North Stand - fans being moved for "City Hall" GA+ section

[Toney’s bookie]

I really do understand people being upset. I even get upset when I get moved from my seat in the SS for just a one-off cup game.

However, progress often has impacts and we all had to move seat when we moved to COMS from Maine Road but the progress was worth it. Hopefully those that will lose their seats will be able to find an alternative location that works for them and can continue to attend and support the lads.

Moving to another area of the ground us never nice because it breaks our familiarities and routines but this isn’t the first and won’t be the last time that progress means enforced change for some.

 

[jrb]

I really do understand people being upset. I even get upset when I get moved from my seat in the SS for just a one-off cup game.

However, progress often has impacts and we all had to move seat when we moved to COMS from Maine Road but the progress was worth it. Hopefully those that will lose their seats will be able to find an alternative location that works for them and can continue to attend and support the lads.

Moving to another area of the ground us never nice because it breaks our familiarities and routines but this isn’t the first and won’t be the last time that progress means enforced change for some.

It probably will be the last time as most of us can't see another stadium expansion in the near future, unless more hospitality areas are created in different parts of the stadium.

 

[.db.]

Being not bothered about it , is not contentious, that's a personal opinion.

City are one of the First to build a Hotel, it is primarily to increase revenue for both the Arena and secondly the football club.
Clubs need to make venues a place to stay or visit for longer than 2 hours.

Then you include 2 ifs. I cannot answer those, as I don't know, I presume away fans will use the Hotel, as I have done at Chelsea, it never occurred to me that I was being contentious though.

I hope to use it, if I can afford it. City for many of us is a whole day, expensive experience, and often includes a stay over, because we have had to, or choose to live away from Manchester.
If I can't afford it, I will have to slum it in a town Centre Hotel.

I often read on the Forum fans moaning about getting back to Altrincham or Bury, some of us don't have that luxury.

The City fan base is now a broad Church, the Club has embraced that, it seems whatever they do is met with derision by some, there needs to be a balance.

There shouldn’t be a balance that includes away fans all over the home ends.

I’m absolutely sick of away fans near me. Last season when Liverpool beat us at home they were all excited and emboldened with an emptying stadium and were taking the fucking piss. I think I’d have ended up getting banned if it weren’t for the lad who sits behind me calming me down and telling me it’s not worth it when I was up for ripping one bloke’s head off who was shouting about our fans being shit and all leaving as he videoed the away end singing.

It’s the worst part of the matchday experience. It’s been enough for City fans to give up their tickets and stop going to games. That’s not a balance, that’s tipped the scales.

Even on that great night when we beat Madrid 4-0, the amount of fans who jumped up near me when Kroos hit the bar at 1-0 was eye opening. If that had been a bad night for us, there’d have been scrapping all over the place with the number of their fans in the home stands who weren’t arsed about making themselves seen.

 

[asahartford1]

There shouldn’t be a balance that includes away fans all over the home ends.

I’m absolutely sick of away fans near me. Last season when Liverpool beat us at home they were all excited and emboldened with an emptying stadium and were taking the fucking piss. I think I’d have ended up getting banned if it weren’t for the lad who sits behind me calming me down and telling me it’s not worth it when I was up for ripping one bloke’s head off who was shouting about our fans being shit and all leaving as he videoed the away end singing.

It’s the worst part of the matchday experience. It’s been enough for City fans to give up their tickets and stop going to games. That’s not a balance, that’s tipped the scales.

Even on that great night when we beat Madrid 4-0, the amount of fans who jumped up near me when Kroos hit the bar at 1-0 was eye opening. If that had been a bad night for us, there’d have been scrapping all over the place with the number of their fans in the home stands who weren’t arsed about making themselves seen.

Emptying stadium.

I don't leave, I stay to applaud City, win or lose. And I am not the only one.

And you are blaming the Hotel for your misery ?

This is what I mean by balance. The Stand and Hotel are not yet open, yet you and others are blaming City for increasing the capacity and improving the experience.

If I stop loving going, it will be my last day.

 

[Centurions]

Nobody knows.

