Etihad atmosphere

[Mike1984]

The demographic of the modern football fan has changed these days as has society. When we were kids there was hardly any football on the tv and no internet. Match of the day was one main match and i think...i may be wrong,brief highlights of a second match.You couldn't see the goals or any highlights of any other match played.So if you didn't go to the game you missed what happened forever. The Sunday games were the same.One local match and i think they showed a couple of other regional games.

Going to the match was a big event,the highlight of the week.You weren't saturated with sites like these,you tube,a main football site.You got snippets from newspapers and the football pink and odd magazines like shoot and goal.So you were starved of football,you looked forward to going to the game. Kids now have so much more to do and occupy their time.A lot don't feel the same affinity and loyalty to clubs as the older fans do.As we age and die i worry slightly who takes our place.I took a selfie of myself in the South stand and posted it on facebook,saying ''Blue army!'' I got the piss ripped out of me by a lot of mates saying ''Old army!'' and when i looked at it almost everyone was over 50 in the vicinity!

On to the price thing.Football becomes a habit as much as everything.So the price for the weekend games when everyone wants to go a lot are priced out.They lose the buzz and habit of going to games.The clubs could make some league cup game against Hull on a winters night in November £1 for everyone and i still doubt they would sell out. People can't be bothered.They can see it for free on a dodgy internet stream,not have to brave the weather,the travel cost and chaos,some getting home at midnight when they have work in the morning.If the game is shit they can watch tv,stay warm,grab a drink when they want or switch off and go to bed. Times have changed and like our youth we can't rewind and go back there.Clubs either learn this and address it or attendances and atmosphere will continue to fall and fail.

This is very true all of what you said I'm in my 30's so not young or old but I do think our fan base is more on the older side a loyal hard core old following we need more 15 to 25 year old I think because alot of our fans are 40/50+ or very young I think that contributes to the atmosphere too it's been better this year than last year but still a long way to go so hopefully will pick up again like at the start of the season chelsea game etc was great

 

[paulchapo]

This is very true all of what you said I'm in my 30's so not young or old but I do think our fan base is more on the older side a loyal hard core old following we need more 15 to 25 year old I think because alot of our fans are 40/50+ or very young I think that contributes to the atmosphere too it's been better this year than last year but still a long way to go so hopefully will pick up again like at the start of the season chelsea game etc was great

Also Mike is when we were kids or older going to a game could be a last minute decision. At 13:30pm a group of us who may have been dithering about going to a game,sometimes because a couple of us were scratching around for the money,would suddenly decide to go.We would jump on a bus,queue up and pay at the turnstiles and we would all stand together and have a good crack.Now you would have to try and get a ticket and probably be split up all over the ground.That is also killing football and the camaraderie it brings.

 

[mrtwiceaseason]

Agreed. I'm not the oldest (30) but I still recognise guys who've been going long before I grew a hair on my chest with many in their 60's/70's now still attending.

Pricing is an issue.
People would attend more if pricing is consistent, rather than dirt cheap one week then sky high the next week. People have developed habits such as staying at home/in the pub and not going, and even if the ticket was free some people wouldn't be bothered.

I don't attend much aways now.
I'll only go to stadiums I've never been to before now to tick off the box (such as Juve away)
But won't be going to Stoke tomorrow.
This is a financial decision.

There are far too manual casual fans in this country now and this is the byproduct of the Murdoch Operation with Sky which resulted in people switching to their sofas.

The same has happened with the advent of better TV's BluRay and NetFlix which has resulted in less people attending Cinema (except for the big blockbusters which one could relate to a FA Cup Final/Derby Day)

There are people willing to go, just their habits need changing and this is achievable with a consistent, affordable pricing structure across the whole leagues and clubs... Such as the Twentys Plenty idea from The FSF

You raise a good point about make it up as you go prices ,people hear its£58 at city loose a bit of interest and then miss out on the £20 tickets.
Going to the game is a habit I missed a few through an eye op last year ,the first one bothered me but the more I missed, it seemed to matter less ,and providing I could watch the game on a stream you could see how watching 90 mins at home and having the rest of the day free could appeal

 

[mrtwiceaseason]

Also Mike is when we were kids or older going to a game could be a last minute decision. At 13:30pm a group of us who may have been dithering about going to a game,sometimes because a couple of us were scratching around for the money,would suddenly decide to go.We would jump on a bus,queue up and pay at the turnstiles and we would all stand together and have a good crack.Now you would have to try and get a ticket and probably be split up all over the ground.That is also killing football and the camaraderie it brings.

