City attacking face value sites - cultural war on supporters ?

[Berti No Show]

Good for you.
You have every right to speak your piece. As does everyone else.
I for one thought we had our soul ripped out of before they arrived. Through years of mismanagement, and I appreciate everything they have done for us because I know how lucky we are.
But we’re clearly different people.

Absolutely, you’re spot on that we’re lucky, because before they came in we really had been gutted by years of mismanagement. I’ll never take that for granted. They’ve brought stability, pride and direction back to us, and I’ll always appreciate that.

But for me, football has never just been about winning. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing us succeed, but that’s never been the heart of it. It’s about the connection, the community, the pride in who we are. I’ve always said I didn’t want us to become another Manchester United - just a corporate brand, soulless and chasing money above everything else. That’s never been our way.

We’re lucky to have good owners, no doubt. But what makes this club special is the hardcore support that never walks away, win or lose, rain or shine. That’s something money can’t buy and I wouldn’t trade it for all the trophies in the world.

I’d rather leave the seat empty than see it taken by a half and half scarf TikToker who spends the whole match with their back to the pitch, filming selfies and shouting ‘what’s up guys, live from the Etihad!’ while missing the entire match (yes, I stood next to someone in the South Stand who did this in the Derby last season). Pissed me and other fans around me right off.

 

[Axel Freed]

I’m nearly 60, I was a junior blue way back when and my first season ticket was back when you tore them out of a book. So yes I’ve been to a game thanks. And my early memories of Maine Road were a little different. Less one of camaraderie and more one of feeling unsafe.
You know nothing about me so kindly keep your aspersions to yourself.

Surprised that you felt unsafe back then surrounded by thousands of blues with the same hopes and dreams as you.

More understandable that some blues feel unsafe these days with large groups of away fans sat en bloc in our seats seemingly with the tacit approval of City and the stewards

 

[bluesmith]

I know mates who have been banned, no names, acquitted in the courts, have done everything City have asked them to do to get their season tickets back afterwards, attended City club affiliated courses, passed them, but City have still banned them for 3 years from the Etihad, whilst City are still taking payments for their season tickets, and are selling their seats for more money on a match day basis.

Make no mistake about it, City are making it as hard as they can, if not impossible for those City fans to get their season tickets back, whilst at the same time, City are selling their seats for a profit on the back of that. It fucking stinks, and the directors know what’s going on.

Yep, I've got the same experiences with mates, 18 months of taking paying on a season ticket and then banned after they were acquitted in court. No refund.

What some of these alright Jack types dont realise is we can love the club we can love what the owners have done for us on the pitch but disagree with the direction fans are being railroaded.

 

[Berti No Show]

I know mates who have been banned, no names, acquitted in the courts, have done everything City have asked them to do to get their season tickets back afterwards, attended City club affiliated courses, passed them, but City have still banned them for 3 years from the Etihad, whilst City are still taking payments for their season tickets, and are selling their seats for more money on a match day basis.

Make no mistake about it, City are making it as hard as they can, if not impossible for those City fans to get their season tickets back, whilst at the same time, City are selling their seats for a profit on the back of that. It fucking stinks, and the directors know what’s going on.

Well said. Brilliant post.

 

[Kippax1973]

It just makes me very sad,, straight up, what our club has become, from when when I first walked into the kippax in 1982,,my first season ticket in 1983,,,and we are where we are now.
This club used to care about it's fans, it really used to give a shit about us, sadly we are now nothing but a number to em, I wish there was was something we could do to stop this crap that's happening but I really don't think there is now.
The only thing I can personally think of doing is literally stay away for a few games,,,,, and I mean an empty stadium that's the only way I believe that they will listen

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

It just makes me very sad,, straight up, what our club has become, from when when I first walked into the kippax in 1982,,my first season ticket in 1983,,,and we are where we are now.
This club used to care about it's fans, it really used to give a shit about us, sadly we are now nothing but a number to em, I wish there was was something we could do to stop this crap that's happening but I really don't think there is now.
The only thing I can personally think of doing is literally stay away for a few games,,,,, and I mean an empty stadium that's the only way I believe that they will listen

Unfortunately boycotting won’t work because at the moment there’s someone there to take your place exactly what city want

 

[Lord Blue]

Surprised that you felt unsafe back then surrounded by thousands of blues with the same hopes and dreams as you.

More understandable that some blues feel unsafe these days with large groups of away fans sat en bloc in our seats seemingly with the tacit approval of City and the stewards

I was young and small. And the kippax was intimidating. It was standing and I’d regularly get crushed. I’d feel unsafe on the long walk back to the A6 too.
Never had that feeling at the Etihad, inside or outside, but then I’m now an adult over 6ft.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, got the bug etc, and obviously went back week after week.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Surprised that you felt unsafe back then surrounded by thousands of blues with the same hopes and dreams as you.

