Are You Officially Priced Out Yet, Or Almost?

[Questy]

Apologies in Advance for posting this in this Thread but being New too this Forum I am not yet able too post a New Topic...

I have followed City for 25 yrs and used to get too Maine Rd Regularly from Edinburgh, due to my work I have not been able too get to The Etihad but am now able too get the time away, I have placed my Deposit down for Season Ticket and have just purchased the Cityzens Card and will hopefully get tickets for a few home and away games this season.. With that can you advise which section at Etihad is best and what is the worst, obviously I'd take a ticket anywhere but if given a Choice I'd like to be in the area with the better atmosphere, I would appreciate your thoughts please.

Also I'd be travelling from Scotland and surmise I'd go too Manchester Piccadily Station, from there would I get a Bus and is there anywhere recommended near too station for overnight stays, Thanks in Advance for any help..

PS: Admin if you feel this would be better as a stand alone thread then please could you open one up.. Thanks

Dave.

I travel from Edinburgh and generally use Piccadilly. It is possible to get a tram to the Etihad. If the train stops at Deansgate it may be worth getting off there. It is much easier to get a on a tram to the Etihad from Deansgate on match days.

There are direct Transpennine Express services from Edinburgh to Piccadilly, alternatively get a Virgin train to London and change at Preston. It is also possible to use East Coast and change at York but this is much more expensive and I only use it when the west coast line is disrupted by engineering works.

For overnight stays I generally use the Ibis Budget hotel near New Islington tram stop. It is basic but clean. It generally costs between £22 and £32 per night depending on how busy they are and how early you book. It is five to ten minutes walk from Piccadilly Station (or one stop on the tram) and a similar distance from the stadium (two tram stops).

Cheers for that mate, appreciated, Im down near Berwick now but all will still apply... What stand is best for Atmosphere!

 

[CheethamHillBlue]

Responses like "that's the price of success" & "someone else eill takes your seat, harsh but reality" are probably true however, I don't understand what you're trying to achieve by being as narrow minded as that.

Where am i being narrow minded? I am being a realist. If you honestly think a few people on BM moaning about not being able to go anymore will make people who have invested over £1b thus far in our club change their views and start charging next to nothing for a match ticket, then you need a serious reality check.
The club probably think they have done enough by offering a selection of £299 S/T's.

 

[chris85mcfc]

Responses like "that's the price of success" & "someone else eill takes your seat, harsh but reality" are probably true however, I don't understand what you're trying to achieve by being as narrow minded as that.

Where am i being narrow minded? I am being a realist. If you honestly think a few people on BM moaning about not being able to go anymore will make people who have invested over £1b thus far in our club change their views and start charging next to nothing for a match ticket, then you need a serious reality check.
The club probably think they have done enough by offering a selection of £299 S/T's.

But what about all the people that have sat with their current neighbours for the last 150 years?

 

[CheethamHillBlue]

'Letting everyone in for free would make no difference to our revenue ' is just about the most ridiculous thing I've seen on here.

Errm how ?? I was talking in a sense of what's 2 m for us. It's nothing, our revenue is huge from lots of different factors. Read the rest of my post aswell. Ticket revenue is nothing to us. Scott Sinclair makes more in a week than ticket sales would

So we only have 47,000 fans now do we? You'd have all the other fans moaning cos they can't get in. How would you work it? First dibs anyone who went to York away.
It's fookin dafter than you think, BP. :-(

 

[RACHACE]

Responses like "that's the price of success" & "someone else eill takes your seat, harsh but reality" are probably true however, I don't understand what you're trying to achieve by being as narrow minded as that.

Where am i being narrow minded? I am being a realist. If you honestly think a few people on BM moaning about not being able to go anymore will make people who have invested over £1b thus far in our club change their views and start charging next to nothing for a match ticket, then you need a serious reality check.
The club probably think they have done enough by offering a selection of £299 S/T's.

It wasn't directed at you personally so no need to jump to the defensive but I'll answer why I feel you (as in fans that don't seem to be grasping the arguement that it's too expensive) are being a bit narrow minded.

