North Stand expansion - seating, ticketing etc

[Elliot houghton]

Here’s an example of one of the problems with it…

Look at any decent atmosphere stand in Europe and the front is where all the flags are waved and where displays are central to. But in the new NSL2 there are rows of GA+ seats.

The equivalent GA+ seats the South Stand end of the stadium, do this when there’s a display on across the whole stand:

View attachment 133690

^ that whole chunk above where it says ‘Definitely Manchester’ were provided with white cards to hold up and didn’t bother.


And most of the time when there’s a display taking place, they don’t even bother getting to their seats so they make our displays look like a joke:

View attachment 133691

This is the sort of area that is front and centre of the NSL2 plans. It’s the antithesis to what people have been striving for.

Liverpool have just opened up a big new tier at their stadium similar to what City have described the expanded North Stand being like - a mish mash of loads of things without being anything in particular, and expensive as fuck… and it’s already affected the atmosphere at Anfield for the worse.

Yh The ones that spurs can do in their stand are very good. Some say it makes no difference but imagine being a player and coming out to something like this could only motivate you.

 

[PragueBlue]

I haven’t once suggested that people who don’t wish to stand aren’t genuine blues. It doesn’t matter whether you wish to sit, stand, if you are old, young, male or female, if you’re a blue you’re a blue. I’m simply saying that standing areas do create a better atmosphere, I don’t think that’s a controversial statement, our away ends are always stood and they create some of the best atmosphere’s in the country.

GA+ and corporate areas are where you’re most likely to find none City fans and football tourists who have got their hands on tickets, if you’re looking to create a stand for atmosphere you would make it as difficult as possible for these people to get in there. You only have to look above some of the displays 1894 have done pre match to see all the empties in the corporate section in SSL2, it takes away from the effect, the atmosphere, everything.

The club are seemingly going in a different direction to what a lot of us hoped with regards to this stand. That’s their prerogative, I’ll continue to disagree with it.

I really don't think standing or seated really would make much difference to the atmosphere and a mix is probably the best solution (though I do hope there will be a better ratio of standing to seating). The main thing is to make sure that it is marketed as the atmosphere end so people that choose to stand/sit there are likely to be people that want to join in.

The GA+ seats are (I think) hospitality rather than corporate and so again are likely to attract blues that want to join in but with a little extra comfort. I really don't see it as a problem if the seats go to existing or new season ticket holders. That would ensure that they are genuine blues.

 

[Coatigan]

Right so 3000 rail seats, possibly more, at the most acoustic end of the stand make no difference whatsoever, but 648 seats further down will kill the atmosphere? Ok.

 

[Coatigan]

A couple of rows at the front of the new NS second tier is not going to affect that - and for the 100th time the new stand does not get built if there were no corporate or GA premium seats !

100th time! That many?

Why do you keep on posting that? You don’t know that. Are you making that up, or has somebody high up at City told you that?

5 rows of GA+ seats at the front of NSL2 aren’t a North stand expansion deal breaker.

Where else is the corporate on NSL2?

There is a hotel, with hotel balconies, and a hotel restaurant, behind a floating 3rd tier. That isn’t corporate. Anyone can book a hotel room and use the restaurant. It doesn’t have to be on a match day.

It is possible the hotel rooms can be used as corporate/boxes on match days. The PA notes the rooms can be converted with beds stored away etc.
Not arguing your point which I mostly agree with, just adding that bit to the bottom.

 

[Prophet of Doom]

Exactly.

Is it really worth plonking 5 rows of GA+ seats at the front of NSL2?

How much extra is the club going to make over a season from those few hundred GA+ seats, compared to the thousands of GA seats behind them?

As you say, if the club wants to expand hospitality seating further across the Etihad, there will be plenty of opportunity to do that with 1000’s of fans relocating from all over the ground to the NS.

starting to think you are just on a wind up.

The reason they will use the new purpose built stand for hospitality and premium GA seating is that it’s purpose built with adequate space to provide the correct facilities required for the premium areas.

