North Stand expansion - seating, ticketing etc

[Centurions]

Answer this simple question - are fans being forced out of their seats Yes or No?

If you've not figured out my thinking on that by now then I can't help you. I won't bother replying anymore on this so knock yourself out if you've got too much time on your hands.

 

[Centurions]

There's no semantics here - some fans will have to move so yes, they're being forced out. That is absolutely not up for debate. Not physically of course but forced out all the same. If anything he's getting hung up on a wording technicality, not me.

As for his broader point, he clearly has little to no empathy for the fans who are affected by it and that's his prerogative of course, but he's practically outright mocking those who dare complain. That shouldn't sit right with anybody. Which brings me on to something else. Where were all these posters last season when the ticket price protests were ongoing? I didn't see too many of them sticking their heads up above the parapet and having a pop at the fans who were getting involved. Probably because the overwhelming groundswell of support was with those fans who were actively doing something and they thought better to keep quiet about it, yet were then happy to accept whatever concessions were gained from the club.

"but he's practically outright mocking those who dare complain"???

Now you can just get to fuck.

 

[Centurions]

If we are guessing numbers, 1100 seats is as logical as 500. Based on the fact that the other GA+ was 650 seats to 300 bar capacity.

All we know is that there will be a new 500 capacity bar offering in the City Hall. How many seats are associated with that or what it does to the overall City Hall capacity and use, or how or if it affects the original GA+ in the stand, whether it even IS a version of GA+, we just have no idea at this point.

That btw isn't so much aimed at you, but for the benefit of others that may take the 500 mentioned in a few posts as fact.

For some reason I had it down as the club stating 500 possibly affected but you're correct, they give no solid figures. Possibly why I've been left wondering on some of the arguments, both for and against.

 

[Coatigan]

There's no semantics here - some fans will have to move so yes, they're being forced out. That is absolutely not up for debate. Not physically of course but forced out all the same. If anything he's getting hung up on a wording technicality, not me.

As for his broader point, he clearly has little to no empathy for the fans who are affected by it and that's his prerogative of course, but he's practically outright mocking those who dare complain. That shouldn't sit right with anybody. Which brings me on to something else. Where were all these posters last season when the ticket price protests were ongoing? I didn't see too many of them sticking their heads up above the parapet and having a pop at the fans who were getting involved. Probably because the overwhelming groundswell of support was with those fans who were actively doing something and they thought better to keep quiet about it, yet were then happy to accept whatever concessions were gained from the club.

Semantics of what 'forced out' means aside, I don't disagree with you or what eiher of us is saying, so I will drop this one there if that's ok.

On your other points, fully agree the fans deserve direct talks and hope they get them.

Fully acknowledge the appearence of how it was dealt with, with a symbolic pre-notice ahead of the main announcement, and agree it is a bad look. But, I also get how it may well be 'the lesser of two evils', because had the club done it with the fans first with some time before the announcement, it would have been online in no time and they could have looked even worse, conducting things in secret without anything being made official. Are there other ways it could have been handled? Possibly, I am not that clued up on PR to suggest that.

Finally if I may with the best of intentions mate, one thing you seem to apply to most comments is a starting point judgement on whether someone is willing to criticise the club or sees the club as beyond criticism. And you then treat that point so, without considering it on its actual merit. I can guarantee that none of my opinions are based on my having chosen to be a happy clapper and unwavering commitment to being on that side. I'm just offering an honest opinion I have formed by looking at something. To fellow blues. I have had people jump on my back for 'moaning' about not liking the colour of the horizontal panels, the junction of the heighht step, sail fixings (which I then praised when they changed) etc. And I have had people do the same for my not thinking 7% of seats being more expensive and having access to a bar isn't going to kill this stand, eventhough their location is far from ideal. I have said positive things about the stand, I have said negstive things, and neutral 'don't like it but I get it' things. I don't know the likes of centurions from adam or blueparrot from steve, but I readily assume if that is true for me, it is likely true for them too. If it looks like we often agree with each other, which I have noticed it does, then I take it to be because our opinions happen to overlap, and not because we have formed some circle jerk of club defenders we must preserve. In the same way I take your, jrb's and others differing opinions to be genuine and yours, rather than just being any chance slag the club off for a laugh. Otherwise, I likely wouldn't bother responding tbh.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The new facilities look great, but the reality is most fans won’t be using them (hotel, sky bar, exclusive areas).

When you say keep progressing - does that mean forcing fans out of their seats and making the ground even more corporate?

