City Fans Leaving Early/Empty seats

[Bert Trautmanns Helemet]

I respect anyone who looks after the infirm and disabled either personal or professional but you must be in a tiny minority that has that responsibility.

You just don't get it do you?
People have many and varied reasons for not attending or leaving early - all which are unbeknown to you and people like you.
It is none of your business that a lot of people don't put a football match as top priority and organise their life around it
obviously as you do.
I guess we all have to just accept that you really are a 'Super City Fan' and the biggest blue on this forum.
Well done. You should be proud of yourself.

 

[BlueAnorak]

If I need to be somewhere in an evening after a 12:30 or 3pm KO, I have to leave before full time. I simply cant allow a 2 hour journey to morph into a 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey. Frankly folks like hammocity can f*ck off! If he wants folks to stay to the end then have a pop at Metrolink for the shocking service or the council for the dreadful traffic management within a mile if the ground. People have lives outside MCFC.

 

[Citizen Green]

I feel 2 blocks in one of the third tears pitch side should be allocated for families, with the current Family Stand being made available for all City fans, would soon alleviate the issue of empty seats for mid-week games there.

Also bring in a points system for fans who attend every game, which could include discounts on renewals and further incentives, the issue would soon resolve itself then.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

You just don't get it do you?
People have many and varied reasons for not attending or leaving early - all which are unbeknown to you and people like you.
It is none of your business that a lot of people don't put a football match as top priority and organise their life around it
obviously as you do.
I guess we all have to just accept that you really are a 'Super City Fan' and the biggest blue on this forum.
Well done. You should be proud of yourself.

When people are going online to buy tickets and games are down as "SOLS OUT" and then there are visibly empty seats everywhere i think everyone has the right to call these people out and if it is a common practice they should be called out to have their SCs taken off them and given to people who will go every week or reduce the amount of SCs and open up more matchday tickets for people who want to actually attend. As for early leavers, i think it's more the culture of leaving early that exists in this country than people having genuine reasons, the want to miss the big traffic and get on their armchair to watch tele rather than watch the end of the match will be what 95% of the country's early leavers are leaving for. The other 5% will have genuine reasons like work or looking after young/elderly/disabled people but it's just not what the majority do. We all know it, no point pretending otherwise.

 

[fallowfield]

This does happen at all clubs. But it seems more noticeable for us (& Arsenal).
For the other clubs that sell out or nearly sell out home games I don't see those groupings of 4,5,6 or more seats together that are unused. We see several such groups of seats empty for most home games.
Dunno what the cause is really. In the family stand I can imagine the reasons but on TV you often see it in blocks along the East stand lower tier as well. Maybe the club hold these seats, or sponsors etc and so they don't go on open sale?

Leaving early is understandable for reasons plenty of posters have listed. Eg if you've already travelled 2 hours for a home game I'm not telling you to stay to the end if it spoils your day out.
But again it seems more noticeable at City than other clubs. Maybe we have more ST holders with distances to travel, maybe it's just the age of fanbase and a big proportion being 40+ and have family commitments etc.

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

I feel 2 blocks in one of the third tears pitch side should be allocated for families, with the current Family Stand being made available for all City fans, would soon alleviate the issue of empty seats for mid-week games there.

Also bring in a points system for fans who attend every game, which could include discounts on renewals and further incentives, the issue would soon resolve itself then.

The second paragraph I agree with. I'd raise season tickets by a fiver a game and if the card is used or has been put up for sale on the exchange, the supporter gets that money back or credit towards cup games, merchandise etc..

I don't agree with putting our youngest supporters as far from the players as possible. Family Stand is too big at the moment, though.

 

[hammocity]

If I need to be somewhere in an evening after a 12:30 or 3pm KO, I have to leave before full time. I simply cant allow a 2 hour journey to morph into a 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey. Frankly folks like hammocity can f*ck off! If he wants folks to stay to the end then have a pop at Metrolink for the shocking service or the council for the dreadful traffic management within a mile if the ground. People have lives outside MCFC.

Chill out fella, I agree some people have to leave early, just the number that do so is embarrassing but it's their choice.

