North Stand expansion - seating, ticketing etc

[jrb]

Not convinced by "1894 on the atmosphere front".

I like some of the work they do with displays, but whilst they're keen and loyal, they don't strike me as being fanatical,rowdy, loud or boisterous which is what we need up in ssNS2.

NS2 ss needs to be a bear garden with plenty of u21s and old heads.

What is the membership/STH/attendees of 1894 please ?

I don’t think any of our fans are like that. And that includes all the PL club fans.

The FOC’s are getting older. And the youth just want to drink beer and sniff.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

I don’t think any of our fans are like that. And that includes all the PL club fans.

The FOC’s are getting older. And the youth just want to drink beer and sniff.

Think again JRB, that's a very sweeping generalisation.

 

[jrb]

Think again JRB, that's a very sweeping generalisation.

OK. In SSL1. :-)

On a serious note, as I’ve been having a bit of laugh, that’s why we neeed to get as many singers together as possible in a proper singing section on NSL2. If we can get a few hundred singers together they will be fanatical, rowdy, loud and boisterous.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

OK. In SSL1. :-)

On a serious note, as I’ve been having a bit of laugh, that’s why we neeed to get as many singers together as possible in a proper singing section on NSL2. If we can get a few hundred singers together they will be fanatical, rowdy, loud and boisterous.

I think you're taking the piss !!

 

[jrb]

I’ve just done a Fulham seat count.

273 tickets left for Fulham.
At midnight on Monday there were 958 tickets left.
Interestingly, there were hundreds of tickets in the SSL3 away end, which were being sold to City fans, priced at….…….

There are only 4 tickets left now.

That shows if tickets are priced better and people can afford the tickets, the tickets will fly out.

Having 1000+ extra City fans inside the Etihad against Fulham is great.

 

[jrb]

I think you're taking the piss !!

Taking the piss??

You’ve lost me on that one.

No, I’m being serious.

If we can get a few hundred like minded singers together in a singing section on NSL2 they will create a good atmosphere with constant singing, which will hopefully resinate and spread across NSL2 throughout the match. That along with the singers on SSL1.

 

[wearethesouthstand]

Based on the comments on all sides, I think it's a simple case of communication. It would be good for 1894 to reach out and make contact with the club and see if there's an opportunity to get the details that are currently missing.

The club have stated that the number of rail seats could be increased. That, to me, shows that it is willing to engage and change things. Ultimately, whilst it's an expansion to drive revenue, you can't ignore the fact it's providing a single tier and a covered City Square which are elements it didn't need to deliver, at additional cost. So there's definitely a desire to try and deliver something the fans want - and that's all fans not just 1894 I should add.

But ultimately, there are other parts of the ground they could probably command more revenue from hospitality. It could be that in years 1-2 they look at a bedding in period. If 1894 get themselves in the 3,000 seats (hopefully more) then it's job done on the atmosphere front. The only direction that stand then goes is towards a full atmospheric end (at least in the 2nd tier). The GA+ is more likely to be forced out, people from elsewhere might look to move in to join the party and space opens up elsewhere for additional hospitality (not GA+) which delivers more revenue.

There are plenty of options. But rather than taking issue with it and doing nothing, whilst understandable, it's better to try and open up some dialogue and see if the missing information changes the mindset.

hi, bear in mind what was in the 1894 statement. we had one rep there and the likes of citymatters had all 12. we only did what we could given club had a blueprint in their minds already. the club's announcement mentions atmosphere a lot - but in the first meeting with the club , no provision for railseating was made. so the club weren't interested in rail seating. by the second meeting they had made it 3,000 and at the 3rd not building from 3,000. then when statement comes out, oh , maybe it can go higher than 3,000 in the future.

citymatters is the club's preferred vehicle to talk and us at 1894 have encouraged supporters to contact the CM reps in advance of their next meeting with the club on 15th october. you can mail the reps through the website.

1894 canvassed their own membership, which approaches 2,500 but also has some non matchgoing fans from around the world in there. we already said to the club , even when we released our statement, that we could help facilitate people to move into NS2 if they wanted to go, they could be people in our membership or active followers of us on social media that sometimes participate.

but you know club have everyone's email address , all supporters and if they wanted an atmospheric end could have reached out to the whole membership to get a view, just like we reached out to our whole membership for a view. we also asked the OSC to send on surveys so we could take the views of their members too.

we'll continue to do that but there's page after page of hypothetical scenario on this forum when the bottom line is, what are the prices, this year and in the future, are they bringing back season cards or trying to force more flexi golds onto the support by stealth and if someone doesn't attend does that ticket get sold off on a package. You don't buy something without knowing what the cost is going to be first. ball, as ever , is in club's court and they need to work with Citymatters first and foremost and not bypass them as a box ticking exercise. club also wanted all parties to sign NDA's last time as well. this is what we are up against

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I'm merely posting what City fans have told us they want to see happen.

Up to the club to act on it (or not).

