ticket prices for semi- final

[peter.evans]

This idea that it was all so different back then, just isn't right. 1948, 1977 and 1978 are the only 3 years this club averaged over 40 000 in a season, prior to 2004. In 1968, whilst winning the league, we had home attendances ranging from 22000 to 63000. What happened to the other 41000? Last 2 home games, going for the title, only 70000 turned up across both games! The only reason it might have been better then, than it is now, is that many of us were a lot younger!

Spot on ! This is the greatest time ever to be a blue. I've been going for 47 years through thin and thinner. We used to get crowds between 18000 and 25000 regularly in tge 80s and no one gave a toss about attendances. I could not care less if we sell all our tickets for the semis good luck to those go and those who don't for whatever reason.i ll be there cheering the boys to the final even though I haven't got enough points to get a final ticket.Is it true finalists now get 29000 each ? If so I might just get one if we get there. But if not then fair enough.

 

[Bert Trautmanns Helemet]

If anyone thinks that there isn't a disconnect between the long serving loyal fans and the club these days they really do need to wake up and open their eyes. The disconnect has never, ever been greater. The reason that we are struggling to sell our allocation of semi-final tickets at Wembley is not down to the fans being self-entitled or complacent with success in recent years - far from it. It's due to the loyal fans of many years being treated like shit by the club and therefore simply refusing to shell out a lot of money to support a club they no longer have a close affinity with. It's due to long standing fans not being able to get tickets for away matches as a big chunk of them are now dished out to the corporates. It's down to the fact that when they do manage to get a ticket for an away game when they get there the away end is filled with tourists (the recent Arsenal & Chelsea games being a perfect example) who must have got their tickets from resale agencies that have been supplied by the club. It's due to no longer having a real & direct relationship with the club as the virtually all of the communication the club has with the fans is via social media. It's due to long standing, season ticket holding fans of 30 & 40 years being turfed out of their seats with virtually no notice so the club can build even more corporate areas. It's due to the sterile, orchestrated 'Match Day Experience' that is now required to be the norm. It's due to loyal, match going fans being turfed out of the ground and banned by jumped up Showsec stewards for minor misdemeanors at the direct instructions of the club. Yes - the attendances will hold up and probably get bigger as we are now a global club that tourists want to visit and watch a game at (when they eventually find their seats) but the atmosphere will become more and more sterile. More and more less passionate and more and more neutral. If that is what the club wants then that's fine and that is exactly what they are getting. But don't expect hard working people to cough big money to watch a game when they are effectively being told they are not welcome anymore. The fans will support the team until their dying day but their attitude to the club will become more and more indifferent and more and disconnected just as it is now. The club need to realise that eventually you reap what sow and what they are now reaping is not what loyal blues of many years want to see or be a part of. That is why we have struggled to sell our allocation of semi-final tickets this time. In previous times we would have been queuing around the stadium for 6 and 7 hours to get a ticket and loving it! The fact is the club don't give a shit about the fans anymore and the fans are reciprocating that feeling in spades.

 

[BringBackSwales]

That's because Swales was announcing the attendances and swindling the tax man

Oi

 

[dickie davies]

Oi

Yeah you shredded wheat head twat ;-)

 

[Marvin]

If anyone thinks that there isn't a disconnect between the long serving loyal fans and the club these days they really do need to wake up and open their eyes. The disconnect has never, ever been greater. The reason that we are struggling to sell our allocation of semi-final tickets at Wembley is not down to the fans being self-entitled or complacent with success in recent years - far from it. It's due to the loyal fans of many years being treated like shit by the club and therefore simply refusing to shell out a lot of money to support a club they no longer have a close affinity with. It's due to long standing fans not being able to get tickets for away matches as a big chunk of them are now dished out to the corporates. It's down to the fact that when they do manage to get a ticket for an away game when they get there the away end is filled with tourists (the recent Arsenal & Chelsea games being a perfect example) who must have got their tickets from resale agencies that have been supplied by the club. It's due to no longer having a real & direct relationship with the club as the virtually all of the communication the club has with the fans is via social media. It's due to long standing, season ticket holding fans of 30 & 40 years being turfed out of their seats with virtually no notice so the club can build even more corporate areas. It's due to the sterile, orchestrated 'Match Day Experience' that is now required to be the norm. It's due to loyal, match going fans being turfed out of the ground and banned by jumped up Showsec stewards for minor misdemeanors at the direct instructions of the club. Yes - the attendances will hold up and probably get bigger as we are now a global club that tourists want to visit and watch a game at (when they eventually find their seats) but the atmosphere will become more and more sterile. More and more less passionate and more and more neutral. If that is what the club wants then that's fine and that is exactly what they are getting. But don't expect hard working people to cough big money to watch a game when they are effectively being told they are not welcome anymore. The fans will support the team until their dying day but their attitude to the club will become more and more indifferent and more and disconnected just as it is now. The club need to realise that eventually you reap what sow and what they are now reaping is not what loyal blues of many years want to see or be a part of. That is why we have struggled to sell our allocation of semi-final tickets this time. In previous times we would have been queuing around the stadium for 6 and 7 hours to get a ticket and loving it! The fact is the club don't give a shit about the fans anymore and the fans are reciprocating that feeling in spades.

