City to expand Etihad to 62,000?

[Falastur]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

dont really get the point at the moment, we cant even seem to budge the season tickets(i know they will go but its taking there time)

Do you really think we won't sell out our games? Even at the end of the season, when it was obvious that we wouldn't win the league, we were still filling the stadium up. The gaps in the crowd were noticeably where season ticket holders weren't turning up for whatever reason, the fans just buying match-day still turned up regardless. Admittedly the season tickets are proving harder to push than last year, but that's because we aren't champions this time. From the board's perspective they can read this in one of two ways: A) the longer we go without a trophy, the fewer fans will turn up to games, or B) season ticket sales are dependent on feel-good factor from the previous season, but we now have the interest factor to sell out the ground from non-season ticket holders such as Blue members like myself. Given these options, why would they make business decisions on view A), assuming that we are in decline? Nothing else suggests that, and even a cursory glance at this forum would show them that the fans are actually really excited for next season.

It's not like they're doing what some in the stadium thread were begging them to do a year or two back, and upgrading the stadium to 90k in one go. We may not sell out 54k in our first season, but we are still growing as a club, we are still some way from the point when all the kids growing up in the country admiring City players instead of the scum will grow into match-going fans, and we have every reason to believe attendances can still grow. They're not even doing the whole 60k in one go. If it does go a little awry and we can only fill, say, 52k seats, then they are under no obligation to finish off the other half and go up to 60k. It's a very sensible move.

 

[dawlish dave]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

dont really get the point at the moment, we cant even seem to budge the season tickets(i know they will go but its taking there time)

Do you really think we won't sell out our games? Even at the end of the season, when it was obvious that we wouldn't win the league, we were still filling the stadium up. The gaps in the crowd were noticeably where season ticket holders weren't turning up for whatever reason, the fans just buying match-day still turned up regardless. Admittedly the season tickets are proving harder to push than last year, but that's because we aren't champions this time. From the board's perspective they can read this in one of two ways: A) the longer we go without a trophy, the fewer fans will turn up to games, or B) season ticket sales are dependent on feel-good factor from the previous season, but we now have the interest factor to sell out the ground from non-season ticket holders such as Blue members like myself. Given these options, why would they make business decisions on view A), assuming that we are in decline? Nothing else suggests that, and even a cursory glance at this forum would show them that the fans are actually really excited for next season.

It's not like they're doing what some in the stadium thread were begging them to do a year or two back, and upgrading the stadium to 90k in one go. We may not sell out 54k in our first season, but we are still growing as a club, we are still some way from the point when all the kids growing up in the country admiring City players instead of the scum will grow into match-going fans, and we have every reason to believe attendances can still grow. They're not even doing the whole 60k in one go. If it does go a little awry and we can only fill, say, 52k seats, then they are under no obligation to finish off the other half and go up to 60k. It's a very sensible move.

Funny but I agree with both of these posts,just want City to extend the ground in a way that it gets filled for 90% of premier games don't agree with the "build it and they will come" point of view

 

[Vic]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

aplogies if already posted can t read all the thread

city have permission to raise both sides but will only build one side first

They haven't got anyone's permission. At best they've talked to City Council planners who may have indicated that permission may be granted, but they've not applied so can hardly have got permission. Expect objections from residents (for a start, I'd check what was said in the original application about traffic disruption during events - I suspect there was nothing about halting all traffic for ten minutes after matches). Having the trams has made a bit of a dint in the after-match traffic, but the new Transport Plan for expanding the stadium could be interesting. With experience it would be no good saying more buses will help, when buses are stuck in the traffic. I'd be looking for City to pay Metrolink to fund extra trams after matches (the cost offsettable against FFP!)

 

[fbloke]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

Extending the ground is important for the big games, non-City matches that come along as well as non-football stuff.

 

[S04]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

dont really get the point at the moment, we cant even seem to budge the season tickets(i know they will go but its taking there time)

Expand and make the area cheap and it will sell..There was something about a vague (substantial amount) of the seats being ST priced at £300 when it was in MEN.

 

[bluecityste]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

Can't believe some fans think that we won't be able to sell an extra 6000 tickets for most games.
Almost EVERY game has been sold out for the past 2 YEARS!!!!!!!!
My family tried to buy tickets about 5 times last season and no luck each time, should be no worries regarding filling the extra seats based on one assumption: Price does not go up any further.

 

[fbloke]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

dont really get the point at the moment, we cant even seem to budge the season tickets(i know they will go but its taking there time)

Expand and make the area cheap and it will sell..There was something about a vague (substantial amount) of the seats being ST priced at £300 when it was in MEN.

I think you will find that there are more than simply a nominal number of cheap seats on offer.

There is a recognition that A) City need more corporates but that they need only exist in the prime ring of seats B) Having larger number of affordable seats and match day seats offers many more fans the chance to be part of the club.

City WILL still be the club of the community in which they sit.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

Can't believe some fans think that we won't be able to sell an extra 6000 tickets for most games.
Almost EVERY game has been sold out for the past 2 YEARS!!!!!!!!
My family tried to buy tickets about 5 times last season and no luck each time, should be no worries regarding filling the extra seats based on one assumption: Price does not go up any further.

Something is out of kilter at City. I know the 'sold out' signs go up each week, but there are plenty of empties for virtually every game, and they're clearly visible on the box. The only club I've seen come close is Arsenal at the Emirates. Either our season ticket holders are unique in not turning up, or we're farming the figures......

 

[CITY FOR LIFE]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

Extending the ground is important for the big games, non-City matches that come along as well as non-football stuff.

I agree, look at the concert business we are now putting through the stadium alone, not only does it bring funds into the club but the bars and shops around the stadium and people visiting the City before these events. Once again City ruining the local businesses around the area.

Extend one end lets see how it goes and build on from there.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Re: City to expand Etihad to 60,000

Can't believe some fans think that we won't be able to sell an extra 6000 tickets for most games.
Almost EVERY game has been sold out for the past 2 YEARS!!!!!!!!
My family tried to buy tickets about 5 times last season and no luck each time, should be no worries regarding filling the extra seats based on one assumption: Price does not go up any further.

Something is out of kilter at City. I know the 'sold out' signs go up each week, but there are plenty of empties for virtually every game, and they're clearly visible on the box. The only club I've seen come close is Arsenal at the Emirates. Either our season ticket holders are unique in not turning up, or we're farming the figures......

It's not that many seats, just one or two here & there. Moreso in the family stand. There are season ticket holders near me who can't make it every week & 2 members of my family in the same situation.