Nobody knows what the 500 bar is within City Hall. Or how it affects and works with City Hall. Or how many seats go with that. Or if they are GA+. Or if they are, whether they are additional. Or replacing the ones above. Or if the ones above are remaining there, or moving up, or moving down to the level below with the new bar in City Hall.

People are guessing. And then stating it as fact, i.e lying. But nobody knows.

The club haven't helped it with a vague and partial statement.

Their question was regarding what was shown on the planning permission as the original GA+ seats, right at the front of the 2nd tier. It's a fact that they're not going to be that now as the club have stated that no one currently sitting in the 2nd tier will be affected.

If there are additional GA+ seats for whatever reason (the Cross Bar at least) in the 2nd tier then they are 100% going between the hoardings and the already fitted seats above where the bare concrete steps are.

The small block of seats at the back of the 1st tier have been stated will be GA+ for whatever the City Hall bit turns out to be. Again that's a fact. Unless you think I'm lying, which was an odd thing to say BTW.

 

[asahartford1]

There shouldn’t be a balance that includes away fans all over the home ends.

I’m absolutely sick of away fans near me. Last season when Liverpool beat us at home they were all excited and emboldened with an emptying stadium and were taking the fucking piss. I think I’d have ended up getting banned if it weren’t for the lad who sits behind me calming me down and telling me it’s not worth it when I was up for ripping one bloke’s head off who was shouting about our fans being shit and all leaving as he videoed the away end singing.

It’s the worst part of the matchday experience. It’s been enough for City fans to give up their tickets and stop going to games. That’s not a balance, that’s tipped the scales.

Even on that great night when we beat Madrid 4-0, the amount of fans who jumped up near me when Kroos hit the bar at 1-0 was eye opening. If that had been a bad night for us, there’d have been scrapping all over the place with the number of their fans in the home stands who weren’t arsed about making themselves seen.

On another point. There are hundreds of Blues in the home end v Madrid away.

Including me

 

[.db.]

Emptying stadium.

I don't leave, I stay to applaud City, win or lose. And I am not the only one.

And you are blaming the Hotel for your misery ?

This is what I mean by balance. The Stand and Hotel are not yet open, yet you and others are blaming City for increasing the capacity and improving the experience.

If I stop loving going, it will be my last day.

I’ve not left a game early since Stockport took the lead against us on about 85mins in 2002 and my Father said ‘right I can’t watch anymore of this shit, let’s go’.

I never mentioned the hotel or the expansion.

 

[.db.]

On another point. There are hundreds of Blues in the home end v Madrid away.

Including me

If you wear City colours and jump up when we score, goading the home fans (like happened near me when Calafiori scored against us for Arsenal last season) and you got a few cracks off the Madrid fans around you (like the Arse fan got a few cracks off City fans), I wouldn’t say the home fans were out of order for giving you a crack, I’d say you deserved it.

If you blend in and don’t make yourself known, there’s not a problem, other than you taking tickets off Madrid fans.

 

[Coatigan]

Their question was regarding what was shown on the planning permission as the original GA+ seats, right at the front of the 2nd tier. It's a fact that they're not going to be that now as the club have stated that no one currently sitting in the 2nd tier will be affected.

If there are additional GA+ seats for whatever reason (the Cross Bar at least) in the 2nd tier then they are 100% going between the hoardings and the already fitted seats above where the bare concrete steps are.

The small block of seats at the back of the 1st tier have been stated will be GA+ for whatever the City Hall bit turns out to be. Again that's a fact. Unless you think I'm lying, which was an odd thing to say BTW.

They are not facts mate, they are guesses. I get the logic of them, and it makes sense. But that's all they are, assumptions, till the club says anything clearer otherwise.

That comment wasn't aimed at you btw, as you have been open about this being your take, and people can then choose whether to agree, believe it, or wait to see more.

Being pedantic, the steps behind the hoarding aren't concrete. At least not finished so, as they have the steel plate covers we have pointed at before, covering over where the connections for temporary props were. That is not me pointing out a technicality for the fuck of it btw, it may well be one of the reasons we havent yet seen any seats in this section. It also does make sense for the GA+ seats to move there and avoid anyone at the start of tier 1 (new numbering) needing to move as in the statement, this I have always said. But it absolutely makes no sense for the bar to move as has been claimed, based on the club's wording, or that connection to be lost, and that's where that assumption for me falls apart.

