I always believe that we have to be ambitious and that if we build it they will come. Obviously, the issue is to fill it every week, but let the marketing and ticketing people worry about that.
In 1920s Manchester the Blues leaders didn't think "our ground holds 40,000 yet our average is 25,000, we'd better stay here." Instead they thought... "we fill the ground for big games, just think what we could get if we moved. Let's build a stadium twice our capacity!"
Within a year of the move from Hyde Rd to Maine Rd the Club attracted 76,166 - at the time the largest football crowd ever in Manchester (including 3 cup finals and all attendances at OT).
Obviously, the Club couldn't fill it game after game at that time, but the move did allow support to increase and every season from 1923 to 1963 (apart from one) the highest League crowd was easily in excess of Hyde Rd's capacity (often by more than 20k). Cup games were even better - we all know the stories about the 84,569 but there were several 70,000 plus attendances right up to the capacity being reduced in late 50s (76,129 was the last City home crowd over 75,000 in 1956).
I wouldn't suggest increasing City's capacity to 85,000, but I am totally in favour of speculating and planning to increase the capacity to 60k then (if successful) to 76k.
Design can limit the impact of empty seats in cup games (just use bottom 2 tiers; curtain off the rest?) and I'm pretty certain that this season our average would be well in excess of 50k if the stadium could hold 60k or more. I do worry that fans will be priced out if the stadium is not increased in size.<br /><br />-- Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:58 am --<br /><br />
BrianW said:
I think there is considerable suppressed demand at City...
In my view having too small a ground will hold the club back, if not immediately then in a season or two. You can't build a ground or significantly extend one overnight. A decision is needed soon.
The other way to go is to increase prices to ration the available seats. This would be a disaster for many long-term supporters, although the wealthy among you would be OK.
I strongly agree! Several clubs have found that limited capacity as the Club grows has hampered its long term development. Sunderland were pleased to have a sell out stadium when it first opened but younger supporters/those without a history of support couldn't get tickets. Their interest (particularly younger fans) waned and when the club needed them they weren't there (over simplification but the basic point is true).
A similar thing happened at Maine Rd - although the move to Eastlands helped there was a period when the Club was seriously worried about the age of its fan base. Supporters were getting older and the Club had less younger fans because they hadn't been able to get tickets for Maine Road during late 90s/early 2000s. Live4City was aimed at re-building City's younger support though it was difficult without trophy success (or hope of success at the time).
