I remember when I first went to Maine Road in the 1970s, in the days before pubs being (lawfully) open in the afternoon (1988) seeing loads of blokes drinking in the Main Stand bars while the game was going on because the pubs were shut! They actually went to the game so they could carry on drinking!Spot on. The Main Stand was always half empty by the end of the match. Everyone was in a rush to get to the pub. This has always been the culture of City fans as was arriving late. And nobody gave a shit about it.
The atmosphere was good up to when the game started!A lot of people cleared off at the end of that last match at Maine Road rather than hang around for Doves. It was a dire defeat to Southampton and a typical City moment. We were in the Osborne before the band came on. And it was packed.
So true. I remember thinking as I trudged away that I could not wait to get to the new stadium. By that time Maine Road just had a stench of failure about it. I wasn’t sentimental and I grew up and went to school round there. The best decision the club ever made.The atmosphere was good up to when the game started!
I always walk/run back to town, but whereas tonight I was fit enough to catch the 17:21, I had no chance last weekend (after 10 minutes of added time,) and had to settle for the 17:51
Allowing for 23 minutes for the actual journey plus another 20+ minutes to walk home, I was probably opening my front door around 6:05pm (6:35pm last weekend.)
The final destination is Buxton so you can add 30 minutes travelling time for those passengers
Despite making my train with a few minutes to spare, it was noticeable just how many supporters were already on it,
These people must have left at least 10 minutes before the end, to either walk, or catch a ridiculously early tram.
Not sure how that ever gets resolved without a quicker tram service that guarantees arriving at Piccadilly within 20 minutes of the Final Whistle
However I'm not convinced that this has got anything to do with today's atmosphere
Spot on. The Main Stand was always half empty by the end of the match. Everyone was in a rush to get to the pub. This has always been the culture of City fans as was arriving late. And nobody gave a shit about it.
That last game at Maine Road was appallingly handled by City. The bands were totally pointless and stupid. 99% of the crowd had no interest in them and just stood staring in silence for an hour. It killed all the atmosphere. If they wanted to put bands on they could have done that before the game and then done the parade of legends after the game so the crowd could sing their names as a fitting farewell to the stadium. That would have been emotional. Instead we got Badly fucking Drawn Boy and an oasis tribute band. It was cringey.A lot of people cleared off at the end of that last match at Maine Road rather than hang around for Doves. It was a dire defeat to Southampton and a typical City moment. We were in the Osborne before the band came on. And it was packed.
In what way?It absolutely does.
Some people's monthly pay packet (November) will be the last one until after Christmas. I'm lucky that I get paid a week before Christmas (2 weeks earlier than normal).. So they need to factor in the extra expense over the festive period.Not sure if this belongs in here or elsewhere.
There seems to be a problem across the league - have a look at Brighton this afternoon SWATHS of empty seats (not that it's mentioned)
Love both.Seems like you like getting pissed with mates , not going to a match.
Me too!Love both.
Xmas shopping, keep upNot sure if this belongs in here or elsewhere.
There seems to be a problem across the league - have a look at Brighton this afternoon SWATHS of empty seats (not that it's mentioned)
Beating Sunderland felt like beating a one armed blind midget with a baseball bat, hard to get too excitedSunderland forum universaly agreeing that the Etihad is the quietist stadium they have ever visited and a complete lack of noise from the home fans, and before anyone responds with "stadium of light is hardly noisy" that reply isn't really relevant to the point being made. Our home support has become the laughing stock of the league. Our "singing section " mostly weren't even in their seats when then players came out let alone make any noise to greet them!
Are you there to watch city or Sunderland?Beating Sunderland felt like beating a one armed blind midget with a baseball bat, hard to get too excited
City fans need to look in the mirror rather than blame every fucker elseWe’ve moaned about the hospitality section above SSL0 making displays and flag waving at the start of games look bad, we’ve moaned that there are going to be GA+ seats in the expanded NSL1 that will have the same issue… but for me this is not a problem that should stop us making NSL1 the vocal stand because over the last few seasons, the actual singing section itself doesn’t even bother getting to their seats before kick off when displays are done and flags are being waved.
Shot from MOTD I’m just watching now:
View attachment 176924
And that’s a kind shot. If it had taken in a wider shot of SSL0, you’d see chunks like that dotted about all over it. And it’s like this for every game. This stand doesn’t fill up until well after the game has kicked off, and it looks like this from around 37-53 minutes and from 80 minutes.
You’d be hard pressed to find another singing section in world football where this happens.
Thats the problem you and your ilk would rather neck a pint than watch the game, madness.People are still drinking in the old/new bar. That’s what the club wants. That’s why the club invested £100,000 in the new bar. Fans were complaining about the massive queues to get a drink at the smaller bars on the concourses when the new bar didn’t exist. City listened and they turned the huge and unused void into the fabulous bar and bar area we have now.
When the new bar didn’t exists you used to have hundreds of singers standing and singing City songs next to the huge metal partition on the concourse separating home and away fans before kick off, especially for the big games. That only happens now against United, and there aren’t as many singers.
The whole routine of the fans and singers in SSL1 has changed since the new bar opened, and that routine will never change back to what it used to be.(sadly)
Beer, quick service, seating, a great space, and DJ tunes make people stay where they are for longer. Every match I see fans sat at the tables drinking and talking after the match has started. I’m not a quick drinker, so I’ve missed the start if the match and some goals as well, being honest.
The DJ does stop playing songs early, yet hundreds/thousands in the bar and concourse are still getting pintsSounds like people are just there to get pissed and not watch the football?
Maybe as well just watch the game in town in a bar. Could the club do more to encourage people back to their seats?
Think more people hung about after the disappointment of the defeat, because of the hope that Oasis would be playing.A lot of people cleared off at the end of that last match at Maine Road rather than hang around for Doves. It was a dire defeat to Southampton and a typical City moment. We were in the Osborne before the band came on. And it was packed.
100 % mateAtmosphere would be greatly improved if either a) City hadn't spent the last 10 years systematically pricing out normal people b) the club got to grips with the queues at half-time so people didn't feel the need to rush off at 40 min and beat everyone to the front c) City fans could go a couple of hours without getting on the beers.
It's getting pretty sad. It takes 5-10 mins for the ground to fill up after kick-off because they're all having a pint, half the ground goes to the concourse on 40 mins because they all want a pint, it takes until 50 mins for the ground to fill up again because they're all having a pint, then from 80 mins the singing bit starts to trickle away because they all want a pint at the Townley/Mary D's.
If you can't watch football without having 2-3 pints in the space of 90 mins just watch it at home or in the pub imo.
I have gone to the back of the Kippax to the bar - at half-time and you couldn't get near. Loads of brown outfit bus drivers must have paid admission cos the pubs shut at 3pm in the 1980s.I remember when I first went to Maine Road in the 1970s, in the days before pubs being (lawfully) open in the afternoon (1988) seeing loads of blokes drinking in the Main Stand bars while the game was going on because the pubs were shut! They actually went to the game so they could carry on drinking!
Another fucking world.