 

[Metalartin]

If I need to be somewhere in an evening after a 12:30 or 3pm KO, I have to leave before full time. I simply cant allow a 2 hour journey to morph into a 3 to 3 1/2 hour journey. Frankly folks like hammocity can f*ck off! If he wants folks to stay to the end then have a pop at Metrolink for the shocking service or the council for the dreadful traffic management within a mile if the ground. People have lives outside MCFC.

You have a point maybe the supporters groups should get together and make a proper case to the council how bad it is, who do very well from City, you can only try. It's a shame you have to make a massive fuss before these complaints are even listened to, but that's essentially what will have to be done.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

I'm lucky, live reasonably close to the ground, 20 mins on non-matchdays by car, I can count on one hand the games I've left early in nearly 50 years.

Doubt I'd be off if I lived further away but never had that to worry about. What I can say is especially for midweek games if he's not working on match day my lad will drive 3 1/2 hours plus each way and be in work in the following morning.

People however do have reasons for legging it but not the numbers that clear off. You only have to look at around half time, loads miss 5/10 mins either side for a beer. Now I Ike a beer more than most & had 6/7 pre-game (not driving obviously) but missing upto a quarter of the match for a beer then off before the end as well......

Each to their own I suppose.

 

[Metalartin]

I'm lucky, live reasonably close to the ground, 20 mins on non-matchdays by car, I can count on one hand the games I've left early in nearly 50 years.

Doubt I'd be off if I lived further away but never had that to worry about. What I can say is especially for midweek games if he's not working on match day my lad will drive 3 1/2 hours plus each way and be in work in the following morning.

People however do have reasons for legging it but not the numbers that clear off. You only have to look at around half time, loads miss 5/10 mins either side for a beer. Now I Ike a beer more than most & had 6/7 pre-game (not driving obviously) but missing upto a quarter of the match for a beer then off before the end as well......

Each to their own I suppose.

Noticed this as well(I wonder what the record is for the least amount of football watched haha), the club aren't going to mind them buying beers at those prices though, I think that's one for the club to sort out by making it faster. Also isn't it time people are allowed a beer in their seats, use plastic cups and keep the rule for the family stand by all means but it's mostly unnecessary.

 

[jrb]

5 loyalty points per game for every season ticket holder attending a home match. 50 extra loyalty points for attending every home match. A small incentive that might get a few more bums on seats?

 

[hammocity]

You just don't get it do you?
People have many and varied reasons for not attending or leaving early - all which are unbeknown to you and people like you.
It is none of your business that a lot of people don't put a football match as top priority and organise their life around it
obviously as you do.
I guess we all have to just accept that you really are a 'Super City Fan' and the biggest blue on this forum.
Well done. You should be proud of yourself.

You just don't get it do you?
People have many and varied reasons for not attending or leaving early - all which are unbeknown to you and people like you.
It is none of your business that a lot of people don't put a football match as top priority and organise their life around it
obviously as you do.
I guess we all have to just accept that you really are a 'Super City Fan' and the biggest blue on this forum.
Well done. You should be proud of yourself.

Dear me, you are a bit precious, let's put it this way, out of the thousands that leave early you and Blue Anorak and the like have genuine reasons to go early .if you are telling me others that leave early because they have to take their partners out, then it's a feeble excuse . You are an apologist without knowing why others leave early and if anyone questions your argument you quote a personal polemic. Like many others on here I have suffered personal heartbreak, let's just say you are blessed with a daughter.

 

[M18CTID]

I'm lucky, live reasonably close to the ground, 20 mins on non-matchdays by car, I can count on one hand the games I've left early in nearly 50 years.

Doubt I'd be off if I lived further away but never had that to worry about. What I can say is especially for midweek games if he's not working on match day my lad will drive 3 1/2 hours plus each way and be in work in the following morning.

People however do have reasons for legging it but not the numbers that clear off. You only have to look at around half time, loads miss 5/10 mins either side for a beer. Now I Ike a beer more than most & had 6/7 pre-game (not driving obviously) but missing upto a quarter of the match for a beer then off before the end as well......

Each to their own I suppose.

