Linfield FC

“You are always apprehensive when implementing a new IT system in any business in case it falls short on capability with a possible risk of failure. However, for our very first match when fans were allowed back to football during Covid, we were informed we were only permitted to have 200 supporters (due to Social distancing requirements) in a stand that holds 7,000.

“We managed to get that figure increased to 600 as we were able to demonstrate to the authorities that we could safely manage the bigger number because Future Ticketing’s in-built flexible seating planner allowed us to set the seating rules to match the Northern Ireland Executive’s guidelines on Social Distancing. It was a fantastic result and really set the system apart from the other solutions we looked at.

Drew McCoubrey, Club Director

Linfield Football Club is one of the most storied and successful sports clubs in Northern Ireland including no fewer than 56 league titles in the NIFL Premiership. Nicknamed The Blues, it is the fourth-oldest club on the island of Ireland and plays its home matches at the historic Windsor Park, which is also home to the Northern Ireland national team.

Challenge

When Linfield FC began its journey with Future Ticketing, it required an immediate ticketing solution to provide safe-seating for its fans in an environment of strict Covid-19 restrictions including single seating and later bubble seating as fans returned to football stadia around the world in a phased way. The club required an automated solution combined with technical expertise and advisory.

As part of the onboarding process, Future Ticketing integrated with the Skidata access control platform to enable contactless entry into the 18,500 seated capacity stadium of Windsor Park. The access control solution managed entry of both home and away fans into respective stands and blocks within the stadium.

Solution

Although an unprecedented situation with regulations changing quickly, the in-built flexibility of the Future Ticketing software platform enabled Linfield FC to comply with seating and also access control rules of staged entry and separate access points of entry. The solution also involved an integration with SKIDATA which was developed remotely. This integration allows automated entry for customers into Windsor Park through controlled entry points.

According to Club Director Drew McCoubrey, the partnership with Future Ticketing has enabled Linfield FC to overcome two very challenging scenarios; one was to improve upon the existing ticketing system already in place which was very restrictive in terms of permitting user input or customisation without referring to the vendor; and the second being how to respond to the changing situation that the Covid-19 crisis had placed the club in.

Value-added

Fast forward to 2023, the club has gone from strength to strength on the pitch including appearances in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League supported by Future Ticketing whose innovation has introduced new features such as the ability of customers can easily purchase tickets online with Google and Apple Pay.

The club has also integrated Future Ticketing’s Digital Ticketing App functionality through its app provider ULNK. This integration enables customers to purchase, view and display their match or season ticket for scanning upon entry to Windsor Park – speeding up entry at the stadium and improving the customer experience.