You're basically thinking of yourself, for now, for today. There's no thought for any other fans or the future of your support, or the support your/others children's or grandchildren's support. The support that the club have always proclaimed to value, the support that no matter how rubbish things were, have always tended to turn out in numbers. It's a support that can only be rivalled by a few clubs, clubs that are big but have constantly failed or been under the shadow of another local big club. This support is different, it laughs at itself, it doesn't take it all too seriously and has a real identity. This kind of support is bred, it's not something that richer fans who can now come and watch us because were good can replace or imitate. That's potentially what will happen here though, fans that see following City as a toy, something to do that's different than going to a gig or theatre. The moment we start to head back towards the mediocrity of a mid table finish they'll not want to play with that toy anymore. Meanwhile the supporters that have been priced out are still hurt by the experience of not being valued, they refuse to go back even though it probably still hurts.

It might sound dramatic but fans do get hurt, it might sound soft to some but I imagine City has been a huge part of peoples lives for years. If you'd have asked these supporters 6 years ago will you have a season ticket in 6 years time, they'd have probably replied "I've been watching this shit for the last 15 years so what's another 6?". Now those same fans aren't being asked the question anymore, they're feeling that they won't have a choice due to the increased costs involved. If you can't empathise with that situation then I feel sorry for you as a human being. To some it's not something that passes time, it's something they want to pass down to their kids to enjoy, as they have despite being crap.

Your point about me getting a reality check. I've not said anything like that so not sure what to say but what I will say is that I don't feel that because our owners have invested billions into the club that I & fans like me should feel they have to dig deep to show we appreciate it. We are not the same club granted and I've said a premium is to be paid to watch top class sport but it's getting out of reach for many and something needs to be done.

You are of the minority in this thread and most feel they're either already or nearly priced out. Others like myself feel that we've made enough sacrifices and enough is enough. We will have a gold season card and attend the odd away when we feel like it but will probably fall down the pecking order with regards loyalty. Again decisions that aren't easy when you've followed City for a decent period of time but have to be made.

There are lots of good things that the club have done and are doing but most of which will have little impact on your average match goer who has been attending matches for years. That dinosaur will wander around the complex in 10/20 years hand in hand with his son or grandson telling him how he used to sit in there every other week, then some attendant will ask to see his pass that he's paid for, the one that allows him to wander near the stadium of the club he once felt he was close too. again dramatic but where will the pursuit of money from a supporter end? That could happen.

The narrow minded view will be there though. If you want to go then go without bus fare, walk to work. Go without fresh fruit & veg & have farmfoods stuff well if your a normal bloke on a normal income these sacrifices have to be made I suppose because thats the price of being the best.

 

[Cellarite]

Fantastic post RACHACE.

 

[FanchesterCity]

Any great business looks after its client base, and traditionally, the fans have been the client base for football clubs.

However, fans are no longer the number one client at clubs. Sponsors and Broadcast rights purchasers are.

However, we are still of great value to the club, and compared with what we've had to endure over the years, we are getting fantastic value for money (in the sense that the football is attractive, winning, and successful).

One thing I'd like the club to try and introduce though is a loyalty system that makes more sense than a quite crude points system.
For instance, if a fan has been a season ticket holder for 20 years, then experiences some difficulties where he can't afford a season ticket for a year or two, he shouldn't go to the back of a queue for season tickets. He should slowly drop down the pecking order over a number of years.

e.g. A season ticket holder for 20 years, finds himself redundant and can't afford a new season ticket.... he should be able to take a year or two out without worrying he'll never get back in. Of course, the longer he's away the harder it's going to be get back in, but it shouldn't be a 'forgiving' system.

Perhaps they could offer him discounted tickets for some games.... so he's not paying full whack prices, but he's being rewarded as a former season ticket holder - so he can attend SOME games. etc.

It's not going to cost the club much money at all, but the small gestures and well thought out loyalty systems that really are about loyalty (and not a business ruse) are things that can make a difference to a business - even a football club. More often than not, if the club treats a fan well, the fan goes the extra mile for the club.

