Celtic are set to receive a ticket boost when the club travel to Perth to play St Johnstone on the 29th of January. The Saints have announced on their official website that they will give more tickets to both Celtic and Rangers when the Glasgow sides play at McDiarmid Park.
Both Celtic and the Ibrox side will now receive three stands when they play in Perth. Amongst the reasons being given by St Johnstone are the home fans ‘lack of enthusiasm’ for the fixtures against the Glasgow clubs. It should be pointed out that the website states that the website states that the move is a ‘trial’ for this season only.
A smart move
However, you would imagine that the practice will be repeated next season should St Johnston not get relegated. This is a smart move by the Perth side.
It looks poor for Scottish football when Celtic – and Rangers – fans travel in their thousands to away games and are met with countless empty seats in the home end.
This move will see those seats filled, and will also please the television companies, who will be broadcasting a game from a full stadium, rather than a half-empty one. St Johnstone will also get more money from selling the tickets, so it seems to be a good move all-round.
More teams should do this
More Premiership clubs should follow in St Johnstone’s lead. The Celtic support should be given more tickets for other areas of stadiums when the situation allows it. This is unlikely to happen at some clubs, like Hearts and Motherwell, you would imagine, due to the nature of the stadium.
However, when it can happen there will be a demand, especially in the middle of a title race. Celtic fans will be desperate to support their team, to help the Hoops make it over the line to nine in a row.
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