North Stand Construction Discussion

[HelloCity]

Great post. Reality is the vast majority of our match going fans don’t want to stay around the stadium for a couple of hours after a match. Most just want to get home. It’s a great option to have, but Im not fussed either way about that element

It’s before the game I’d think most fans would be using it

Tbf, it holds 3k out of a 61k capacity. It doesn’t need to appeal to the vast majority of our fans.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

It's about City recognising the problem doesn't start or end at the Etihad.

Fans leave early because of the issues getting to and from the stadium, not the opportunity to stick around it at their leisure.

I blame City for a lot of it, they have done very little to establish what the issues are because they see it like you seemingly do, it's not their problem?

But it is a problem for them, or they wouldn't be trying token gestures to address, but always with the mindset of how they can monetise fans further.

City don't need to care that someone from Sale or Alty can't get a direct tram to the stadium or it takes more than an hour to drive eight miles for any evening game, with no parking places to speak of.

What it does do, however, is impact the fans' mindset how they attend and for how long.

My criticism of City is the huge influence they have over the council and have done little to improve the relief roads or tram timetables, let alone offering solutions.

City don't want a transport solution that gets us to and away from games quickly.

They want us there early, they want us there late. We could build another tram stop on the south side of the ground, if we really wanted to address ten thousand people leaving on 85 minutes.

When you add in the latest plans for further zero car parking, it is clear the club and council are in total alignment.

I can tell you the players are shit, showered and changed and sat in the same traffic as the rest of us before many others are back on a tram.

Cars are parked fifty yards away so they make a sharp exit.

There will be plenty of occasions when there will be 60k football supporters and another 15-20k rocking up for an event at the Arena on the same day, which will have the tills ringing, but absolute mayhem in the surroundings.

I'm not sure Soriano will give it too much thought when he's still holding court in the Chairman's Lounge two hours after the game and filling his face with Gambas.

You don’t know what the the club is doing,or has done,or with whom,or when.

They will be aware of the problems and of the incompetence of the Metro operators.

To suggest that the club is in collusion with the council regarding parking protocols is ludicrous. Perhaps you should familiarise yourself with the legal responsibilities the club has to comply with on related matters.

The construction of the arena, North Stand and Hotel will require/ demand improvements/ solutions and they will come.

As a matter of interest where do you live ?

Try and be happy.

 

[MCFC Wirral]

The days of pubs are numbered in now. you Would need your head examining to open one up these days.

Match day plus concerts should keep a well run pub going near the ground.

I lived in Anfield of all places for six months and it seemed to work there. I’d obviously keep away when they were at home.

 

[MCFC Wirral]

Bloody hell, if the street closures go ahead, you'll need to be parked up three hours before kick off if you want be as close as The Halfway House.

;-)

Crystal Gold, please.

 

[twosips]

Thats really interesting and says they don't have much faith in discussions with transport providers. I'm guessing the club is a little hamstrung in that it cant say we will build a huge fuck off multi story to house 1000's more cars because of the green agenda that they must comply with. On the other hand they are faced with a public transport system that is not fit for purpose on match days and is likely to remain that way. Can you give any more detail about your discussion?

Not really much more I can say other than City have apparently spoken to the council a billion times about extra trams but basically just got nowt back. Unsurprisingly!

 

[Lavinda Past]

Not really much more I can say other than City have apparently spoken to the council a billion times about extra trams but basically just got nowt back. Unsurprisingly!

A billion?

I've told you a million times... don't exaggerate!

;-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

For people who essentially don't need to get home because, as you say, they are tourists anyhow.

Those people are probably staying in city centre for the weekend and in no rush to join the manc commute home.

By tourists I’m assuming you mean irregular match day visitors rather than season ticket holders that still travel hundreds of miles and have similar or greater transport problems to greater Manchester based fans.
Btw I agree with you that the club has enough clout and wealth to fix this once and for all.

 

[Manchester33]

What makes this thread even funnier is that there will be no trams to the Etihad for what, 2 seasons? We'll have 7k more fans, thousands fewer places to park and essentially no public transport.

Empty seats at home!...

I'll offer piggy-backs to and from Piccadilly for the FOCs on here - £50 return journey, take it or leave it.

 

[Manchester33]

I said a while back an electric bus fleet of 50-100 100 plus capacity vehicles could whisk fans and gig goers away to hubs with an odd road closure and traffic lights coordinated efficiently.

I think this is a nice idea in theory, but in practice, it's very unrealistic.

Firstly, who would pay for the buses? Where would they store them when they aren't being used? Which roads would they close (when there are concerts on would there be nightly closures all year round)? How much would it cost to use? Where would they find staff who were happy with this infrequent work when there's a labour shortage already.

 

[Corky]

Buses can't get down the road a it is unless they leave before full time. Note city mention a trial, which will not last long.

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

Empty seats at home!...

I'll offer piggy-backs to and from Piccadilly for the FOCs on here - £50 return journey, take it or leave it.

invest in a pedal power tuk-tuk you’ll make a fortune! Sure I’ve seen one of the big uns in town where there’s like 10-15 peddling it with it’s own bar, definitely seen em in Blackpool

 

[johnevans]

A few of us were at Deansgate tram station earlier after going to see Cocaine Bear, waiting for a tram back to Chorlton
Had to wait fucking ages as SEVEN services passed only going to Trafford Bar, before presumably turning round at the depot for the rag game
Nobody can tell me they don’t treat us differently

Spot on. That lot across town has had various agencies falling over themselves to provide a decent infrastructure for getting to/from games for decades - trains, trams, the lot.

I know that there are different boroughs involved but for example (and for f**k's sake!) when our new gaff was opened for the Commonwealth Games what was one of the first decisions taken regarding transport? Why yes, the Sheffield/New Mills train line timetable was reduced so that trains stopping at Ashburys, the station almost next to the ground, were reduced to one every two hours. And still it remains.

