Help Planning Trip to Manchester UK for PL Soccer Game

[Anonymous]

interested in seeing chelsea in late march. Appreciate any tips folks have! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I doubt you'll be able to get tickets, but that's your first task. Make sure you have them before you book anything else.

[Anonymous]

We've had luck in the past buying tickets directly from the club's website (after previously joining the supporters club for this purpose) and also buying hospitality packages.

The former got us fantastic seats at face-value ticket prices (which are very reasonable; less than $50 per seat). But we were able to pull this off because we went to the first home game of the season and we were able to buy our tickets on the day they were first released for sale to the public.

The hospitality packages, on the other hand, can be pricey, but are a surer route to tickets to a particular game of your choosing. They also sell out, though, so the sooner you can make your arrangements, the better.

Even if you end up buying a hospitality package, it's still worth it to join the supporters club if you (or someone in your family) is actually a Man City fan. It's cheap and you get some fun and high-quality goodies (scarves, hats, water bottles, etc.). If you are taking kids with you to the match, membership in the supporters club also gets them (and you) access to the Fan Festival activities in the indoor training center adjacent to the stadium. This was a lot of fun. There were tons of interesting football skills type games to play, the City mascots were roaming around, and the Premier League trophy was on display for fan photos. The day we were there, a first-team player (who was injured and not playing that day) was also there to speak to the kids. There was also a free raffle with some terrific prizes including the opportunity to walk out onto the pitch with the team for that day's game. Alas, we didn't win anything! The Fan Festival is intended for kids and their families, and I recall that there was a maximum age (maybe 13 or so?), so check on that.

The last time we were in Manchester for a City game, we stayed at the Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel and I would recommend it. It's a very nice, recently renovated hotel in a historical building right on the river. It's in the city center and walkable to lots of shops and restaurants. It's also walkable to the tram which takes you quickly and easily to the Etihad campus. We did actually walk directly from the Etihad to the hotel after the game, so that's also doable but a long walk.

Good luck getting tickets and have fun if you go. We've always enjoyed visits to the Etihad and have had good experiences all-around. And although our family are City fans, we've also done (and enjoyed) the stadium tour at Old Trafford. There is such a striking contrast between the two stadiums that it's worth seeing both if you are fans of the game.

[Anonymous]

One last question - It looks like some of the lower cost hospitality packages on the Man City site include “General Admission” seats. What does this mean? Any sense of where those seats will be or is it total roulette until you book (or at game day??)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt you'll be able to get tickets, but that's your first task. Make sure you have them before you book anything else.

You can always get tickets that is the easy part.

[Anonymous]

We joined the supporters club and bought tickets twice this season, once directly and once through our local DC supporters club that gets access to match tickets ahead of general sale. Way way cheaper than hospitality and excellent seats. For one game, they changed from Saturday to Sunday which was pretty annoying as we were supposed to fly out Sunday. Ended up being able to move our tickets to Monday but definitely a pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We joined the supporters club and bought tickets twice this season, once directly and once through our local DC supporters club that gets access to match tickets ahead of general sale. Way way cheaper than hospitality and excellent seats. For one game, they changed from Saturday to Sunday which was pretty annoying as we were supposed to fly out Sunday. Ended up being able to move our tickets to Monday but definitely a pain.

For which team? This is a possibility for the mid/low-level teams, but generally not a viable option for getting tickets to the big teams - the Manchester teams, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pro tip - double check the player your kid is most interested in isn’t going to be on international duty for the game dates you are interested in seeing. For instance, my kid doesn’t like Messi (he likes another player named Sergio Busquets on Inter Miami) but I was tracking the Miami vs my team (Philly Union) next year and messi and Sergio will likely miss the Philly game. Each will be playing for Argentina and Spain, respectively in international tournaments.

Would be tough to buy a game planning on seeing de Bruyne - and he’s with Belgium for Euro qualifiers.

No international windows in April 2024 and Premier League wouldn't be playing through them anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One last question - It looks like some of the lower cost hospitality packages on the Man City site include “General Admission” seats. What does this mean? Any sense of where those seats will be or is it total roulette until you book (or at game day??)

You get an assigned seat when you book, not on game day, or at least that has been our experience. GA just refers to the class of ticket—-it’s not a premium ticket. The vast majority are GA. It’s what most people would get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So how much are top tier EPL club tickets before you have to shell out $300 for the hospitality packages? Friend to went to see Liverpool mentioned this to me once.

Perhaps I'm not a baller like other DCUM posters, but I'd much rather fly by the seat of my pants and see international futbol for cheaper in Latin America than shell out of my a55 to impress other Americans with EPL.

??

I'm a NP in this thread, we've also been looking to go to an EPL game someday. I know very few Americans who even know what the EPL is, let alone would be impressed by us going to see it as opposed to a latin american team. Also, if you follow the PL, why would you go to some game in a different league? It's interesting that you think someone going to a PL game is doing it to try to impress others. Interesting that's where your mind went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pro tip - double check the player your kid is most interested in isn’t going to be on international duty for the game dates you are interested in seeing. For instance, my kid doesn’t like Messi (he likes another player named Sergio Busquets on Inter Miami) but I was tracking the Miami vs my team (Philly Union) next year and messi and Sergio will likely miss the Philly game. Each will be playing for Argentina and Spain, respectively in international tournaments.