It's all too easy to PRETEND to do offer fan schemes, when in fact they are thinly veiled money making enterprises, but once in a while, a fan scheme can be genuinely aimed and making a small gesture back to fans.

Here's another example trivial example...

There's probably 30K season ticket holders. City know the birthdays of every one of them. At the cost of £5.00 per head they could almost certainly mail out a nice badge or scarf for a birthday... that's £150K per year to make a simple gesture. But those gestures make a world of difference.

City do a pretty decent job of engaging with fans, but there's always room for improvement, and ways to look after their fanbase. And remember, every fan who says "City do a great job of looking after you" can lead to another family choosing City as their first option to attend a match.


Anybody who's lost their job, or suffered illness, or a whole range of other circumstances that can change your lifestyle almost overnight will understand that 'if you can't afford it - tough luck' remarks are very unwelcome.
I think everybody accepts that sometimes, you can't have what you can't afford - that IS life, but we are talking about compassion and sensibility towards fans who've been loyal... to get a bit back in return.

Is it right that a fan who might be diagnosed with cancer and has to give up his season ticket during his treatment period can't get his ticket back at the earliest chance?
Is is right that a fan is made redundant and has to take a season (or two) off, and can't get back his ticket at the earliest opportunity?
Is it right that a fan might be sent off to war and can't renew his season ticket can't get it back at the earliest opportunity?

Nobody's saying they should automatically get a ticket back, or get miraculous deals, just that their past loyalty stands in very good stead to help them back into the fold. A couple of years out for a 20 year season ticket holder should not be too much to ask.

 

[RACHACE]

Fantastic post RACHACE.

Ta kev, think cheethamhillblue is on a wind up tho to be honest.

 

[CheethamHillBlue]

Fantastic post RACHACE.

Ta kev, think cheethamhillblue is on a wind up tho to be honest.

Well laid out post, Rachace.
I will respond with the following comments.
I'm aware i'm in a minority of one. It was a minority of 2 but the other was wished 'family illness' by some dickhead.
Yes, the prices are high. Not extortionately high but high enough for some to have to make a decision - renew or not.
If you compare today's prices like for like with the Stuart Pearce era and compare football/success, they seem almost reasonable.
I've supported City for over 40 years and have had periods where i've not been able to afford to go. (Unemployed, kids, mortgage, CSA etc)
I do realise i am fortunate where i can pick and choose the games i want to watch.
I believe anyone who thinks City should let us all in free cos it 'doesn't make much revenue' is a clown. (Not you)
I know of no workable system that would allow for the '21 year season ticket holder (15 + 6) to be able to watch the game at a discounted price.
And finally, i am still 100% certain the club wouldn't want to do that.
I can empathise as much as you want but it wouldn't change the clubs stance and minority or not, that is the reality.
Good luck with what you and the majority decide to do.

 

[ballinio]

Fantastic post RACHACE.

Ta kev, think cheethamhillblue is on a wind up tho to be honest.

Well laid out post, Rachace.
I will respond with the following comments.
I'm aware i'm in a minority of one. It was a minority of 2 but the other was wished 'family illness' by some dickhead.
Yes, the prices are high. Not extortionately high but high enough for some to have to make a decision - renew or not.
If you compare today's prices like for like with the Stuart Pearce era and compare football/success, they seem almost reasonable.
I've supported City for over 40 years and have had periods where i've not been able to afford to go. (Unemployed, kids, mortgage, CSA etc)
I do realise i am fortunate where i can pick and choose the games i want to watch.
I believe anyone who thinks City should let us all in free cos it 'doesn't make much revenue' is a clown. (Not you)
I know of no workable system that would allow for the '21 year season ticket holder (15 + 6) to be able to watch the game at a discounted price.
And finally, i am still 100% certain the club wouldn't want to do that.
I can empathise as much as you want but it wouldn't change the clubs stance and minority or not, that is the reality.
Good luck with what you and the majority decide to do.

Make that 2 again, you are bang on mate.