And btw, my sister lives in Old Trafford approximately 25 minutes walk from where The Red Filth play and every home game the area around her block of flats is inundated with match traffic, often blocking roads and so on. Despite all attempts to get Trafford to act, no sign of the local council placing let alone extending parking restrictions like Manchester is about to do (yet again.. and yet again, for f**k's sake!) around City's ground.

It's not City's fault but as others have said, the expansion needs to go hand in hand with improved transport links and better parking facilities. Best not hold your breath waiting, fellow Blues..

 

[jim_tolmies_perm]

It's about City recognising the problem doesn't start or end at the Etihad.

Fans leave early because of the issues getting to and from the stadium, not the opportunity to stick around it at their leisure.

I blame City for a lot of it, they have done very little to establish what the issues are because they see it like you seemingly do, it's not their problem?

But it is a problem for them, or they wouldn't be trying token gestures to address, but always with the mindset of how they can monetise fans further.

City don't need to care that someone from Sale or Alty can't get a direct tram to the stadium or it takes more than an hour to drive eight miles for any evening game, with no parking places to speak of.

What it does do, however, is impact the fans' mindset how they attend and for how long.

My criticism of City is the huge influence they have over the council and have done little to improve the relief roads or tram timetables, let alone offering solutions.

City don't want a transport solution that gets us to and away from games quickly.

They want us there early, they want us there late. We could build another tram stop on the south side of the ground, if we really wanted to address ten thousand people leaving on 85 minutes.

When you add in the latest plans for further zero car parking, it is clear the club and council are in total alignment.

I can tell you the players are shit, showered and changed and sat in the same traffic as the rest of us before many others are back on a tram.

Cars are parked fifty yards away so they make a sharp exit.
There will be plenty of occasions when there will be 60k football supporters and another 15-20k rocking up for an event at the Arena on the same day, which will have the tills ringing, but absolute mayhem in the surroundings.

I'm not sure Soriano will give it too much thought when he's still holding court in the Chairman's Lounge two hours after the game and filling his face with Gambas.

Having been in Chairmans lounge after the Villa game Ferran does indeed hang round for quite a while talking to various folk in there such as Villa Chairman and his party, Sumerbee, Book, Horton, Tkiki, Oman etc. Downstairs from there, my lad met quite a few of the players post game too so not all of them leg it straight away. Grealish was with Will Ferrel for over an hour too :-) Pep was still there too :-) So a very happy boy with his selfies. Foden, KDB, Walker, Palmer, Riyad

 

[domalino]

Not really much more I can say other than City have apparently spoken to the council a billion times about extra trams but basically just got nowt back. Unsurprisingly!

It's weird that though, isn't it? We know Abu Dhabi and MCC are all over each other with the Manchester Life development, and the Arena is going to bring in hundreds of millions a year to the City.

Why would MCC not be all for the idea of collaborating on transport links?

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I think Manchester desperately needs a better transport infastructure for a fast growing city its size, and east Manchester in particular is currently poorly served. The buses and trams being brought into a single network will probably help with this a little bit, you'd hope, but the city is fighting against historic underinvestment, privitzation and neglect. But I also think there is a certain type of supporter here who wants to leave the ground on the full time whistle, be in their personal car parked next to the ground, and away and tucked up in bed minutes later and I just don't think that is possible.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I think Manchester desperately needs a better transport infastructure for a fast growing city its size, and east Manchester in particular is currently poorly served. The buses and trams being brought into a single network will probably help with this a little bit, you'd hope, but the city is fighting against historic underinvestment, privitzation and neglect. But I also think there is a certain type of supporter here who wants to leave the ground on the full time whistle, be in their personal car parked next to the ground, and away and tucked up in bed minutes later and I just don't think that is possible.

Remember buses before privatisation - not much good either. You are right though - more needs to be done, but there is an institutionalised moaning that some luxuriate in - will do until they have a personal hover plate that gets them home, feeds and refreshes them and blows hot air on them.

 

[jayblue]

I've heard city are installing canons in Queens Park and Debdale Park to fire fans into their seats. Got this directly from khaldoon. Might not have been. Looked a bit like him anyway.

 

[Saddleworth2]

is everyone putting their comments into the club about the plans?There is a questionnaire on the article that announced the plans.
I have just finished my comments which centred almost entirely on the transport strategy. They ask you at the end of the questionnaire if you support the plans. I told them I couldn’t until they rethink transport. The club has the clout and the wealth to make things far better for matchgoing fans And should use this development as an opportunity.

 

[Manchester33]

I know that there are different boroughs involved but for example (and for f**k's sake!) when our new gaff was opened for the Commonwealth Games what was one of the first decisions taken regarding transport? Why yes, the Sheffield/New Mills train line timetable was reduced so that trains stopping at Ashburys, the station almost next to the ground, were reduced to one every two hours. And still it remains.

It's not next to the ground though. It's a 20-minute walk down the road. It only takes around 25 minutes to walk back to Picc, so there's not much point in pushing Ashbury's - we need better infrastructure to and from Picc station and maybe an improved park and ride system going the other way.

We aren't talking revolutionary stuff. TFGM could have 5 double trams lined up at the end of each game (going to Picc) and that would significantly improve the situation.

 

[pride in battle]

is everyone putting their comments into the club about the plans?There is a questionnaire on the article that announced the plans.
I have just finished my comments which centred almost entirely on the transport strategy. They ask you at the end of the questionnaire if you support the plans. I told them I couldn’t until they rethink transport. The club has the clout and the wealth to make things far better for matchgoing fans And should use this development as an opportunity.

So not enough buses and you want to cancel a 300 million plus development ? You couldn't make it up...