More understandable that some blues feel unsafe these days with large groups of away fans sat en bloc in our seats seemingly with the tacit approval of City and the stewards

These type of reports of large groups of away fans in the home ends is the excuse City needed to introduce loads of extra ticket restrictions. These exaggerations have been part of the problem.

If our fans are so bothered, make sure you buy up your regular seats for Gala at home so there can’t be a repeat of the situation when they visited the swamp. I think it’s more likely that the scare mongerers will be on here in force and ten heroes will attack a neutral fan.

 

[Lord Blue]

Absolutely, you’re spot on that we’re lucky, because before they came in we really had been gutted by years of mismanagement. I’ll never take that for granted. They’ve brought stability, pride and direction back to us, and I’ll always appreciate that.

But for me, football has never just been about winning. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing us succeed, but that’s never been the heart of it. It’s about the connection, the community, the pride in who we are. I’ve always said I didn’t want us to become another Manchester United - just a corporate brand, soulless and chasing money above everything else. That’s never been our way.

We’re lucky to have good owners, no doubt. But what makes this club special is the hardcore support that never walks away, win or lose, rain or shine. That’s something money can’t buy and I wouldn’t trade it for all the trophies in the world.

I’d rather leave the seat empty than see it taken by a half and half scarf TikToker who spends the whole match with their back to the pitch, filming selfies and shouting ‘what’s up guys, live from the Etihad!’ while missing the entire match (yes, I stood next to someone in the South Stand who did this in the Derby last season). Pissed me and other fans around me right off.

For me season tickets could have 1 or 2 back up names listed. That would help with the family shares.

Never about winning for me either. I make the long trip home from London and it’s as much about meeting mates before, travelling in, a few beers, or maybe pub food before, singing, a few beers after. Winning is a bonus.

The fans aren’t the reason for me as I think all clubs have the same core groups. We’re just coloured by our own experiences to see ours as better.

 

[blue44]

I was young and small. And the kippax was intimidating. It was standing and I’d regularly get crushed. I’d feel unsafe on the long walk back to the A6 too.
Never had that feeling at the Etihad, inside or outside, but then I’m now an adult over 6ft.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, got the bug etc, and obviously went back week after week.

Iv been going since the late 60's in the Platt Lane,then in the Kippax in the early 70's ,I never got crushed or was frightened at games,and I'v seen some right sights down the years,as for being intimidating,I fkin loved the Kippax.

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

Yet Dazs page will see tickets going to blues on the whole, with the reselling sites not. The reselling sites you can be anybody, you don't need a city membership whereas if we transfer to friends and family they do. You can ensure it is City fans entering this way whereas where City sell to you cannot. That is as unregulated as it comes.

I hear you, but from a legal standpoint, one is legal and one isn't, it's not fair I know.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Surprised that you felt unsafe back then surrounded by thousands of blues with the same hopes and dreams as you.

More understandable that some blues feel unsafe these days with large groups of away fans sat en bloc in our seats seemingly with the tacit approval of City and the stewards

If you were a teenage girl going to matches on your own you would know it sometimes felt unsafe back then even at Maine Road. :-)


Didn't stop me going though. *cheeky grin*

 

[Moss Side's Finest]

I was maybe being harsh in terms of calling him vile. But I do know people who have worked with him at City, and the feedback is he doesn't care about the fans - it's all about making cash and doesn't matter who gets in his way.

But that's his job ultimately and it's what's made us so commercially successful. I'd argue that much of the ongoing success we have had is down to him and others at the top. As fans we kinda have to accept that you have to take the bad with the good sometimes. I'm not saying we shouldn't challenge back when we feel the need to, which people are doing though

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I hear you, but from a legal standpoint, one is legal and one isn't, it's not fair I know.

That’s right on the legal technicalities. However in terms of what City are supposedly wanting to achieve with the ticketing changes, the overwhelming majority of Blues on Daz Clarke’s page will now have at least a match day membership to receive tickets and City would know the names of people in the ground.

That’s less the case with hospitality tickets etc. There was nearly a serious incident at the end of the Real Madrid game last season with a Madrid fan goading Blues at the final whistle from corporate seats. City’s account manager was straight out to stick up for them.

 

[Wayneclarkemunchescarrots]

One of the things that really baffles me is the wider point of how most businesses want to retain their repeat customers, as they keep coming back spending and there is not further cost of acquisition.

Yet when it comes to the football club their approach is the complete opposite and they would rather (it appears, if we extrapolate the point) have the best part of 60k new customers turning up each week. That is far easier to do when you're winning for Premier Leagues in a row and you have the global football tourism crowd coming knocking, but I'm genuinely curious what this looks like if we don't win the league for 5 years or drop out of the top 4 for a few years, and in the meantime they've decimated a large portion of the core season ticket "legacy" fanbase?

