Etihad atmosphere

The Etihad could easily have a fantastic atmosphere. Safe standing on the Colin Bell stand side of the ground (ala Maine Road) or both ends.

Next they would have to go completely against the current social and Premier league flow. They would charge for tickets the same kind of prices they charge in Germany for those parts of the ground. This would make all games more affordable for those who are not professional/middle class people, after all making an intimidating atmosphere isnt their forte is it. The club would make it known that this will be an area of the ground where more raucous behaviour and colourful language will be tolerated and anyone going in there must be aware of this. The result would be an area of the ground that would be populated by mainly male youngish majority and a fair amount of older potty mouthed males (me) who prefer not to have to sit and watch football surrounded by the type of people who will get offended by someone telling the referee/opposition player or manager/City player or manager/one of his mates...that he is a naughty word beginning with C.

Sorry to say that whilst it is infinitely better that by and large it is perfectly safe to take women children and old people to football the unwritten criteria of the kind of people clubs want in the stadiums has resulted in a soulless support in most stadiums including ours. if its an atmosphere you crave then its more likely to be found in a busy pub with Sky.
 
The atmosphere was not always great at Maine Road .the players must wonder why half the fans have gone by full time.
 
The ground is half empty when the teams come out.
The loudspeakers belting out cringey videos just before the game.
People disappearing for a pint 10 mins before half time and getting back late
Singing section not singing enough
Away fans have been poor this season
Football played is so technical, no "up and at them" like years gone by
Fans flooding out with at least 5 mins to go.
Football is now like going to the theatre

All part of the problem in my book
 
Richard said:
The atmosphere is poor, and for once, I don't think this one is on the club. We the supporters need to look at ourselves and stop making excuses.
  • People used to moan that it was because a large portion of the South Stand was taken by away fans, yet this season, we have an extra tier and a expanded singing section. It's not made one jolt of difference.
  • Last season people moaned that Pellegrini's football was boring. This season we've got arguably the best manager in the world in charge, playing some of the best football (noticeable exception of Sunday) and it's still quiet.
  • People used to moan that the players never engaged with the fans. This season, after every home game the players gather in a huddle to applaud the stadium. There's hardly any fans left to reciprocate.
I stand in the first tier of the South Stand, and you can hear a pin drop in there at times. If we're meant to be the loudest, then the rest of the ground must be like a morgue...
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Good post mate, the atmosphere was far better before away fans were moved, . 3 occasions that I experienced a very good atmosphere was v lech Poznan, juventus and Porto, all in Europa league and all far from sold out!!!!
 
worsleyweb said:
The booing was an absolute disgrace.

Only way the atmosphere will improve is with cheaper tickets and more teenagers going.
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Usually agree with you but knowing your views on west ham I'm surprised you think cheaper tickets would solve more problems than create them ?
 
mrtwiceaseason said:
Usually agree with you but knowing your views on west ham I'm surprised you think cheaper tickets would solve more problems than create them ?
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possibly but west ham have had to find 20000 new fans over night. 3000 teenagers in a new north stand third tier who can pay a tenner on the day via ticket machines in town and we would have some atmosphere. sure of it. saturday was painfully bad.
 
herrock said:
The ground is half empty when the teams come out.
The loudspeakers belting out cringey videos just before the game.
People disappearing for a pint 10 mins before half time and getting back late
Singing section not singing enough
Away fans have been poor this season
Football played is so technical, no "up and at them" like years gone by
Fans flooding out with at least 5 mins to go.
Football is now like going to the theatre

All part of the problem in my book
Click to expand...

It's not other than the quiet because at the theatre, people don't get to their seats late, don't miss the last 5 mins of the first half of the show, don't come back late and don't leave before the end. They almost then always appreciate the efforts of the actors.

To be honest, a crowd at the theatre is arguably better because they do everything they should which includes staying quiet!

Our place is like no other for me. I think a lot of people just go to football now like it's the pub which I suppose at 15 a game in SS3, for some it is. Watch 60-70 mins and have a piss up for the rest of the time.
 
worsleyweb said:
possibly but west ham have had to find 20000 new fans over night. 3000 teenagers in a new north stand third tier who can pay a tenner on the day via ticket machines in town and we would have some atmosphere. sure of it. saturday was painfully bad.
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Great idea but do we actually have thousands of young lads who want to go and watch us? Most the local lads 23 and under are rags cos they've grown up as a kid with success.

That is definitely what it is lacking, as our fanbase is very old in comparison to other clubs. That is not a knock at older fans, they've certainly been through harder times than younger ones, but it is fact. Barely any young lads at away games inparticular.
 
worsleyweb said:
possibly but west ham have had to find 20000 new fans over night. 3000 teenagers in a new north stand third tier who can pay a tenner on the day via ticket machines in town and we would have some atmosphere. sure of it. saturday was painfully bad.
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Getting tickets on the day next to your mates is a bigger factor for atmosphere than safe standing which we already have for me.
I think having to buy tickets months in advance plays a big part with mates split up over the place.
Will be interesting to see now they have built the Berlin wall weather more seats are full in the north stand as people don't walk round to their mates in the south stand
 
Got told to "fucking sit down" on Saturday from
Someone behind as Aguero burst into the area late on in search of a winner.....jobs fucked
 
Ennis said:
Got told to "fucking sit down" on Saturday from
Someone behind as Aguero burst into the area late on in search of a winner.....jobs fucked
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Some may not agree with me on this but when you hear things like that you have to wonder if the people who really prefer to watch the game in this way(moaning about people making noise, standing up or showing excitement) aren't they better off watching it at home where it's all nice and quiet? Fair enough if you don't want to join in but don't put other people off from getting into the stadium experience it's supposed to be bloody noisy, passionate and exciting... that's what we mean by "atmosphere".
 
