Tickets for the eagerly anticipated Stan Bowles Benefit match between QPR and AFC Bournemouth went on sale on Monday and the response has been excellent to say the least.
Considering the game, which takes place at Loftus Road, is now just under six weeks away, the interest has been excellent and is very encouraging for a good turnout on the day.
However a lot has been made regarding the initial allocation of tickets available, something which i wanted to give my personal opinion on.
As it stands, the club have made the decision to open just two of the four stands for the game, which in my view, is absolutely the correct decision.
Many have criticised this decision, but in reality, the main reason is to ensure the atmosphere on the day is as vibrant as possible.
Think back to those pre-season games, or early-round cup games where only a handful of people show up, and because everyone is so sparsely spread across the stadium, it creates an incredibly flat atmosphere.
This is exactly what the club are trying to avoid.
By initially opening just two stands, the club is ensuring that these stands have the best possible chance of being jam-packed, hence creating a real buzz throughout the fans watching the game.
The club have also said that as soon as these stands are sold out, they will not hesitate to open the remaining two stands.
Everybody associated with the benefit match is hoping for a sell-out on the day, no-one less than the club who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to put the game on, a challenge which has been a lot more difficult than many would believe.
The important message is for everyone to pull together, as the ultimate goal is to create as special an occasion as possible for a club legend, with both the committee and the club doing everything within their power to make the occasion as special as it can possibly be.
