Massive financial boost for Inverness Caley Thistle as thousands of virtual tickets sold for Hearts game
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Over 4700 virtual tickets have been sold for Caley Thistle's game against Hearts later this month giving a financial boost to the club.
The initiative was set up as the game is being broadcast live on BBC Scotland on February 26 and cannot be sold on pay per view.
The idea came from the Federation of Hearts supporters to help Inverness out on missing out on the number of fans who are unable to enter the stadium due to coronavirus rules.
Fans have the option of buying either £5 or £10 virtual tickets as a donation to the club and sold 1000 tickets alone within 90 minutes yesterday.
Chief executive officer Scot Gardiner said the club is grateful to everyone for the support from all clubs.
"We have now sold over 4700 virtual tickets for our game on Friday, February 26," he said.
"The vast majority of which have been purchased by Jambos.
"To put this in some context for those who don’t know the Caledonian Stadium, that is the equivalent of selling out the 2200 capacity South Stand which is the traditional away end that Hearts fans would have been occupying and also selling out the 2200 North Stand, normally occupied by ICT supporters.
"This means that as things stand, Hearts fans have become the biggest away support (virtual or real) ever at the Caledonian Stadium.
"Our capacity is 7822 and we have now managed to sell 60 per cent of that in just over a day.
"When we had sold 1000 tickets in less than 90 minutes yesterday, Robbo joked with me and I really mean joked, that our record attendance which is 7,753 against Rangers would be under threat.
"Little did we know that everyone, but especially the boys in maroon, would keep it going all day and overnight. Some Hearts supporters clubs have even pledged the price of the bus that would have brought them to Inverness later this month. Incredible generosity."
He added: "It has been a remarkable feat of support and philanthropy from a set of fans who through the Foundation of Hearts, have led the way in Scotland on that front and it has been way beyond our hopes for this fundraising initiative."
