Atmosphere Thread | 2025/26

[asahartford1]

1894 is just a group of lads who do the displays, banners, drop downs, wave the telescopic flags, and along with other fans start chants off. 1894 don’t have 100’s of active members on SSL1 on a math day. 1894 can’t get together on SSL1 as all the seats are either already taken up by season tickets or match ticket day sales. 1894 members are spread throughout SSL1. I’m not having a go. Just to make that clear. I don’t know how you can pin point specific 1894 members unless you know them personally. The telescopic flags were out yesterday at the front of SSL1. When the telescopic flags were taken away the 1894 lads went back to the seats, along with the other 1894 lads already in their seats, and we all joined in with the chanting. There is a misconception on here that 1894 have loads of members all over SSL1 who should be visible and lead the chanting together. It doesn’t work like that, as many other fans who are not part of 1894 also start chants off.

As for the West Ham fans, I thought there were very, very poor yesterday, bar the red cards and singing I’m forever blowing bubbles. There was nothing from them though out the match hardly, which you can understand after watching the poor performance from their team.

That makes it clear what is happening.
Thank you, but it contrasts to what you posted last season.

I am in Col bell 122, I could only hear west Ham fans before the game.
However in the 2nd half there was a session of chanting from ss3 which was quite loud and threatened to spread around the ground for a while, until people(and the west ham fans) decided to call it a day and head off.

Anyway I believe it needs a rethink, less personal bickering , a plan, teamwork, togetherness.

An alternative would be to hire 500 Poznan fans for a game -:)

 

[jrb]

SSL0 is literally called the ‘Singing Section’ though.


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…but it doesn’t act like a singing section.

Even the Rags’ Singing Section, at the original Theatre of Tourists, sings all game.

Singing sections in every stadium are those stadiums’ front men of the band. If the singing section in any ground doesn’t sing, it’s highly likely the rest of the ground won’t be singing. Individual groups of four mates might start a song off in 005, but it wouldn’t catch on; an individual group of four mates in the singing section should see the Singing Section all join in like the name of the stand would suggest… and from that, that’s where the rest of the stadium would join in as they’d have a big voice to join in with.

I stand corrected on this. United fans had to apply to get into the singing section. Apparently the United fans in there have some self made and strict rules that they adhere to in the singing section. They have stayed behind singing after the final whistle until the stadium clears.

 

[There is a Light]

111, 110 and 109 do join in and have been good at times this year. I can’t hear SSL3 where I stand, but the posts on here suggest SSL3 join in as well. NSL1 joins in every now and again, especially when City are attacking that end. As for the other tiers across the Etihad, they don’t seem to join in singing often or at all, bar during the big games.

Fair point about the corner, but I mean it’s mostly concentrated at one end. It would be great to hear songs being started from other areas for South to join in with as well. When fans sing that shit library song, I’m pretty sure they’re talking about the other 75% of the ground that for the vast majority of the time make no noise whatsoever.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Says it all that you agreed with him. Fucking hell you are such a joy

I'm not saying it for a reaction mate, it's just how I personally feel attending the matches now. Some will agree others won't, i get that. Part of it is getting older as well, it's never going to be as good as when we were youths

 

[There is a Light]

SSL0 is literally called the ‘Singing Section’ though.


View attachment 178095

https://www.mancity.com/meta/media/ww5ahnn4/mobile_season-ticket-pricing-map_2025-26.pdf

…but it doesn’t act like a singing section.

Even the Rags’ Singing Section, at the original Theatre of Tourists, sings all game.

Singing sections in every stadium are those stadiums’ front men of the band. If the singing section in any ground doesn’t sing, it’s highly likely the rest of the ground won’t be singing. Individual groups of four mates might start a song off in 005, but it wouldn’t catch on; an individual group of four mates in the singing section should see the Singing Section all join in like the name of the stand would suggest… and from that, that’s where the rest of the stadium would join in as they’d have a big voice to join in with.

Do they really label themselves a singing section though? Even if they do it’s irrelevant, it’s not like they’re on here giving it the big one, declaring themselves as great when they know there’s loads of room for improvement. The rest of the ground has no room to criticise though. For the record, I sit in South Stand upper and I get incredibly frustrated by some of the non-singers who don’t join in at times.