This this and this^^^
Totally explains why the atmosphere is crap at ALL games now a days.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

The demographic of the modern football fan has changed these days as has society. When we were kids there was hardly any football on the tv and no internet. Match of the day was one main match and i think...i may be wrong,brief highlights of a second match.You couldn't see the goals or any highlights of any other match played.So if you didn't go to the game you missed what happened forever. The Sunday games were the same.One local match and i think they showed a couple of other regional games.

Going to the match was a big event,the highlight of the week.You weren't saturated with sites like these,you tube,a main football site.You got snippets from newspapers and the football pink and odd magazines like shoot and goal.So you were starved of football,you looked forward to going to the game. Kids now have so much more to do and occupy their time.A lot don't feel the same affinity and loyalty to clubs as the older fans do.As we age and die i worry slightly who takes our place.I took a selfie of myself in the South stand and posted it on facebook,saying ''Blue army!'' I got the piss ripped out of me by a lot of mates saying ''Old army!'' and when i looked at it almost everyone was over 50 in the vicinity!

On to the price thing.Football becomes a habit as much as everything.So the price for the weekend games when everyone wants to go a lot are priced out.They lose the buzz and habit of going to games.The clubs could make some league cup game against Hull on a winters night in November £1 for everyone and i still doubt they would sell out. People can't be bothered.They can see it for free on a dodgy internet stream,not have to brave the weather,the travel cost and chaos,some getting home at midnight when they have work in the morning.If the game is shit they can watch tv,stay warm,grab a drink when they want or switch off and go to bed. Times have changed and like our youth we can't rewind and go back there.Clubs either learn this and address it or attendances and atmosphere will continue to fall and fail.

i dont think thats true. price is the biggest issue for most young people especially in the 21-25 bracket you talk about - they can't afford 40 odd quid for match day tickets or the cost of season tickets. look at germany cheaper tickets and the stands are full with younger people. habit and not going with mates is the biggest thing for me, a lot of people my age (21) dont go to the match and would rather go on a night out, tbh i dont blame them its cheap and you can have a laugh. if most the people your age dont go you tend to not swell.

 

[paulchapo]

This this and this^^^
Totally explains why the atmosphere is crap at ALL games now a days.

Unless safe standing comes back we will probably never see the likes again. Out of being able to do this new and long standing fans and friendships were born. We often talked some dithering kid with no real loyalties into ''Coming to the match'' for a laugh and they got hooked. Could you imagine it now? ''No...i am not a member so can't buy a ticket''.... Or ''it is sold out in the South stand i can only get one in the East stand it is £10 dearer and i will be on my own.'' You see the problem and where football misses out attracting new fans.

 

[mrtwiceaseason]

Unless safe standing comes back we will probably never see the likes again. Out of being able to do this new and long standing fans and friendships were born. We often talked some dithering kid with no real loyalties into ''Coming to the match'' for a laugh and they got hooked. Could you imagine it now? ''No...i am not a member so can't buy a ticket''.... Or ''it is sold out in the South stand i can only get one in the East stand it is £10 dearer and i will be on my own.'' You see the problem and where football misses out attracting new fans.

Agree with 99% of that but if you can't buy your ticket on the day or you are allocated a row or block I don't think safe standing would make a blind bit of difference

 

[Why Always Ste]

Some good points raised here highlighting how the Pricing, lack of ability to impulse buy and also stand with your mates contributes significantly to the atmosphere, and let's not hide from the fact here - we are one (if not the) oldest fanbases in the Premier League.
I'm stood in the Kippax Corner (112) and there are many people of my age but averagely its quite obviously in the mid 40's range.

Health and Safety/New Technology put a stop to the ability to gain entry on the last minute.

if some system was put in place which allowed people to gain entry on the matchday without a ticket and just pay
And they could be placed in a specific block and stand where they wanted - this would encourage more people.

Impulse buying is key here especially with the youth in our society.
They will gather together with mates, be more likely to let themselves go and piss about/sing songs.
A nightmare for ShowSec but it would generate newer fans.
Little Scrotes yes - but we all grow up right?

Make it widely known throughout gtr manchester, in all the local clubs Youth attend and so on that they can turn up at the etihad and there is a section for them to gain entry for a few quid.
Guaranteed it will be full every home match.