I thought they were releasing 3,000 more season tickets at the North Stand for starters. The North Stand development has been planned for years. It will provide space for 7,000 more City fans. Only a minority of them are corporate customers. Would you rather the club did nothing and just crumbled like United. They have made a fair offer to those affected. They have first choice to pick seats elsewhere in the stadium. If they want to go in the new North Stand they can do that with their prices frozen for two years. Football has changed, just like the rest of the world. I don't agree with all the changes but I am staying on the roller coaster for now. A lot of people (not referring to you) just don't like modern life and don't like change. That's their free choice.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I'm not saying the stadium shouldn't continue to be developed but like you say the communication has been piss poor on this and many other things - like I say, I've been on the receiving end of that previously and it didn't work out for the better either. Fans who are affected by this have every right to ask for a meeting with the club. For me, it's the fact that they were given something like 30 minutes (or less) notice that seriously rankles with me. They'd have known months and months ago that they would have to relocate fans so why not tell them then and give them far more advance notice? Then there are the other issues like sticking GA+ seats slap bang in the middle of a stand that the club are claiming will be an atmosphere stand too. Not to mention the lack of clarity around pricing for those who may wish to relocate from other stands. Stuff like that should've been boxed off and announced long ago.

Instead of listening to me though, perhaps people should watch that YouTube video from last night that was posted a couple of pages back. It's a far better overview of the whole situation than I can give.

I agree with all that. The changes have not been handed sensitively. The club has had a problem with its communications for years. It has affected everything from the ticketing operation, the website, and the weak way we manage the media. I have no problem with development but you have to take people with you, especially the paying customers.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I would say i'm being forced out of my seat as i only have an option to stay if i can afford to pay for premium hospitality. Like most parents i'm paying for more than one SC, so not an option for me.
Most people have been here since the inception of the family stand and are SC holders, everyone knows each other.
Seems to be the back five rows of the two blocks being moved.

My main fear is knowing how shit the ticket office is and getting our group moved together.
Getting the pricing out sooner would make it a lot easier to decide where to move as we've all got different financial committments and don't want to make a rushed decision and end up moving twice.
Is the new safe standing going to be marketed as a cheaper area of the ground.

The club should have kept you in the loop properly and I can't understand why they did not have a meeting with those affected. The comms, as usual, seem to have been crap. Obviously you can't please everyone but there seems to have been little attempt to help those most affected. I hope you get sorted out.

 

[jrb]

My friend and his father sat on the front row of ESL1. They were moved by the club to make way for an additional digital advertising board. They were offered 2 seats at their original season ticket prices for 1 season. After that they had no choice but to pay for more expensive season tickets. In the end both of them decided to give up their season tickets and haven’t been back since. They didn’t asked to be moved or wanted to be moved. They along with 3 rows of other City fans along ESL1 were moved so an additional digital advertising board could be installed. (for increased match day revenue?) I can only think a larger digital advertising board increases advertising match day revenue, as sponsors will pay more money because their company name can be seen better on TV?

I stand corrected, so fire away. Didn’t we lose about 1000 seats and 1000 matchday City supporters when the additional advertising board was installed along ESL1?

 

[Corky]

My friend and his father sat on the front row of ESL1. They were moved by the club to make way for an additional digital advertising board. They were offered 2 seats at their original season ticket prices for 1 season. After that they had no choice but to pay for more expensive season tickets. In the end both of them decided to give up their season tickets and haven’t been back since. They didn’t asked to be moved or wanted to be moved. They along with 3 rows of other City fans along ESL1 were moved so an additional digital advertising board could be installed. (for increased match day revenue?) I can only think a larger digital advertising board increases advertising match day revenue, as the sponsors names can be seen better on TV.

They were is stalled during COVID, but only affected the new seats after the expansion.

It was row 1,2 & 3 -which were installed in front of row A in 2015. They could relocate to other "pitch side" tickets after that as there is decent availability in the relocation window.

 

[Centurions]

My friend and his father sat on the front row of ESL1. They were moved by the club to make way for an additional digital advertising board. They were offered 2 seats at their original season ticket prices for 1 season. After that they had no choice but to pay for more expensive season tickets. In the end both of them decided to give up their season tickets and haven’t been back since. They didn’t asked to be moved or wanted to be moved. They along with 3 rows of other City fans along ESL1 were moved so an additional digital advertising board could be installed. (for increased match day revenue?) I can only think a larger digital advertising board increases advertising match day revenue, as sponsors will pay more money because their company name can be seen better on TV?

I stand corrected, so fire away. Didn’t we lose about 1000 seats and 1000 matchday City supporters when the additional advertising board was installed along ESL1?

It could be argued that we lost 1,000 tourists if all 1,000 relocated although obviously they wouldn't have been all STs or regulars regardless.

I can't recall but how much were the pitch side ST's compared to the cheap sections elsewhere?

 

[jrb]

They were is stalled during COVID, but only affected the new seats after the expansion.

It was row 1,2 & 3 -which were installed in front of row A in 2015. They could relocate to other "pitch side" tickets after that as there is decent availability in the relocation window.

They sat on the front row before the second digital board was added.

After that, the front row became the 4th row back, didn’t it, with the current 3 front rows remaining empty?

There was something specific they weren’t happy about.

I’ll speak to the lad in work again about it this week.

 

[jrb]

It could be argued that we lost 1,000 tourists if all 1,000 relocated although obviously they wouldn't have been all STs or regulars regardless.

I can't recall but how much were the pitch side ST's compared to the cheap sections elsewhere?

I don’t think all the fans who sat on the first 3 rows of seats that were lost were tourists.

I take it that was a tongue in cheek comment?