You can’t just change the odd vacated seats round the stadium to hospitality with no facilities or space to support them.

And yes I was told before the new stand was even announced that it wouldn’t be built without elements of hospitality and premium seats included.

You may think a few hundred GA premium seats are not a deal breaker but they had to be included.

If you want to know how much extra the club will make from them I would wait to see how much international fans are paying for them on a match by match basis - you will then understand why they were so important.

 

[Manchester33]

starting to think you are just on a wind up.

The reason they will use the new purpose built stand for hospitality and premium GA seating is that it’s purpose built with adequate space to provide the correct facilities required for the premium areas.

You can’t just change the odd vacated seats round the stadium to hospitality with no facilities or space to support them.

But then the point is it’s not an atmosphere stand…. It’s a purpose built hospitality stand.

Opportunity to create a brilliant atmosphere missed!

 

[Coatigan]

Exactly.

Is it really worth plonking 5 rows of GA+ seats at the front of NSL2?

How much extra is the club going to make over a season from those few hundred GA+ seats, compared to the thousands of GA seats behind them?

As you say, if the club wants to expand hospitality seating further across the Etihad, there will be plenty of opportunity to do that with 1000’s of fans relocating from all over the ground to the NS.

Not sure how apt the last paragraph is.

While I agree with the first two (said similar myself here and there), clearly the club think that area as proposed has a reason and some value. Beyond what would be a, what potential 2-5% increase in revenue a year?

Maybe they think it is an easier sell to new season ticket holders, or new members. Maybe an easier sell to a wider range of fans. I would have previously thought an easier sell to planning, but the latestest statement probably makes that unlikely now. Maybe they are thinking CL final future potential. Or maybe they see the way football is going and want to have that in now. Who knows, but one thing I would comfortably bet on, is that they are not putting it there just because they don't want an atmospheric end.

 

[blueparrot]

But then the point is it’s not an atmosphere stand…. It’s a purpose built hospitality stand.

Opportunity to create a brilliant atmosphere missed!

Nonsense not only are those seats no more than premium there are 0nly 700. If there is no atmosphere in that stand it won't be because of the 700 people payng a bit more ,people who will probably join in what the other 8000 are doing.

 

[Prophet of Doom]

But then the point is it’s not an atmosphere stand…. It’s a purpose built hospitality stand.

Opportunity to create a brilliant atmosphere missed!

If the 8000 supporters in the stand can’t create an atmosphere then that’s on them - not the 600 at the front of the stand.

People comparing the Spurs end are not making a fair comparison. Spurs had a purpose built stadium which allowed them to create the required hospitality space in the other stands and keep the end for atmosphere.

City haven’t got that option.They have kept the premium seats to the minimum which won’t make a difference to atmosphere.

How many singers will even relocate ? A couple of thousand maximum ?. The other 6000 seats will be taken by tourists, new fans or randoms or non regular fans.

Maybe some will see it as an opportunity missed - but the stand was built for commercial reasons not to take a gamble that atmosphere would improve.

 

[M18CTID]

If the 8000 supporters in the stand can’t create an atmosphere then that’s on them - not the 600 at the front of the stand.

People comparing the Spurs end are not making a fair comparison. Spurs had a purpose built stadium which allowed them to create the required hospitality space in the other stands and keep the end for atmosphere.

City haven’t got that option.They have kept the premium seats to the minimum which won’t make a difference to atmosphere.

How many singers will even relocate ? A couple of thousand maximum ?. The other 6000 seats will be taken by tourists, new fans or randoms or non regular fans.

Maybe some will see it as an opportunity missed - but the stand was built for commercial reasons not to take a gamble that atmosphere would improve.

Well if that's the case then maybe the club should make that clear rather than going big on the atmosphere line that they did last week in their statement. But then again, even if it was a full-on atmosphere stand with 8000 rail seats they'd still make a fuck ton of money out of it in the long-term.

As for your second last paragraph about the number of singers relocating, that will be dictated by the club and not by all those wishing to relocate as the numbers will surely be capped.