City Fans Leaving Early/Empty seats

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Loads of tickets didn’t work tonight, mate couldn’t get in, got told he had to go ticket office, huge queue so just fucked it off.
City need to sort the ticket office out, it’s not fit for purpose.
Also loads of Lyon fans in 326, away fans always in there!!

Don’t we have to give the away side some tickets in the corporate bit? There was plenty of room them in their end had they wanted to be there.

The ticket situation at city is a shambles. Is Danny wilson still in charge of it? If so he needs to sort it out

 

[citizen]

I think a lot are missing the point here.a
A lot don't go and me included in the week as it's a nightmare to get to and from the ground in the week.
Manchesters roads simply cannot cope with traffic anymore.

Don’t talk bollocks

 

[City Raider]

Such a slick operation leading the world in so many ways, with a Swales approach ticketing system

 

[Marvin]

Never mind the ticket office, the number of blues who have given up on the Champions League is embarrassing.

The fans do not prioritise the Champions League and I think it transmits itself to the players. They should be professionals and ignore the empty stands but players are human. Edgy full house at Kick off and I am sure we would have won that game easily.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Tonight there we 1000s of empty seats, it’s mid week, people work today and tomorrow, kids have school who wouldn’t be getting home until 11pm possibly. Factor in cost of tickets, transport probably have to buy food because you’ve missed your tea in trying to get to the stadium, less tourists during* the week this coupled with the attitude towards the champions league and you can see why people don’t want to go. I don’t know what the solution is, we want local,fans to go but do they have the disposable income that glory hunters have ? if you want to fill it full of happy clappers week in week out that’s going to be another 20 years of building a fan base to try to get anywhere near what united and Liverpool get.

 

[Marvin]

I think a lot are missing the point here.a
A lot don't go and me included in the week as it's a nightmare to get to and from the ground in the week.
Manchesters roads simply cannot cope with traffic anymore.

What rubbish. I was home by 10.50pm

 

[Thomas Hearns]

Never mind the ticket office, the number of blues who have given up on the Champions League is embarrassing.

The fans do not prioritise the Champions League and I think it transmits itself to the players. They should be professionals and ignore the empty stands but players are human. Edgy full house at Kick off and I am sure we would have won that game easily.

I didn’t go tonight Marvin. Many reasons really but the main one being that it really wasn’t that important a game. Obviously to an extent they’re all important but of all the games we’ll play this season this could well be one of the games where a defeat was largely irrelevant

 

[Damanino]

‘I wouldn’t like to use the (small) crowd as an excuse. We had this type of crowd before and played well. I’d like it full and everyone supporting the team like crazy. It didn’t happen but it isn’t an excuse.’
Arteta

 

[WNRH]

Going to the match is all about routine.

You leave at the same time, normally with the same people, take the same route, same pre match rituals whether that be programme, food, drink.

When you get out of that routine, it is hard to get back into it. I fell out of that routine four seasons ago, still got my season ticket but i now find it a chore to go to the match.

Many reasons happen for getting out of the routine, family, work commitments, finances. For me it is simply the pain and the stress of actually getting to the ground. Long traffic ques, park miles away with a 20 min walk, then a 20 min wait to get in sometimes with awful security measures (i sit in SS3), shit pre-match shenanigans, shit half time shenanigans and the the tiresome journey home in traffic. The only thing about the so called "Matchday experience' that is great is the game itself, which i can see on TV anyway, in the comfort of my home without all the stresses noted above.

For me, too many city fans have lost that routine. It starts by knocking off league cup games (which i did), then FA cup (which i did) and now Champions League (which i have). The point where it was all lost for me was the Liverpool second leg last year where i decided to watch on TV instead of paying £40+ to see it live. I can never say i will never go to another Champions League game again but the chances aren't very likely as i will always favour the stress free option which i now actually prefer.

This may not be the same for most city fans but it is something that i have noticed with those i know or close to me.

Every City fan should be applauded for going tonight but for all the right we have done both on and off the pitch the last 10 years, unfortunately IMO it has been at the expense of what really matters and that is the match going fans and it will only deteriorate in the coming years as the club continue to ruin it and the sport itself becomes more and more saturated on TV.

