Open Letter on Season Tickets and Pricing | Club announce price freeze on "general admission season tickets & PL match tickets" for next season (p163)

[Tim of the Oak]

I raised my concerns with fans reps about the obsession with “tourists” amongst our fanbase, over recent months. To their credit, the fans reps tried to be careful about their language and images (and I wasn’t objecting to the types of characters photographed wearing Arsenal shirts and Man U trackies). I wasn’t blaming any of them for people filming Asian Blues in the ground just for the colour of their skin. Nor the violence at Arsenal or vs the bin dippers. That’s more to do with the wider political climate.

I think there’s a bit of a lack of understanding about our roots, particularly amongst some Blues who weren’t there in the Maine Road days. They might not know they we had groups of fans from the Far East going to games when Oasis broke into the big time or when with he Sun jihai.

Some of it is really tedious. When City confirmed the January opening date for the new North Stand, the first 10 comments I saw on X was that it was going to be full of tourists. I’m looking forward to playing in a 60k plus stadium, even in League 1.

 

[jrb]

When I was stood close to the incident, I didn’t hear shouts of (American) tourist, get him!

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

When I was stood close to the incident, I didn’t hear shouts of (American) tourist, get him!

Of course you didn’t, neither did anyone else. The accusation from the above poster is ridiculous.

 

[I'm not really here]

When I was stood close to the incident, I didn’t hear shouts of (American) tourist, get him!

First thing that came to mind

 

[Eccles Blue]

After reading some of the posts on here I am now concerned that when I transfer my ticket to my Canadian Granddaughter she will be looked upon as a non City fan or whatever name you decide this week and might get attacked or verbally abused.
From 5 weeks old (&it would have been earlier if I’d been able to get a flight) she has had City shirts! Her Dad and Mum had season cards before they emigrated and both girls were brought up playing football (soccer) and supporting one team only, Manchester City.
I was proud of this, am proud, but now I am concerned.
Most people go to watch football because they love/like a particular team or just football itself.

Why can we not just live and let live? Let people enjoy the experience. Sorry. I am obviously out of sync with our fan base all of a sudden. :-(

 

[East Level 2]

As I have said on several occasions: There is nothing wrong with tourist fans as a concept. However there is plenty wrong with tourists paying several hundred quid over the odds just because a 50 quid meal is included, and there is plenty wrong with tourists paying high face value prices when long term fans have been priced out.
Tourists (or anybody else) supporting the opposition in the home sections will always be a problem irrespective of what they paid for their tickets.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

After reading some of the posts on here I am now concerned that when I transfer my ticket to my Canadian Granddaughter she will be looked upon as a non City fan or whatever name you decide this week and might get attacked or verbally abused.
From 5 weeks old (&it would have been earlier if I’d been able to get a flight) she has had City shirts! Her Dad and Mum had season cards before they emigrated and both girls were brought up playing football (soccer) and supporting one team only, Manchester City.
I was proud of this, am proud, but now I am concerned.
Most people go to watch football because they love/like a particular team or just football itself.

Why can we not just live and let live? Let people enjoy the experience. Sorry. I am obviously out of sync with our fan base all of a sudden. :-(

What posts are they? Do you really think all of sudden non Manchester based fans are just going to be attacked? (Based on some posts on a forum/ maybe Twitter)

I get what your saying and hopefully you don’t take this the wrong way, but reading some of the posts on here there going so overboard and reactionary.

The only time I’ve actually seen violence in in the stands near me, maybe once and that was two drunk city fans. I’m 31 now and didn’t see the 80s or really the violence after that.

There’s one poster on here insinuating the 1894 group played a part in a fan getting beaten up. Unless I’m missing something, how on earth could any rational person come to that conclusion.

 

[Marvin.]

I’ll say it out loud.

The Etihad on a match day has tourists who visit Manchester and take football matches in as part of their visit.(like I do when I go on a European city break)

The Etihad and Old Trafford have football tourist who come to watch the matches and fly home after the match or the next day. They specifically come to Manchester to watch the football matches.

Saying a person is a (football) tourist is not a derogatory word or a negative word,it is fact.

It’s yet another example of the PC minority in football trying to label the use of the word (football) tourist, that has been used for years, as something that is now bad.

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You were insisting that tourists were a problem at City.

 

[Eccles Blue]

@Cheadle_hulmeBlue I agree about the going overboard and normally I don’t think I do but when it comes to my grandchildren I probably am overprotective and worry too much. C’est la vie.

I also agree that the insinuation about the 1894 group is ridiculous but it is a fact that an American fan was attacked. So whilst I agree with you in the main I think you might appreciate my concerns about my 20 yr old granddaughter? :-)

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

This is why people like me don't bother putting our names forward as candidates for anything resembling responsibility or accountability.

Fair play to those that do, but it's like my local cricket club AGM when only four members volunteer for all those awkward little jobs and then promptly fall out with each other.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

@Cheadle_hulmeBlue I agree about the going overboard and normally I don’t think I do but when it comes to my grandchildren I probably am overprotective and worry too much. C’est la vie.

