Hammers United Europa League Round of 16 V SC Freiburg

[Mex Martillo]

"EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 V SC FREIBURG AWAY LEG - THURSDAY MARCH 7TH - 20.00 HRS West Ham have received 2230 tickets which went on sale to Bondholders, Away Scheme Members and Season Ticket Holders on February 28th. We anticipate these will quickly sell out and Season Ticket Holders will need a high number of priority points to be successful. We spoke to our friend Colin Wells who went to Freiburg in the group stages: https://hammersunited.com/freiburg-away-thursday-7-march-8pm-kick-off-local-time/ We spoke to Martin Endermann from Football Supporters Europe and Helen from one of the main Freiburg supporters groups on February 28th. They were very helpful and we thank them both. We can pass on information as follows to supplement Colin’s observations: It is 3 to 4 km from the City Centre to the Stadium and a 45 minute/one hour walk. There are regular buses to and from the city centre to the stadium and the bus fare is included in the price of the match ticket. There is food available and a bar in the away end of the stadium. Most restaurants in the city centre close at 10.00pm but bars stay open till midnight. There are 2 or 3 discos open later where one can get a late drink - Apparently you don’t need to dance to get a drink!! No bottles of any kind can be taken into the stadium. There are drinking fountains in the stadium. It is a Police decision whether or not West Ham fans are kept behind in the stadium after the match. We are not aware of any decision being made yet one way or the other. Freiburg is a family club and the vast majority of their fans are looking forward to welcoming us. However there is a small hooligan element so as always we would advise our fans to stick together and not wander off in small groups. The small Freiburg hooligan element congregates in the Elfasser Street area which is in the University area of town so it may be best to stay clear. HOME LEG - THURSDAY MARCH 14TH - 17.45 HRS Tickets are on sale and we doubt the match will sell out. Freiburg fans groups are not expecting more than 1500 or so to travel.It is likely they will only take up the lower tier at London Stadium. The ISC wrote to the Club on 24th February about the early K.O. for the home tie with Freiburg. Fans had reported that they felt pressured into buying tickets in advance as they were told via the Club’s website that prices could rise depending on who we were drawn against. The ISC requested that all fans who bought tickets to the Europa League round of 16 home tie in advance of the opponents and kick off time being known be offered a cash refund if they are unable to make the match. They feel that the majority of fans won’t take that offer of a refund up, but for those who have spent their hard earned money in advance and now cannot make the game it would be a fantastic gesture of loyalty from the Club to the fans and one that all fans would greatly appreciate. They have also suggested that the Club consider utilising the 17.45 kick off time to offer Kids for a Quid as it will help towards making it a full house for the game and give younger fans a great opportunity to experience a West Ham European game. You can read the letter here https://www.whuisc.com/news.html At the time of writing the Club has not replied and the ISC chased them up this morning. STAY SAFE To all Hammers attending the match(es). Stay safe,have a great time and cheer the boys on to victory. COYI"

[On The Ball]

"No TO info any more, I'm afraid. I'd be surprised though - tickets are being e-mailed so anyone will be able to pass them on rather than return them. That might help you though...."

[OccupyGreenStreet]

"OTB, any WH tickets getting returned to the box office because of the plane/train strikes?"

[On The Ball]

Hope you both had travel insurance in place....

[OccupyGreenStreet]

"My flight's ok as I'm going into Zurich, but my train to Freiburg, booked at the weekend, has already been cancelled because it was the Deutsche Bahn major intercity. Gonna have to get a Swiss train to Basel and up somehow. And still haven't got match tickets...."

[cambsiron]

My plans are caught up in both of those strikes. What a shit show. Will get there and get home but it could be interesting and costly!

[Joe C]

"Yep, seems so - that's going to fuck people connecting from other German cities. Lufthansa ground staff striking too"

[OccupyGreenStreet]

Possible train strike in Germany on 7 and 8 March? Deutsche Bahn website reporting big disruption.

[Alfs]

I used to share a house with Colin Wells. He's too good looking for his own good.