Port Vale has signed a five-year agreement with the Ticketmaster, the market leader in online ticketing purchasing in the UK.

From the 13/14 season, the Valiants will be offering credit-card style season tickets for all supporters who commit for the whole of the campaign, while the club will launch its online ticketing proposition in July.

As well as buying single tickets, the online system will offer fans the opportunity to buy bundled ticket packages for groups of games, which will be available at a discount. There will also be a 24 hour call centre, through Ticketmaster, from the start of next season.

There will be no booking fee for supporters who use the new system and tickets will be posted free of charge, although this technology also enables the user to print their tickets at home for added simplicity. Supporters who use a debit card to purchase tickets will also not incur any additional charge.

Ticketmaster will be using the Venuemaster Ticketing System and Access Control, as used at the Olympic Games, during its partnership with Port Vale.

Mike Aspinall, Operations Director at Port Vale Football Club, said:

“Ticketmaster are based in Stoke-on-Trent but also have an international feel with a number of high-profile clients, including Manchester United.

“This partnership will enable us to offer all supporters a more dynamic and accessible way of purchasing their tickets, which previously has been restrictive.

“We have purposefully minimised any additional costs that are usually borne by the purchaser, which I hope will encourage fans to use the new system when it is available.”

Adam Newsam, VP Ticketing UK and International Projects for Ticketmaster, added:  

“We are very pleased to be announcing this new partnership with Port Vale FC. This exciting new deal will see the football club use our leading sports ticketing technology products to their full potential as they create a new, more flexible ticketing service that will enable their fans to purchase tickets online and print tickets at home.

“As well as these improvements into how supporters buy their tickets, we will be transforming the way tickets are scanned when arriving at Vale Park by installing our access control technology, which will make gaining entry a smoother process.”