Crucible help please.

Daisy M

Hi guys, I need some info on the crucible please. Its my husbands birthday in April. He has often mentioned that he would love to go to the crucible to see a match. So I thought that I might make his birthday gift just that. Now the weekend we would be looking at is april 21st which would be the first round. Would that be ok do ye think would their be a good buzz? He has said before, when I mentioned if we were ever to go around his birthday, that he wouldnt care what match he saw just to sit in the crucible and see a match would be great.

Where would I book the tickets, would the crucibles own site be best? I had a look and they are coming up around £20. each which seems to good to be true. A few weeks back I looked up on a ticket booking site and I am sure I was quoted 20e. Any advice would be much appreciated from where to stay and what else to do in sheffield and how to go about booking tickets. Also which are the best seats.Thanks in advance.

zack01

Daisy M wrote: »

Hi guys, I need some info on the crucible please. Its my husbands birthday in April. He has often mentioned that he would love to go to the crucible to see a match. So I thought that I might make his birthday gift just that. Now the weekend we would be looking at is april 21st which would be the first round. Would that be ok do ye think would their be a good buzz? He has said before, when I mentioned if we were ever to go around his birthday, that he wouldnt care what match he saw just to sit in the crucible and see a match would be great.

Where would I book the tickets, would the crucibles own site be best? I had a look and they are coming up around £20. each which seems to good to be true. A few weeks back I looked up on a ticket booking site and I am sure I was quoted 20e. Any advice would be much appreciated from where to stay and what else to do in sheffield and how to go about booking tickets. Also which are the best seats.Thanks in advance.

I've been going to the Cruicble since '93 and i can honestly say if he's a snooker fan he will love it.
It's every players dream to make it to the Cruicble and that goes for snooker fans to so rest assured he will enjoy himself.
Best place to get tickets is on the world snooker site at www.worldsnooker.com click on the tickets link and it will direct you to a number for the box office at the Cruicble. This way you are buying genuine tickets and at the correct prices. Timing wise April 21st is perfect as the tournament starts that same day. I would recommend going to the Cruicble during the first week this way you will see more matches and more players, book a morning and evening session each day to guarantee this, i would'nt book the afternoon session unless of course these are the only tickets available.
Bring a camera too and hang about the stage door, here you will always bump into plenty of players coming to and fro to either play or practice at the venue. The Cue Zone in the Cruicble is also worth a visit, here they have a table set up with coaching sessions taking place during the day,in fact this year Irish coach PJ Nolan who recently became a World Snooker coach will be working in the cue zone, the World Championship trophy is also here where you can get a picture with it. I would also head over to the Winter Garden, this is where the BBC studio is based and there is always something happening there.

Places to stay? There are plenty of hotels etc around Sheffield. The more established players like to stay at the St George, i've stayed here a few times, beautiful hotel but on the expensive side.
Another hotel worth checking out is the Novotel Sheffiel, this is the popular choice of other players and referees and press etc, it's lively enough at night with everyone having a drink and letting their hair down.
For quick access to the Cruicble, the Park Inn cannot be beaten as it's just a short stroll away.

Travelling? Well for ease i'd fly into Manchester either with Ryanair or Aer Lingus, the airport has it's own train station and here you can get a direct connection to Sheffield which takes an hour or so. I would'nt recommend hiring a car as it's a tricky drive through the Pennines and Snake Pass, i got lost once or twice!
I'm sure you can check the train times online that will coincide with your flight.

Hope all this helps, again if he's a snooker fan, your organising a great present and one i'm sure he will enjoy very much.

Daisy M

Thankyou for taking the time to give such a great response, its much appreciated.
We live in Mayo and I was thinking of flying to eastmidlands airport from Knock and then hiring a car. We had to go to northampton last year and found eastmidlands airport easy. Would we still hit on the pennies and snake pass if we went this way. Sorry my geography on this area isnt great. If its going to be difficult then I would prefer to go from Dublin airport.

I think I will book at least 2 matches maybe 3 if we can he will love it and I must admit I do like watching it on tv so this would be a great experience.

Daisy M

Also would I be better to book tickets now or would I be safe enough to wait until the draw takes place next month and decide which matches then. There doesnt seem to be a lot of availability left or is that just cause other booking sites may have allocated tickets?

zack01

To be honest i'm not too sure re East Midlands directions i always flew into Manchester or sometimes drove up from London.

Regarding the tickets, i'd book asap, most sessions were sold out last season and already the final, semi's and majority of quater finals are sold out, if you book the first day you can be sure of seeing the current World Champion John Higgins in action, he will play his first round match to a finish over a morning and evening session that day.
And i would'nt worry too much about watching some decent matches, the top 16 is due another reshuffle mid February so with the new top 16 and 16 qualifiers the standard this year will be top quality.

Daisy M

Thanks for your help will book tickets asap!

ArmaniJeanss

zack01 wrote: »

if you book the first day you can be sure of seeing the current World Champion John Higgins in action, he will play his first round match to a finish over a morning and evening session that day.

Out of interest is there a protocol as to which of the 2 tables he is going to be on?
Or are they getting rid of the screens at the Crucible like in the UKs.

finbarrk

Thanks Zack. I had been thinking of going to a quarter final or a semi. But they are sold out. Just wondering would there be people selling spare tickets outside the stadium normally?

zack01

finbarrk wrote: »

Thanks Zack. I had been thinking of going to a quarter final or a semi. But they are sold out. Just wondering would there be people selling spare tickets outside the stadium normally?

I've never actually seen tickets on sale by touts etc, but sometimes extra tickets are released nearer the date, but when you have to organise travel plans this is'nt really a runner for some people.