Empty seats.. worsening trend?

[moomba]

It's amazing how nobody is sick or committed elsewhere on Derby day!

Maybe it's a bit easier to find takers for your derby ticket than to something like Burnley? Or maybe, people book leave from work for important games, or book childcare?

It's also amazing that these hordes of families who can't get into the ground took until the morning of the match to sell out the 5k or so available tickets for the Burnley match.

You keep referring to "Hordes" in your emails Moomba. Have you been watching your battle for Middle Earth DVDs over the festive period.

I am not claiming that there are thousands of families being turned away from games by season card "missing". There are enough however to make this a problem that should be overcome!

I have no idea what you're talking about with DVD's. Were you cracking a funny?

The Burnley game sold out on the morning of the match. That suggests to me there isnt an army being locked out by nasty season ticket holders. The fact that you consistently refer to families being locked out when you have no idea of who if anyone tried to get a ticket in the hours of the game suggests to me that you are making it up to make your point of view sound more reasonable

 

[lancs blue]

The club do not help themselves when it comes to ticket sales, I notice that the Wednesday tickets are now only available to purchase in person from the TO plus some on the Cup scheme whose payment failed have to go there as well to get their cards activated. Why on earth can't members buy online right up to KO, it's only a matter of the card being automatically activated when the payment is authorised. If the software isn't up to that they need to get it upgraded asap as it will be costing the club money.

 

[whp.blue]

I don't have a problem with the atmosphere. It is what it is.

That's fine, but you're in a minority of 1. The vast, vast majority of people here want the atmosphere to improve.

Mainly because it's more enjoyable with a rocking atmosphere and the team plays better when motivated by the stands, and fans like their club to have the best chance of winning.

the atmosphere is shit because the vast majority of our support doesn't back the team not because of a few hundred season ticket holders don't turn up

a huge proportion don't even stay to the end for gods sake

There us a myth about our great support the reputation was built on large numbers turning up every game when we were shit in the lower divisions I would suggest the vast majority of them fans no longer even go to the stadium
They have been forced out by the gentrification of our fan base the club have chosen middle class families over drunken working class fans, the shit atmosphere is the price you pay for the reduction of drunken swearing yobs

The proof of this is clear just look at ticket pricing and the ridiculous priority given to the Family Stand

I know this will not be popular view on here but I am speaking as a long standing fan who missed only three games home and away in 10 seasons during our yo-yo years and made sure I attended every game in division three

 

[franksinatra]

What if they are sick? Caring for children or the elderley? Unable to get out of work? Abroad? Problems with transport?

And if you are going to have exemptions who at the club spends the time assessing all offenders?

It's amazing how nobody is sick or committed elsewhere on Derby day!

Well I was!! For the first time since I got a season card I have missed quite a few matches this season and I am finding the 'holier than thou' or I'm a better fan than you because I have attended all games attitude beneath some Blues who I once had great respect for.

There are many reasons for people not attending and they have been explained on here. Also the empty seats can, possibly, be explained, as people keep telling you, by the fact that the club hold back tickets and give tickets to groups.! If you are so worried about seats then contact the club don't come on here insulting fellow Blues who could be devastated, as I was, to miss so many matches!



Rant over!

You have my sympathies Eccles Blue. When I miss games I lend my card to my father who sadly is finding it more difficult to attend games due to ill health. The guy has been going since the 50s and his father since the 20s yet I have to listen to 'City fans' going on about forcing fans who miss games to lose loyalty points are lose their season tickets. Not a chance I will give up my ticket and deny him the pleasure of attending games when he can.

Anyway I hope you remain in good health and do not lose your ticket or receive negative loyalty points like the absurd suggestion of some City fans.

 

[dobobobo]

Exactly. Its customers. I don't look at myself as a customer of Manchester City nor do I give a shit about their negative publicity in foreign markets. I do however give a shit about a waning atmosphere and an increasing number of empty seats during the most successful period in our history because it directly affects my enjoyment and potentially the result.

The saddest thing is the growing apathy towards City fan culture and atmosphere. People are struggling to even clap and cheer the team as its being read out now. What on earth has happened... we've become everything we hated but dare I say worse. We mocked United and their prawn sandwich brigade but, and I say this through gritted teeth, they're supporting their team much better than our fans lately. I wonder if this partly young fans not being introduced to any sort of great atmosphere to be in awe of and want to join. Imagine you're a Dortmund fan and see the Yellow Wall every week... chances are you dream of joining it when you're 14 or 15. 1894 are the last hope and it seems like they're pissing in the wind sometimes. A few weeks ago they set out displays to lift in the Family Stand and those who actually bothered to turn up didn't even seem to lift them (unless I blinked and missed it)!