More needs to be examined regarding the Citizens scheme as well.. it's £30 or something right?
I know this has put some friends off as they don't want to pay £30 when they may not even go to one or two games a season.

Youth should be able to watch the matches without having to buy some kind of membership.

City make enough money from the TV deals anyway to even turn around and say: fuck it, all the kids on all the estates around harpurhey/longsight/newton heath and so on can gain free entry.

But I'm confident in knowing this wouldn't happen as City would rather have a few thousand more prawn sandwich corporates in the stadium than some council estate kids.

 

[mancityvstoke]

Some good points raised here highlighting how the Pricing, lack of ability to impulse buy and also stand with your mates contributes significantly to the atmosphere, and let's not hide from the fact here - we are one (if not the) oldest fanbases in the Premier League.
I'm stood in the Kippax Corner (112) and there are many people of my age but averagely its quite obviously in the mid 40's range.

Health and Safety/New Technology put a stop to the ability to gain entry on the last minute.

if some system was put in place which allowed people to gain entry on the matchday without a ticket and just pay
And they could be placed in a specific block and stand where they wanted - this would encourage more people.

Impulse buying is key here especially with the youth in our society.
They will gather together with mates, be more likely to let themselves go and piss about/sing songs.
A nightmare for ShowSec but it would generate newer fans.
Little Scrotes yes - but we all grow up right?

Make it widely known throughout gtr manchester, in all the local clubs Youth attend and so on that they can turn up at the etihad and there is a section for them to gain entry for a few quid.
Guaranteed it will be full every home match.

More needs to be examined regarding the Citizens scheme as well.. it's £30 or something right?
I know this has put some friends off as they don't want to pay £30 when they may not even go to one or two games a season.

Youth should be able to watch the matches without having to buy some kind of membership.

City make enough money from the TV deals anyway to even turn around and say: fuck it, all the kids on all the estates around harpurhey/longsight/newton heath and so on can gain free entry.

But I'm confident in knowing this wouldn't happen as City would rather have a few thousand more prawn sandwich corporates in the stadium than some council estate kids.

It won't happen.......we used to pay on the turnstiles in the old days......it ended in mass scrapping honest

 

[Big Blue Mick]

I'm sure I read somewhere that when the premier league started the average age of a matchgoing fan was 24, it is now 42 and probably going to go even higher. It's the same everywhere and impacts on the atmosphere. The natural cycle for a young blue was get taken by your dad/grandad in the Platt Lane or North Stand until you hit teenage years then get cut loose with your mates on the Kippax. A load of young lads stood together every week generating noise and as paulchapo said you would drag your non blue mates along on the spur of the moment and they would love it. It's gone forever and I'm not sure what the answer is. Its a matchday experience now and not going the game with your mates. Going watching City away in the champions league is like going on a Saga holiday and that is worrying for the future.

 

[Bob the Baker]

I think that the reason why matchgoers are getting older is simply down to finances. I'm the wrong side of 50 & it is only now that I have the disposable income to afford a season ticket. This, and the unsocial hours that I used to work.

If it is younger fans that sing, how come the 16 year old next to me covers his ears when we start up? I thought these youngsters like loud music and stuff?

 

[Big Blue Mick]

Must be your voice Bob. You're right about finances and that's a huge part of the problem. It's not blue tinted nostalgia to say that groups of young lads from the same areas stood together on the kippax every week. Unless they can all afford season tickets, and get them together, then those groups who helped create the atmosphere dissapear. Tell the 16 year old next to you to get a grip and get some aggresive Swales Out chants going.

 

[Bob the Baker]

There are a few singers where we are in the south stand, so I suppose you're right Mick. He has just moved from the family stand, so I guess he's been used to a bit of peace & quiet. He's a good lad really and his dad makes a bit of noise himself.

 

[IWasHere]

You'll be surprised the amount of youth that are city fans. Those who live in gorton Denton beswick Clayton will know this. Pricing is what's stopping them from going. Out of all my mates 2 of us have season tickets. Both of us were able to get them this season because of the cheap pricing due to the expansion. If tickets are lower more youth will come if not don't be surprised when in 10 years time the stadiums half empty because local lads have been priced out and have lost interest in going to matches

 

[peoffrey]

If the team are still doing well then the stadium won't be half empty. It'll full of randoms and the whole of the second tier will be corporate. My move to 116 has largely saved my active support.

