City Square open for testing

[Project]

Are kids allowed in Mary D's? Do they do food?

No wind up, never been.

 

[PrestwichPeteMcfc]

Are kids allowed in Mary D's? Do they do food?

No wind up, never been.

Yeah they have a children's area in the big room, and they do food. It's not the most child friendly though.

 

[JohnMaddocksAxe]

good argument well put, so do you not think that people will do that ?

and do you also think that more would come if it was the same price ?

so in the future we have to happy being fleeced to balance the books ?

i understand the finacial needs, but stack em high and sell them cheap. Tried tested and proved model that works.

Firstly they are greatly restricted by the in-stadium prices. If they undercut them significantly then you create a problem.

Secondly supply/demand has a lot to do with it. You price to what the market can bear. Capacity is what, 5000? They will fill that up nicely at these prices.

Ultimately in order to have revenue of anywhere near what's needed requires 1) CL football, 2) excellent worldwide support and merchandise income and 3) great matchday revenue. We won't have number two for a long long time, if ever, but 1 and 3 are doable and extending the leisure facilities around the ground for both matchdays and non matchdays (City Square is available for other events) is probably our only alternative. There will still be a huge gap between income/expenditure with our wage bill but the management can't be operating wholly on an altruistic basis.

Revenue will never be anywhere near what is required to 'balance the books' whilst City have wage levels anywhere near what they currently have.

Well, if they ever are then it will have very little to do with 'matchday revenue.' Anyone who thinks it is possible for City to get anywhere near break even thanks to matchday revenue is tripping.


The only reason tickets, parking, food, drink and everything else has gone up this season is that someone wants to demonstrate their value as a top class businessman and has deduced that it is possible to shaft the fans out of more that they have been previously. But I doubt whoever has made that decision is even stupid enough to think that it will have any significant impact whatsoever on the club's huge losses.

-- Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:32 pm --

Sorry, but that is the same total and utter shite that people have been mindlessly peddling on here for months without ever having any sort of evidence/rationale to back it up.

Otherwise, if this theory is correct then you had better get on to the Wigan and Bolton fans and let them know about this revolutionary business plan.

I can see the headlines now "Wigan go on £300m spending spree thanks to shafting the fans with ticket prices and doubling the price of a pint and parking"

Now, think about whether the above headline would actually ever be viable and then reassess whether the money that is squeezed out of the fans has anything at all to do with the players that City are buying.

If you still think it does, see the men in white coats

Yawn... change the fkin record you tedious bleep

Am I not allowed to respond to complete and utter falsehoods then, big man?

I presume, even in your state, you noticed that I have not brought the subject or argument up and only responded to it

 

[Why Always Ste]

This City Square for me will attract many of the fans who walk past Mary D's before and after the game who also have a more disposable income, now from the 47k in attendance i'm sure there will be 5,000 who will go to this square.

More people walk past Mary D's than go into it - is this because they don't want a drink or because they want a different environment?

Since pubs have adapted their business models recently and centred on food, more pubs now make more money from food than they do off alcohol.
City Square will cater for this market, not the beer guzzling 10pint a night types.

 

[mackenzie]

A place where you don't have to queue for ages will always win hands down for me, at least on a regular basis that is.

 

[nmc]

Then do that then.

The pub in question doesn't need to balance books that lost 100m last year.

Regardless, I guarantee these areas will be packed every game. It's a great move by the club.

good argument well put, so do you not think that people will do that ?

and do you also think that more would come if it was the same price ?

so in the future we have to happy being fleeced to balance the books ?

i understand the finacial needs, but stack em high and sell them cheap. Tried tested and proved model that works.

But pile em high sell em cheap is not actually a sustainable business strategy these days. That's exactly why Kwik Save and Woolworths etc are no more. Quality brands that can develop (and to some extent justify) higher margins are the present kings of the high street. I think the whole City Square idea is very good - it only holds 5,000 so it will find its regulars - while Mary D's will no doubt keep many of its present footfall on match days. Personally I go to games with the family these days so Mary D's aint an option - my Mrs wouldn't be seen dead in there - but City Sq is a good option for me. I guess everyone's circumstances and options are different but I really applaud the club for what it is trying to do (and a venture like City Sq is never going to be price led) - but as Lincoln said you can't please all the people all the time.

 

[There is a Light]

the club have to raise money.... if we want a team full of £20m stars we have to pay that little extra. I would'nt do it every week but i will enjoy it a few times this season ( even when its raining ).

