No notice on WC Tickets any time soon.

[Galaxian]

I echo these sentiments! Perhaps we're all living in a bubble, thinking that the whole USA is trying to get WC tix, when in reality it's just us BSers who were falling over each other trying to be the first ones through on the fax line!
We can only hope :)

[GOOOOAL!!]

I got lucky and got Ecuador tickets through the second phase. Couldn't get US tickets then but wanted to make sure we saw some games. Also had a shot at them being in the same group as us.

3 tickets to the last group game for Germany may get me a lot of trading power. I'm sure there will be brokers willing to trade tickets to all of the US games for 3 tickets to a Germany game. That or sell them on the streets and pay for the trip.

All of this is mute if I get an email from Amy. Come on Amy, hook me up :D

[SimplyforGiggles]

I agree with earlier posts. USSF is sucking as a business. I just spent all last month bustin' it to keep every promise I made to my customers. Give me the number at USSF and I'll tell them how to burn some midnight oil and get this done! My referee career is all but dead anyhow!

I'm more than willing to go hunting for scalped tickets. I've done it before. Here's what I know: there will be tickets, there may be security problems with them, and it may not be possible to get them. I don't think there will be security checks, but I don't really like wondering about it.

I also don't like the thought of trying to get scalped tickets with my three year old, but I guess she's gotta learn sometime. In 1998 I also had a huge German guy screening tickets for me. I think I'll miss him if I'm out hunting in Germany.

[SimplyforGiggles]

Here's some advice on keeping those tickets, advice I wish I'd gotten pre-98

Lets think positive that we'll all get all the USMNT tickets we want. Now then: Keep your tickets somewhere safe and write down your seat number some where else or memorize it.

We got our tickets stolen on the way to the stadium before the US vs. Yugoslavia, and had no idea where our seats were. Any Sammers remember the girl in face paint sobbing outside her hotel before the game? That was me.

The cool thing is we got to go up into security ... the police officer we were with was awe-struck by how high up into security they took us (BTW, if you pick your nose funny in the stadium, someone is watching you). We missed half the game (oh well) but we were terrified of the whole ordeal. The whole story is actually pretty great, but too long for here, you'll have to find me at a bar if you want the whole spiel!

If we'd known where our seats were, we could have been through the whole thing so much quicker. So write it down and keep it in your DTOM dunks!

And if your tickets do get stolen, hope you have a couple cops as funny as ours were, and I hope you have as great an adventure trying to get into the stadium, and I definitely hope you hold onto your crime report so when you bump into Dooley on the train the next day, he'll autograph it for you! If we ever get a better piece of soccer memorabilia, I'll be impressed.

[JBigjake]

Here's some advice on keeping those tickets, advice I wish I'd gotten pre-98 ... Keep your tickets somewhere safe and write down your seat number some where else or memorize it.
First thing I did with my France'98 & Korea'02 tix was to make color photocopies of each set. I left one copy here & carried copies with me. While I did not need to use the copies, I felt that they would have helped if the originals were stolen or lost.

[primusux]

Another thing to keep in mind is that the RFID chip in the tickets will have your registration info (nothing private), seat info etc. So in theory you should be able to go to security, explain the situation and they can electronically block the ticket at the turnstile. When that person then tries to gain access they will be denied and held by authorities, then hopefully you will get in quickly.

From the ticket FAQ on fifaworldcup.com....

47. What happens to blocked tickets at the stadium gate?
Should anybody try to gain access to a stadium with a blocked ticket, they will be prevented from doing so. This unauthorized attempt will be investigated and may have legal consequences.

[DGNB]

Email I got from US Soccer. It boggles my mind that they aren't sure that they can get us the ticket confirmations by January 15th. When the Mexico gaem sold out in 15 minutes, I fail to see how a high ticket demand could shock them so much that they can't figure it out in a month!!!!!!! I really don't think it is too much to ask to know whether or not we have tickets before the expiration of the FIFA lottery.

Thank you for your interest in U.S. Soccer and the 2006 FIFA World Cup! We hope to be able to notify those who participated in the ussoccerfan.com pre-sale of their order's status (i.e. fulfilled or placed on the U.S. Soccer Waiting List) by mid to late January. We understand the desire to make accommodations for transportation and lodging should you be allocated tickets. We also understand that some fans would like to obtain tickets through FIFA's Phase III sale (ending January 15, 2006) if they are not allocated tickets through U.S. Soccer. Orders are being validated and processed as quickly as possible keeping these things in mind.

Based on the demand from the ussoccerfan.com pre-sale, there will not be a public sale of 2006 FIFA World Cup tickets.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

U.S. Soccer

[Atouk]

We also understand that some fans would like to obtain tickets through FIFA's Phase III sale (ending January 15, 2006) if they are not allocated tickets through U.S. Soccer. Orders are being validated and processed as quickly as possible keeping these things in mind.

Based on the demand from the ussoccerfan.com pre-sale, there will not be a public sale of 2006 FIFA World Cup tickets.
I think that's the first we've heard directly from the USSF that the pre-sale requests are more than the available tickets.

The timing of notice also fits with what I was told. I spoke to someone at USSF on another matter (they called to clarify something on my ticket application) and I asked if we'd be notified about the status of our application before the next FIFA sales phase ends. The person said they hoped we'd be informed by then, but didn't want to say for sure as they didn't want to promise something they weren't certain they could deliver.

