Ajax's gratitude to Volendam shines in ticket‑share gesture

At the crack of dawn in the Kras Stadion, a modest crowd gathered as Ajax handed over every ticket euro from its Sunday friendly against FC Volendam, a move De reported, meant to thank Volendam for letting the Amsterdammers use the ground for their Europese play‑offs.

The Amsterdammers faced Het Andere Oranje in a low‑key training match at the Kras Stadion, underscoring the gratitude gesture tied to the stadium’s availability. Both sides treated the encounter as a chance to fine‑tune tactics ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Ajax’s own Johan Cruijff ArenA was off‑limits for the European play‑offs because concerts by Harry Styles occupied the venue. Consequently the club had to relocate its European home games to an alternative site.

Matches that were scheduled against FC Groningen and FC Utrecht were therefore shifted to Volendam, where the pitch endured three games in a single week without issue. Volendam’s management praised the durability of their grass surface.

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Patrick Busby, technical director of FC Volendam, said, “The Ajax board has repeatedly expressed how grateful they are. They were extremely pleased with the hospitality and with our grass, which handled three matches in one week flawlessly.” He added that the club’s staff felt the appreciation was genuine.

As a token of thanks, Ajax retained the television revenue while passing the full ticket proceeds to Volendam, a distribution Busby described as “a very nice split.” He noted that the stadium income now belongs entirely to Volendam.

Looking ahead, Busby highlighted plans for coach knowledge exchange, citing strong contacts with Jordi Cruijff and Alex Kroes, which already facilitated the return of Kayden Wolff. He expressed optimism that the partnership will deepen in the coming season.

The financial gesture and collaborative outlook illustrate how Dutch clubs can support each other when logistical challenges arise, reinforcing solidarity within the national football community. Such cooperation may set a precedent for future stadium‑sharing arrangements.