 

[Centurions]

I would say i'm being forced out of my seat as i only have an option to stay if i can afford to pay for premium hospitality. Like most parents i'm paying for more than one SC, so not an option for me.
Most people have been here since the inception of the family stand and are SC holders, everyone knows each other.
Seems to be the back five rows of the two blocks being moved.

My main fear is knowing how shit the ticket office is and getting our group moved together.
Getting the pricing out sooner would make it a lot easier to decide where to move as we've all got different financial committments and don't want to make a rushed decision and end up moving twice.
Is the new safe standing going to be marketed as a cheaper area of the ground.

You'll get the first priority window to move as a group, hopefully you'll find out at the start of next year what your options will be. Is the new tier 1 (as it's now known) acceptable to you and others? There will be space in tier 0 as well although that's going to depend on the size of group we're talking about.

You'd imagine the safe standing would be the cheapest "seats".

 

[Centurions]

I don’t think all the fans who sat on the first 3 rows of seats that were lost were tourists.

I take it that was a tongue in cheek comment?

No.

If all 1,000 weren't tourists and relocated then there would be 1,000 less seats for any tourists. It's just the opposite scenario to yours where you claim we lost 1,000 City fans.

OK, a little tongue in cheek ;)

 

[Centurions]

I thought they were releasing 3,000 more season tickets at the North Stand for starters. The North Stand development has been planned for years. It will provide space for 7,000 more City fans. Only a minority of them are corporate customers. Would you rather the club did nothing and just crumbled like United. They have made a fair offer to those affected. They have first choice to pick seats elsewhere in the stadium. If they want to go in the new North Stand they can do that with their prices frozen for two years. Football has changed, just like the rest of the world. I don't agree with all the changes but I am staying on the roller coaster for now. A lot of people (not referring to you) just don't like modern life and don't like change. That's their free choice.

More than 4,000 new STs (50% ring fenced for juniors) although they can be for any part of the ground, not just the NS.

 

[leithblue]

I would say i'm being forced out of my seat as i only have an option to stay if i can afford to pay for premium hospitality. Like most parents i'm paying for more than one SC, so not an option for me.
Most people have been here since the inception of the family stand and are SC holders, everyone knows each other.
Seems to be the back five rows of the two blocks being moved.

My main fear is knowing how shit the ticket office is and getting our group moved together.
Getting the pricing out sooner would make it a lot easier to decide where to move as we've all got different financial committments and don't want to make a rushed decision and end up moving twice.
Is the new safe standing going to be marketed as a cheaper area of the ground.

We were kicked out of the family stand 18 months ago at the beginning of the work (we were on the back row of the upper tier).

We’re now in the Colin Bell but paying family stand prices last season and this and will be moving again when the new stand opens.

I did ask when we were relocated if we would be going back into the family stand to be met with a flat “no”, there won’t be space as we have 6 seats together (1x adult, 1x OAP and 4x kids).

I shudder to think what my season ticket bill might be in June.

Though with all these 4.30/later Sundays it’s getting harder and harder to get down from Edinburgh - more of those Friday night games and an extra grand on the cost might be the final straw as much as I don’t want to admit it.

 

[M18CTID]

I agree with all that. The changes have not been handed sensitively. The club has had a problem with its communications for years. It has affected everything from the ticketing operation, the website, and the weak way we manage the media. I have no problem with development but you have to take people with you, especially the paying customers.

Spot on

 

[blueparrot]

No.

If all 1,000 weren't tourists and relocated then there would be 1,000 less seats for any tourists. It's just the opposite scenario to yours where you claim we lost 1,000 City fans.

OK, a little tongue in cheek ;)

If I remember those first 3 rows were installed around the time of the SS extension, and caused a lot of complaints about the view, but they couldn’t be used for UEFA games due to extra advertising, there were always plenty of match day ticket availability for them which I always avoided , so not sure they were that popular with SC holders. Not sure on time lines and maybe they were there longer than I think,but doesn’t feel like they were there for more than 5 or 6 years.
Sure others remember better and will correct me though.

 

[M18CTID]

"but he's practically outright mocking those who dare complain"???

Now you can just get to fuck.

Actually, why don’t you just get to fuck? You clearly have an issue with fans who dare complain about the club and you clearly have an issue with fans who dare support other fans.

In fact, I will get to fuck for now. That’s because I’ve got a football match to go to tonight and I can’t be arsed wasting any more time debating with those who think the club are beyond criticism.

 

[M18CTID]

If I remember those first 3 rows were installed around the time of the SS extension, and caused a lot of complaints about the view, but they couldn’t be used for UEFA games due to extra advertising, there were always plenty of match day ticket availability for them which I always avoided , so not sure they were that popular with SC holders. Not sure on time lines and maybe they were there longer than I think,but doesn’t feel like they were there for more than 5 or 6 years.
Sure others remember better and will correct me though.

They were a cheaper, more affordable, option for a lot of fans. I got turfed from mine and although I was eventually able to relocate to another pitch side seat, it wasn’t in my preferred stand, let alone preferred block. I’ve since got back in my preferred stand but still not the block where all my mates are.