North Stand expansion - seating, ticketing etc

[blueparrot]

Agreed but i still think 1894 should relocate there.

Whatever the politics of it, think it will be an opportunity missed if they don’r

 

[jrb]

From the OS:
The introduction of City Hall means that a small number of Season Ticket Members in North Stand Level 0 (formerly known as Level 1) may need to move seats ahead of the commencement of the 2026/27 season.

From the email sent to existing SC holders:
Later today, the Club will be sharing news about the North Stand expansion - including key ticketing updates and details of new matchday experiences. This announcement will include details of City Hall, a new enhanced bar experience for around 500 fans on matchdays, and a hub for events on non-matchdays. This will be located at the back of Level 0 (formerly known as Level 1).

If that doesn't scream corporate I don't know what does.

There was never a mention of a ‘500 City Hall enhanced bar experience’ until today. Another hospitality bar has been shoehorned into NSL2.

 

[HelloCity]

It isnt all at the back though the 2 side blocks go all the way to the front.

Technically they don’t ;)

 

[jrb]

Fair enough I may be wrong, thought 1894 pulled out because they wanted 6000 safe standing not 3000 with option of more. If Im wrong apologies.

It’s better if one of the other 1894 lads answers your questions. They have the full facts. I would only be filling in the spaces from what I know.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Not everyone's moaning, just the usual suspects.

To be fair if your being forced out of your seat and there more corporate areas (wasn’t mentioned in the plans) then do have fans not have a right to ‘moan’ a bit. Or do we just accept everything the club do?

When you say usual suspects, it’s quite a lot of fans on here and online

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

Only speaking for myself but I gave up my season ticket at the end of the four in a row season and haven’t bought one through the club since although I have bought many through friends / forums etc and I have a handful of mates who do the same.

At a guess, I’d say that’s what most lapsed fans would do (unless they’d given up all together) as well as purchasing for domestic cups, there’s always tickets available if you know where to look, I just find it quite sad that the club look past some our most loyal supporters who have given up going for one reason or another

 

[jrb]

Fair enough I may be wrong, thought 1894 pulled out because they wanted 6000 safe standing not 3000 with option of more. If Im wrong apologies.

Sorry.

The club weren’t ever going to have 6000 safe standing seats on NSL2. That was clear from the PA and common sense. The first we knew about the amount of safe standing seats was when the club eventually went public on it. The club also said the initial 3000 safe standing seats could be increased to 4000 safe standing seats if the initial 3000 safe standing seats sold out. Don’t hold your breath on that, as the normal seats are already in place without visible provision for added safe standing barriers in-front.

 

[Coatigan]

Thanks.

Can City Hall be split just for matches, and then used in full for other events?

Maybe that is how the ‘private 500 bar’ is going to be separated from the rest of City Hall?

Possibly, but kinda ruins the space as has been designed, how the bars and bogs work. Be a shame imo, particularly with the city square right outside it, all adding to this 'flow' they went for. Maybe, who knows.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

When I used to go regularly to Maine Road during the dark years, even though I lived and worked in East Yorkshire, I used to get into Maine Road on the day and never bothered where I stood or sat. I don’t get this passion for a particular seat, but I guess we are all different, which is probably why there is a forum

 

[blueparrot]

Woul

Sorry.

The club weren’t ever going to have 6000 safe standing seats on NSL2. That was clear from the PA and common sense. The first we knew about the amount of safe standing seats was when the club eventually went public on it. The club also said the initial 3000 safe standing seats could be increased to 4000 safe standing seats if the initial 3000 safe standing seats sold out. Don’t hold your breath on that, as the normal seats are already in place without visible provision for added safe standing barriers in-front.

Wouldn’t take much to take out more rows of seats and replace with safe standing seats. If you are right though and there aren’t 3000 fans that want to move to safe standing ,it win’t matter

 

[shnaghaicityfish]

City Square outside, 2500-3000 capacity. City Hall inside, 1800 capacity (noted as a 500 bar in latest statement).

The city hall bit is what I don’t understand. Have they reduced its occupancy (assume capacity is fixed by planning?) or will others be able to get in there, and if so, who? I’ve got no intention of moving from EL002 but would be interested in a better bar than the EL0 concourse.

 

[pride in battle]

It’s all down to individual choice. It isn’t a group decision. My feeling is that most 1894 members will stay on SSL1.