I had a season ticket for over 20 years and travelled up from the south west after my parents moved . Once you give up it’s really weird that you can’t be arsed with the hassle that you once took for granted . The situation you described is bang on and has already happened , it’s just that as you say you won’t see the true fall out until we aren’t as successful .
We will never again have the fanbase we had over the “shit” times. ( I thought they were fucking ace !!) .
The biggest loss is the family / community bond from the right of passage going to the games with loved ones .

 

[jrb]

These type of reports of large groups of away fans in the home ends is the excuse City needed to introduce loads of extra ticket restrictions. These exaggerations have been part of the problem.

If our fans are so bothered, make sure you buy up your regular seats for Gala at home so there can’t be a repeat of the situation when they visited the swamp. I think it’s more likely that the scare mongerers will be on here in force and ten heroes will attack a neural fan.

And then to find out you can’t buy a ticket for Real Madrid due to the ticket price, and the fact that the club opened Citizens membership up to anyone including non City fans so they could buy a ticket for Real Madrid. Remember?

Rather than looking at and blaming the fans constantly, look at and blame the club because of their shocking ticket prices and ticketing policies.

After Real Madrid at home last season, with Real Madrid fans all over the ground, and people who had just come to see Real Madrid, how did they all get tickets before genuine City fans?

I decided to drop the CL cup scheme, which I’ve done this season. From now on I will pick the CL games I want to watch.

And don’t forget Tim, from next year onwards, City will have an extra 8000 seats to fill on a CL night. We can’t fill the stadium now for the CL group stages matches.

 

[jrb]

Soriano’s legacy will be increased revenue, trophies, and a broken fan base.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

And then to find out you can’t buy a ticket for Real Madrid due to the ticket price, and the fact that the club opened Citizens membership up to anyone including non City fans so they could buy a ticket for Real Madrid. Remember?

Rather than looking at and blaming the fans constantly, look at and blame the club because of their shocking ticket selling prices and ticket selling polices.

After Real Madrid at home last season, with Real Madrid fans all over the ground, and people who had just come to see Real Madrid, how did they all get tickets before genuine City fans?

I decided to drop the CL cup scheme, which I’ve done this season. From now on I will pick the CL games I want to watch.

And don’t forget Tim, from next year onwards City will have an extra 8000 seats to fill on a CL night. We can’t fill the stadium now for the CL group stages matches.

What this about “blaming the fans constantly” lol. A couple of days ago I saved you from a potential pile on on another thread. No good deed goes unpunished lol.

The last Real Madrid virtually anyone could get a ticket. Yes the time before it was chaos and very unfair on diehard Bkues with Matchday memberships.

Btw it was only a quarter an hour ago that I gave an example of City staff favouring a Real Madrid fan in the Etihad. If you are going to make stuff up, at least get it in the right ball park!

 

[Lord Blue]

You dont appear to be posting any opinions about any of the pertinent matters and ignored my question, if you dont want to be labelled an alright Jack stop acting like one.

I'll ask again.

Do you think it's reasonable that a blue who sold their ticket for spurs for face value to a fellow blue got a 10 match ban (reduced to 5) for doing so?

Do you think it's reasonable that people who work shifts are now at risk of losing their season tickets because matches are moved to times they have to work?

Do you think it's reasonable that people have to queue for over an hour to get a ticket that works after theirs didn't due to a system that hadn't been properly tested?

Do you think it's reasonable that at least one person with disabilities wasn't capable of doing the above so missed the match and now has a strike against their name which if they get a couple more will result in them losing their season ticket?

You dont appear to be posting any opinions about any of the pertinent matters and ignored my question, if you dont want to be labelled an alright Jack stop acting like one.

I'll ask again.

Do you think it's reasonable that a blue who sold their ticket for spurs for face value to a fellow blue got a 10 match ban (reduced to 5) for doing so?

Do you think it's reasonable that people who work shifts are now at risk of losing their season tickets because matches are moved to times they have to work?

Do you think it's reasonable that people have to queue for over an hour to get a ticket that works after theirs didn't due to a system that hadn't been properly tested?

Do you think it's reasonable that at least one person with disabilities wasn't capable of doing the above so missed the match and now has a strike against their name which if they get a couple more will result in them losing their season ticket?

I don’t think life is perfect.

I do think we have amazing owners.

I do think people are spoilt.

Thanks for throwing disability into this to win your argument. Disgusting of you imo.

Another reason as to why I prefer the Etihad to Maine Road btw. I would never have taken my eldest to Maine Road. Disability reasons that don’t belong here. (Great Ormond street is amazing fyi).

I’m not interested in your petty point scoring. And think it’s best not to play your game.

Like I said with the rude I’m alright jack comment, you know nothing about me. And I’m ok with that.

 

[Lord Blue]

Iv been going since the late 60's in the Platt Lane,then in the Kippax in the early 70's ,I never got crushed or was frightened at games,and I'v seen some right sights down the years,as for being intimidating,I fkin loved the Kippax.

I said intimidating not frightening. Yes I loved the kippax too. Maybe because it was intimidating, I don’t really know.