I'd blame the club for fans missing chunks of the game through queuing for a pint. I don't know what it's like in other areas of the ground but in SS1, it's sometimes nigh on impossible to stay in your seat until HT, get served, drink your pint, and get back to your seat in time for the second half to start. In fact, you can spend all HT in the queue and on more than one occasion this season I've had to leg it back to my seat for the start of the second half without even getting to the front of the queue. It's fucking shit and it needs sorting. Of all the grounds I watch City on, ours is the worst and slowest for getting served.

 

[Neville Kneville]

It's obviously bullshit that so many people 'have' to leave early.

Obviously. There is not some affliction which only City fans get, where they have so many more fans with dependants, than there are at other clubs, nor are their lives more important that they have to be home earlier, nor do more of them work funny hours, or more have kids who have to be in bed. And nor is it any more difficult to get home from City than any major football ground.

It's all bullshit.

There are a number of fans, who have to leave, then there are a shitload more who see a few moving & think 'I'll fuck off now before the rest go' because they want to, not because they have to.

That is their right, of course & nobody has any right to stop them.

I really don't like it & think it's bad for the club, & they could make an effort to support the team at the end, & I'm sure the players would prefer it. And that's my right, to have that opinion of them.

And while we are at it, those who do stay 90 mins could give it another 5 & actually applaud the team off, like I do, as the majority push past me. It makes no difference to the journey afterwards, it doesn't take long.

As for the empty seats, it's time the club put a stop to it. Some empties will be unavoidable, but some will be bought/ owned by touts/travel companies for a start. Some by fans who hardly ever attend. Others by fans who haven't bothered to make their seat available. Time the club did a proper survey.

The seat next to me, which is no longer a season ticket, & therefore available, is filled almost every game. When I am working away, I give my mate my ticket or put it on ticket exchange & it is usually taken up on ticket exchange. yet sometimes there are still empties near me, where most likely people haven't bothered making the ticket available,, as there is a demand for seats there most games.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I'd blame the club for fans missing chunks of the game through queuing for a pint. I don't know what it's like in other areas of the ground but in SS1, it's sometimes nigh on impossible to stay in your seat until HT, get served, drink your pint, and get back to your seat in time for the second half to start. In fact, you can spend all HT in the queue and on more than one occasion this season I've had to leg it back to my seat for the start of the second half without even getting to the front of the queue. It's fucking shit and it needs sorting. Of all the grounds I watch City on, ours is the worst and slowest for getting served.

My simple solution to that is not to bother drinking at half time.

 

[lancs blue]

Is there any 50,000+ capacity stadium in this country that doesn't have severe traffic congestion or lengthy transport queues after an event? I've yet to visit one and I can't see that the Etihad is any worse than say the Swamp or the Emirates for post-match delays. I think part of the problem is that Britain is a nation of compulsive moaners.

 

[Cityfan]

I am about of a skinflint and don't like to waste money by leaving early. I also like to applaud the team off. About 90% of the time I stay till the end but I do have a 250 mile drive after the match and series.with late finishes I like to get on my way, at busy times it can make nearly an hour's difference in what time I get back and can understand why people do leave a little early.
There is one woman on my row with a couple of kids who always leaves on about the 70 minute mark I find that just bizarre, still each to their own.

 

[dennis the menace]

I stay until the end but its not church or school I'll come and go as I like.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Is there any 50,000+ capacity stadium in this country that doesn't have severe traffic congestion or lengthy transport queues after an event? I've yet to visit one and I can't see that the Etihad is any worse than say the Swamp or the Emirates for post-match delays. I think part of the problem is that Britain is a nation of compulsive moaners.

Any major event involves travel problems.

And there are less percentage of people who leave concerts etc early, at night, than leave City's ground early, in the afternoon.

And they stay & applaud the artists off rather than half the seats emptying.

 

[M18CTID]

My simple solution to that is not to bother drinking at half time.

There is that. I just think it's utterly shit that a club like ours which has had so much investment over the past 10 years is totally incapable of knocking out half-time pints at anything approaching close to an acceptable rate. Even at Burnley last week, despite the concourse being fucking hammered and it being difficult to navigate your way through the crowds, it was still possible to get served at half-time within 5 minutes of joining the queue.