Atmosphere Thread | 2025/26

[wearethesouthstand]

I watched Genoa V Atlanta tonight.

The double tiered Genoa home end was packed. There wasn’t a single steward I could see.
The Genoa fans from the bottom to the top of the home end were singing constantly throughout the match.

This was the scene at the Genoa home end after the final whistle. Atalanta scored a winner in extra time in the 2nd half.

The Genoa players went over to the Genoa fans thanking them for the their support. All the Genoa fans in the home end stayed until after the final whistle and carried on singing to the players.

Culture over there is totally different as we know mate. Their vocal ends are protected though and you can’t just buy a ticket in that end the “ultras” have a lot of control over who goes in etc

 

[M18CTID]

Would have been more than one question.

You’ll have to read through previous mailers, if you really care about the work being done you’ll see that over many years we’ve constantly asked questions about the atmosphere.

If you are a member you will have that information to hand, if you don’t have it you wouldn’t have joined therefore perhaps asking disingenuous questions? We came to a decision last year based on being in the room with the club, looking into the whites of their eyes and getting permission to attend from our membership and having their wishes took into the meetings.

To make atmosphere work a section needs to be backed and marketed properly as one and to have the confidence to know it will work it needs to have all the things going wrong took away from it / relaxation of ticket transfer, a commitment to full season tickets in that area / removal of 3rd party resellers from these sections / a halt to excessive stewarding and chucking people out for simply showing passion. Otherwise there is no commitment to the atmosphere from the club.

The club sold the south stand as “our end” 10 years ago at the Chelsea game with big fanfare and tickertape cannons. Since thrown they gradually made the area less partisan, resulting in today’s situation.

There are no guarantees at the moment that any new sections in NSL2 would have any such protections.

Our surveys have attracted over 5000 responses and over 1600 individual comments. We don’t see anyone else doing that work.

The information presented months ago is the same information now. So certainly nothing has changed. The car crash in level 1 with city hall and the way fans have been treated there I think proves that when you try and deal with the club they may well have other plans up their sleeves at the same time.

In September 2024 we mailed Danny Wilson saying we don’t wish to be included on any club press releases about this stand because that would look like we approve of the current plans as they do.

We did also say on mail to him at that time that we would still support anyone that wants to go across there and that’s always been the case. We think a majority of people do not wish to swap ends they are happy staying put but for those that do move well support them and collect names of interested people but then also seek to fill the gaps in the south stand - whatever tier - with people interested in them atmosphere and collect those names also.

So our position has not changed in all that time. And the concourse protests highlighted fans were unhappy about club’s policies including lack of real season tickets being brought back.

You can’t have an atmosphere with a different person sat in the seats every week.

The club set the expectation level sky high with their blue wall comments. Not the fans. The club came up with plans for that end and got them cleared by the council. Not fans. The club chose the level of consultation and chose the vision and how to “sell” their plans, they did this through drip feeding information but no detail on things such as price. That’s the club not the fans.

I personally think a lot more fans would have jumped at the chance to go over had the club approached things in a different way.

We said make it attractive for people to go. Sell your vision.

They spent the majority of the time talking up the hotel - which is something built for tourists.

In amongst all the arguments as to whether 1894 should've supported the plans or not, this is something else that needs to be considered. Imagine if we said we approve of the plans back in September 2024, only for it to come out later that fans were going to be turfed out of NS1? 1894 would've gotten pelters from fans even though we were in no way aware that the club were going to do that. In effect, the club would've thrown us under a bus.

 

[TueartsCossackSpray]

Sorry, but that Christmas Tree blocking out parts of the Telly would drive me mad :)

Bloody JW

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Just to clarify, if what I wrote came across the wrong way?

We do have 3000 singers amongst the 53,000 crowd, but we won’t get 3000 dedicated singers together in the 3000 safe standing seats on NSL2. Just like SSL1, NSL2 will be a mixture of fans who are dedicated singers, fans who sing as and when, let’s say after a goal, and fans who don’t sing, but want to stand. If we could get 3000 dedicated singers together on NSL2, we’d have the best home end in British football, and we’d be on a par with some of the biggest and best Ultra ends and sections acorss Europe.

I agree. It probably will end up having a mix of singers, non singers much like the south stand. However even if that is what happens, that’s still miles better than the current situation. We would finally have singers at the other end of the ground.

I think you can forget safe standing, seating and other things. The main thing that will make people move into the north stand is the price. If it’s cheap/ affordable loads will move. If we get something like ss3 it would be class or at least better than what we currently have

 

[Tim of the Oak]

There’s a good chance that the North Stand Safe Standing blocks won’t open until next season (unless they are included in test events). City will prioritise ticket sales in the seated blocks.