[rickinva]

Thank you for your interest in U.S. Soccer and the 2006 FIFA World Cup! We hope to be able to notify those who participated in the ussoccerfan.com pre-sale of their order's status (i.e. fulfilled or placed on the U.S. Soccer Waiting List) by mid to late January.

Well I guess that pretty much shoots down the "We'll know on Jan 6th" story.

[MikeLastort2]

Thank you for your interest in U.S. Soccer and the 2006 FIFA World Cup! We hope to be able to notify those who participated in the ussoccerfan.com pre-sale of their order's status (i.e. fulfilled or placed on the U.S. Soccer Waiting List) by mid to late January. We understand the desire to make accommodations for transportation and lodging should you be allocated tickets. We also understand that some fans would like to obtain tickets through FIFA's Phase III sale (ending January 15, 2006) if they are not allocated tickets through U.S. Soccer. Orders are being validated and processed as quickly as possible keeping these things in mind.

Based on the demand from the ussoccerfan.com pre-sale, there will not be a public sale of 2006 FIFA World Cup tickets.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

U.S. Soccer

OK, now this post is enough to get worked up about. USSF is out of excuses, and I'm done defending them.

If they don't let people know if they've got tickets by Friday, they have REALLY screwed up.

[gngrasso]

OK, now this post is enough to get worked up about. USSF is out of excuses, and I'm done defending them.

If they don't let people know if they've got tickets by Friday, they have REALLY screwed up.

Welcome to the Dark Side.
:(

[NBlue]

In the beginning


Step back from the ledge, everyone. Calm down. Relax. Everything is going to be ok.


. . . and now . . .

OK, now this post is enough to get worked up about. USSF is out of excuses, and I'm done defending them.

If they don't let people know if they've got tickets by Friday, they have REALLY screwed up.

welcome to the darkside indeed. I might add its much less fun here.

[Atouk]

OK, now this post is enough to get worked up about. USSF is out of excuses, and I'm done defending them.

If they don't let people know if they've got tickets by Friday, they have REALLY screwed up.I don't know that Friday matters too much, since that's just when a public sale would have begun if they were going to have one. However, I think most would really like to know before January 15th, so those who don't get tickets through the USSF can apply for the FIFA lottery without fear of losing some or all of their tickets through double-purchasing.

[MikeLastort2]

Welcome to the Dark Side.
:(


In the beginning



. . . and now . . .



welcome to the darkside indeed. I might add its much less fun here.

I don't like the Dark Side.

I think the USSF needs to send out a mass e-mail to everyone who's applied for pre-sale tickets.

[nowherenova]

This is major bs, but I still say those who got apps in on the first 2 days are ok. I have seen little evidence to indicate otherwise, save the cryptic way they are handling communication. They act like they are about to reveal the Arc or something.

[Shibb]

Email I got from US Soccer....

Orders are being validated and processed as quickly as possible keeping these things in mind.


That line caught my eye. I read into that, perhaps unduly, that we should start to see people who get notified, or hits against their credit card account. When that happens we'll also undoubtedly see people post about it here. Maybe we can even start to then figure out some logic such as how/if the confirmation numbers give us a hint of when individuals should expect to see some kind of processing. Maybe.

[gngrasso]

That line caught my eye. I read into that, perhaps unduly, that we should start to see people who get notified, or hits against their credit card account. When that happens we'll also undoubtedly see people post about it here. Maybe we can even start to then figure out some logic such as how/if the confirmation numbers give us a hint of when individuals should expect to see some kind of processing. Maybe.

Logical.

But the pessimist in me says they will wait until all orders have been sorted out and notify everybody at once. I hope I am wrong and you are right.

[DGNB]

I don't like the Dark Side.

I think the USSF needs to send out a mass e-mail to everyone who's applied for pre-sale tickets.


I do have to say, while I understand the idea of being overwhelmed, they have done a horrible job of communication. They could either send emails to everyone updating them on the situation, or at least, post a huge message on ussoccer.com. Overwhelmed or not, from a customer service standpoint (and i work for Marriott and understand being overwhelmed.) they are doing a horrible, horrible job. They need to start working in shifts if necessary, but to not get it done by the Fifa deadline would be inexcusable. I can't thing of one argument that says that it's understandable that they couldn't get this done in a month!!!!!!!!!!

According to the US Soccer site, FIFA has allotted them 8% of seats for each match they, that means that for the group matches, the US gets, as follows:

Gelsenkirchen - 3,874 tickets
Nuremberg - 2,951 tickets
Kaiserslautern - 3,321 tickets

It should NOT take a month to determine whether or not people have recieved this measly amount of tickets. It is embarrasing. I can count to 3,874 a lot faster than a month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first rule to customer service when you are overwhelmed, keep the people waiting informed, they will be much less frustrated if they KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! US Soccer has totally failed in this. Regardless of the orders, they could at least keep people informed.

[goussoccer]

OK...so they say they understand the issue and our pain and are working as quickly as possible, but they have no definitive plan. The statement in the note from USSF is something I would expect from a worker. An executive would take some responsibility to fix the issue or at least outline steps, beyond 'I hope', they are taking to maintain their customers' trust.

[Galaxian]

This is major bs, but I still say those who got apps in on the first 2 days are ok. I have seen little evidence to indicate otherwise, save the cryptic way they are handling communication. They act like they are about to reveal the Arc or something.
I sure hope , my fedex got there at 9:42 on the thirteenth.
But I will continue to check my moms credit card to see if we have been charged for the tickets. Now that there wont be a public sale im not as confident about me getting tickets. Come on USSF.....