 

[jrb]

That makes it clear what is happening.
Thank you, but it contrasts to what you posted last season.

I am in Col bell 122, I could only hear west Ham fans before the game.
However in the 2nd half there was a session of chanting from ss3 which was quite loud and threatened to spread around the ground for a while, until people(and the west ham fans) decided to call it a day and head off.

Anyway I believe it needs a rethink, less personal bickering , a plan, teamwork, togetherness.

An alternative would be to hire 500 Poznan fans for a game -:)

That’s fair enough.

You will always hear the away fans before the game.
It’s like when we go away.
You always hear City fans first.
As I have posted, the match day routine for City fans has changed over the years.
Many fans now stay in the bars drinking and chatting rather than getting to their seats early to sing and to chant.
There is nothing 1894 or the club can do about that.
I’ve explain why I think the support and atmosphere has changed on SSL1 over the years, or given some reasons.
I’m not saying I’m right.

I used to love standing with everyone else at the back of 115 on the concourse signing with 100’s of other City fans to the away fans on the away concourse. You could hear the away fans singing back. As kick off got closer we would all go en-masse to our seats and carry on singing, which we carried on at the start of the match. That doesn’t happen anymore.

1. The fans don’t stand or chant behind 115 anymore.
The vast majority of fans are in the new bar area, drinking, talking, and listening to the DJ.
2. The security checks at the entrances to blocks 116 and 115 mean fans are being held back and are going to their seats in ones.

I would like the security checks to be stopped, but that won’t happen.
I would love the fans to stand at the back of 115 on the concourse again singing and chanting for 15 minutes before the match, but that won’t happen due to the new bar.(I’m not criticising the new bar)

 

[There is a Light]

I think people have to accept our support’s match day routine has changed. Regardless of the reasons, watching the whole match for 90 minutes, including injury time, is no longer as important as it used to be.

Ridiculous as it is, I’ve had to accept this, for the same reason I don’t even try to defend when opposition fans call us shit fans. They’re right when every single game it’s about 25% full on 90 minutes, but it is what it is, these people won’t be told what to do.

 

[richards30]

I’d love us to nick the Depeche Mode song just can’t get enough that Celtic sing?

 

[jrb]

Fair point about the corner, but I mean it’s mostly concentrated at one end. It would be great to hear songs being started from other areas for South to join in with as well. When fans sing that shit library song, I’m pretty sure they’re talking about the other 75% of the ground that for the vast majority of the time make no noise whatsoever.

It would. You are right.

Hopefully the fans in NSL2 will do that.

If they do, we could have 4 singing tiers/blocks, I won’t say singing sections, depending on who moves where during the relocation period, and what type of new fans takes up the new FG season tickets, and available match day seats.

 

[citymad]

Same here mate, went to the Leverkusen game a few weeks ago and left the stadium feeling as flat as a pancake. The Etihad is an amazing stadium but sadly dead in the stands, we need to see some exciting fast paced football on that pitch again

Wtf? Top scorers,home grown youngsters,Haaland, Cherki, top of the league (potentially) you better go watch the rags, apparently they’re playing breathtaking football, you’ll love it there.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

My sister and brother in law went to see City v Borussia Dortmund and they said the noise from the BVB fans was deafening, and got louder after the City goals. I went to see City away at Bournemouth two seasons ago and the atmosphere was deafening, in a ground that holds 11k. Maybe the fans are getting used to winning most of the time.

 

[jrb]

Ridiculous as it is, I’ve had to accept this, for the same reason I don’t even try to defend when opposition fans call us shit fans. They’re right when every single game it’s about 25% full on 90 minutes, but it is what it is, these people won’t be told what to do.

As you say, we have to accept it. Nothing will change now.

 

[pride in battle]

That’s not on us though. We said it needs 7000 singers together. The plans are a wasted opportunity.

If you take the blinkers off mate you will realise it’s the club that are making a massive mistake.

We haven’t told the club to put neutral sections in home areas of a new “blue wall”.

