Football is a universal sport that everyone can enjoy, but people with physical disabilities in particular can face a number of problems when visiting a football stadium. In this respect, stairs are a particular hurdle that can be insurmountable for some football fans. Fans in wheelchairs are particularly unable to reach the seats higher up in the stands. But basically all football clubs have thought ahead and created extra seats for wheelchair users so that fans in wheelchairs are also able to experience a football match live on site with a good view of the pitch.
A day at the football stadium: what can be the obstacles for wheelchair users?
Stairs, toilets that are too narrow and inaccessible counters are negative points for people in wheelchairs, but they can be found in virtually all football stadiums. Obstacles are therefore everywhere, but the solutions are not far away, as football stadiums usually have special facilities for wheelchair users so that they can also enjoy top-class sport and a day at the stadium. Barrier-free access to seats that are specially reserved for wheelchair users and offer a good view of the pitch, as well as support staff who are on hand to help in the event of problems, are just some of the services that football clubs provide for people in wheelchairs. Although this does not remove some obstacles from everyday stadium life, it does create alternatives that enable every wheelchair user to have a great experience at the football stadium.
Many stadiums offer express entrances for wheelchair users
The entrance gates to the stadiums can sometimes be very crowded and the queues can stretch for several metres, but wheelchair users usually find a separate entrance through which they can drive comfortably, as they will find a wide gate and be let in by the stadium staff. First-time visitors are even taken to the wheelchair space so that the route is easy to find. Experienced stadium visitors can, of course, find the seats themselves. The express entrances for wheelchair users are extremely practical as they prevent a long wait in the regular queue. In addition, other stadium visitors are also protected from potential situations in which the wheelchair might run over a foot in the narrow queue.
In the football stadium: Barrier-free access to the pitch for wheelchair users
Whether in the BayArena in Leverkusen, the Allianz Arena in Munich or the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. Of course, it is extremely important in connection with every stadium that wheelchair users have barrier-free access from the stadium entrance to their final ticket seat. There must be no obstacles on the way, such as stairs, steep sections or other aspects.
Some stadiums even provide staff to help wheelchair users buy drinks and food in the stadium, as the snack bars in football arenas are usually equipped with high counters, which can be a real problem for wheelchair users. The stadium staff can also take care of transporting the drinks and food so that everything arrives at the ticket seat and can be consumed there as desired.
Where can wheelchair users buy football tickets?
Now we come to the important question of where wheelchair users are able to buy a ticket for the stadium in order to be sure of barrier-free access to the desired seat. Conveniently, the ticket shops and ticket exchanges have specially marked these special seats in the stadium. The safest way to obtain the desired ticket for wheelchair users and also to discuss important questions about the stadium visit with responsible persons is ultimately to purchase the football ticket for wheelchair users via the official ticket offer of the clubs.
Buy football tickets for wheelchair users: The clubs can help
A direct contact person can be a valuable support, as wheelchair users know who they can turn to if they have any questions about their upcoming visit to the stadium. If you buy your ticket for wheelchair users directly from the club, you can contact the responsible carers by email or telephone, for example, who will make your admission and day at the stadium much more pleasant. As a rule, you will be welcomed at the special entrance for wheelchair users by prior arrangement and then, if you so wish, escorted to your seat. This ensures that you take the right route and don’t end up in front of a staircase in the stadium. Of course, the staff will also show you where to find a toilet that you can use with your wheelchair. As a rule, these toilets are reserved for wheelchair users only, so there are no long waiting times – even during the half-time break, when the toilets are actually always overcrowded.
Secondary market for football tickets: wheelchair users should find out about accessibility in advance
Of course, wheelchair users also have the opportunity to purchase a football ticket via the secondary market. Here you can still find tickets for matches that are actually sold out, but it is not exactly clear whether you can reach the pitch with a wheelchair. If you know from the sales advert which seats are involved, you should ask the club’s official support team whether you can reach the seats in a wheelchair. If this is not possible, you can save yourself the money and should find out about alternatives, because even at sold-out matches there is often still a chance of gaining admission to the special area for wheelchair users.
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