I'd be surprised if there were 1000 empty seats at the big games. The lessser games and the midweek games maybe. Many of those empty seats for the lesser and midweek games were probably sold, but fans couldn't be arsed turning up.
I still can't understand how adding an extra advertising board, showing the same add on a larger double advertiising board, can bring in more revnue than 1000 extra supporters per home game.
Disclaimer. 1000 supporters. It's probably less, but nobody knows the exact amount of seats taken out.
The missing fans aside. It has moved the fans further back from the pitch and the players, which will impact on the general intimidating atmosphere of the Etihad.
In essence City have created 3 front rows of no man's land with only stewards allowed on it.
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Look how far back the fans will be from the pitch, the action, and the players.
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