THOUSANDS of Chelsea fans were unable to access Stamford Bridge ahead of their opening game of the Premier League season.
Many fans were fuming with huge queues forming due to faults with the club’s new in-app e-ticketing system.
Fans have been forced to go to the ticket office in an effort to fix their e-ticket issuesX formerly Twitter / @connfc_
The chaos was caused by Chelsea’s new in-app ticketing systemX formerly Twitter / @connfc_
Queues snake round the stadium as thousands of fans line up for the ticket officeX formerly Twitter / @connfc_
The club encouraged fans to arrive early as they introduce their new e-ticketing systemX formerly Twitter / @connfc_
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Fans were warned to arrive early as Stamford Bridge “beds in” the new ticketing method at their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace.
The system has already been blasted an ‘absolute shambles’ as Blues’ fans waited outside the Bridge in the hopes of getting a glimpse of a ‘special unveiling’ at 1pm.
The unveiling turned out to simply be a large banner declaring the team as world champions.
Presenter and Chelsea fan Olivia Buzaglo took to X to blast the club for their handling of ticketing.
“No one’s tickets are working,” she said before branding the situation an “absolute shambles to say the least.”
One supporter who paid as much as £230 for a ticket was told his ticket is invalid, and was stuck outside the ground as the club looked to resolve the issue.
By the time the match kicked off at 2pm it appeared most fans had been able to access the ground.
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Chelsea incentivised fans to arrive early for the game, seemingly in anticipation that the new system at Stamford Bridge might have some teething problems.
Dan Finkelstein, who sits on the club’s board of directors, said in an X post on Thursday: “New digital ticketing for Chelsea, a big step forward.
“But can I advise getting to the Bridge early on Sunday? Just to give us the best chance as the system beds in.”
The club offered 50 per cent off of drinks to anyone who arrived between 12pm-1pm, with the turnstiles open since 12.30pm.
Fans outside the ground told SunSport that the app would not load as they got to the gates to show their tickets, and those whose app would load would then face their tickets disappearing before entry.
One frustrated fan uploaded pictures of the chaos and tagged the club on X, saying: “All the fans struggling to get in for the game. Do better.”
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