Sorry, but that is the same total and utter shite that people have been mindlessly peddling on here for months without ever having any sort of evidence/rationale to back it up.

Otherwise, if this theory is correct then you had better get on to the Wigan and Bolton fans and let them know about this revolutionary business plan.

I can see the headlines now "Wigan go on £300m spending spree thanks to shafting the fans with ticket prices and doubling the price of a pint and parking"

Now, think about whether the above headline would actually ever be viable and then reassess whether the money that is squeezed out of the fans has anything at all to do with the players that City are buying.

If you still think it does, see the men in white coats

How is money being squeezed out of us? If we don't like the pricing of the Square, then we just don't go. Before seeing exactly what is on offer people are being a bit hasty in judging it.

We have quality pricing on cup tickets and a range of seasoncards. I certainly do not feel like the club are fleecing me, in fact I think I get excellent value for money compared to supporters of other clubs.

If we want to continue signing players of the calibre that we have in the past few seasons, do we not need to increase revenue streams? Is that not what Platini's regulations are all about?

 

[Anonymous]

Firstly they are greatly restricted by the in-stadium prices. If they undercut them significantly then you create a problem.

Secondly supply/demand has a lot to do with it. You price to what the market can bear. Capacity is what, 5000? They will fill that up nicely at these prices.

Ultimately in order to have revenue of anywhere near what's needed requires 1) CL football, 2) excellent worldwide support and merchandise income and 3) great matchday revenue. We won't have number two for a long long time, if ever, but 1 and 3 are doable and extending the leisure facilities around the ground for both matchdays and non matchdays (City Square is available for other events) is probably our only alternative. There will still be a huge gap between income/expenditure with our wage bill but the management can't be operating wholly on an altruistic basis.

Revenue will never be anywhere near what is required to 'balance the books' whilst City have wage levels anywhere near what they currently have.

Well, if they ever are then it will have very little to do with 'matchday revenue.' Anyone who thinks it is possible for City to get anywhere near break even thanks to matchday revenue is tripping.


The only reason tickets, parking, food, drink and everything else has gone up this season is that someone wants to demonstrate their value as a top class businessman and has deduced that it is possible to shaft the fans out of more that they have been previously. But I doubt whoever has made that decision is even stupid enough to think that it will have any significant impact whatsoever on the club's huge losses.

-- Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:32 pm --

Yawn... change the fkin record you tedious bleep

Am I not allowed to respond to complete and utter falsehoods then, big man?

I presume, even in your state, you noticed that I have not brought the subject or argument up and only responded to it

This has been the theme of numerous posts of yours throughout numerous threads. Some sort of pseudo socialist agenda "for the masses". Get real and move forward in time into the real world and stop harking back to some sort of golden age that exists only in your clouded memory. Now whats this state that I am supposed to be in old man.

 

[blueloon]

The City Square is a great development by the club and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they have pushed this project forward. We as fans of Manchester City need to get behind this and stop complaining. This is likely to be the first stage of developments around the stadium, so back it and enjoy the experience because it will hopefully only get better for Manchester City and East Manchester...

 

[Project]

Firstly they are greatly restricted by the in-stadium prices. If they undercut them significantly then you create a problem.

Secondly supply/demand has a lot to do with it. You price to what the market can bear. Capacity is what, 5000? They will fill that up nicely at these prices.

Ultimately in order to have revenue of anywhere near what's needed requires 1) CL football, 2) excellent worldwide support and merchandise income and 3) great matchday revenue. We won't have number two for a long long time, if ever, but 1 and 3 are doable and extending the leisure facilities around the ground for both matchdays and non matchdays (City Square is available for other events) is probably our only alternative. There will still be a huge gap between income/expenditure with our wage bill but the management can't be operating wholly on an altruistic basis.

Revenue will never be anywhere near what is required to 'balance the books' whilst City have wage levels anywhere near what they currently have.

Well, if they ever are then it will have very little to do with 'matchday revenue.' Anyone who thinks it is possible for City to get anywhere near break even thanks to matchday revenue is tripping.


The only reason tickets, parking, food, drink and everything else has gone up this season is that someone wants to demonstrate their value as a top class businessman and has deduced that it is possible to shaft the fans out of more that they have been previously. But I doubt whoever has made that decision is even stupid enough to think that it will have any significant impact whatsoever on the club's huge losses.

