These Icelandic fans are excited

Earlier this month Eurovision fans went into meltdown when it was revealed that organisers would not sell special ticket packages for dedicated fans. But on the eve of ticket sales, the decision was reversed owing to the hard work of OGAE International — the Eurovision fan club run by fans for fans.

And today the EBU has finally announced that a total of 900 ticket packages will be sold to members of Eurovision fan clubs around the world. Sales started on Monday, February 27 at 11:00 CET. Fan clubs will, of course, have started their internal ballot procedures long before this.

In recent years up to 2,500 fan packages have been made available.

As in previous years, the packages cover the three jury shows and the three televised shows (two semi-finals and grand final). Officials have reserved 100 ticket packages for Ukrainian fan club members, with the remaining 800 split among the more than 40 clubs in Europe and OGAE ROTW (that’s rest of the world).

The news comes following outrage over the lack of fan packages. Fans, the lifeblood of the contest, felt betrayed by the EBU and organisers. Furthermore, fans make for better TV: They’re the ones who wave the flags and get crazy as the cameras pan out and around. Corporate sponsors in suits? Borrrrring.

Eurovision 2017 fan packages

Both the EBU and OGAE are pumping their fists and putting a positive spin on the outcome, which involved a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations.

EBU Event Supervisor Nadja Burkhardt said:

“After some negotiations, we are pleased that the EBU has been able to help OGAE, UA:PBC and Concert.UA agree on terms for an allocation of fan packages this year. The EBU strongly values the OGAE community’s contribution to Eurovision year on year, and we are delighted that a resolution could be found for the events in Kyiv.”

Simon Bennett, the president of OGAE International, said:

“I am delighted that we are able to continue the long tradition of allowing OGAE members to receive an allocation of tickets to the live Eurovision shows, and very grateful to both UA:PBC and the EBU for their support. Thousands of our members applied for fan ticket packages and whilst we will not be able to offer all of them tickets, the 900 lucky ones will be thrilled that their patience has paid off. Our members are already preparing their flags and will do their best to create that unique Eurovision atmosphere in the arena in May.”

wiwibloggs contacted the EBU for further comment — for instance, we’re curious how they arrived at 900 packages, why negotiations were prolonged, etc. — but they declined to offer any other information at this point.

“We are not providing [interviews] at this stage — as I’m sure you can imagine, everyone is working hard on the preparations for the contest but Nadja has provided a quote in the info [sent to you].”

We don’t know the exact number of packages offered last year, so it’s difficult to compare like for like. But we do know that in recent years up to 2,500 fan packages have been offered. Sources connected to the ticket sales say that the reduced number of packages reflects the fact the arena is smaller than in years past.

Regardless, the 900 packages are a marked decrease from last year.

As a Eurovision fan in the United States, I entered the OGAE ROTW ticket ballot. I was not successful. Last year everyone who entered the ROTW ballot received tickets. This year I was told I was the highest-ranked person who did not get a ticket and I was in the top half of the list. If that’s anything to go by, then my club was allocated about half as many tickets this year.

We dug through our e-mails and found that for Eurovision 2013 OGAE UK received 195 packages. That’s equivalent to a fifth of all packages being offered this year for the 40+ clubs.

Six hundred of the packages are on the floor. The venue says the “fan zone” has room for 1,570 people, and these seats aren’t available through concert.ua. This all suggests that fans — who were worried fan packages would never actually go on sale — previously purchased their tickets in the general ticket sale.

There are already “fan zone” tickets available on viagogo, suggesting that some fans — or touts who snapped them up previously — are now re-selling them.

Read more Ukraine Eurovision news

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Jonas
Jonas
7 years ago

Well, I was with Alex up until “this is not a gay show”, which is just offensive. Excuse me, they may be dressed like idiots, but their sexual orientation has nothing to do with it. Sorry, but you’re into clichéd stereotyping there.

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

i believe that tickets in front of stage should be given to the general public apart from the hardcore fans who have this privilege every year! I am a bit sick of seeing the same faces with ridiculous wigs and outfits representing the true Eurovision fan. This is not a gay show!
Apart from that, personally, i refuse to waste my money on an organisation that is messed up while the corruption in the Ukrainian broadcaster is massive. Have some dignity and watch the show from the TV.

