Emirates Stadium Disability Liaison Team

[maturefan]

The Disability Liaison Team at the Emirates Stadium in London will only allocate wheelchair spaces to those who submit a letter confirming that they are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or a letter from their GP outlining their medical condition. I do not receive DLA but do receive Employment Support Allowance (ESA). I phoned the Disability Liaison Team last Thursday and was told that a letter confirming that I am in receipt of ESA would suffice. I posted my application on Friday and received an email this morning saying that proof of receipt of ESA is not sufficient. They are holding my application for ONE WEEK to allow me to obtain a letter from my GP as proof that I am, actually, disabled. I will have to pay a charge for this. I am NOT happy! I wonder if the band knows how their disabled fans are treated? In case anyone is not aware, there is ongoing controversy in the UK regarding the assessment of people who are disabled and/or ill for benefits with many who are genuinely unable to work being refused benefits. Some people who were judged fit for work were terminally ill and have subsequently died. I have never, EVER been asked by any other venue to prove that I am disabled and I am outraged to be subjected to this amount of aggro when non-disabled fans can just buy tickets online in a matter of minutes. The money paid by a disabled person is just as valuable as the money paid by a non-disabled person. Shame on you, Emirates Stadium!

[Feed the Hex]

The Disability Liaison Team at the Emirates Stadium in London will only allocate wheelchair spaces to those who submit a letter confirming that they are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or a letter from their GP outlining their medical condition. I do not receive DLA but do receive Employment Support Allowance (ESA). I phoned the Disability Liaison Team last Thursday and was told that a letter confirming that I am in receipt of ESA would suffice. I posted my application on Friday and received an email this morning saying that proof of receipt of ESA is not sufficient. They are holding my application for ONE WEEK to allow me to obtain a letter from my GP as proof that I am, actually, disabled. I will have to pay a charge for this. I am NOT happy! I wonder if the band knows how their disabled fans are treated? In case anyone is not aware, there is ongoing controversy in the UK regarding the assessment of people who are disabled and/or ill for benefits with many who are genuinely unable to work being refused benefits. Some people who were judged fit for work were terminally ill and have subsequently died. I have never, EVER been asked by any other venue to prove that I am disabled and I am outraged to be subjected to this amount of aggro when non-disabled fans can just buy tickets online in a matter of minutes. The money paid by a disabled person is just as valuable as the money paid by a non-disabled person. Shame on you, Emirates Stadium!

 

They do know they choose to ignore . I literally had to battle to get my carer ticket refunded for the recent Manchester show (I am so disabled I cannot attend events without carer)...and I know it was a band decision as I have purchased tickets from that venue many times and never had to pay for my carer's ticket ,and the venue stated it was out of their hands. I finally got a sheepish letter and a refund one week before the gig but only after I had made an almighty fuss.Incidentally my mails/phonecalls to muse management were ignored.

The 'proof' of disablity is a feature of the stadium tour ....I had to send a scan of my DLA letter to MCFC in order to get my free carer ticket and wheelchair space .

Please note, able bodied fans, we disabled fans are unable to take part in presales plus the number of tickets actually available to us is miniscule ie only 130 at the manchester gig next june ...think about that next time you whine about getting tickets .

I'd like someone from the band/management to have the balls to answer why disabled fans are treated so badly....they won't though.

[maturefan]

feedthehex thanks for your reply. I would be astonished and disappointed if this had come from the band. I find it hard to imagine the guys sitting down together with their management and saying: 'Let's make it as difficult as possible for disabled people to attend our concerts.'

[Feed the Hex]

feedthehex thanks for your reply. I would be astonished and disappointed if this had come from the band. I find it hard to imagine the guys sitting down together with their management and saying: 'Let's make it as difficult as possible for disabled people to attend our concerts.'

 

Actually the letter said "on this occasion the band have asked we refund the carer ticket"

Why only 'this occasion'? ...and if I hadn't made such a fuss, I bet I wouldn't have got a refund.

Ticket prices etc are set by promoters/band management not the venue.

[maturefan]

Actually the letter said "on this occasion the band have asked we refund the carer ticket"

Why only 'this occasion'? ...and if I hadn't made such a fuss, I bet I wouldn't have got a refund.

Ticket prices etc are set by promoters/band management not the venue.

 

I have received another email from the Disability Liaison Team at the Emirates Stadium. The sender told me that it is the policy of the DLT to request a doctor's letter if the person is not in receipt of DLA to enable more wheelchair users to avail of the free carer's space. Put that way, it makes more sense. Perhaps the venue you went to doesn't give free spaces to carers and the band intervened to refund you precisely because you made a fuss? I don't know of any other venue which gives carers a free space. I've always had to pay for the person accompanying me.

[maturefan]

I picked up the letter from my GP this morning. It cost £25. Bearing in mind that my companion's seat is free and would have cost £85 I am still £60 up on the deal AND I get to see Muse without worrying that I might be too ill to cope. I'll be happy when the stadium confirms that my letter has been received and my place is guaranteed.