Etihad atmosphere

[East Level 2]

There are many problems to creating a good atmosphere at home games:
We ballsed up when making the entire north stand a "family stand" a few years after we moved, but by the same rule a lot of the singers wanted to be at the other end near the away fans for a bit of banter. We also have an issue of sound not travelling due to the big overhang.
The huge hospitality sections in the middle of the second tier sides put an immediate block on anything travelling from the south stand and to make matters worse they put the new premium seats at the south ends and no fucker in Joe's or 93:20 contributes to the atmosphere (apart from Tim of the Oak). And now they've put another silent hospitality block in the middle of south stand level 2. How many of those fuckers sing?
And the football isn't the up and at 'em style that traditionally generates noise amongst the fans. It's great football in terms of skill, but not necessarily exciting. People coming out on Saturday were saying it was "interesting" and it was, but "interesting" football rarely gets people up on their feet singing.
And perhaps the stadium is too comfortable? Each seat has just that bit more room so there's less inclination to join in when the bloke in the next seat is bouncing around. We are squashed together at most away games and we make a hell of a lot more noise. And while those willing to travel all over the place are more committed, many of those who only go to home games have done so for decades so it's not just down to a day out a sherbet or two.
The atmosphere will be fine amongst City fans at Stoke on Saturday. But at home against Bucharest and West Ham.......................?

 

[ped]

Mate ive got no beef with the way it is now but atmospheres have changed within all stadiums.

Not every game was buzzing in the 80s and 90s but as a whole the two eras are not comparable. One game I will never forget is stoke in 98 when we turned it around in the second half and in those days the singing would start, for the big matches 1:30 onwards next to the away fans on the Kippax. Now you are lucky if people can be arsed rushing there pint to see kick off

they were few and far between though which is what im trying to say ,most of the matches i have ever been to were run of the mlll easy forget ones your 1 30 singing on the kippax were rare,the exeption rather than the rule ,54 thousand every home match dont seem to have a problem with what they witness ,im not having a go at anyone personaly but the negativity does get a bit tiresome these are fantastic times at city the best in my 60 years of watching team ,stadium, atmosphere,transport to the ground (yes i mean the tram ) very little agro, the kippax was amazing when it was rocking but there was a down side to that you could not see the match, crowds of 18,20 thousand were the norm , we have a 1894 group who put in alot of time and effort,it must be shit for those guys to read this shit about the etihad all the time,they at least deserve better

 

[franksinatra]

they were few and far between though which is what im trying to say ,most of the matches i have ever been to were run of the mlll easy forget ones your 1 30 singing on the kippax were rare,the exeption rather than the rule ,54 thousand every home match dont seem to have a problem with what they witness ,im not having a go at anyone personaly but the negativity does get a bit tiresome these are fantastic times at city the best in my 60 years of watching team ,stadium, atmosphere,transport to the ground (yes i mean the tram ) very little agro, the kippax was amazing when it was rocking but there was a down side to that you could not see the match, crowds of 18,20 thousand were the norm , we have a 1894 group who put in alot of time and effort,it must be shit for those guys to read this shit about the etihad all the time,they at least deserve better

I agree with all that and your post is very similar to mine a few pages back. There are pros and cons both ways but although nostalgia brings your focus back on the more raw intense atmospheres overall I prefer it now to how it was and as you say 55k each home match proves thats the majoritys view

 

[KUN_a]

" this city is yours, this city is yours? Based in Trafford, are you fucking sure".

 

[christopp]

I think if the 'singing section' actually sang it would atleast set a trend, your job on match day is to get the songs started and in turn get the crowd going. I sit front row in the east stand and my little row sings more songs than that lot. Terrible atmosphere but surely it can be fixed?

 

[Simran Janda]

Hey guys, i'm travelling to England in February and plan to go to a few games. I was wondering what the best sections are in terms of consistent singing that still has a good view of the game?

 

[Tricky Dickys Right Foot Shot]

Hey guys, i'm travelling to England in February and plan to go to a few games. I was wondering what the best sections are in terms of consistent singing that still has a good view of the game?

The pub

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

Had this weird dream last nignt that arsenal bought our stadium

 

[1961_vintage]

Hey guys, i'm travelling to England in February and plan to go to a few games. I was wondering what the best sections are in terms of consistent singing that still has a good view of the game?

Home game v Swansea will be a bit like yesterday in terms of crowd/atmosphere. Go in the South Stand.

Our other home game is v the rags, where it will be pulsatingly toxic and febrile. Doubt you will get a ticket though.

 

[Simran Janda]

Home game v Swansea will be a bit like yesterday in terms of crowd/atmosphere. Go in the South Stand.

Our other home game is v the rags, where it will be pulsatingly toxic and febrile. Doubt you will get a ticket though.

Cheers for that! Anyone mad enough to sell me a ticket for the derby?

 

[Simran Janda]

Go in the South Stand.

Any section numbers in particular?

 

[goatersnipple]

The atmosphere is absolutely shit it's embarrassing at times.
I sit in 220 it's getting worse

 

[Vic]

85 minutes - "Is there a fire drill?" from the West Ham fans. End of game 90% of them had gone. Apart from between their goal and our third they had nothing - the only bubble song was south stand telling them where they could stick their bubbles.

There's no chance of recreating the atmosphere of when you could just stand with others who wanted to sing - and change ends at halftime to be behind the goal your team was attacking.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

We've been out sung in all 3 home games in SS3.

We can make a noise up there but even from last season it's getting quieter.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

thought yesterday was fine. The 2nd half the atmosphere struggled but that's because the team made a meal of a game in which we should have been 4/5-0 up by HT, the team just made the whole game nervy by defending like they did under Pellers.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Hey guys, i'm travelling to England in February and plan to go to a few games. I was wondering what the best sections are in terms of consistent singing that still has a good view of the game?

Try to get to an away game or two mate. Tends to be a better atmosphere.Tickets are harder to come by butt here are usually the odd spare on the ticket forum. Failing that get in level 1 of the South Stand / Singing Section.

 

[kevin horlocks wand]

Loads left early yesterday. Unfortunately people are not going to stay until the end until they sought the fuckin infrastructure round the ground, travelling to and from that ground is a joke whether you go by bus, tram or car. Felt sorry for sterling scored a great goal.

 

[Kompany Car]

People criticise the north stand for not singing but its not everyone, some certainly do. Was sat in the Colin bell stand (level with halfway line, first tier) yesterday however and it was like a fucking morgue. No singing, lots of oh well done chap and gentle applause, felt more like the proms than a football match. Wound me up even more when serge got flagged wrongly off side, my lad jumped up thinking he was going to score and was told "oh please sit down he's off side".
Now I know some of the people around me were probably attending matches when I was in nappies but this is what we are up against. Greatest respect to those who have supported the club through good times and bad but atmosphere motivates the players. Last season I could understand people not being arsed but some of the football yesterday was sublime. Would love to be able to get tickets for the South stand but never can get 2 together!

 

[Higor Douglas]

We have to see and learn. The stadium atmosphere motivates the players.

 

[pb1951]

reality is we wait expectantly for brilliant football these days, we're often like fans who watch on TV. We're watching. Back in the days when we were shit we didn't want to watch because we were shit so made an atmosphere and had a sing-song, these days at home the priority is watching the action and singing comes second.

Totally agree with your post.