Arsenal is one of the most popular football clubs in England and around the world. With a large, dedicated fanbase, tickets for Arsenal matches are highly coveted. Many fans wonder if they can purchase Arsenal tickets through Ticketmaster.
About Arsenal Football Club
Arsenal FC is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England. The club was founded in 1886 and plays in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Arsenal has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles, a joint record 13 FA Cups, two League Cups, 16 FA Community Shields, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Some key facts about Arsenal FC:
- Nickname – The Gunners
- Home stadium – Emirates Stadium (capacity 60,704)
- Major honors – 13 First Division/Premier League titles, 13 FA Cups, 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
- First team head coach – Mikel Arteta
- Club captain – Martin Odegaard
Arsenal has millions of passionate supporters worldwide and their matches frequently sell out. This high demand makes Arsenal tickets difficult to acquire.
About Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is a major ticketing company that distributes tickets for live entertainment events. It dominates the ticketing industry, selling tickets for concerts, sports matches, theater shows and more.
Some key information about Ticketmaster:
- Founded in 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona
- A subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment since 2010
- Sold over 485 million tickets in 2019
- Processes around 62 million ticket transactions per year
- More than 32,000 clients worldwide
As one of the largest ticketing platforms, Ticketmaster sells tickets for popular sports teams and leagues around the world, including the Premier League. This leads many fans to check Ticketmaster when looking to purchase Arsenal tickets.
Can You Buy Arsenal Tickets on Ticketmaster?
The short answer is no, Arsenal tickets cannot be purchased directly through Ticketmaster. Arsenal handles all ticket sales through their website Arsenal.com and ticket office.
Ticketmaster does not have an official partnership with Arsenal to sell match tickets. The only way to buy authentic Arsenal tickets is through the club directly.
However, there are some limited exceptions where Ticketmaster may offer a small number Arsenal tickets in certain cases:
Ticketmaster Resale Marketplace
While Ticketmaster does not sell Arsenal tickets directly, some tickets may be available on their ticket resale marketplace. Here, Ticketmaster allows fans who purchased Arsenal tickets to resell them. The prices are generally marked up well above face value.
The availability of Arsenal resale tickets on Ticketmaster varies match-by-match and is not guaranteed. These resale tickets are also subject to Arsenal’s approval prior to being relisted.
Official Travel Packages
On occasion, Ticketmaster offers official Arsenal travel packages for certain matches. These packages bundle tickets with hotel accommodations and other features.
For example, Ticketmaster sold travel packages for some of Arsenal’s matches during their 2016 preseason tour of the United States. Availability of these types of travel packages is very limited.
Outside of these specific examples, Ticketmaster is not an approved seller of Arsenal FC tickets.
How to Get Arsenal Tickets
While Arsenal tickets are not available on Ticketmaster, there are several options fans can use to acquire tickets legitimately through the club:
Arsenal Membership
Purchasing an Arsenal membership provides early access to home match tickets during an exclusive member-only sales period. Members can purchase tickets online in advance of the general public on-sale dates. Membership starts at £40 per season.
General Ticketing
After the exclusive member sales window closes, any remaining tickets are made available on general sale to the public through Arsenal.com. These can sell out quickly for popular matches.
Ticket Exchange
Arsenal members can resell unwanted tickets back to the club through the Ticket Exchange platform. Other members can then purchase these second-hand tickets. There is often high demand on the Ticket Exchange for sold out matches.
Matchday
A limited number of tickets may be released on matchdays for same-day sale at the Emirates Stadium box office. These are first-come, first-served.
Official Hospitality
Arsenal offers premium matchday hospitality packages that include amenities like gourmet catering, lounge access, and complimentary bar. These are sold through Arsenal’s official hospitality website.
Third-party Authorized Sellers
In limited cases, Arsenal may contract authorized third-party sellers like Thomas Cook Sport to distribute tickets for specific matches or competitions. However, availability is extremely scarce from these sellers.
Risks of Purchasing Resale Arsenal Tickets
As demand for tickets is so high, many fans may be tempted to use unauthorized resale sites. However, this carries major risks:
Tickets May be Fake or Invalid
Many online ticket resellers are not officially associated with Arsenal and may sell fake or invalid tickets. Even if the tickets look authentic, the barcodes are often invalidated once the original purchaser reports them lost or stolen. Fans may be denied entry with fake tickets.
Purchasing Banned or Restricted
Arsenal prohibits the unauthorized resale of tickets. Fans caught buying or selling tickets without authorization may have their memberships canceled and be banned from future purchases. The club is very strict about enforcing these rules.
Paying Inflated Prices
Tickets on unauthorized resale sites are typically marked up to 2-3 times face value or higher. Fans end up overpaying drastically compared to buying directly from Arsenal’s official channels.
No Recourse if Issues Arise
With unauthorized resale purchases, fans have no consumer protections or recourse if something goes awry with the tickets. The club will not provide assistance for unofficial sales. Fans may lose their money with no way to get it back.
Other Unauthorized Sellers to Avoid
In addition to Ticketmaster, fans should use caution when considering the following unauthorized options for purchasing Arsenal tickets:
Online Ticket Resale Marketplaces
General resale sites like StubHub, Viagogo, Ticketbis, and others frequently sell speculative Arsenal tickets, often at highly inflated prices. These unauthorized listings should be avoided due to potential fraud.
Social Media Ticketing Groups
Many ticket resale groups operate on Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms. These individuals or groups do not have any official relationship with Arsenal FC and may be scammers. Exercise caution before purchasing any social media tickets.
Ticket Touts
In-person ticket touts who approach fans outside the Emirates Stadium should not be trusted. Many sell counterfeit or stolen tickets and frequently scam fans. Purchase from these street sellers at your own risk.
Summary
While Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in English football, fans will not find match tickets being sold directly on Ticketmaster. Arsenal handles all first-hand sales through their website Arsenal.com and over-the-counter sales.
Limited resale tickets may get listed on Ticketmaster’s exchange marketplace, but availability varies drastically. Fans’ best option is to purchase directly from Arsenal by becoming a member, booking during general sales, or checking the club’s Ticket Exchange.
Buying from unauthorized resellers carries major risks, including fraud, inflated prices, and no recourse if issues arise. To get authentic Arsenal tickets guaranteed by the club, fans should only buy from Arsenal’s official ticketing channels. While it requires more effort, this provides the peace of mind that your tickets will be valid and legitimate.
Arsenal Ticket Availability on Ticketmaster – Summary Table
| Seller | Arsenal Tickets Available? | Risk Level | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticketmaster Main Site | No | N/A | Do Not Use (Arsenal tickets not sold here) |
| Ticketmaster Resale Marketplace | Limited | Medium | Only Use as Last Resort |
| Arsenal.com | Yes | Low | Recommended – Official source |
| Social Media Ticket Groups | Limited | High | Avoid – High fraud risk |
| Online Ticket Resale Sites | Limited | High | Avoid – High fraud risk |
| In-Person Ticket Touts | Limited | Very High | Avoid – Very high fraud risk |
Conclusion
Ticketmaster does not sell primary market Arsenal tickets. Fans should only purchase tickets through Arsenal’s official channels to avoid fraud and ensure authenticity. While the convenience of Ticketmaster is appealing, Arsenal’s strict policies prohibit most third-party sales. Following the club’s guidelines provides the best fan experience and guarantees your tickets will be valid for entry.
