Royal Antwerp will keep Tribune 4 at the Bosuilstadion closed for its Croky Cup round-of-16 match against Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Sunday, Dec. 6, a cost-cutting decision after the club judged the 6:30 p.m. kickoff unlikely to produce a sellout, Nieuwsblad reported. Supporters will be seated in Tribunes 1 and 2, which together hold about 11,000.
The club launched its priority ticket period on Tuesday for the Dec. 6 match, and the stand closure was confirmed as an operational move to reduce costs, Nieuwsblad reported. Opening an additional stand carries extra expense, particularly when it is not expected to fill.
Why is Royal Antwerp closing Tribune 4 for the OH Leuven cup match?
Antwerp drew OH Leuven in the round of 16 of the Croky Cup — the Belgian Cup — roughly two and a half weeks ago, but the club sees little chance of a mass turnout for the Sunday evening fixture at the Bosuil, Nieuwsblad reported. VoetbalPrimeur.be noted the 18:30 kickoff time is also a factor, as it may not immediately generate a large crowd.
The decision is a financial one. VoetbalNieuws.be described it as a savings measure: with the club not expecting the stadium to sell out, keeping Tribune 4 shut avoids the operational costs of opening it. Antwerp finished 11th in the league after 10 matchdays this season, VoetbalNieuws.be reported, and the club is counting on a decent cup run to give the campaign some meaning.
How many fans can still attend at the Bosuil?
Supporters will be centralized in Tribune 1 — the main stand — and Tribune 2, the stand of the people, which together offer about 11,000 seats, Nieuwsblad reported. The club believes that capacity is sufficient: last season, 8,838 fans attended the round-of-32 cup match against second-tier Eupen, and 9,021 attended the round-of-16 match against Sint-Truiden, according to Nieuwsblad. Tribune 2 was still under construction at that time, and Antwerp was in a similar sporting slump, the report noted.
Concentrating fans in two stands is also intended to improve the atmosphere at the Bosuil, VoetbalPrimeur.be reported.
Could Tribune 4 reopen if ticket demand is higher than expected?
Yes. Nieuwsblad quoted the club: if demand exceeds supply, Tribune 4 can still be opened. VoetbalNieuws.be reported the club will first watch how briskly the advance ticket sales run over the coming weeks before making any such call.
When and how can supporters buy tickets for Antwerp vs OH Leuven?
The ticket schedule, as laid out by Nieuwsblad, runs in phases:
- Until Monday, Nov. 9 at 10:00, season-ticket holders of Tribune 1 and Tribune 2 can buy their own season seats. Tribune 4 season-ticket holders can during this window buy tickets on free seats in Tribunes 1 and 2.
- From Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10:00 until Thursday, Nov. 12 at 10:00, Tribune 4 season-ticket holders get an extra priority window and can buy up to three additional tickets for non-season-ticket holders.
- From Friday, Nov. 13 at 10:00, general ticket sales open to everyone for the match closing the Sinterklaas weekend.
Prices range from €12.50 to €17.50, Nieuwsblad reported.
Royal Antwerp vs OH Leuven: the questions supporters are asking
- When and where is the match? Royal Antwerp hosts OH Leuven in the Croky Cup round of 16 at the Bosuilstadion in Antwerp on Sunday, Dec. 6, with kickoff at 18:30 local time.
- How much do tickets cost? Prices range between €12.50 and €17.50, depending on the section, Nieuwsblad reported.
- I hold a Tribune 4 season ticket — can I still go? Yes. During the first priority window you can buy a ticket on a free seat in Tribune 1 or Tribune 2, and from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12 you can buy up to three extra tickets for guests.
- Why is a stand closed for a cup match? The club expects no sellout for the Sunday-evening kickoff and is cutting operational costs by not opening Tribune 4, Nieuwsblad reported.
- Will Tribune 4 open after all? It can, if demand exceeds the 11,000 seats in Tribunes 1 and 2 — the club will monitor advance sales before deciding.
The next confirmed checkpoint is the opening of general ticket sales on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10:00, ahead of the Dec. 6 match at 18:30 at the Bosuil.
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