For something so simple to get right, the club and the sport have overkilled it all and you get the product that is served up now.

 

[HelloCity]

Tonight there we 1000s of empty seats, it’s mid week, people work today and tomorrow, kids have school who wouldn’t be getting home until 11pm possibly. Factor in cost of tickets, transport probably have to buy food because you’ve missed your tea in trying to get to the stadium, less tourists during* the week this coupled with the attitude towards the champions league and you can see why people don’t want to go. I don’t know what the solution is, we want local,fans to go but do they have the disposable income that glory hunters have ? if you want to fill it full of happy clappers week in week out that’s going to be another 20 years of building a fan base to try to get anywhere near what united and Liverpool get.

It’s just excuses mate.

I’ve been a season ticket holder for 25 years and a large element of our support just doesn’t bother with any mid week cup competion.

FA cup replays, League Cup games, Europa League, or even Champions League.

Going since the early 90s, the first mid week cup game we sold out was the 2009 League Cup quarter Final against Arsenal.

Even a large amount of season ticket holders don’t bother with mid week league games.

Edit - I’m hearing it was just £53 for a 3 game bundle.

(Not aware as I’m on the Cup scheme and just go anyway)

 

[Marvin]

Tonight there we 1000s of empty seats, it’s mid week, people work today and tomorrow, kids have school who wouldn’t be getting home until 11pm possibly. Factor in cost of tickets, transport probably have to buy food because you’ve missed your tea in trying to get to the stadium, less tourists during* the week this coupled with the attitude towards the champions league and you can see why people don’t want to go. I don’t know what the solution is, we want local,fans to go but do they have the disposable income that glory hunters have ? if you want to fill it full of happy clappers week in week out that’s going to be another 20 years of building a fan base to try to get anywhere near what united and Liverpool get.

I reckon 1 in 2 City seasoncard holders have given up on Champions league which is hurting the club. I think a contributory factor tonight was because it was a soporific atmosphere and the players took their lead from that. It will probably take a Champions League win for City fans to get onside with the competition.

 

[Marvin]

I didn’t go tonight Marvin. Many reasons really but the main one being that it really wasn’t that important a game. Obviously to an extent they’re all important but of all the games we’ll play this season this could well be one of the games where a defeat was largely irrelevant

That's a ridiculous excuse. We really needed to win this game to help our Premier League campaign and to get top spot in the group which is very important if you want to do well in the competition.

 

[DannyBoy2890]

Took me 3 attempts to get in the ground!
Season card wouldn’t scan!
Wish it didn’t work altogether now.

Ahh well sod it! Hoffenheim away in 12 days!

 

[Corky]

I reckon 1 in 2 City seasoncard holders have given up on Champions league which is hurting the club. I think a contributory factor tonight was because it was a soporific atmosphere and the players took their lead from that. It will probably take a Champions League win for City fans to get onside with the competition.

It is a boring comp which we have a habit of losing in now.

Oxford next week is the big one, and it will be a cracking win lose or penalties.

 

[MCFC1993]

Fact of the matter is; everyday life in Manchester isn't as easy as it is in other places, so mid-week games have always been a struggle. Poor transport systems, long working hours (probably less pay too than areas down south) and other commitments (kids etc...) make mid-week games difficult for most fans to get to. Adding the transport systems and roads around into it and piss poor ticketing and it turns into a long affair.

I would have gone tonight but didn't finish work until 19:45 and it'll be the same for a lot of other people.

We have a loyal match going fanbase of around 40k-50k, only takes a few thousand not to be able to make it and the seats appear.

Those who went should be applauded.


I think we do need to sort out our attitude towards the competition but I don't know how we do that after everything UEFA have done in the past to screw us over. From the FFP situation to their piss poor handling of racist incidents, i'd say forgive and forget but it's not that simple in regards to the latter point.

 

[ysmsa]

A complete overhaul is needed. They need to take this profit record in hand now and be fairer to us.

For SeasonCards most average out at £43/game. When the away fans pay £30. That's not right!

