Boom time for Blues and Reds
IT's boom time for Manchester football.
The Blues and Reds have sold an amazing 70,000 season tickets between them, putting the city at the forefront of soccer's new golden age.
Kevin Keegan-mania has helped offset the misery of City's relegation from the Premiership, as the ticket office has been inundated by supporters eager to secure a seat for the coming season.
There are fewer than 1,000 of the 24,000 tickets still available, but it is anticipated that these remaining books will be sold within the next few days, creating a new club record.
United, meanwhile, continue to have eager fans desperate to get their hands on one of their 46,000 season tickets which are all currently sold out.
With Old Trafford's 67,000-plus capacity, it leaves 17,000 tickets sold on a match day basis and Reds' fans are clamouring for those.
Passion
''There is no doubt football is a popular as ever in Manchester whether you are Red or Blue,'' says United's director of communications Paddy Harverson.
''In our case season ticket renewals are as strong as ever. They are like precious gold and nobody is giving them up. There is a lot of excitement ahead of the season because of our two new signings, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron and also because it is Sir Alex Ferguson's final year as manager.''
Maine Road chairman, David Bernstein could not hide his delight at the way the close-season has gone.
He also believes that Keegan's arrival and the memories of great days against Gillingham and Blackburn Rovers in recent seasons are still fresh in the minds. ''It's absolutely wonderful,'' the chairman beamed.
''Our fans continue to give the most wonderful support and I cannot praise them enough.''
He maintained City will always remain a club that cater for fans who cannot hold season tickets, either due to personal financial problems or work commitments.
And this policy will be upheld when the Blues move to the new Stadium in Eastlands at the beginning of the 2003-2004 season.
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