What that means for the City Hall and however many associated seats below, or whether the two are even related is anyone's guess. They haven't been stated as GA+, that's just not true. It is a read implication.

It could well be that the GA+ has swapped with the level below, and is now within the City Hall and the seats that would have always had to move are now the top of tier 0 rather than bottom of tier 1. That's an interpretation too btw, just to practice what I preach.

Those assumptions that this is extra never before hinted at GA+ may well turn out to be true, and if so, the implied anger behind them is fair. What isn't fair however is continuously stating them as a given and known fact, when all it is is interpretation of a very vague statement that doesn't (yet) line up with the approved drawings.

 

[mexico1970]

If you wear City colours and jump up when we score, goading the home fans (like happened near me when Calafiori scored against us for Arsenal last season) and you got a few cracks off the Madrid fans around you (like the Arse fan got a few cracks off City fans), I wouldn’t say the home fans were out of order for giving you a crack, I’d say you deserved it.

If you blend in and don’t make yourself known, there’s not a problem, other than you taking tickets off Madrid fans.

You'll never ever get through to the thumbs out brigade that the experience is less now because profit means more now. As long as they are clinging on for grim death they don't mind the club herding them like sheep because at least they were there.

 

[jrb]

Their question was regarding what was shown on the planning permission as the original GA+ seats, right at the front of the 2nd tier. It's a fact that they're not going to be that now as the club have stated that no one currently sitting in the 2nd tier will be affected.

If there are additional GA+ seats for whatever reason (the Cross Bar at least) in the 2nd tier then they are 100% going between the hoardings and the already fitted seats above where the bare concrete steps are.

The small block of seats at the back of the 1st tier have been stated will be GA+ for whatever the City Hall bit turns out to be. Again that's a fact. Unless you think I'm lying, which was an odd thing to say BTW.

What's your guess?

How much of City Hall towards the back of NSL1 will be closed off to general City fans to accommodate hospitality City fans using the new hospitality section and seating at the back of NSL1.

I was always under the impression all of City Hall would be open to all City fans from the plans on the PA.

 

[Coatigan]

What's your guess?

How much of City Hall towards the back of NSL1 will be closed off to general City fans to accommodate hospitality City fans using the new hospitality section and seating at the back of NSL1.

I was always under the impression all of City Hall would be open to all City fans from the plans on the PA.

It might still be mate! All depends on what they are actually proposing and how it will work. Nobody knows.

I have said all along, if they subdivide the City Hall, it will lose its intended impact. If they limit (note not reduce, important distinction) its capacity, same again. No disagreement there whatsoever.

But if they have some level of dedicated bar offering for 500 posh fans, within the 1800 capacity, then that for me is an actual improvement over the current format of the GA+ bar. That's assuming they ARE GA+, the club haven't said that, all they gave was a number.

Depends on how many seats go with it too. If it is replacing the previous GA+, what do you think is better/worse as a location, the top of tier 0 or the bottom of tier 1? If it is both, then undoubtedly worse. If it is both, but the current GA+ shifts up as mooted, then still worse, but not as much perhaps.

They are all guesses and assumptions at this point, that's the only bit that is beyond debate.

 

[Centurions]

What's your guess?

How much of City Hall towards the back of NSL1 will be closed off to general City fans to accommodate hospitality City fans using the new hospitality section and seating at the back of NSL1.

I was always under the impression all of City Hall would be open to all City fans from the plans on the PA.

I was under the same impression regarding City Hall bud, I can't even try to guess what they've got in mind, it's a pure swerve ball that bit.

I'm fairly certain that any GA+ seats for City Hall will be in the 1st tier as access becomes more awkward then (and that is what the release indicates anyway). For the same reason, if there are GA+ seats for The Cross Bar then they'll have to be in the 2nd tier I think, somewhere behind the present temporary hoardings (best guess).

Edit: I suppose there's always the possibility that they'll have a 2nd change of heart on The Cross Bar and just open it up to the concourse and other bars in there and just use the label for the whole thing, so no need for GA+ in the upper tier. Admittedly that's just a random thought.

