Aston Villa fans can now use Apple Wallet or Google Wallet to store their NFC (Near-Field Communication) matchday and season tickets.
Our push towards a contactless stadium is driven by a wish to:
- Reduce ticket touting; something many supporters expressed their displeasure to us about in recent years.
- Be more environmentally friendly; a move away from the use of materials such as plastic cards, paper tickets, and envelopes.
- Increase the speed of entry for fans; less time queuing and more time experiencing Villa Park.
Please see below for written instructions of how to add your ticket to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Download Instructions (matchday tickets):
- Head to tickets.avfc.co.uk and log in to your ticketing account using your Fan ID and password.
- Follow the usual process to buy your ticket online.
- Click the link within your ticket confirmation email
- Click 'Add to Apple Wallet' or 'Add to Google Wallet' button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and tap on the pass to open it.
Matchday Instructions:
- Make sure your phone is charged before you leave for Villa Park.
- Ensure your phone case is suitable for NFC scanning, and no other cards can interfere.
- Open your phone's wallet and scroll to find your Match Ticket if your payment card appears first.
For more details, please refer to the FAQs.
Now Available: In-App Ticketing
In-App Download Instructions:
- Open up the Offical Aston Villa App and login.
- Click on the Tickets tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Your purchased tickets will appear, if they are not appearing then pull the screen down to refresh.
- Tap your ticket to download an offline version to your App which can be accessed if you have limited data access.
- We recommend adding tickets you your device wallet for faster stadium entry with NFC.
Matchday Instructions:
- Make sure your phone is charged before you leave for Villa Park.
- Open your app on approach to the stadium and have the QR code visible to scan (please note that screeenshots of QR codes will not work).
- Or open your phone's wallet and scroll to find your Match Ticket if you have added it to your wallet.
For more details, please refer to the FAQs.
Using on Matchday
How do I access my NFC ticket or season pass?
There are two ways to access your tickets:
- Via the official Aston Villa app
- Download or update the official app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on the device you'd like your digital season ticket to be on.
- Sign in to your Digital Account in the app by tapping the person icon in the top right.
- Go to the Tickets section by tapping the Tickets icon at the bottom.
- Your digital season ticket will appear automatically at the top of the screen.
- Tap your digital season ticket to use it for entry into the stadium. You can also add it to your Apple or Google wallet from here.
- Download via email link
- Find the relevant email with your ticket link from email@news.avfc.co.uk on the device you'd like your digital season ticket to be on.
b. Click the link within the email. Your digital season ticket will load in your mobile web browser.
c. From here, you can download your digital season ticket to your Apple or Google wallet.
How do I use an NFC ticket?
When you arrive at the stadium, access your ticket via Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and hold your phone, screen facing towards you, against the contactless reader at the top of the turnstile reader. Please make sure your phone isn't locked when you hold it against the reader, if you have any problems, you may just need unlock your phone and try again. Please note, each ticket is single-use and cannot be transferred after entering the stadium.
Will I need internet access at the stadium to use my NFC season ticket?
You must download your season ticket before your first match of the season. Ensure your pass is downloaded to your digital wallet before arriving at the stadium. It is advisable to download this in a location with a reliable internet connection. Once the pass is downloaded, internet access is not required for it to work, but your device must be switched on.
FAQs
1. What is NFC ticketing, and how does it work at Villa Park?
NFC (Near-Field Communication) allows two electronic devices to communicate when they are in close proximity. At Villa Park, this technology enables fans to enter the stadium by tapping their smartphone on a reader at the turnstiles. Your digital tickets should be stored on your phone using Apple Wallet (for iPhone users) or Google Wallet (for Android users). This is the same technology used for contactless payments with Apple and Google Pay.
2. Why are digital season tickets now the default option, and has this been tested?
The club gradually introduced NFC technology across Villa Park, beginning with the North Stand and Trinity Road Stand, followed by the Doug Ellis Stand and Holte End. Initially, season ticket holders were given the option to use NFC technology during the 2023/24 season.
After a lengthy trial period allowing for the technology to be tested, and the positive feedback received from those involved in the trial, it has now become the default ticketing method for all fans.
3. What are the benefits of NFC tickets?
Switching to NFC ticketing enhances the speed of entry, improves security, reduces ticket touting, and supports environmental sustainability by going contactless.
4. What devices are compatible with NFC tickets?
- Apple: All Face ID iPhones are compatible, as well as all Touch ID iPhones except the iPhone 5s. Digital tickets can also be used on all Apple Watch models.
- Android: Phones must run the latest version of Android, with Google Wallet installed, up to date, and NFC enabled.
5. How do I access my NFC ticket or season pass?
There are two ways to access your tickets:
- Via the official Aston Villa app
- Download or update the official app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on the device you'd like your digital season ticket to be on.
- Sign in to your Digital Account in the app by tapping the person icon in the top right.
- Go to the Tickets section by tapping the Tickets icon at the bottom.
- Your digital season ticket will appear automatically at the top of the screen.
- Tap your digital season ticket to use it for entry into the stadium. You can also add it to your Apple or Google wallet from here.
- Download via email link
- Find the relevant email with your ticket link from email@news.avfc.co.uk on the device you'd like your digital season ticket to be on.
b. Click the link within the email. Your digital season ticket will load in your mobile web browser.
c. From here, you can download your digital season ticket to your Apple or Google wallet.
6. Can I download my NFC pass on a desktop computer?
No, NFC passes must be downloaded directly to your smartphone.