My opinion for whats its worth, is that it will never go back to what it was. We still hark on about games from 3,4 and 5 years ago that were great atmospheres. 2 or 3 a season is poor, and unless something changes dramatically regarding standing, pricing and paying on the day it will be the sanitised affair we have now. im so glad i went through the 70's and 80's to know what it was really like to feel the adrenoline from 2 days before a game. A bit edgy nearing the ground in case of some mither, and almost guaranteed away from home, ( but how else do you learn life skills ). getting in an hour before kick off and singing with your mates till after the final whistle. Went to the everton game with my 14 year old, and i feel for him that it cant be as it was. ( i had already been to the swamp and dirty leeds away at that age on my own ). It has become too much of a middle class event, and i actually think that because of our "higher age" supporters, we will soon have attendences stalling. A few years ago most were saying "away days" were better than home games, now theres moaning that they are not the same any more. Once the diehards dwindle down we could be in trouble, 35-40'000 always, but until pressure is put on to change things i can see the future ( in the stands ) not being great.
 
purplenose said:
The Etihad could easily have a fantastic atmosphere. .
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filled with another teams supporters :)

In all seriousness this lack of atmosphere probably goes way back and is deep seated in the minds of a big part of our match going support. We have such a large number of fans in their 40's and 50's who remember the dark days that its just second nature to be either moaning, leave early or just be plain apathetic at the game. Yes we've had some special moments with Aguero's goal and the taking of the clock down but by and large we are still a set of glum fans. It won't be until a new generation of younger fans replace this older generation that the atmosphere will change.
 
citymad said:
filled with another teams supporters :)

In all seriousness this lack of atmosphere probably goes way back and is deep seated in the minds of a big part of our match going support. We have such a large number of fans in their 40's and 50's who remember the dark days that its just second nature to be either moaning, leave early or just be plain apathetic at the game. Yes we've had some special moments with Aguero's goal and the taking of the clock down but by and large we are still a set of glum fans. It won't be until a new generation of younger fans replace this older generation that the atmosphere will change.
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Or we start to dominate over a significant period. As you say we have probably the largest proportion of older fans in comparison to other clubs, most, if not all, with an underlying feeling that it's all going to go horribly wrong. Hence the tension if we don't score early, or the resigned acceptance when the opposition scores - you can almost sense that they're all thinking the same thing when that happens - typical City.

We need more of the new generation of fans who don't have that mindset, but that I'm afraid that that is not going to happen overnight.
 
Bring back standing and you bring back the atmosphere, its that simple, away games are always rocking. A safe standing section of the ground will generate the atmosphere and that will transfer to the rest of the ground in time.
 
Our match going fan base is probably the oldest in the PL.

Even in the SS singing sections, it's full of older City fans

Hell, I'm 49!(but sing)

The majority of these older fans don't want to sing on a regular basis. That in itself defeats the purpose of a singing section.

Until the club, in conjunction with the fans, branches, and groups like 1894, faclitate and create a genuine singing section, *full of fans who want to sing*, the atmosphere at the Etihad will never change.

There is no point in 20 fans trying to stsrt songs on a regular basis, when 1000's stood in front and to the side of them only join in every now and again.

But improving the atmosphere can be done. Look at Celltic. Their singing corner is great. Atmosphere's in Spain were pretty dreadful, not anymore. Look at Madrid. A genuine singing section in the top tier behind the goal. And at Barcelona, and within 1 to 2 season's, they have created a loud, colourful, and genuine singing section behind the full length of one goal. The difference and improvment in the atmosphere at the Nou Camp was obvious to me inside the stadium.

There is one more chance left, namely the NS expansion. Get that wrong and it's over for good!!!
 
Wow this thread has been quiet up until we started losing.


We all sit their worried and nervous when we are losing. Thats when we are quiet.

We need a drum banging trumpet blowing section that just keeps on singing no matter what
 
On the subject of safe standing.
Installing this won't be the automatic atmosphere generator most seem to think it is.
Lets not forget that SS Level 1 is practically an unofficial standing section as it is.

Celtic, Dortmund and a host of other clubs all had fantastic atmospheres before safe standing was introduced.
Palace arguably have the best home 'section' in the league and they don't have safe standing.
Sure it helps, but the main driver behind an atmosphere is having a group of people all with the intent to sing, get behind the team, and by enlarge... take risks with displays, songs and dare I say it, instruments.
It takes time, it costs funny and it needs dedication.
I believe the 1894 Group have got all that.
 
It is what it is. The minute you have to orchestrate something, it becomes false and cheesy. Some games will be great, some will be shite - I like that.

That said, some of the work the 1894 group do looks good, but it should remain concentrated in the south stand.
 
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