Background Information

Tickets for Ajax games are sold via the national TicketBox network, to which many tobacco stores and kiosks are connected. You can recognize them by the green circular logo on their windows, which has a blue T character in the middle (see picture on the right). The ticket counter at the Amsterdam ArenA, directly behind the main entrance, is also connected to the network.

In the mid-1990s, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) introduced the much-discusses Club Card identification system, in its battle against hooliganism. The system was the way for the KNVB to have all supporters registered and to keep opposing fans separated from one another inside the stadium. Consequently, it was impossible to buy any tickets without a Club Card.

Prior to the 1999-2000 season, however, the system was changed to become less strict for most Ajax home games. Ticketing procedures for matches against clubs with large numbers of fanatical supporters and/or clubs with a history of hooligan trouble are still highly exclusive.

Where to sit?

If you buy your ticket the 'normal' way (Ticketbox or Supporters Desk) you can basically choose a seat in any section that's not already sold-out. You can ask to see the ArenA seating chart when purchasing your ticket. We are happy to tell you that there are no bad or unsafe seats in the Amsterdam ArenA. Visiting fans are kept in the heavily secured away section, for which no tickets are available for general sale, so you'll never end up there by mistake.

Here is some general advice.

Seats along the 'long sides' (East and West), known to Americans as the 'sideline' sides, are more expensive and have a better view of the game, but offer less 'atmosphere' and noise.

Seats in the 'ends' (South and North), behind the goals, are less expensive and offer a somewhat less elegant view, but generally offer much better atmosphere. Ajax' two largest and most vocal supporters sections are the F-Side and Vak 410:

• The F-Side are directly behind the South goal, bottom tier, mostly in sections 125-128 of the South H stand
• Vak 410 are behind the North goal, second tier, in the top corner of the ArenA (in section 410, naturally...)

You probably won't be able to buy tickets for either of these sections, but any seat near these sections will mean you are close to the noise and excitement of Ajax's most loyal fans.