Arsenal have confirmed that their UWCL tie against Bayern Munich on 18 December will now take place at Meadow Park. Initially the match was scheduled to be played at Emirates Stadium.
However, the men’s team were drawn at home to Crystal Palace for the same week as well as Spurs men being drawn at home to Manchester United. The situation is further complicated by the fact that UEFA requires the stadium for two days so that Bayern Munich can train and fulfil media duties in the host stadium the day before the game.
Ultimately it meant that the Tuesday and the Thursday became impossible for the men’s league cup fixture. The UWCL game cannot be moved as it is the final group game, it has to take place on Wednesday 18 December at 8pm. A double header with the League Cup game is not possible due to ticketing, the fact the UWCL game has to take place at 8pm and the different branding the stadium requires for a UEFA fixture.
Initially Meadow Park was not deemed to meet UEFA requirements but UEFA have apparently granted dispensation for the game to take place there. Supporters will have their tickets for the Emirates match refunded and they will be put back on sale next Tuesday.
What a shame, would have been a great European night at the Emirates.
Going to be a different sort of match at Meadow Park, let’s hope our street smarts show through.
Making the best of a bad job. Definitely better than playing at a neutral venue, and it’s guaranteed to be packed out. Maybe the club could offer those who’ve already bought tickets a room/bar at the Emirates to watch the Bayern game on a big screen? Since it will be open anyway. I’d prefer that to a voucher for the Armoury, tbh. Don’t know how practical that is, though. The whole thing is working out very expensive, what all the extra admin, with refunding Emirates tickets, only being able to sell 4000 and at a lower price, at that. I… Read more »
Is it known for sure that they wouldn’t have gone beyond issuing 9999 tickets for Champions League group stage games at the emirates ? Because that hasn’t quite been clear. Bayern was more the game that would tested it had it stayed at the emirates. For Juventus they allowed TE which is unusual for a game you had buy for the individual game.