Chelsea are already getting closer to breaking even, having made £210m in their last FY. I think it was a £40m loss last year, but that included a £15m pay-off for Avram Grant. So let's say £25m, and that's with matchday revenue maxed out on a relatively small/medium sized stadium. In the mid 90s I recall Chelsea averaging about 21,000 gates. Yet they now exceed most clubs in the world for matchday revenue. Mostly because of monstrous ticket prices. If the club has to balance that out with more activities outside the ground, then so be it.

I'm not here to suggest that our shortfall can be made up by this kind of revenue. But a sizable income can be generated from this kind of activity, and it all adds up. In 3 years time we have to be probably earning north of £180m. If there is 10-15m on the table from this stuff, it's nothing to sneeze at.

 

[kunaguero10]

Was city square instead of city street? Or is the street another project?

 

[There is a Light]

You know, the club are trying to do something for the fans and some people still can't accept it without moaning!!

If the beer is £1 a pint cheaper at Mary D's or wherever BUT you have to pay £2 or £3 admission, as "There is a light" seems to be saying, then surely you are saving or coming out even if you buy 2 pints? Or am I missing something here?

e.g. Mary D's 2 pints @ £2.80 = £5.60 + £2.00 admission = £7.60

City Square 2 pints @ £3.80 = £7.60 admission free!!

Sorry if you don't pay admission at Mary D's but as I have never been in there or even bought a pint anywhere round the ground I might be missing something!! (No smart comments from you BlueStew!!)

Eccles Blue, Mary D's is free admission.

My maths were based upon £3 a pint in Mary D's compared the £3.60 in the Square.

Three pints before the match at an extra 60p is £1.80. Considering it is free into the Square it isn't that much extra to pay.

 

[frothy]

went down this afternoon , but the bar had just closed how much they charging for a pint ?

 

[Project]

Forgot to add - UEFA also allow the owner to bail the club out each year by a certain amount - I think it was 15m. So Chelsea are within touching distance of "sustainability" according to UEFA. And they have room to maneuver, with stadium naming rights, a likely bigger PL deal coming up with ESPN ready to get into serious bidding, amongst other initiatives on the horizon.

 

[blueloon]

the City Square idea evolved from the City Street proposals...

 

[Blue Punter]

Well it's suppossed to be dry tomorrow night, so that's a bonus.

Wonder how easy it is to get served? Not a great fan of queueing, especially if I'm paying £3.60 a pint. Hope there's plenty of tables to sit down.

If it's done right, as they do in Germany, this could be a really good attraction.

 

[bluemoon27]

went to the club shop today then walked over to bluemoon cafe and had a look at some of the prices,portion of chips which were a little bit bigger than what you get at mcdonalds are £2 ,if you want gravy its £1,a burger is £4,a chilli chicken butty £4,thats all i can remember,but it does look really good there and sure it will attract a good atmosphere there

 

[VOOMER]

Shit I like to party, lived in Amsterdam, still go back, I like to start the weekend on a Thursday, etc, etc. However, if i go to the cinema, or go to watch city, I like to have a clear mind to take in what I see and with City now more so than ever before. I don't care if other city fans like a couple of pints at the game, live and let live, but the obsession with beer prices gives the impression, that some people are more interested in getting pissed than watching what is fast becoming the most talented City team in its history. So no I don't drink before, or during the game, certainly afterwards, when I'm back in Didsbury (oh only if it was back in the Dam), thats just me and the 20, or so people where I sit who are virtually tea total until the game ends as they are coming from, Stockton, York and the Isle of Man. So, when I can park within easy walking distance of the ground, now walk up an entertaining walkway and actually sit under some cover before and after the game starts watching the seasons highlights on giant tv screens, then sit in one of the finest stadiums in Europe and pay less than I did last year for my season ticket, to watch an even better team (certainly on paper) all the while pinching myself that what has happened to the club I love and have supported for nearly 40 years, isn't a dream, then you'll to forgive me for not giving a flying *uck what they charge for a pint!

 

[Anonymous]

went to the club shop today then walked over to bluemoon cafe and had a look at some of the prices,portion of chips which were a little bit bigger than what you get at mcdonalds are £2 ,if you want gravy its £1,a burger is £4,a chilli chicken butty £4,thats all i can remember,but it does look really good there and sure it will attract a good atmosphere there

Fkin ell £1 for gravy JohnMaddocksAxe head will explode.

 

[Maccblue]

Does anyone know if they can sell alcohol for the europa games? I know they cant in the ground