1894Group statement on the atmosphere in full here

[Manchester33]

There is another reason why City need to be using this stadium expansion to sort out the atmosphere problems. Kids become hooked on the club because they want to be part of it. The match is exciting for them when there is a great atmosphere. When the place is quiet they might as well be watching on the telly or doing something else.

Whilst I support the 1894 group and like the idea of them trying to bridge the gap between the singing areas, I think they should consider making the top tier of the South stand their own, and building from there. Being under a low roof will make them far louder than the bottom tier and people in other areas will take their lead from them.

Those are my thoughts too. And I assumed (rightly or wrongly) that the £299 season tickets would be in that top tier of the expanded south stand. I mentioned before people not wanting to move, but if you can save a couple of hundred quid (or more if you have kids you bring with you, or teenagers) then that's a real incentive. We need to be looking at one particular area where the atmosphere begins. The kop, the holmesdale etc. Not two smaller but close together areas of fans. Get them all together at the top of the South Stand and have the noise spread around the ground from there - which it should do with the design of the roof. When the noise is loud then nearly everyone inside will sing. It's the crowd mentality. You're not likely to sing if there's only one or two of you - but if the noise filters from the top of the south stand around the ground, more and more will join. Others will also look to move closer to the south stand to be a part of it.

We've had some great games for atmosphere, Hamburg quarter, several derby games, Arsenal with the Adebayor factor and Chelsea when we signed Robinho. We are more than capable of making a racket - but you need a big single congregation of people starting songs and for me the new tier on the south stand has to be where this looks to go - it's the best opportunity we will have to get a group of people together and it makes sense for our most vocal supporters to be in an area like that than in blocks around the away fans and round to the side of the pitch where noise isn't contained.

Exactly. One of the problems here; though, is that the people in the areas which currently sing find it diffcult to get a true perspective. The ground contains a high number of 'occasional' singers who would join in if those around them did. The songs need to speed quickly around the ground both ways, from a central point. The acoustics of a low roof and the ease of songs spreading downward instead of upward would achieve that.

I've only sat in the east stand upper tiers a couple of times but I was astonished at how little of the singing you can hear, compared to being in the Colin bell stand.

Although I agree with what your saying, do you think the noise would travel 'downwards' if it doesn't travel upwards?
If I could personally decide what happened, I'd move the Family stand into the extended North Stand Level 3 and make the bottom two tiers singing sections... creating a home end. But I think the club has been scarred by how badly managed the move of the North Standers went originally - would this be easier because it's a family stand and the children in there will eventually all grow up? That could also leave the away fans and anyone who wants to be near them in the South Stand.

 

[trevorriley]

So many positive comments on this thread and good feedback, many of the points are so true. There is a lot to happen before the singing is ringing round the stadium, some of it is a culture change because over the years the way we watch football has changed so much.

One thing stands out to me, it doesnt matter if you speak to an 8 year old junior or a 72 year old pensioner they all say the same. "We love going to live football because of the atmosphere"... Its not the beer or the occasional bet, forefront is the match day atmosphere experience.

Those who want to see atmosphere improve please be a involved.

 

[Manchester33]

So many positive comments on this thread and good feedback, many of the points are so true. There is a lot to happen before the singing is ringing round the stadium, some of it is a culture change because over the years the way we watch football has changed so much.

One thing stands out to me, it doesnt matter if you speak to an 8 year old junior or a 72 year old pensioner they all say the same. "We love going to live football because of the atmosphere"... Its not the beer or the occasional bet, forefront is the match day atmosphere experience.

Those who want to see atmosphere improve please be a involved.

It's great too see people supporting it! It definitely helps people involved!

 

[mancityvstoke]

Force everyone who goes away to stand together at home in one end...................sorted

 

[goater1978]

Firstly, well done to everyone in the 1894 Group for all your efforts.
Secondly, why does our home`singing` support still have to be split from 2015/16?
The `new` South Stand provides the opportunity to establish the entire level one as a CITY only Blue `end`. Where in world football is the home , more vociferous support, split? Can you imagine The Kop being split or the Holte End or in fact at any other major club?
Why is it that the away fans can not be allocated part of the new level 3 for PL games and up to all the level 3 for cup ties? Is the counter argument that they will create more noise and therefore the prefered option is now to split away fans over 3 levels in narrower bands if there is a demand thus reducing their visual and noise impact? What will happen in the future for cup ties - where will up to 6,000 away fans be accommodated? This has always been a big issue at CITY - giving City`s Home `end` to away supporters - it`s absolutely outrageous.
Once again thanks to the 1894 group for what you are trying to achieve.

Cities problem is not the South Stand being split but the fact the North Stand is family only. The Kop would be the equivilent of our north stand as the Anfield Road end at Anfield is like the south stand, a mix of home and away fans.

