Update from 1894 Group - wednesday evening -
www.facebook.com/1894groupmcfc
“£60 YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH”
We’ve had a tremendous response to our statement, which was our reply to the club’s statement released earlier this week.
This has prompted a huge debate which is continuing across social media. The over-riding emotion is one of disappointment at the prices rather than anger with a small percentage that feel the prices are ok. Disappointment that they may have to pick and choose attending a fixture that they were so excited about when the draw was initially made.
The feedback we are getting is consistent. There is a communication issue between the fans and the club. A lack of fan engagement. A wish for the club to protect the identity of Manchester City FC rather than be judged as one of the clubs in the “City Football Group” portfolio and the best way the club can do that is to take the established fan base with them and to genuinely consider their feelings at this time. The PSG pricing structure was a last straw for many fans on top of the other issues we highlighted in the last statement. Don’t forget many fans have had to be moved to accommodate corporate fans in the last couple of years.
What we are sure about is that there is huge concern about where ticket prices are going. Not only can that affect the atmosphere at home games but there is huge concern over where this would end.
Would we see £70/£80 tickets for a semi-final ? Would we see further rises for season tickets next year?
We always try to reflect what City fans are saying to us and what they are saying is that they want the club to listen.
If the club don’t listen some fans will walk away from the club regardless of who the manager is and regardless of who we sign.
We also feel the best way we can help the club realise that prices should come down is for the supporters to stick together on this issue. We don’t want any splits within the support base on this.
That being the case and after carefully considering all views, we’ve taken the view that we should raise awareness through banners at the West Brom game.
After listening to fans we have decided against organising a walk-out at this stage because we feel that might split the supporters and we have more chance of achieving our aims if we are not divided.
If the club don’t listen to the fans and prices continue to rise then we see a time where a majority of fans will accept and support a walk out.
Some fans will walk out anyway at the West Brom game. We support their right to choose to want to walk out – just as we supported the right of any individual City fan who wanted to go to Moscow away a couple of years ago.
It’s entirely up to individuals how they want to deal with this situation.