TBH I don’t want to be stood at the back of NSL2, behind fans who are sat down in front of me. There is nothing wrong with that. That’s their choice.

But you would be STOOD with 3000 others and the acoustics would be miles better ?
Anyway as you say its down to personalise choice , i just hope we don't fuck it up as this is the last chance for a REAL home end.

 

[jrb]

Possibly, but kinda ruins the space as has been designed, how the bars and bogs work. Be a shame imo, particularly with the city square right outside it, all adding to this 'flow' they went for. Maybe, who knows.

Amongst many other thing, it will be interesting to see how this 500 works, along with all the other hospitality areas on and inside NSL2.

Hopefully I’m wrong, but it looks like it’s going to be a mish-mash of normal fan zones and hospitality zone on NSL2, which are closed off and stewarded on match days.

 

[pride in battle]

There was never a mention of a ‘500 City Hall enhanced bar experience’ until today. Another hospitality bar has been shoehorned into NSL2.

Hospitality ? A bar ? Will it not be like the bar in south stand ?

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Sorry.

The club weren’t ever going to have 6000 safe standing seats on NSL2. That was clear from the PA and common sense. The first we knew about the amount of safe standing seats was when the club eventually went public on it. The club also said the initial 3000 safe standing seats could be increased to 4000 safe standing seats if the initial 3000 safe standing seats sold out. Don’t hold your breath on that, as the normal seats are already in place without visible provision for added safe standing barriers in-front.

I’d imagine they will be sold out instantly. What’s the process then? Do they wait a few years?

There’s seems to be no consultation. Those 1000 extra standing seats might then be full people who only want to sit down.

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

Is it fuck, the vast majority of the stand is for normal ticket prices.

It’s why I’m reserving judgment, if the club price it right then I don’t give a shiny shite if there’s a thousand GA+ seats helping to subsidise it, problem is we all know it won’t stop there

 

[jrb]

But you would be STOOD with 3000 others and the acoustics would be miles better ?
Anyway as you say it’s down to personalise choice , i just hope we don't fuck it up as this is the last chance for a REAL home end.

This isn’t about me.

I don’t want to be stood at the back of a 8000, 2nd tier, with 5000 fans sat down in-front of me. If I want to do that, I could have moved to the back of SSL3 when I had the chance.

I’m not waving a telescopic flag at the back of NSL2. What is the point?

I’m assuming there won’t be any 1894 drop downs allowed at the front of NSL2, as City will be using their Tifo mechanism for drop downs.

I already stand on SSL1 with 100’s and 1000’s of singers, when fans can be bothered to sing.

 

[jrb]

I’d imagine they will be sold out instantly. What’s the process then? Do they wait a few years?

There’s seems to be no consultation. Those 1000 extra standing seats might then be full people who only want to sit down.

Exactly.

Once those additional 1000 seats are sold to fans who want to sit down, which is their right, the club isn’t going to put safe standing barriers in-front of those seats in the future.

 

[Centurions]

Yeah that was the point i was trying to get at that it looks like the club are referring to a Flexi-Gold under he title of a season ticket, whereas i would think the majority of the fans would consider a season ticket to include all league home games.

Also the criteria of having to have purchased 35 matchday tickets over the past three years also seems very limiting. If i was being cynical i would say its almost like they are saying there will be 4000 new season tickets available but making the purchase criteria so prescriptive that only a small number of fans will qualify and the rest of the allocation will then revert back into the match day sales pot.

Any Flexi Gold not taken up by people who match the current criteria will be offered to people with lower numbers (maybe even open sale but I don't think it'll get close to that).

 

[Coatigan]

Sorry.

The club weren’t ever going to have 6000 safe standing seats on NSL2. That was clear from the PA and common sense. The first we knew about the amount of safe standing seats was when the club eventually went public on it. The club also said the initial 3000 safe standing seats could be increased to 4000 safe standing seats if the initial 3000 safe standing seats sold out. Don’t hold your breath on that, as the normal seats are already in place without visible provision for added safe standing barriers in-front.

1000, 2000, 3000 seats can be swapped for safe standing within any 2-3 weeks in off-season. Just because they haven't put them in now, doesn't mean they can't (putting aside whether they would or wouldn't). Similarly the 3000 already in can also jusy as easily be pulled out and repaced with regular seats any time. It will all depend on the demand and the shouts for that.