There is time for the club to genuinely involve the fans groups and we get a decent outcome, linked to affordable ticket prices. Initial talks with 1894 and the OSC give a glimmer of hope. Time will soon run out though.

I have thought for quite a while that the emptiest parts of the ground next season will be the tops of East Stand and Colin Bell Level 3.

There are still a lot of families looking for season cards / flexis. They might not be ideal in terms of a North Stand vocal end but at least they should grow our support and improve the atmosphere a bit.

 

[M18CTID]

I agree. It probably will end up having a mix of singers, non singers much like the south stand. However even if that is what happens, that’s still miles better than the current situation. We would finally have singers at the other end of the ground.

I think you can forget safe standing, seating and other things. The main thing that will make people move into the north stand is the price. If it’s cheap/ affordable loads will move. If we get something like ss3 it would be class or at least better than what we currently have

Pricing will be crucial IMO. If they get that right then there's a better chance of getting the right kind of fans into the safe standing areas. If the prices are no better than many other areas of the ground then there will be less incentive for fans to move there.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

Pricing will be crucial IMO. If they get that right then there's a better chance of getting the right kind of fans into the safe standing areas. If the prices are no better than many other areas of the ground then there will be less incentive for fans to move there.

The silence around pricing is certainly concerning to me.

It feels as if they're waiting to see how the rest of this season goes on the field before making a decision

 

[jrb]

Culture over there is totally different as we know mate. Their vocal ends are protected though and you can’t just buy a ticket in that end the “ultras” have a lot of control over who goes in etc

It is. You are right.

It was 0-0 until Atalanta scored the winner in injury time. The whole end stayed waiting for the Genoa players to come over to the fans. I doubt all of the fans who stayed belong to the Ultra groups. They were all singing throughout the game. That would be like everyone on SSL1 singing throughout the game. Imagine that. What a noise we’d create.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Pricing will be crucial IMO. If they get that right then there's a better chance of getting the right kind of fans into the safe standing areas. If the prices are no better than many other areas of the ground then there will be less incentive for fans to move there.

100%. It happened with block115 didn’t it? You had singers ready to join the block and they ended up in ss3

If you’re looking at the bigger picture, in my view it’s about getting those people willing to sing into the north stand. If the club make tickets affordable, make sure season ticket holders/ long term city fans are there and probably have a number of seats just for 18-25 year olds - you will get a decent singing end.

 

[jrb]

The silence around pricing is certainly concerning to me.

It feels as if they're waiting to see how the rest of this season goes on the field before making a decision

The safe standing seats on SSL1 weren’t made any cheaper when safe standing was installed.

I honestly can’t see the club making the safe standing seats on NSL2 any cheaper than other parts of the ground, especially with normal seats directly under them. The club can’t make safe standing seats cheaper, and one row below going down 5000 seats, make those seats normal priced seats.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

The silence around pricing is certainly concerning to me.

It feels as if they're waiting to see how the rest of this season goes on the field before making a decision

I think it’s the key behind this entire home end project. It’s why ss3 is decent.

We could have safe standing, an ultras block, all the 1894 group members offered seats, but if the tickets are too expensive people won’t move there

That’s what we should be pushing, otherwise it’ll end up like ss2

 

[wearethesouthstand]

The safe standing seats on SSL1 weren’t made any cheaper when safe standing was installed.

I honestly can’t see the club making the safe standing seats on NSL2 any cheaper than other parts of the ground, especially with normal seats directly under them. The club can’t make standing seats cheaper, and one row below going down 5000 seats, making those seats normal priced seats.

They already know the pricing they just won’t tell us

 

[wearethesouthstand]

I think it’s the key behind this entire home end project. It’s why ss3 is decent.

We could have safe standing, an ultras block, all the 1894 group members offered seats, but if the tickets are too expensive people won’t move there

The other thing is pricing might end being alright but they should have announced it over a year ago and that way people buy in.

People have made their minds up in the meantime.

 

[jrb]

I agree. It probably will end up having a mix of singers, non singers much like the south stand. However even if that is what happens, that’s still miles better than the current situation. We would finally have singers at the other end of the ground.

I think you can forget safe standing, seating and other things. The main thing that will make people move into the north stand is the price. If it’s cheap/ affordable loads will move. If we get something like ss3 it would be class or at least better than what we currently have

I agree. I keep on agreeing with people. :-) It’s Christmas!

Having 2 proper vocal ends NSL2, SSL1, including SSL3, and blocks 110 and 111 will hopefully make a huge difference to the atmosphere over time?