I also agree that the insinuation about the 1894 group is ridiculous but it is a fact that an American fan was attacked. So whilst I agree with you in the main I think you might appreciate my concerns about my 20 yr old granddaughter? :-)

I can appreciate that. I think similar when I’m taking my 7 year old niece to games. I appreciate the normal response as well, it’s not usual on here lately haha

 

[shnaghaicityfish]

I’ll say it out loud.

The Etihad on a match day has tourists who visit Manchester and take football matches in as part of their visit.(like I do when I go on a European city break)

The Etihad and Old Trafford have football tourist who come to watch the matches and fly home after the match or the next day. They specifically come to Manchester to watch the football matches.

Saying a person is a (football) tourist is not a derogatory word or a negative word,it is fact.

It’s yet another example of the PC minority in football trying to label the use of the word (football) tourist, that has been used for years, as something that is now bad.

Sporting attractions in Manchester | Visit Manchester

Fuel your passion for sports in Manchester with our guide to sporting attractions. Immerse yourself in the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere of iconic stadiums, explore interactive exhibits, and embrace the city's vibrant sporting culture. From football fanatics to sports enthusiasts, our curated...

www.visitmanchester.com

And I’ll echo what you say. A person who comes from another country, often as part of an organised tour group, sometimes with tour guides, is a tourist! There is no other suitable word. Two of our friends came from the US specifically as football tourists and went to Leicester, Everton and us vs Dips on consecutive days. They were very conscious of stadium etiquette and City fans for the day. Nobody felt the need to punch them. They paid a fortune for tickets on Stub Hub (£80, £150 and £500 each for the 3 games).
The issue is that as the proportion of tourists increases so do prices, and the atmosphere disappears. I don’t know what the answer is and I’m not saying the club should try to eliminate tourists completely but if there’s going to be a dialogue we need to be able actually use an accurate definition. Tourists are a different issue to away fans in our end who the club should make every effort to eliminate.

 

[pride in battle]

After reading some of the posts on here I am now concerned that when I transfer my ticket to my Canadian Granddaughter she will be looked upon as a non City fan or whatever name you decide this week and might get attacked or verbally abused.
From 5 weeks old (&it would have been earlier if I’d been able to get a flight) she has had City shirts! Her Dad and Mum had season cards before they emigrated and both girls were brought up playing football (soccer) and supporting one team only, Manchester City.
I was proud of this, am proud, but now I am concerned.
Most people go to watch football because they love/like a particular team or just football itself.

Why can we not just live and let live? Let people enjoy the experience. Sorry. I am obviously out of sync with our fan base all of a sudden. :-(

Your right 100% but the world we live in isn"t a nice place, and people can be absolutely horrible...the game against Liverpool i had a so called tourist sat behind me, she was fantastic, sang her head off, cheered the lads on, she was more vocal than half the young lads that surround me!!

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Your right 100% but the world we live in isn"t a nice place, and people can be absolutely horrible...the game against Liverpool i had a so called tourist sat behind me, she was fantastic, sang her head off, cheered the lads on, she was more vocal than half the young lads that surround me!!

Top post. A lot of the people being called tourists are Blues.

 

[mexico1970]

Top post. A lot of the people being called tourists are Blues.

I can assure you that the many many surrounding me who cheered like lusty sailors when the scousers scored their first most definitely were not blues.

Weird blues having a pop at blues by supporting Liverpool supporting tourists.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I can assure you that the many many surrounding me who cheered like lusty sailors when the scousers scored their first most definitely were not blues.

Weird blues having a pop at blues by supporting Liverpool supporting tourists.

Is that what you are doing? I thought you were a Blue. How strange

 

[Marvin.]

And I’ll echo what you say. A person who comes from another country, often as part of an organised tour group, sometimes with tour guides, is a tourist! There is no other suitable word. Two of our friends came from the US specifically as football tourists and went to Leicester, Everton and us vs Dips on consecutive days. They were very conscious of stadium etiquette and City fans for the day. Nobody felt the need to punch them. They paid a fortune for tickets on Stub Hub (£80, £150 and £500 each for the 3 games).
The issue is that as the proportion of tourists increases so do prices, and the atmosphere disappears. I don’t know what the answer is and I’m not saying the club should try to eliminate tourists completely but if there’s going to be a dialogue we need to be able actually use an accurate definition. Tourists are a different issue to away fans in our end who the club should make every effort to eliminate.

Football tourists do not have to be overseas visitors. On the CL nights in question, the support was likely more local than usual (although I cannot prove it) so I don't know why there is this argument. It is a distraction from the issue about ticket prices and season ticket availability which is something I think every blue on here supports.

 

[mexico1970]

Is that what you are doing? I thought you were a Blue. How strange

I told you, tourists jumping up and down when Liverpool score are NOT City fans. It's YOU that's supporting THEM by having a pop at City fans.

You don't think they were City fans in disguise do you ? :)

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I told you, tourists jumping up and down when Liverpool score are NOT City fans. It's YOU that's supporting THEM by having a pop at City fans.

You don't think they were City fans in disguise do you ? :)

Calm down la

 

[mexico1970]

Calm down la

Have a fag outside the bogs and put your specs on.