Yeah I've noticed this. In my opinion it's because they've got music (am up in level 3) blasting out as the names are read out. And because some muppet thought it was a good idea to put a video of each player walking out of darkness on the big screens. The video has meant it takes longer to go through the names of people so understandbly people get fed up of clapping and waiting to cheer each player.

In my view the team annoucnement should be done old school, quick loud annoucements so that the fans can generate the wall of noise to show their support.

 

[dobobobo]

It's amazing how nobody is sick or committed elsewhere on Derby day!

Well I was!! For the first time since I got a season card I have missed quite a few matches this season and I am finding the 'holier than thou' or I'm a better fan than you because I have attended all games attitude beneath some Blues who I once had great respect for.

There are many reasons for people not attending and they have been explained on here. Also the empty seats can, possibly, be explained, as people keep telling you, by the fact that the club hold back tickets and give tickets to groups.! If you are so worried about seats then contact the club don't come on here insulting fellow Blues who could be devastated, as I was, to miss so many matches!



Rant over!

You have my sympathies Eccles Blue. When I miss games I lend my card to my father who sadly is finding it more difficult to attend games due to ill health. The guy has been going since the 50s and his father since the 20s yet I have to listen to 'City fans' going on about forcing fans who miss games to lose loyalty points are lose their season tickets. Not a chance I will give up my ticket and deny him the pleasure of attending games when he can.

Anyway I hope you remain in good health and do not lose your ticket or receive negative loyalty points like the absurd suggestion of some City fans.

Exaggeration.^^^^^

We're not talking about odd matches, we're talking about using data to show those who just use their ticket to turn up to big games and doing something about it.

The fact you have taken offence to the suggestion and Exaggerated goes to show that those use their ticket casually (not you) might think twice about treating their ticket casually.

As I've said before, I've no problem with them turinng up when they want, but move those people somewhere where there is less demand so that others can use their seat(s). Every home match in the league I wacth on the 80 minute mark and old chap and his wife leave from the top of Colin Bell on level 3 so that they can get out safely. Why can't they have two seats in a lower tier which is empty most of the season?

 

[franksinatra]

Yes it is not a big problem and yes It would be relatively small if the complimentaries were relocated and Vianogo was replaced. As I mentioned before, this has become more of an issue because people have tried to stifle debate with clichés about people being paranoid about the rags.

I think Damocles' idea of withholding or reducing loyalty points is a good one since a lot of Blues were upset with the platinum card for buying points. That's what season card holders do who don't turn up for most games

You think that is a good idea? As has been pointed out we do not have a huge fanbase of supporters desperate to get tickets. For both Burnley and Sunderland (Stated on the OS as sold out at 11.55 on the day of the game) even shifting 6000 tickets over christmas is a struggle. Yet you think City should alienate the supporters base who have committed to buying tickets for 19 matches.

Could you imagine if fans started missing out on Cup Final/Derby tickets due to receiving negative loyalty points due to family/personal illness, being made redundant, bereavment, no carer to take them to the game, or even a condition which prevents attendance in winter.

Fortunately the club is not stupid enough to risk the possible negative publicity or alienation of its paying customers who have been prepared to commit the money upfront regardless of form/position. What a ridiculous suggestion.

Have you had too much Christmas and New Year's sherry? As has been stated many times with this suggestion, people with very good reasons would be exempt.

As for demand for tickets, we are playing three games at home in a week so the 130,000 plus tickets sold isn't poor demand in my book.

Also, you insult our Club by claiming demand for tickets is poor. Our owners don't suffer fools gladly and wouldn't be increasing the capacity of the stadium without good reason!

I think its you who has been on the sherry.

Back on planet earth for the minute are you expecting your local GP to writing out sick notes for periods of illness? Letters confirming attendance from visiting accident and emergency? Photocopies of employment benefit records to highlight the games you have missed? And what about holidays? Do you honestly think for one second the club will employ people to deal with this correspondence and confirming its authenticity?

Also we have not sold out 130000 tickets over the festive period. We have sold around 18k with the other 112k being sold at the start of the season.

 

[franksinatra]

The club do not help themselves when it comes to ticket sales, I notice that the Wednesday tickets are now only available to purchase in person from the TO plus some on the Cup scheme whose payment failed have to go there as well to get their cards activated. Why on earth can't members buy online right up to KO, it's only a matter of the card being automatically activated when the payment is authorised. If the software isn't up to that they need to get it upgraded asap as it will be costing the club money.

You can still phone up and book them over the phone.

 

[moomba]

Every home match in the league I wacth on the 80 minute mark and old chap and his wife leave from the top of Colin Bell on level 3 so that they can get out safely. Why can't they have two seats in a lower tier which is empty most of the season?

They might prefer the view from level 3.

 

[squirtyflower]

I do however give a shit about a waning atmosphere and an increasing number of empty seats during the most successful period in our history because it directly affects my enjoyment and potentially the result.

really? really?

how sad....