I really do believe that the constantly changing kick off times has a huge influence on the empty seats situation.
The 5.30 kick off time is a nightmare if you have a family or plans to go out in the evening. A lot of season ticket
holders (including myself) just choose to watch the game on TV. Going to football games is a habit. Not going to
football games is also a habit and it is very easy to do. The changing kick off times from 12.30pm, 4.00pm, 5.30pm
3.00pm (very occasionally) prevents people from having a routine and making concrete plans. As does the constantly
changing days on which the games are played. Saturday, Sunday, Monday also Fridays it prevents people from making plans.
So they decide that the inconvenience to them and their families is just not worth it so give the game a miss and just watch it on TV.
Same with early leavers. If you are going out on a Saturday night you may need to get back home at a certain time. The only way to
guarantee that you do is to leave early rather than run the risk of being trapped in the car park or traffic for ages.
It's not just at City that this happens. It happens at every other single Premier league ground - bar none.
Football is now designed and organised around TV schedules and not for the match going fan.
The fallout of this is the above. You reap what you sow.