Tickets for the home game against Stoke City have flown out of the boc office in a record time usually only reserved for the likes of Man United and Liverpool.

Saints supporters have clamoured to get tickets for the final game of the season and the visit of Stoke City in spite of the fact that its looking increasingly likely that there wont be anything at stake for either of the sides on the day, hopefully not for Saints at least.

Within minutes of going on sale there were reports of the on line system crashing and phone lines being jammed and by lunchtime today the last tickets in the normal seated areas were being sold meaning that only hospitality areas now remain.

In some respects its strange as to how so many want to go and see a game that there will be absolutely nothing hanging on it for Saints, earlier in the season games that were genuine relegation six pointers didnt sell out, Wigan and Aston Villa for instance earlier in the season and Reading and Sunderland just before Xmas, both of which had over 2,000 and 1,000 empty seats in the home areas, its good to see crowds flocking to St mary's now, I just cant understand why they wouldnt go to games that had something on them yet now are clamouring to see what could effectively be a friendly.

But perhaps this isnt just confined to Southampton and many Premier league grounds this season have struggled to sell out for most of the season  

Photo: Action Images

darthvader added 15:22 - Apr 23 Not everyone can afford to go to everygame mate , I managed to get two tickets for this at lunchtime today on hold for half an hour but worth it as I like to go to the last home game , couldn't get spurs away am gutted but have been to newcastle and Chelsea. if I can afford to get to ten games a year then that's great try to do a few away too , but its expensive especially the before Xmas games .. if prices were lower I'm sure we would sell out everygame

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darthvader added 15:23 - Apr 23 Not everyone can afford to go to everygame mate , I managed to get two tickets for this at lunchtime today on hold for half an hour but worth it as I like to go to the last home game , couldn't get spurs away am gutted but have been to newcastle and Chelsea. if I can afford to get to ten games a year then that's great try to do a few away too , but its expensive especially the before Xmas games .. if prices were lower I'm sure we would sell out everygame

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darthvader added 15:25 - Apr 23 Oops so good I added it twice .. sorry folks
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SaintNick added 15:35 - Apr 23 No problem, but it didn't really answer my question, Im not having a go at anyone here and I can see why there are those who would like to go to the last home games, but if someone can afford only 10 games a season then why would they hoose one of those to be a nothing game as the stoke one will be and not one with something riding on it. As I said not saying there is a right or wrong answer here and what your point makes is that although there is a high demand for big games, perhaps if the lower games were better priced then more would go

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St_Beano added 15:43 - Apr 23 I don't think its to do with who we are playing I think its more a chance to show your appreciation, congratulate the team and share in the celebration of what should be considered a successful first season in the prem. At least that's how I see it.
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BlackRod added 16:17 - Apr 23 For the last two seasons the final game has been a time to celebrate the team's achievements and has included a pitch invasion at the end. It's likely to be the same this year. What is being celebrated is the team's survival in the top flight and the recent form that has seen us beat top premiership sides. Onwards and upwards it is, just like it was at the end of the 11/12 and 10/11 seasons. The only thing missing is the man who made all this possible.

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davidhosey added 16:32 - Apr 23 Well said BlackRod. Thanks Marcus!! With regard to the attendance question, there is no doubt it is prices, but also there are a few who love the celebration type games such as Stoke, but maybe have a dicky heart and are scared to watch the crucial ones.
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dirk_doone added 17:14 - Apr 23 It's pretty simple, Nick. We've won a few games. Even when we were losing every game, and fans were not clamouring for seats, we were still selling 95% of tickets. A top 8 team at Southampton would fill a 40,000 capacity stadium regularly; a struggling relegation side wouldn't. You could say the same about Everton or Villa.
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thedelldays added 18:25 - Apr 23 fans want to go in large numbers for a last day of the season, in probable sunshine after a great run of form to see their team who now play a very interesting style of football im confused too nick
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St_Beano added 22:16 - Apr 23 I don't understand where the confusion lies. Its like saying you cant turn up to the street parade after a cup win if you didn't go to any of the games. Its just the fickle nature of fans I guess. I'm not saying it should be done without a clear conscience but even those that cant make every (or any) game want to join in the revelry of a great season and maybe that hangs heavy with some die hards.

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simmo400 added 06:25 - Apr 24 There are no cheap seats at St Marys what you on about.
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DJI added 08:44 - Apr 24 Although I have a ST, I will be going to White Hart Lane on this day to see Spurs take on Sunderland with my Boss; that game will be far more significant for the two teams involved than our last home game and worth a watch. It was also be followed by the traditional team walk around the pitch at the end to take the applause of their fans; something we don't do at St Mary's anymore, instead it's being replaced by a new tradition of pitch invasions. And for that reason, I'm glad I'm going to The Lane instead.

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SonicBoom added 23:37 - Apr 24 That last post is a wind up, surely. You have a season ticket, but on the game of the season when you have the chance to celebrate and show your appreciation, you would rather go to spurs to watch them play Sunderland? And you are looking forward to it because they walk around the pitch and you can applaud them? Words literally fail me. By an odd coincidence I was offered corporate at spurs that day, free booze, food, tickets the full Monte. I turned it down to go to St Marys where every self respecting saints fan should be.

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redblooded added 11:27 - Apr 25 Since Saints being in the doldrums for the last 5-6 years, a lot of casual support drifted away, the sudden rise to the PL didn't automatically draw these ones back in, but our current style of play and form is starting to, and also pulling in not just these but also there are new supporters swelling our ranks, I believe that If Saints get a good start next season, then Stoke could be the norm for every match? Roll on!

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