United operations manager Nigel Dickinson (ND) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Paul Newton (PN) about the latest news regarding Wembley ticket sales on the first day of trading, Dickinson saying that Carlisle have sold just short of 5,000 tickets so far for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final :
PN
Firstly, how have sales gone today?
ND
We have been very busy today, overall with the internet sales and telephone sales we are probably approaching the 5,000 mark now, so it has been a great day. I would like to thank our ticket office girls for doing a fantastic shift today in the East Stand.
PN
Is that pretty much in line with what you expected after the first day of sales?
ND
It is probably a little bit less than last year, but obviously we have got 19,500 tickets to sell and there has been a lot of interest in the run up to our first day today. So, we are very pleased with where we have got to today so far.
PN
So, 5,000 gone already, are you able to say which areas most of those tickets have been sold for so far?
ND
The top tier is not open this year but we have had quite a lot of demand for the Bobby Moore area, which is where the tunnel is, and obviously in that area very close by. So, there is a good demand for tickets today.
PN
Just remind us of how many tickets the club has been allocated this year as a comparison to last year?
ND
Last year we had around or about 23,500 and I think we sold near enough 21,000. This year we have got an allocation just around the 19,500 mark.
PN
Realistically what kind of overall figure are you expecting to sell this year?
ND
I would love to sell them all to be quite honest, I know Brentford have already sold 17,000, so the more people we can get down there the better to cheer the Blues on.
PN
So, they went on sale today to season ticket holders, what is the situation tomorrow and into Sunday?
ND
Tomorrow we are open again in the East Stand, in the Story Homes Stand, at 10 o'clock through to 5pm and that is the season ticket holders, club membership holders and this year we have even introduced one for club shareholders in person only. Then on Sunday they go on general sale and we will continue selling tickets in the Story Homes Stand right through to Thursday to 5pm, and then we will just revert back to the normal ticket office on Friday the 11th.
PN
OK, and from 10am each day these sales will be going from?
ND
Yeah, we are open Sunday this weekend as I say for general sales.
PN
And for the benefit of those perhaps who haven't already seen, there are different price brackets depending on where you sit in the stadium?
ND
Yeah, the price bands that we have been given from Wembley, the Bobby Moore area which is £58 tickets, then we have got £44, £34 and £24 tickets, and those prices are reduced by 50% for concessions.
PN
And phone and online sales available for those who can't get down to the ground as well this year?
ND
That is correct, just ring our normal ticketline number, which is 0844 371 1921, listen to the options and that goes through to our ticket telpehone line. Then there is also if you go on our website, there is a link there for online sales as well.
PN
OK, and Brentford tickets have already been on sale, do you know roughly how many they have sold so far?
ND
Yeah, probably in the region of about 17,000. So, hopefully they will go towards 20,000 and it would be nice if we could fill our full allocation, there has been a lot of interest so far.
PN
Just finally, a reminder tomorrow who those sales will be open to and again on general sale for Sunday?
ND
For tomorrow at ten o'clock, season ticket holders, your club membership holders and also any club shareholders can call in person as well.
PN
Firstly, how have sales gone today?
ND
We have been very busy today, overall with the internet sales and telephone sales we are probably approaching the 5,000 mark now, so it has been a great day. I would like to thank our ticket office girls for doing a fantastic shift today in the East Stand.
PN
Is that pretty much in line with what you expected after the first day of sales?
ND
It is probably a little bit less than last year, but obviously we have got 19,500 tickets to sell and there has been a lot of interest in the run up to our first day today. So, we are very pleased with where we have got to today so far.
PN
So, 5,000 gone already, are you able to say which areas most of those tickets have been sold for so far?
ND
The top tier is not open this year but we have had quite a lot of demand for the Bobby Moore area, which is where the tunnel is, and obviously in that area very close by. So, there is a good demand for tickets today.
PN
Just remind us of how many tickets the club has been allocated this year as a comparison to last year?
ND
Last year we had around or about 23,500 and I think we sold near enough 21,000. This year we have got an allocation just around the 19,500 mark.
PN
Realistically what kind of overall figure are you expecting to sell this year?
ND
I would love to sell them all to be quite honest, I know Brentford have already sold 17,000, so the more people we can get down there the better to cheer the Blues on.
PN
So, they went on sale today to season ticket holders, what is the situation tomorrow and into Sunday?
ND
Tomorrow we are open again in the East Stand, in the Story Homes Stand, at 10 o'clock through to 5pm and that is the season ticket holders, club membership holders and this year we have even introduced one for club shareholders in person only. Then on Sunday they go on general sale and we will continue selling tickets in the Story Homes Stand right through to Thursday to 5pm, and then we will just revert back to the normal ticket office on Friday the 11th.
PN
OK, and from 10am each day these sales will be going from?
ND
Yeah, we are open Sunday this weekend as I say for general sales.
PN
And for the benefit of those perhaps who haven't already seen, there are different price brackets depending on where you sit in the stadium?
ND
Yeah, the price bands that we have been given from Wembley, the Bobby Moore area which is £58 tickets, then we have got £44, £34 and £24 tickets, and those prices are reduced by 50% for concessions.
PN
And phone and online sales available for those who can't get down to the ground as well this year?
ND
That is correct, just ring our normal ticketline number, which is 0844 371 1921, listen to the options and that goes through to our ticket telpehone line. Then there is also if you go on our website, there is a link there for online sales as well.
PN
OK, and Brentford tickets have already been on sale, do you know roughly how many they have sold so far?
ND
Yeah, probably in the region of about 17,000. So, hopefully they will go towards 20,000 and it would be nice if we could fill our full allocation, there has been a lot of interest so far.
PN
Just finally, a reminder tomorrow who those sales will be open to and again on general sale for Sunday?
ND
For tomorrow at ten o'clock, season ticket holders, your club membership holders and also any club shareholders can call in person as well.