 

[bluemoon98]

Hopefully the booing is good tomorrow night ;-) ;-)

 

[invisableman]

The youth of today would sooner play FIFA than kick a ball about in the mud! ... Teenagers are glued to their phones 24/7 with fuck all to say, its just the way the modern world is.. Paying on the gate would just attract more of the same age range we have but probably from rival clubs who just wanna get in the ground, which happened all the time back in the day. so it's not the answer, the age of our fans doesn't concern me the 30 + and 40 + lot still all daft as fuck near me up in third tier and full of banter.

What does concern me is having an entire end dedicated to being a family stand!.... The idea was get loads of kids in they will be our future, the reality is blokes buying them and 2 kids seats without actually taking a kid just occasionally upgrading it for the big games and leaving It empty on a cold Wednesday night v someone shit, cos an adult and a kid works out about the same If not cheaper than just an adult in east stand, I've occasionally ended up in there myself and felt unsure/uncomfortable when it came to shouting and swearing etc, is it necessary for them to take the whole stand ? Could we build a third tier and let their fresh legs climb up,there and open up the north stand or should kids be at the front, I don't know all I know is having a full end is a piss take.

Also we're spoiled now and guilty of turning up expecting to win easily and only crank up the volume against the other big clubs, over the top stewarding is another factor, the city square shite is another, all the meet and greet shit that goes on... Enjoy the game etc it's like Disneyland i think they call it match day experience or some shit ! ..

 

[crazyg]

I'm sure I read somewhere that when the premier league started the average age of a matchgoing fan was 24, it is now 42 and probably going to go even higher. It's the same everywhere and impacts on the atmosphere. The natural cycle for a young blue was get taken by your dad/grandad in the Platt Lane or North Stand until you hit teenage years then get cut loose with your mates on the Kippax. A load of young lads stood together every week generating noise and as paulchapo said you would drag your non blue mates along on the spur of the moment and they would love it. It's gone forever and I'm not sure what the answer is. Its a matchday experience now and not going the game with your mates. Going watching City away in the champions league is like going on a Saga holiday and that is worrying for the future.

Except Saga holidays are more expensive, but I take your point. I've only been to one in the past few years, at Barcelona, when we lost 2-1, but it wasn't the "oldies" who were throwing anything they could over fencing, that's for sure. It was just like going to an away match in the 60s and 70s - massive police presence, treated like cattle, inadequate facilities (yes, I DID piss in the sink!), missing the kick off because the gates weren't open - at the age (then) of 63, I thought "what's the fucking point, I'm too old for this shit".

I used to stand in the Kippax too, and start a lot of the songs/chants, but in those days it was clearly defined - the old 'uns sat in the Main Stand and left us to it to generate the atmosphere. Now I'm older (but still haven't grown up) I prefer to sit down rather than stand, which is why I'm in 304. I agree that the noise made currently could be a lot better, but with the Kippax it was all in one place - now it's spread into various sections around the ground, with the atmosphere being diluted to a large degree.

 

[peoffrey]

Going watching City away in the champions league is like going on a Saga holiday and that is worrying for the future.

I went to Sevilla and there were all ages there. Besides, Dad surely can't leave the young family on a regular basis when City have perhaps four European trips a season? I'm 35 btw.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

I'm sure I read somewhere that when the premier league started the average age of a matchgoing fan was 24, it is now 42 and probably going to go even higher. It's the same everywhere and impacts on the atmosphere. The natural cycle for a young blue was get taken by your dad/grandad in the Platt Lane or North Stand until you hit teenage years then get cut loose with your mates on the Kippax. A load of young lads stood together every week generating noise and as paulchapo said you would drag your non blue mates along on the spur of the moment and they would love it. It's gone forever and I'm not sure what the answer is. Its a matchday experience now and not going the game with your mates. Going watching City away in the champions league is like going on a Saga holiday and that is worrying for the future.

I remember looking at that 360-cam around the ground we did for the Barca match a couple of years ago and even in the "vocal" areas, there were noticeably very few medium to large groups of young blokes stood together. It's the same with our away support. Have a look tonight, and any CL night, at the away section and then have a look at any ground around Europe where they have a decent atmosphere in their main end; it'll be mainly blokes aged 20-35. Then look at us and even in what would be considered the proper end for vociferous home fans it's full of women kids and geeks and a hell of a lot of older blokes. Nowt against any of those people but they aren't the ones who will be starting off chants all game and keeping them going on and on, they just aren't those sorts of people (even if they always do join in with the songs we do get going). football has changed, and it's changed for good unless we sort out a proper big standing stand.