They need to sack off the ticket agencies and ONLY City fans with a Supporter Number should be able to buy tickets. We have enough of them to fill the stadium, easily! Many many times a season they will be trying to buy tickets and told they can't.

They need to re-think the whole corporate set-up, there are FAR too many for demand.

Not having this!
Away ticket prices in Premier League are capped at £30 for all away fans as insisted on by the League. This is a good thing and cant be used to judge prices for home fans.

Secondly there were plenty of tickets available tonight to fans with a supporter number, at reduced prices.
Also free upgrades from junior to Adult tickets if you dont want your child out late.

I dont see what more the club can do but for some reason people just will not go to cup games.
Manchester Roads have been an issue but tonight there was nothing when travelling from South to East through Town, so that can't be used as excuse tonight.

It will come because I see no alternative; compulsary cup schemes for S/ T holders like they have at the Swamp.

Tonight should have been pretty much full, seriously.

 

[Marvin]

Going to the match is all about routine.

You leave at the same time, normally with the same people, take the same route, same pre match rituals whether that be programme, food, drink.

When you get out of that routine, it is hard to get back into it. I fell out of that routine four seasons ago, still got my season ticket but i now find it a chore to go to the match.

Many reasons happen for getting out of the routine, family, work commitments, finances. For me it is simply the pain and the stress of actually getting to the ground. Long traffic ques, park miles away with a 20 min walk, then a 20 min wait to get in sometimes with awful security measures (i sit in SS3), shit pre-match shenanigans, shit half time shenanigans and the the tiresome journey home in traffic. The only thing about the so called "Matchday experience' that is great is the game itself, which i can see on TV anyway, in the comfort of my home without all the stresses noted above.

For me, too many city fans have lost that routine. It starts by knocking off league cup games (which i did), then FA cup (which i did) and now Champions League (which i have). The point where it was all lost for me was the Liverpool second leg last year where i decided to watch on TV instead of paying £40+ to see it live. I can never say i will never go to another Champions League game again but the chances aren't very likely as i will always favour the stress free option which i now actually prefer.

This may not be the same for most city fans but it is something that i have noticed with those i know or close to me.

Every City fan should be applauded for going tonight but for all the right we have done both on and off the pitch the last 10 years, unfortunately IMO it has been at the expense of what really matters and that is the match going fans and it will only deteriorate in the coming years as the club continue to ruin it and the sport itself becomes more and more saturated on TV.

For something so simple to get right, the club and the sport have overkilled it all and you get the product that is served up now.

Fans used to walk miles to get to the game. They used to walk miles just to get the Pink. And that was in the day when the pitch was mud, players were unfit and the football was rubbish. Lots of fans have gone soft. 'Traffic?' There was no traffic tonight.

 

[HelloCity]

Apparently we actually won in the VR version of the game tonight, so at least one blue went home happy.

 

[WNRH]

Fans used to walk miles to get to the game. They used to walk miles just to get the Pink. And that was in the day when the pitch was mud, players were unfit and the football was rubbish. Lots of fans have gone soft. 'Traffic?' There was no traffic tonight.

You think i am soft for not wanting to walk from Hazel Grove to the Etihad and back tonight?

Out of interest, where do you live as theres plenty of traffic around the grove at the moment.

 

[Marvin]

Not having this!
Away ticket prices in Premier League are capped at £30 for all away fans as insisted on by the League. This is a good thing and cant be used to judge prices for home fans.

Secondly there were plenty of tickets available tonight to fans with a supporter number, at reduced prices.
Also free upgrades from junior to Adult tickets if you dont want your child out late.

I dont see what more the club can do but for some reason people just will not go to cup games.
Manchester Roads have been an issue but tonight there was nothing when travelling from South to East through Town, so that can't be used as excuse tonight.

It will come because I see no alternative; compulsary cup schemes for S/ T holders like they have at the Swamp.

Tonight should have been pretty much full, seriously.

Some fans can't afford it, but many just aren't that bothered. It's always been like this. Even when we had the hard core of 30,000 who used to go to Maine Rd the Cup crowds were poor.