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

Dont remember this much outrage for when we got turfed out of level 2 south stand into level 3 so they could put corporate in.

Note...I love it now in level 3

 

[Coatigan]

I was under the same impression regarding City Hall bud, I can't even try to guess what they've got in mind, it's a pure swerve ball that bit.

I'm fairly certain that any GA+ seats for City Hall will be in the 1st tier as access becomes more awkward then (and that is what the release indicates anyway). For the same reason, if there are GA+ seats for The Cross Bar then they'll have to be in the 2nd tier I think, somewhere behind the present temporary hoardings (best guess).

Edit: I suppose there's always the possibility that they'll have a 2nd change of heart on The Cross Bar and just open it up to the concourse and other bars in there and just use the label for the whole thing, so no need for GA+ in the upper tier. Admittedly that's just a random thought.

That bottom part, that's what I have been saying (is a possibility) for weeks!

That at least stacks with the statement somewhat.

If so, is it better or worse than the approved arrangement? Thoughts welcome.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

My son's pal is a Liverpool fan. We spotted him outside the ground on Sunday a couple of hours before kick-off.

He had £90 and was willing to wait until kick-off to see if him and the Dippers he met up with could cadge tickets.

They got a row of eight in the family stand upper level for the ninety notes each.

How the hell a tout has eight on a complete row is beyond me?

 

[Norman kneejerk]

It might still be mate! All depends on what they are actually proposing and how it will work. Nobody knows.

I have said all along, if they subdivide the City Hall, it will lose its intended impact. If they limit (note not reduce, important distinction) its capacity, same again. No disagreement there whatsoever.

But if they have some level of dedicated bar offering for 500 posh fans, within the 1800 capacity, then that for me is an actual improvement over the current format of the GA+ bar. That's assuming they ARE GA+, the club haven't said that, all they gave was a number.

Depends on how many seats go with it too. If it is replacing the previous GA+, what do you think is better/worse as a location, the top of tier 0 or the bottom of tier 1? If it is both, then undoubtedly worse. If it is both, but the current GA+ shifts up as mooted, then still worse, but not as much perhaps.

They are all guesses and assumptions at this point, that's the only bit that is beyond debate.

If it's corporate it doesn't necessarily mean it will be traditional 'prawn sandwich' munchers.
It might be younger lads with a few quid in their pocket who like to join in.
All guess work of course but I'm basing that on a red mate of my son's from whom I picked up that they have a corporate section of sorts in the Stretford End, not that that makes it right of course.
But maybe there is a market for that younger fan demographic as well as regular singers if they are all pissed it should be a good start .

 

[ridderz]

My son's pal is a Liverpool fan. We spotted him outside the ground on Sunday a couple of hours before kick-off.

He had £90 and was willing to wait until kick-off to see if him and the Dippers he met up with could cadge tickets.

They got a row of eight in the family stand upper level for the ninety notes each.

How the hell a tout has eight on a complete row is beyond me?

That is actually crazy! Eight?!!

 

[Chappie]

The Broadcasting Revenue went up by 71% from 2013-14. All PL clubs could have frozen ticket prices for many years after that, and the BR has shot up numerous times since then (another 17% from this season to 2028).

Instead they’ve continued to put prices up and price more and more long standing fans out.

And what about all the other factors that have also risen in that time.
Players salaries
Staffing costs
Minimum wage increases
Utility bills increases
Policing costs
Stewarding costs.
Health and safety compliance
Stadium maintenance
Maintaining success comes at a price, do you want to watch the best or do you want to go back to mediocrity or worse.
The choice is yours.

 

[HelloCity]

And what about all the other factors that have also risen in that time.
Players salaries
Staffing costs
Minimum wage increases
Utility bills increases
Policing costs
Stewarding costs.
Health and safety compliance
Stadium maintenance
Maintaining success comes at a price, do you want to watch the best or do you want to go back to mediocrity or worse.
The choice is yours.

A bit too boot lick-ish that, mate.

Don’t ever make up excuses for billion pound companies, ran by millionaires and owned by billionaires, pricing people out.