My 10 year old son has autism. We sit in the Whitehorse Lane end and he loves going to games and obviously is desperate to go to the Final. Trouble is he is terrified of balloons - not just normal terrified, but autism-related terrified! The semi-final was a nightmare for him (lower tier block 109, behind goal). Did anyone at the semi sit in an area where there weren't many balloons about? I wondered if the higher blocks were balloon free? Not sure how to break it to him he might not be able to go to the final and he just thinks I can somehow get a ticket in a 'balloon free' area. Any advice welcome. Thanks

thats a tough one, i can see more balloons than ever for this game, unless you get a seat right at the back of the top tier so none fall on his head

failing that, and he doesnt go, ill have his ticket plus ill throw a "drink" on top so you can take him out for the day the following week

Further to previous suggestions, maybe right at the back of the lower tiers on the sides of the stadium, so you are underneath the overhanging middle tier?

Any balloons coming down from above would drop some rows in front of you. The end blocks don't have the middle tier overhanging so you'll buried under an avalanche of balloons no matter where you sit.

As far back as possible I guess,the balloon thing only lasts about five minutes as soon as they get near the pitch they are shot down by the ground staff.
How about getting to your seats just before kick-off the balloons appear when the teams come out and as said by kick-off not too many left to see.

I was up the top 511 and there wasn't any around upper levels

This isn't the best solution, but I suppose if you come 5 mins into the game there won't be balloons? Would obviously mean you miss the pre-match build up, but no (barely any) balloons get chucked around once the game starts properly.

Only thing I can think of, pretty much everywhere in the ground will have balloons, and right now asking if there were any in blocks in the SF isn't exactly beneficial considering for the final it could be different people sat in those blocks, who might bring balloons.

I think there will be Balloons everywhere to be honest. If i really had to take my child with a similar condition i would get into the ground late, maybe just after the national anthem that way the balloons would have cleared the top tier by then and you wont miss any of the game. Failing that, Wouldnt take him.

Agree with the person suggesting entering the seated part ground late if he might be okay with that.

I have no idea what support you get but if there is any, perhaps they could offer practical ideas.

The balloons could be anywhere and we have a different half of the stadium.

Good courage and I hope he has a great time.

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

.

Edited by Alex1991 (04 May 2016 8.37pm)

"Brighton are talking about how they're coming for us. And it's like, we've been waiting in the Premier League for you for ages." Wilfried Zaha, 2017.

Thanks to all who replied with suggestions and support. Being a bowl, the balloons seemed to hang around at Wembley for the whole game in the Palace end so will try and get some seats in a neutral part of the ground although prices I'm being quoted at the moment are ridiculous. He was stressed out yesterday with the handful of balloons in the Whitehorse Lane end at the start of the game so being anywhere near our end at Wembley is going to be too hard for him to cope. Failing that, it will have to be a balloon free zone in front of the telly and I'll try and make it up to him some other way.

Have a fantastic day out all.