) so maybe Preston Blue can tell me who the HR person is!?

[RevidgeBlue]

no

I don't think it'll be far off.

The 25 quid tickets will probably be snapped up, the question is whether or not the more expensive ones will go in large numbers. Personally I object to paying 35 quid upwards for a League game but don't mind paying top whack for a one off event like a semi final or final. In fact I'd rather have the best possible seat.

I hope at some point ST holders will get the opportunity to purchase an additional ticket or tickets.

A friend of mine who now lives in London and generally only attends away games in the capital wants to go. Similarly my two daughters who usually attend about four games a season at Ewood may want to go.

So that's definitely two tickets, and potentially four, from one season ticket. I suspect a lot of people will be in the same boat

[ihateburnley]

I agree Revidge, I think season-ticket holders should be rewarded by offering them first choice on upto four tickets per season ticket - rather than the usual one ticket per season-ticket. With a policy like this I think we could potentially sell out.

[mickygray316]

does anyone know where you can buy inflatable fa cups from? (apart from ebay)

[cn174]

I agree Revidge, I think season-ticket holders should be rewarded by offering them first choice on upto four tickets per season ticket - rather than the usual one ticket per season-ticket. With a policy like this I think we could potentially sell out.

They can't do it 4 per season ticket because then that could mean that not all season ticket holders would get a ticket.

[doctorryan]

If Stretford End information is correct; then click here for updated seating chart.

[Jan]

The purple is a pretty colour. I want one of those. I probably have some clothes to match it!

[abc]

For anyone who wants to or has to stay overnight on Sunday 15th April there currently some very cheap rooms at Travelodges in and around Manchester at the moment. The best ones will probably be snapped up pretty quickly though!

£15 per room - Manchester Didsbury, Manchester Sportcity, Ashton Under Lyne, Bury, Manchester Birch M62, Oldham, Warrington (also Preston Central, Preston Chorley & Blackburn M65!)

£26 per room - Manchester Central, Manchester Ancoats, Manchester Trafford Park (also Burnley!)

[T4E]

The purple is a pretty colour. I want one of those. I probably have some clothes to match it!

Ricky has a car to match it.

[only2garners]

I got the tram to OT for an England match a few years ago - never again! I was going to park at OT but Jim's put me off. Used to work at the Oakland House (the UU Place) so maybe Preston Blue can tell me who the HR person is!?

I think PB is referring to me! Unfortunately I retired from UU 2 years ago. Anyway I did occasionally park at Oakland House but it's dreadful to get out of after the match - Talbot Road gets completely bunged up. I'll be on the tram - the key is to use it from Eccles end and don't try coming from Manchester.

[only2garners]

I agree Revidge, I think season-ticket holders should be rewarded by offering them first choice on upto four tickets per season ticket - rather than the usual one ticket per season-ticket. With a policy like this I think we could potentially sell out.

From the Fans' Forum last night, the club is alive to the demand from season ticket holders to buy extra tickets so that they can sit together with friends, but I very much doubt they will be offering anything so generous as 4 tickets per person, as that might mean some ST ticket holders or other regular fans might not get any. Hopefully they will work out a sensible compromise.

They expected to have ticket selling details published either late Wednesday or Thursday. The club are hoping to get c30,000 tickets and are hopeful of selling the majority. We sold 16,000 for the semi-final against Arsenal in Cardiff, with a lunchtime kick-off and a team playing badly so should significantly beat that this time round.

[Tris]

Well, I don't think we've got a cat in hells chance of winning this game, so might as well enjoy the day out.

Will be going for an early lunchtime start, enjoy a few beers in the afternoon, in OT for half three to enjoy the build up, and a probable overnight stay to avoid the (only possible) train back to London at 8.15 which will be crammed full of celebrating Chelsea scumbags.

No point in getting to an FA Cup semi and not having a proper good do.

Anywhere in Manchester that serves Bratwurst and Kolsh?

[Robertson]

Mate used to live within view of old trafford which would have been handy but now has moved to oldham. Will travel down on the saturday I reckon, either stay at mates or hotel and train it in on matchday early doors. Going to try to wrangle the monday off work as well!!

Going to make an event of it-victory or no victory. Imagine the hype if we win though

[Fife Rover]

Probably still arguing it's the Emirates. It's very annoying when people here rumours and post them as fact. By all means post the rumours as it's what we like to hear but when you make out it's fact then people like Jordan end up out of pocket.

Is Waggy so reliable a source of information that Jordan would take it as read then? I really don't think I would!