Personally I think the club should shift the family stand to either Colin Bell or East Stand level 3.

 

[fat boy blue]

Thanks & Good luck to all involved, hope you get the support & co-operation you need from the club.

 

[petrusha]

There is another reason why City need to be using this stadium expansion to sort out the atmosphere problems. Kids become hooked on the club because they want to be part of it. The match is exciting for them when there is a great atmosphere. When the place is quiet they might as well be watching on the telly or doing something else.

Whilst I support the 1894 group and like the idea of them trying to bridge the gap between the singing areas, I think they should consider making the top tier of the South stand their own, and building from there. Being under a low roof will make them far louder than the bottom tier and people in other areas will take their lead from them.

Am the only one who thinks also that having a good atmosphere would help to attract corporates, and being known for a bad atmosphere the oppposite?

The market in the NW isn't huge in this regard and we have to compete directly with one of the most famous 'names' in the entire world of sport. The quality of the facilities on its own isn't enough. The quality of the spectacle needs to be high, and that's not just the quality of the football. Being part of an exciting atmosphere is a part of the spectacle, too.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

There is another reason why City need to be using this stadium expansion to sort out the atmosphere problems. Kids become hooked on the club because they want to be part of it. The match is exciting for them when there is a great atmosphere. When the place is quiet they might as well be watching on the telly or doing something else.

Whilst I support the 1894 group and like the idea of them trying to bridge the gap between the singing areas, I think they should consider making the top tier of the South stand their own, and building from there. Being under a low roof will make them far louder than the bottom tier and people in other areas will take their lead from them.

Am the only one who thinks also that having a good atmosphere would help to attract corporates, and being known for a bad atmosphere the oppposite?

The market in the NW isn't huge in this regard and we have to compete directly with one of the most famous 'names' in the entire world of sport. The quality of the facilities on its own isn't enough. The quality of the spectacle needs to be high, and that's not just the quality of the football. Being part of an exciting atmosphere is a part of the spectacle, too.

Good point. If you've paid your £20k plus VAT for a box, you'd be far more impressed (all other things being equal) with an exciting game and a buzzing atmosphere than a dull game in a quiet stadium dotted with empty seats. It would also attract ordinary fans as well I reckon. If you watch on TV and see a full ground with a great atmosphere, you'd want to be part of that yourself more than if the ground is quiet and not full.

 

[blueparrot]

There is another reason why City need to be using this stadium expansion to sort out the atmosphere problems. Kids become hooked on the club because they want to be part of it. The match is exciting for them when there is a great atmosphere. When the place is quiet they might as well be watching on the telly or doing something else.

Whilst I support the 1894 group and like the idea of them trying to bridge the gap between the singing areas, I think they should consider making the top tier of the South stand their own, and building from there. Being under a low roof will make them far louder than the bottom tier and people in other areas will take their lead from them.

Am the only one who thinks also that having a good atmosphere would help to attract corporates, and being known for a bad atmosphere the oppposite?

The market in the NW isn't huge in this regard and we have to compete directly with one of the most famous 'names' in the entire world of sport. The quality of the facilities on its own isn't enough. The quality of the spectacle needs to be high, and that's not just the quality of the football. Being part of an exciting atmosphere is a part of the spectacle, too.

No I think a full ground with a good atmosphere is a big part of selling corporate seats. Firstly so they can offer clients access to games difficult to get to secondly to make them feel part of an event, in effect the normal supporters become part of the entertainment package.
I think the people running the club will be aware of that, which is why I think next weeks CSKA game is a huge opportunity for us to show the club that with the right pricing we can sell out even an expanded stadium and with the supporters in the right places create a great atmosphere. Think that would help 1894 with evidence for their case.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

There is another reason why City need to be using this stadium expansion to sort out the atmosphere problems. Kids become hooked on the club because they want to be part of it. The match is exciting for them when there is a great atmosphere. When the place is quiet they might as well be watching on the telly or doing something else.

Whilst I support the 1894 group and like the idea of them trying to bridge the gap between the singing areas, I think they should consider making the top tier of the South stand their own, and building from there. Being under a low roof will make them far louder than the bottom tier and people in other areas will take their lead from them.

Am the only one who thinks also that having a good atmosphere would help to attract corporates, and being known for a bad atmosphere the oppposite?

The market in the NW isn't huge in this regard and we have to compete directly with one of the most famous 'names' in the entire world of sport. The quality of the facilities on its own isn't enough. The quality of the spectacle needs to be high, and that's not just the quality of the football. Being part of an exciting atmosphere is a part of the spectacle, too.

Definitely. It improves the product for everyone. You could even make an argument it makes us more attractive to players, although that's a tenuous link at best.

City have to take this opportunity. Even the cladding on the roof can make a difference: at the moment the songs have nothing to bounce off until the whole stadium sings.