Jonas
Jonas
7 years ago

Right, especially when you literally see the same faces in the crowd every year. Another subset also get the huge perk of “press” privileges, which to me is totally ridiculous. Of course I don’t put wiwibloggs in this category because they always do trojan work serving us poor plebs who can’t be there in person, but that is not true of everyone.

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

If I was the production manager, I would also CANCEL the fan packages and sell every ticket to the general public. Being a fan DOES NOT need you or anyone else to grant you special rights.

It is like, I am a Tomorrowland fan, can I have a special treatment because I am a fan? NO.

Jonas
Jonas
7 years ago

I don’t necessarily agree with the statement that fans make for better TV…some of them seem so drunken and uncooth, and the flags can get in the way of camera shots. I sometimes think priority should be given to locals over people who have attended every single year. I know they are (arguably) the “lifeblood” of the contest, but the millions and millions of $$$ pumped into the event are not for the crowd in the arena, so yeah…then again, are there enough Ukrainians willing to shell out to fill a big arena three times over?While I’m on a roll,… Read more »

ozfan
ozfan
7 years ago

I would suggest that an article on such an important matter shouldn’t be filled with such speculation. It seems to be more of a case of “I missed out on tickets in the Rest of the World” ballot whinge report, than honest concern, wanting to cover the issue with actual hard information. If your club had kept you properly informed on the case of the ballot, then you would know that there is a ‘gold zone’ reserved specifically for OGAE members right at the front of the stage, then an amount of sales for the fan zone situated behind the… Read more »

David Thielen
7 years ago

@Most of the fan are not members – don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. There is no way to perfectly determine who constitutes a fan. And there’s no definition of what constitutes a fan that everyone would agree on.

The system they have at present does a decent job of identifying fans. It could be improved, but it’s good.

Loz
Loz
7 years ago

I bought fan zone tickets in the general sale for one of the live semi finals and the jury final. This was because of the uncertainty over the OGAE allocation – and just as well, because I wouldn’t have received a package at my position in the ballot.

So that will probably account for some, and also the fact that not everyone is a member or not all members entered the ballot. Those packages are expensive, and some of us prefer tickets to fewer shows and less outlay 🙂

Most of the fan are not members
Most of the fan are not members
7 years ago

Lee Adams
Still under the age of 18 or people without vehicles (buses do not always
Option) can not reach all the meeting night
And I feel that they have too much attention.
I must say that I dont have good memories of my encounters with the OGAE people in my country and there are some others group which i prefer.
i think we can find people who dont like this fan club in every country,you need just to search them.

Fred
Fred
7 years ago

I know this won’t help much But I sell my tickets because I can’t fly to Kiev for the contest. I sell 1 ticket in the Fan Zone for the Grand Final jury show (paid 21 €, sell 21!) and 1 ticket in Block D for the Grand Final family show (paid 40 €, sell 40).. These are electronic tickets

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
7 years ago

It seems like the EBU is focusing more on the financial side of Eurovision. I appreciate that the EBU needs to pay bills but I thought that the participation fee was what paid for most of the contest. When more financially sound broadcasters (SVT, ORF, DR etc) more fan packages are offered and the contest offers better amenities for fans. Also think back to 2012 when very few fans could afford to get to eurovision and it was about 90% Azeri/Turkish fans. Meaning only Turkey and Azerbaijan got cheers. This is why the fan packages are very important because it’s… Read more »

Most of the fan are not members
Most of the fan are not members
7 years ago

The “fan clubs” are not really represent us
There are groups who usually live near the big city and make party in clubs
And you not from the area or under 18
You cant be there
And of course there are people that they not accept

Jason
Jason
7 years ago

Absolutely disgusting job by Ukraine so far. They should be ashamed.

.
.
7 years ago

Dint one of the wiwi articles mention 2500 as the number of packages in Stockholm for OGAE club?

Jaccobabe
Jaccobabe
7 years ago

They should ban “fans” who sell their tickets on viagogo. #needstogo