What the fans can do is to make sure bother ends sing with each other, bounce off each other, and have some friendly banter with each other. Singing to each other across the pitch, and joining in together with chants, rather than singing different chants all the time. It’s something the fans can organise and work on together over time.

Here’s a really shit example, so don’t have a go anyone. :-(

The North stand to the South stand during the match.

“We are the North, we are the North stand, we come from Manchester!”

The South stand chant back.

“we are the South stand, we are the South stand, we come from Manchester!”

It’s just a bit of banter between the stands and the fans, but it get’s both ends singing, and side lines the away fans as they listen to both ends of the Etihad chanting to each other.

 

[jrb]

They already know the pricing they just won’t tell us

Sounds about right.

 

[M18CTID]

100%. It happened with block115 didn’t it? You had singers ready to join the block and they ended up in ss3

If you’re looking at the bigger picture, in my view it’s about getting those people willing to sing into the north stand. If the club make tickets affordable, make sure season ticket holders/ long term city fans are there and probably have a number of seats just for 18-25 year olds - you will get a decent singing end.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened mate. We did as much as could to get dedicated singers into that block but once the cheaper SS3 prices were announced, many who had originally committed to moving into 114/115 decided to move there instead (perfectly understandable by the way so I'm not knocking anyone for doing that) and we ended up with a diluted block before the season even started.

 

[Lowtower]

I agree. I keep on agreeing with people. :-) It’s Christmas!

Having 2 proper vocal ends NSL2, SSL1, including SSL3, and blocks 110 and 111 will hopefully make a huge difference to the atmosphere over time?

What the fans can do is to make sure bother ends sing with each other, bounce off each other, and have some friendly banter with each other. Singing to each other across the pitch, and joining in together with chants, rather than singing different chants all the time. It’s something the fans can organise and work on together over time.

Here’s a really shit example, so don’t have a go anyone. :-(

The North stand to the South stand during the match.

“We are the North, we are the North stand, we come from Manchester!”

The South stand chant back.

“we are the South stand, we are the South stand, we come from Manchester!”

It’s just a bit of banter between the stands and the fans, but it get’s both ends singing, and side lines the away fans as they listen to both ends of the Etihad chanting to each other.

Fucking hell mate

Its difficult enough in itself navigating the family stand with the floor drinks slalom, the musical chairs when the latest fat **** wants to pop out for another burger and those selfie types wanting to take pictures of the pitch.

Dunno if I can cope with having a singalong at the same time.

 

[BringBackSwales]

I agree. It probably will end up having a mix of singers, non singers much like the south stand. However even if that is what happens, that’s still miles better than the current situation. We would finally have singers at the other end of the ground.

I think you can forget safe standing, seating and other things. The main thing that will make people move into the north stand is the price. If it’s cheap/ affordable loads will move. If we get something like ss3 it would be class or at least better than what we currently have

We do have singers at the other end of the ground CHB, not many of us, but there are many of those who do sing who sing more than many in the South Stand, and who stay until the final player has left the pitch. Not many I’ll grant you but there are A Few Good Men, and children, maybe even the odd woman

 

[stonerblue]

You haven’t got clue Stoner, so keep on making it up and guessing about me.

That aside, I don’t have to justify myself to you, to Dave, or to anyone else on here who wants to have a go at me.

People on here who know me know I what I contribute vocally at the back of 115 on a match day. And what I have always contributed vocally no matter where I have sat or stood on a match day, not only at the Etihad, but at Maine Road. Like many City fans I have started numerous chants of that have traveled around Maine Road and around the Etihad. It’s a great feeling to do that

No doubt you’ll talks this seriously, but it’s just a laugh.

My singing claim to fame.

There’s a pattern.

1.Top left corner on the old Kippax terracing next to the away fans.
2. Block R, top left corner, North stand, next to the away fans.
3. Block 110, ESL1, next to the away fans.
4. Block 115, SSL1, next to the away fans.
5. Block 215, SSL2, when we relocated from MR.

My other claim to fame is starting the “Sergio, Sergio…. chant in block 110, which lasted throughout Sergio’s career at City. :-)

Of to decorate my Christmas tree.

Keep up the good work.

 

[.db.]

Going back to fans leaving early, which is part of the discussion. Here is one reason, amongst other reasons

Look at the amount of car parking spaces for cars on the Collar Site. Add that to the amount of cars in the back car parks behind the Coop Live Arena. No wonder people who park next to the Etihad on a match day leave early and want to get out of the car parks quickly.

Mark Woods Photography - Facebook.

View attachment 178153

That’s some sky that!