And if the club don’t “act on” your advice?

 

[wearethesouthstand]

And if the club don’t “act on” your advice?

if they don't they don't . opportunity being squandered will be down to club no-one else.
they don't even listen to citymatters their own fan advisory board. that's why 1894 get more impact going public

 

[jrb]

Can anyone tell me why the club won’t canvas the wider fan base about what they want from the North stand?

Is it because the club don’t want to do that?
Is it because the club has already made its mind up about the North stand, so there’s no point?
Is it because the club think talking to the CMR’s, 1894, the OSC, etc was enough?
Anything else?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

if they don't they don't . opportunity being squandered will be down to club no-one else.
they don't even listen to citymatters their own fan advisory board. that's why 1894 get more impact going public

If the club have offered the 1894 Group a role as “Anchor tenants”‘in this, the Etihad’s first even dedicated “end”, and they turn it down because the proportion of season tickets isn’t right or something daft then 1894 have squandered a once in a lifetime opportunity for themselves.

I honestly think some blues need to spend a few games away from the south stand lower tier to realise how poor the current situation is. It couldn’t be worse.

 

[PragueBlue]

I think as long as the club market the stand as the 'atmosphere' end, it should work out ok regardless of the seating/standing configuration. Presumably those who decide to move there, whether standing, general seating or the padded seats, will be relocating or buying tickets there because they want to be involved in it. Otherwise they may as well stay where they are.

There's no real reason why those sitting (in any category of seat) can't contribute to the atmosphere as much as those standing.

 

[levets]

Guaranteed a prime position for as long as they want it. Like in the Trafford Centre with Selfridges. The idea is that they attract others (so usually get preferential treatment).

City are Anchor Tenants of The Etihad/Sport City

 

[jrb]

If I ever meet any of you in a pub, I’ll buy you a pint, and I’ll tell you about the (farce) megaphone meeting with 1894 and the club. (those who were there will know what I mean)

It will give you a bit of an insight into what a meeting with the club can be like.

I’m actually smiling and laughing to myself about the meeting to this day, as I write this post.

 

[BerkshireBlue]

The fans weren't surveyed. The fans have never been surveyed by the club.

The club showcased the original NS proposal outside the ground and at other places before the PA was submitted. Apart from that the club has only involved the fan reps at the 4(?) NDA meetings. And has since released a short update about plans for the NS.

As for a sample, it's a very broad sample. Adult fans, old fans, youth, women, disabled fans, and every type of City fan you can think of, all with different wishes and ideas that they want to see for the NS.

I've lost count of the amount of email questionnaires the club have sent me over the years asking how the club is doing, what do I think of the match day experience, would I buy X, would I subscribe to X, do I use X, etc. Yet for the most important and final redevelopment of the Etihad, the club haven't asked me or the wider fan base anything.

Are you saying the club are lying? Or do you mean you weren't asked

 

[BerkshireBlue]

I've seen what the fans who were surveyed said. 1894 surveyed THOUSANDS of fans too remember.

Some fans were surveyed (not all - surveying all fans would be very easy for the club to do btw - simple email and questionnaire). Those fans gave a clear indication on what they wanted (rail seats/atmosphere). Club's plans have put a relatively small provision in for that, that in my opinion does not reflect the feedback fans gave.

I can tell you categorically that I'm not in the minority. I have survey data (that I've posted previously) that back that up. Do you have anything other than anecdotal data to backup your claims that I'm in the minority?

The club thinks you are in the minority

 

[BerkshireBlue]

The survey was overwhelmingly for safe standing…

Proof of this is where?

 

[HelloCity]

Proof of this is where?

1894 conducted a survey which was open to all fans. The results are within the survey they conducted ;)

It was listed on here and all social platforms.

As you say…

you don't survey the entire population you do a sample and that sample is representative of the population. That's how stats work. I don't get what you're moaning at. The fans were surveyed, they responded and the club actioned it. It sounds like you don't agree with what the fans said and you're in the minority. Just a matter of opinion

:)

 

[Manchester33]

The club thinks you are in the minority

Please show me the proof.

What people think is irrelevant anyway. I’m in the majority. I have posted proof of this previously.

Why are you being so contrary? What is it that’s upsetting you so much about me wanting the North Stand to be more atmospheric? Or are you just another poster who opposes anything that anyone associated to 1894 says?

 

[jrb]

Are you saying the club are lying? Or do you mean you weren't asked

Do we know who those fans are?
Do we know the number of fans?
As a snap shot, has anyone on here been consulted by the club, bar the fan reps?
If those fans were consulted, what did they say? What did they want?
Why hasn’t the club published that?
I’d be very interested to know what those fans wanted. I’m sure other City fans would be as well.
Is it what we want for the North stand or something totally different for the North stand?
It’s all good and well saying the fans have been consulted, but where is the evidence? Where are the minutes? Where are the questions and results from the consultation? For. Against. Percentages.
I’m interested. I want to know. Do you what to know?