7. Will I need internet access at the stadium to use my NFC season ticket?
You must download your season ticket before your first match of the season. Ensure your pass is downloaded to your digital wallet before arriving at the stadium. It is advisable to download this in a location with a reliable internet connection. Once the pass is downloaded, internet access is not required for it to work, but your device must be switched on.
8. How do I use an NFC ticket?
When you arrive at the stadium, access your ticket via Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and hold your phone, screen facing towards you, against the contactless reader at the top of the turnstile reader. Please make sure your phone isn't locked when you hold it against the reader, if you have any problems, you may just need unlock your phone and try again. Please note, each ticket is single-use and cannot be transferred after entering the stadium.
9. Do I need to download a new ticket for every match?
No, your season ticket is issued as a season pass and only needs to be downloaded once at the start of the season. Your NFC season ticket will automatically update before each home game and is valid for the entire 2024/25 campaign. Match-by-match tickets (cup matches for example) should be downloaded individually before each game and links will be sent via email. Purchased tickets will also automatically appear in-app.
10. What should I do if I accidentally delete my NFC pass?
If you accidentally delete your pass, try to locate the original email sent from emails@avfc.co.uk and download it again. If you cannot re-download the pass, please contact the ticket office for assistance. Alternatively, you will find your Season Ticket in the Aston Villa app, with the function to add to your Apple or Google Wallet.
11. What if I have multiple season tickets connected to my email address?
If you have multiple season tickets registered to your email address, you will receive separate emails for each season ticket. You can either forward the respective emails to the appropriate season ticket holder or add all tickets to your own phone and use multiple taps to check in your group. If you forward the email, ensure the recipient will be using the ticket for the entire season, as new links are not issued for every game.
12. Can I share my season ticket with someone else and download it to more than one device?
You can only download your digital season ticket to one device at a time. You can transfer your season ticket on a game-by-game basis by contacting the ticket office to reassign your seat to a different fan ID. An updated match ticket will be sent to the new user.
13. What if my NFC pass shows as expired?
Even if your pass appears as expired, it should still be valid. To refresh it, follow these steps:
iPhone:
- Open Settings and unhide expired passes in your Wallet.
- Open the Apple Wallet app and tap "View Expired Passes."
- Select the pass and refresh by tapping the three dots in the corner.
- Return to the main Apple Wallet screen, where your pass should reappear.
Android/Google:
- If your pass shows as “expired,” click "show details" on your pass to activate it.
- Ensure 'tap and go' is enabled in your NFC settings.
14. What troubleshooting tips are available if I have issues downloading or using my pass?
- Ensure your phone has mobile data and that pop-up blockers are disabled.
- Use your phone’s native mail app to open the email with your ticket.
- iPhone users: Check Safari and Wallet settings, ensuring pop-ups and cookies are not blocked.
- Android users: Confirm Google Pay is set as the default payment app.
15. How can I view my NFC pass after downloading it?
Your pass is stored in Apple Wallet (for iPhone) or Google Wallet (for Android). You can access it anytime through these apps.
16. What should I do if I need assistance on matchday?
Do not worry, we will be on hand to assist you. If you need help on matchday, please approach a Turnstile Supervisor (one is located outside every block of turnstiles) who will guide you to the nearest ticket resolution point.
We will have two matchday ticket office cabins open, one near the McGregor Statue and one on Witton Lane (towards the Holte End).
17. Can I resell my season ticket if I can't attend a game?
Yes, you can resell your seat through the Season Ticket resale scheme if the game is sold out.
18. What happens if my junior supporter does not have a smartphone?
The junior supporter’s ticket can be downloaded to an accompanying adult's phone and be presented at the stadium.
19. What happens if my NFC pass fails to read at the turnstile?
Apple Users:
- Click on the 3 dots in the in the top tight corner
- Select “Pass Details” from the menu to display a QR code
Android Users:
- Select “Show Code” underneath the pass to display a QR code
*Please note this is for phones that do not display any response at the turnstile not if a red light is displayed. A red light would indicate the ticket is invalid and requires further investigation.
20. Will my digital season ticket transfer over if I get a new phone during the season?
As Wallet includes sensitive material, you may need to enter your information again on your new phone.
For Apple phone users. If you use iCloud for syncing Wallet, you may just need to sign into iCloud on your iPhone.
For Google Wallet users, if you transfer over the Google Wallet app to a new phone, your cards and passes should transfer to your new phone.
21. What do I do if my phone runs out of battery?
We kindly ask our supporters to ensure their mobile phones are sufficiently charged before arriving at the stadium. Unfortunately, we do not offer phone charging facilities on-site. If you find yourself unable to access your digital season ticket due to a flat battery, please visit one of our matchday ticket offices to request a printed paper ticket.
22. I am getting an error message when downloading my pass or need technical support.
Whilst the Supporter Services team will try to help wherever possible, if you require specific technical advice reagarding your mobile phone or the wallet app we strongly advise contacting your device supplier's support team, or Apple Wallet/Google Wallet support, to resolve error messages and other issues that relate to your device. Here are some useful links:
- Apple Wallet (support.apple.com/en-gb/apple-pay - opens in new window)
- Google Wallet (support.google.com/pay - opens in new window)
- Samsung (www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-device/phone/ - opens in new window)
- Google Pixel (support.google.com/pixelphone/- opens in new window)
- Huawei (consumer.huawei.com/uk/support/contact-us/- opens in new window)
- Sony Xperia (www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/mobile-phones-tablets-mobile-phones- opens in new window)
Please note that the club is not responsible for the content of any external sites you may visit from the above links.
I don't have Apple or Google Wallet functionality on my phone?
Tickets can still be accessed via the Aston Villa app, using the QR code on-screen to scan at the turnstile without the need to download a pass into a mobile wallet.