Would be tough to buy a game planning on seeing de Bruyne - and he’s with Belgium for Euro qualifiers.

No international windows in April 2024 and Premier League wouldn't be playing through them anyway.

Umm don’t follow this advice about EPL not playing through international obligations.
I would be much happier if Salah was in Liverpool jersey for the next 2-5 weeks instead of an Egypt one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One last question - It looks like some of the lower cost hospitality packages on the Man City site include “General Admission” seats. What does this mean? Any sense of where those seats will be or is it total roulette until you book (or at game day??)

You get an assigned seat when you book, not on game day, or at least that has been our experience. GA just refers to the class of ticket—-it’s not a premium ticket. The vast majority are GA. It’s what most people would get.

DP here who has previously purchased a hospitality package at Etihad Stadium with "general admission" seats. We were very happy with our seats. They were in the second tier up at the center of the pitch. Great view. But it may just be luck of the draw, and I don't think there is any way to know which seats you will be assigned prior to booking. If the location of the seats is of the utmost importance to you, you can purchase one of the pricier hospitality packages where you will have more information about the seats in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how much are top tier EPL club tickets before you have to shell out $300 for the hospitality packages? Friend to went to see Liverpool mentioned this to me once.

Perhaps I'm not a baller like other DCUM posters, but I'd much rather fly by the seat of my pants and see international futbol for cheaper in Latin America than shell out of my a55 to impress other Americans with EPL.

??

I'm a NP in this thread, we've also been looking to go to an EPL game someday. I know very few Americans who even know what the EPL is, let alone would be impressed by us going to see it as opposed to a latin american team. Also, if you follow the PL, why would you go to some game in a different league? It's interesting that you think someone going to a PL game is doing it to try to impress others. Interesting that's where your mind went.

Yeah, I've been to games in Mexico, Brazil, Korea, and other countries. I want to take my kids to an EPL game - specifically to Liverpool. They're EPL fans and the EPL is the most competitive league in the world. I'd rather go to a DC United game than a game in Mexico. And in Brazil you get bags of pee thrown on you from upper levels. Plus, after the Queretero v. Atlas game last year, I will never set foot in a Mexican stadium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how much are top tier EPL club tickets before you have to shell out $300 for the hospitality packages? Friend to went to see Liverpool mentioned this to me once.

Perhaps I'm not a baller like other DCUM posters, but I'd much rather fly by the seat of my pants and see international futbol for cheaper in Latin America than shell out of my a55 to impress other Americans with EPL.

??

I'm a NP in this thread, we've also been looking to go to an EPL game someday. I know very few Americans who even know what the EPL is, let alone would be impressed by us going to see it as opposed to a latin american team. Also, if you follow the PL, why would you go to some game in a different league? It's interesting that you think someone going to a PL game is doing it to try to impress others. Interesting that's where your mind went.

Yeah, I've been to games in Mexico, Brazil, Korea, and other countries. I want to take my kids to an EPL game - specifically to Liverpool. They're EPL fans and the EPL is the most competitive league in the world. I'd rather go to a DC United game than a game in Mexico. And in Brazil you get bags of pee thrown on you from upper levels. Plus, after the Queretero v. Atlas game last year, I will never set foot in a Mexican stadium.

We went to Anfield Nov. 2022 to see match v. Man City (Liverpool won 1-0). Amazing experience with the hospitality package. Separate stadium entrance door where we were offered a glass of champagne, wisked up to a club dining room for a fun dinner with other hospitality ticket holders (many of them from the U.S.), pre-game analysis from a former Liverpool player, great seats at the 50 yard line, drink of choice and more food waiting at our table at half time, post game celebration and drinks in the dining room. Well worth the rather exhorbitant price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So how much are top tier EPL club tickets before you have to shell out $300 for the hospitality packages? Friend to went to see Liverpool mentioned this to me once.

Perhaps I'm not a baller like other DCUM posters, but I'd much rather fly by the seat of my pants and see international futbol for cheaper in Latin America than shell out of my a55 to impress other Americans with EPL.

??

I'm a NP in this thread, we've also been looking to go to an EPL game someday. I know very few Americans who even know what the EPL is, let alone would be impressed by us going to see it as opposed to a latin american team. Also, if you follow the PL, why would you go to some game in a different league? It's interesting that you think someone going to a PL game is doing it to try to impress others. Interesting that's where your mind went.

Yeah, I've been to games in Mexico, Brazil, Korea, and other countries. I want to take my kids to an EPL game - specifically to Liverpool. They're EPL fans and the EPL is the most competitive league in the world. I'd rather go to a DC United game than a game in Mexico. And in Brazil you get bags of pee thrown on you from upper levels. Plus, after the Queretero v. Atlas game last year, I will never set foot in a Mexican stadium.

We went to Anfield Nov. 2022 to see match v. Man City (Liverpool won 1-0). Amazing experience with the hospitality package. Separate stadium entrance door where we were offered a glass of champagne, wisked up to a club dining room for a fun dinner with other hospitality ticket holders (many of them from the U.S.), pre-game analysis from a former Liverpool player, great seats at the 50 yard line, drink of choice and more food waiting at our table at half time, post game celebration and drinks in the dining room. Well worth the rather exhorbitant price.

Sounds amazing! Missing our EPL game watching routine this morning.