There might be some legit. grumbles in there, but you've ignored the obvious reason: the Wembley thrill factor has gone for many. We spent lifetimes nurturing dreams of going to Wembley etc, and we've done it.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

There might be some legit. grumbles in there, but you've ignored the obvious reason: the Wembley thrill factor has gone for many. We spent lifetimes nurturing dreams of going to Wembley etc, and we've done it.

he has some legit reasons, but the main one he and yourself are ignoring is the cost. 100 odd quid for one game is a lot of money for most people. all the problems he mentioned wouldn't exist if football was more affordable.

 

[Marvin]

he has some legit reasons, but the main one he and yourself are ignoring is the cost. 100 odd quid for one game is a lot of money for most people.

I am ignoring that because that's a constant in both situations i.e. In previous occasions when we sold out and now. Unless you are arguing that City fans are worse off than before which is going to be very difficult for you to prove

 

[Jacko1956]

This idea that it was all so different back then, just isn't right. 1948, 1977 and 1978 are the only 3 years this club averaged over 40 000 in a season, prior to 2004. In 1968, whilst winning the league, we had home attendances ranging from 22000 to 63000. What happened to the other 41000? Last 2 home games, going for the title, only 70000 turned up across both games! The only reason it might have been better then, than it is now, is that many of us were a lot younger!

Well said, for the sixty eight champion season the average was under 38000 and the ground held 62000. The main season if we don't sell out is simpl, it's a semi final and its in London at Wembley, we are now going to both FA Cup semis and Finals and League Cup Finals on a regular basis. If the game was in the midlands at Villa Park we'd sell out but the expense incurred in traveling Wemble is just too expensive for a off lot folk, I'm lucky and can afford it and will be taking my grandson for his first trip to Wembley but not sure I Would have gone otherwise.

 

[lancs blue]

This idea that it was all so different back then, just isn't right. 1948, 1977 and 1978 are the only 3 years this club averaged over 40 000 in a season, prior to 2004. In 1968, whilst winning the league, we had home attendances ranging from 22000 to 63000. What happened to the other 41000? Last 2 home games, going for the title, only 70000 turned up across both games! The only reason it might have been better then, than it is now, is that many of us were a lot younger!

There are a few points to bear in mind that account for quite a bit of the variation -

1. That 63,000 crowd was for the derby, there was probably at least 15,000 rags in the ground.
2. A much lower proportion of S/T holders, we only had about 10,000 then compared to 44,000 now so there was a much higher proportion of pay at the gate spectators.
3. For the vast majority of people it was a cash-based society, no plastic, if you didn't have the money on Saturday morning you weren't going to the match (unless you jibbed in!)

The last two home games you refer to were both night games - Thursday and the following Monday - plus we were the outsiders for the title at that point, we'd dropped 3 points in two away games and it looked as if we'd blown it. Leeds and the rags were the favourites at that point but both dropped key points around that weekend which left us in pole position although we still had to win two difficult away games to clinch it.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I am ignoring that because that's a constant in both situations i.e. In previous occasions when we sold out and now. Unless you are arguing that City fans are worse off than before which is going to be very difficult for you to prove

you could argue city fans are worse off or prices are having a bigger effect. pretty much everything from ticket cost to food cost has gone up since the last semi final.

 

[blueparrot]

There might be some legit. grumbles in there, but you've ignored the obvious reason: the Wembley thrill factor has gone for many. We spent lifetimes nurturing dreams of going to Wembley etc, and we've done it.

For me there is no thrill factor in 'just' going to Wembley, for a semi final, never has been.( The ground, not the actual semi final ) I can't make the semi final anyway and won't get a final ticket. But a semi final at Wembley has no more attraction to me than a semi final anywhere else just more expensive. whereas if it's for a final then it's different. I know it gives others that maybe haven't been to Wembley a chance, and I'm sure we will sell out now they are on general sale.
If I was one that expected to get a final ticket though I would probably save myself and my money for that. that's where expectation has changed things we don't expect the semi final to be the end of the road anymore,

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

There are a few points to bear in mind that account for quite a bit of the variation -

1. That 63,000 crowd was for the derby, there was probably at least 15,000 rags in the ground.
2. A much lower proportion of S/T holders, we only had about 10,000 then compared to 44,000 now so there was a much higher proportion of pay at the gate spectators.
3. For the vast majority of people it was a cash-based society, no plastic, if you didn't have the money on Saturday morning you weren't going to the match (unless you jibbed in!)

