With the 2020-21 league season kicking off on Saturday with the Hatters’ trip to Barnsley, we would like to thank supporters for your patience and understanding with the ever-changing landscape regarding the viewing of our matches as we take in daily updates from both the Government and the EFL.
We have been overwhelmed by the level of support shown by Luton Town fans in this unprecedented situation, with approaching 7,000 season tickets renewed and purchased during such a difficult time for individuals, families and businesses alike.
We would never take this support for granted, but can assure you that by donating the refunds you were entitled to for the final five home games of last season, and purchasing your seat for the forthcoming campaign, you have helped keep the club alive.
This is hugely appreciated by every single person at the club, from chairman David Wilkinson and the board through to manager Nathan Jones and the skeleton staff who are working tirelessly to keep the business functioning.
We are hoping that in line with Government proposals surrounding the return of spectators to sporting events, we will be able to welcome some supporters back into Kenilworth Road from the start of October. The last few months have reiterated to everyone that fans are the lifeblood of football, and we can’t wait for that day.
Of course, with almost 7,000 season ticket holders wanting to come into a stadium that will be only able to operate with a low percentage of its 10,000 capacity, we will have to operate a rotation system. Club staff are already working diligently on this process with a view to making it as fair as possible.
We will communicate more on this in the coming days as we seek to gather information on supporters’ bubbles, with a view to getting as many supporters in as possible when we know what reduced capacity we have to work to, operating in line with social distancing guidelines.
SEASON TICKET HOLDERS
All 2020-21 Season Ticket holders will be provided with access to a live iFollow Hatters stream of all home league matches and midweek away matches, without charge, while games are played behind closed doors, as they will be in September, or with partial access for spectators which we hope will occur from the visit of Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 3rd October.
All season ticket holders will be sent a unique code ahead of our first home match of the Championship season against Derby County on Saturday 19th September, and for all subsequent games that are available. This differs to last season when one code covered all matches after restart, but we have to be led by the EFL’s arrangements with broadcasting partners.
As requested on the club website last week, we require all season ticket holders to ensure that the email address on their Season Ticket account matches the one they use to register for iFollow.
We would also recommend that all supporters add the ticket office email address – ticketoffice@lutontown.co.uk – to their address books and safe senders list to ensure that important club emails arrive as they should. In the past we are aware that some supporters located emails in their junk or spam folders – so please also check in these inbox locations if you are expecting email communications from us.
Season ticket holders will also receive in the build-up to kick-off of home league matches:
- A digital programme for each home league match
- A video of Mick Harford delivering the line-up
- A PDF version of the teamsheet
Season Ticket booklets will not be ready for collection at this stage, but we hope that this will change further down the line. We would like to thank everyone who has purchased their season ticket, which ensures they retain their preferred seat for when ‘normality’ returns to home matches along with the associated benefits and loyalty discounts.
We stress that these measures we have taken are temporary until more is known as to the return of crowds, and we will do everything possible to enhance their value should behind-closed-doors games be prolonged for a significant period. Our supporters’ loyalty is keeping the club afloat at this time, and we are very hopeful that this won’t be necessary.
SEASON TICKET WAITING LIST
We are currently contacting supporters on the waiting list if seats become available. We have reopened the waiting list and any supporters who wish to be added can email ticketoffice@lutontown.co.uk
iFOLLOW HATTERS MATCH PASSES
For weekend away matches that are not available to season ticket holders on a live stream, a match pass for the live coverage on iFollow Hatters can be purchased at a cost of £10.
For those supporters wanting to watch this Saturday’s season opener at Barnsley, with commentary from Simon Pitts and our former youth team manager Paul Driver, please click on the banner at the foot of this page.
The club receives 100 per cent of all passes for league matches purchased on our website.
The Carabao Cup second round tie at Reading will also be available in the build-up to next Tuesday’s 6pm kick-off at the Madejski Stadium, with the streaming revenue for matches in that competition split 50/50 between the two clubs regardless of which club’s website the pass is purchased through.
TICKET OFFICE PHONE LINES
As was the case last Saturday, the Ticket Office phone lines will be open for two hours prior to each game to provide support to those who are purchasing iFollow coverage.
We would like to remind you, however, that the most direct way of receiving iFollow support is by emailing ifollow@efl.com or Live Chat on the website during the match - which can be found via the 'Speech Bubble' icon in the bottom right hand corner of the lutontown.co.uk homepage.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
We know that supporters who collect programmes like a hard copy to maintain their collection, and understand that many were paying to have our e-programme printed through various online sources after the Championship restart in June.
While a digital edition of Our Town will be produced for each home match in the Sky Bet Championship for season ticket holders, we will also be offering the opportunity to order a genuine hard copy in the week following each fixture.
Local printer Bartham Group will print a small run when purchases have been made by a cut-off date on Hatters World. Further details will follow on this in the build-up to the Derby fixture next week.
Finally, we know that these are strange and difficult times for all. We wish all of our supporters could be with us, but for now it is vitally important to stay at home and remain safe and well so that we can welcome you back to Kenilworth Road as soon as is safely possible.
Wherever they are playing, the lads know you are right behind them and we look forward to building on that famous Luton spirit that helped pull off The Great Escape last season.
Good luck to Nathan, Mick and the boys at Barnsley and beyond...COYH!