Where would you get 7000 singers from ? 3000 is enough to start...
Dictating to the club is a no go...

 

[Brendan110_0]

Having a "family stand" killed the atmosphere at the north stand end and it's impossible to get any chants started in the 3rd tiers until it's spread from 2nd tier which starts from those nearest the pitch. Unless it's a big game of course.

Dedicated singing section is desperately needed for the new north stand, going as far as practice sessions for those who would want to join such a section to weed out the non singers who just like the atmosphere (looking at you current SS standing sections).

All just my opinion, I'm probably talking bollocks.

 

[.db.]

Do they really label themselves a singing section though? Even if they do it’s irrelevant, it’s not like they’re on here giving it the big one, declaring themselves as great when they know there’s loads of room for improvement. The rest of the ground has no room to criticise though. For the record, I sit in South Stand upper and I get incredibly frustrated by some of the non-singers who don’t join in at times.

The thing is about this thread, we are likely all singers and we are talking amongst ourselves in here about non-singers who probably never venture into this thread.

We probably need to think of other avenues to put it out there that we need more people singing in the stadium.

Maybe 1894 could put out a YouTube video or an X post at the end of the year/in the new year saying how disappointing the atmosphere was in 2025 and that our fanbase needs to be more proactive in getting the amtopshere going? Maybe first target the Singing Section to act like their name, then suggest the rest of the ground also joins in more with the Singing Section?

Whatever any of us are doing or not doing at the moment clearly isn’t working. As much as any of us in this thread likely try and sing or at least be positively vocal in getting behind the team (atmosphere isn’t just singing, afterall… loud and forceful ‘come on’s, ‘go on’s, cheers and jeers are all part of an atmosphere), it isn’t stirring the Singing Section to consistently sing and there aren’t enough songs for the rest of the ground to join in with.

 

[jrb]

On thing that doesn’t get mentioned.

The half-time bar queues have always been the same. I remember before the new bar on SSL1, the half-time beer queues were always long before half-time, with people getting pissed off because the service was slow, and the queues were already forming. In that aspect, nothing has changed. Fans left their seats early to get a beer then as they do now.

 

[citymad]

I think people have to accept our support’s match day routine has changed. Regardless of the reasons, watching the whole match for 90 minutes, including injury time, is no longer as important as it used to be.

That’s true although it’s more unique to City than the other big clubs in the fact we’ve been the most successful in recent years..

 

[.db.]

On thing that doesn’t get mentioned.

The half-time bar queues have always been the same. I remember before the new bar on SSL1, the half-time beer queues were always long before half-time, with people getting pissed off because the service was slow, and the queues were already forming. In that aspect, nothing has changed. Fans left their seats early to get a beer then as they do now.

I’m a pisshead who goes out to the pub on a Saturday matchday from breakfast time and end up getting home in the early hours of the morning after going back to pubs, gigs or clubs after going to the game… yet I’ve never bothered with a beer at half time, I don’t see the point, I’d never risk missing a second of the game due to queueing for a pint.

 

[East Level 2]

I think people have to accept our support’s match day routine has changed. Regardless of the reasons, watching the whole match for 90 minutes, including injury time, is no longer as important as it used to be.

Especially when you can watch the final five or ten minutes on your phone while rushing to beat the traffic or the queue for the tram.
But it does seem far worse at the Etihad than at other grounds.
I'm hoping to see a mass fire drill in the home sections when I go to a local away game in a few weeks time.

 

[jrb]

that’s true although it’s more unique to City than the other big clubs.

United have always suffered from it. So have Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, etc. Surprisingly Liverpool fans tend to stay until the end or the vast majority of them do.

The clubs with more local support tend to stay until the end. Leeds, Sunderland, Everton, Villa, Brentford, Bournemouth, etc.

I don’t think there is one specific reason why our fans leave early en-masse. I think it started with the poor transport, getting away from the Etihad, parking restrictions, overcrowded trams, poor match day bus services, which have now been improved, getting out of the car parks around the stadium, etc. Once fans realised they could get home earlier after leaving before full-time, they’ve stuck to it.