The last two home games you refer to were both night games - Thursday and the following Monday - plus we were the outsiders for the title at that point, we'd dropped 3 points in two away games and it looked as if we'd blown it. Leeds and the rags were the favourites at that point but both dropped key points around that weekend which left us in pole position although we still had to win two difficult away games to clinch it.

Absolutely fair points, every one of them. It's just that, sometimes, people would have other people believe it was 80000 every week, free pies and beer, everyone staying to the end and nobody getting on players backs. Time plays funny tricks on the mind!!

 

[mancitymick]

Had this game been played on the Saturday the sale would have been completely different.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

you could argue city fans are worse off or prices are having a bigger effect. pretty much everything from ticket cost to food cost has gone up since the last semi final.

Lots of different elements at play I would think. i doubt cost is why Arsenal have struggled to sell their allocation. Most of them are just totally pissed off with em at the moment.

 

[ell]

Had this game been played on the Saturday the sale would have been completely different.

Yep, Extra time would have meant missing trains home.

 

[Marvin]

you could argue city fans are worse off or prices are having a bigger effect. pretty much everything from ticket cost to food cost has gone up since the last semi final.

And real wages have gone up too: that is wages adjusted for inflation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39576856 I know football fans are never typical, but I doubt money has got anything to do with change in demand for FA Cup Semi-final tickets although of course for a lot of people it is too expensive. It would have been too expensive last time as well

 

[dennis1976]

Lots of different elements at play I would think. i doubt cost is why Arsenal have struggled to sell their allocation. Most of them are just totally pissed off with em at the moment.

We do actually have more fixtures these days ie more cup runs etc, we have 54000 coming to most home games, so more fans turning up more often does have an effect on what people can or cannot afford. Pretty sure had bluemoon been around in the 50s 60s 70s 80s we would be hearing a lot of moaning about something or other. Its human nature lets enjoy the ride .Looks like level 1 is sold now. 3 less blocks showing in level 5 .

 

[GortonBlue62]

If anyone thinks that there isn't a disconnect between the long serving loyal fans and the club these days they really do need to wake up and open their eyes. The disconnect has never, ever been greater. The reason that we are struggling to sell our allocation of semi-final tickets at Wembley is not down to the fans being self-entitled or complacent with success in recent years - far from it. It's due to the loyal fans of many years being treated like shit by the club and therefore simply refusing to shell out a lot of money to support a club they no longer have a close affinity with. It's due to long standing fans not being able to get tickets for away matches as a big chunk of them are now dished out to the corporates. It's down to the fact that when they do manage to get a ticket for an away game when they get there the away end is filled with tourists (the recent Arsenal & Chelsea games being a perfect example) who must have got their tickets from resale agencies that have been supplied by the club. It's due to no longer having a real & direct relationship with the club as the virtually all of the communication the club has with the fans is via social media. It's due to long standing, season ticket holding fans of 30 & 40 years being turfed out of their seats with virtually no notice so the club can build even more corporate areas. It's due to the sterile, orchestrated 'Match Day Experience' that is now required to be the norm. It's due to loyal, match going fans being turfed out of the ground and banned by jumped up Showsec stewards for minor misdemeanors at the direct instructions of the club. Yes - the attendances will hold up and probably get bigger as we are now a global club that tourists want to visit and watch a game at (when they eventually find their seats) but the atmosphere will become more and more sterile. More and more less passionate and more and more neutral. If that is what the club wants then that's fine and that is exactly what they are getting. But don't expect hard working people to cough big money to watch a game when they are effectively being told they are not welcome anymore. The fans will support the team until their dying day but their attitude to the club will become more and more indifferent and more and disconnected just as it is now. The club need to realise that eventually you reap what sow and what they are now reaping is not what loyal blues of many years want to see or be a part of. That is why we have struggled to sell our allocation of semi-final tickets this time. In previous times we would have been queuing around the stadium for 6 and 7 hours to get a ticket and loving it! The fact is the club don't give a shit about the fans anymore and the fans are reciprocating that feeling in spades.

You make some very good points and I agree with almost everything you say.

However, if any, or all, of these issues stop someone going to the semi final, they're a bit half-hearted and should probably man-up.

 

[GortonBlue62]

Had this game been played on the Saturday the sale would have been completely different.

I don't think so. A different set of excuses would have been employed.

 

[dennis1976]

I don't think so. A different set of excuses would have been employed.

Any chance we can start a positive wembley thread ????