North Stand - fans being moved for "City Hall" GA+ section

[mexico1970]

And what about all the other factors that have also risen in that time.
Players salaries
Staffing costs
Minimum wage increases
Utility bills increases
Policing costs
Stewarding costs.
Health and safety compliance
Stadium maintenance
Maintaining success comes at a price, do you want to watch the best or do you want to go back to mediocrity or worse.
The choice is yours.

Being able to afford to watch football is what's important, real fans of football clubs go through thick and thin.

The club get enough money and I don't care one way or other how they make it manageable for fans to watch football even if it means dropping the wages of the players, fans first and foremost.

 

[Corky]

People in these seats were always liable to be moved.

When North Stand Lower became part of the extended family stand in 2011 people who didn't meet the criteria had the move, and that criteria was you needed at least 1 under 16 for every 2 adults in your group.

As time has moved on it seems unlikely that most of those 500 if they moved there in 2011 would still qualify, but the club have been under-enforcing the family stand criteria. It is also extremely unlikely that many have been there since 2003 and then met the criteria in 2011 and still do.

When they changed the criteria in 2011 they also put the prices up elsewhere, and only the family stand retained the £95 seats for U16s, mine in the SSL went up £40 plus £50 the same year for Platinum. There was no way I was moving to NSL even though it would have saved me a bit of money, not just due to the type of stand it is, but I knew I would be turfed out in a couple of years and may have had little choice where to move too.

Many in NSL really just had an adverse possession claim as they should have been booted out anyway, which is more of a wrong than an right.

 

[Coatigan]

FACTS :
- 648 GA+ seats (7% of the tier) have always been included in the approved scheme, located at the bottom of tier 1, which is the old remaining bit of the new expanded single tier.
- this would always have required relocations to accommodate.
- this area has access to a 300 stated capacity dedicated bar on the same level.
- this bar shares the same concourse and toilets within an overall capacity of 3,200 on the same level, with links to the bars around it.
- the City Hall has always been proposed in the approved scheme on Level 0. It has a stated capacity of 1800.
- no other relocations have been presumed as necessary for the stand.

(Club Statement Headlines)
- over 7000 additional seats in the NS (7800ish, to be pedantic)
- 4000 additional season ticket allocations, across the stadium
- 50% of that for youth/juniors
- 3000 standing rails in the NS, with alleged scope to increase
- 'new experience for 500 fans on matchdays' in the City Hall on level 0. Not stated as GA+, hospitality etc. Not stated how it affects overall City Hall capacity or plans.
- 'small number' of seats on Tier 0 need to relocate to accommodate the City Hall. Actual number, extent or location not stated. Whether they are GA+ not stated. General location pieced together collectively from blues noting they have been affected.
- no seats will be relocated to accommodate 300 capacity cross bar, at the 'start of the expanded section'.
- club statement was released shortly after (within half an hour according to a few) the affecred fans were notified.
- provisions and alternatives noted for those affected

ASSUMPTIONS :
- the noted 500 in the city hall is additional GA+, corporate etc
- it reduces the overall capacity from 1800 to 500, limited to better off fans
- there are 350, 500, 1100 etc seats within tier 0 that correspond to the 500 in the city hall,
- these are also additional GA+
- the 648 GA+ seats are moving up a level
- the cross bar serving the 648 seats is moving up a level
- the 648 seats are staying where they are, along with the bar
- the 648 and the bar offering are 'swapping' with the 500 in the city hall.
- tier 1 will have the first 3rd of it as the family stand
- tier 0 will both remain a family stand and have new GA+ in it
- people are being relocated to accommodate new corporate
- there are likely to be further announcements
- there may be further changes
- the club must have planned this all along

Etc etc.

I include my own assumptions amongst that and a collection of ones I have noticed on here. All based on interpretation of the statement. Nothing wrong at all with guessing and speculating. I do however have a bugbear with people claiming their guesses as facts, hence felt the need to highlight both.

 

[DiscoSteve]

FACTS :
- 648 GA+ seats (7% of the tier) have always been included in the approved scheme, located at the bottom of tier 1, which is the old remaining bit of the new expanded single tier.
- this would always have required relocations to accommodate.
- this area has access to a 300 stated capacity dedicated bar on the same level.
- this bar shares the same concourse and toilets within an overall capacity of 3,200 on the same level, with links to the bars around it.
- the City Hall has always been proposed in the approved scheme on Level 0. It has a stated capacity of 1800.
- no other relocations have been presumed as necessary for the stand.

(Club Statement Headlines)
- over 7000 additional seats in the NS (7800ish, to be pedantic)
- 4000 additional season ticket allocations, across the stadium
- 50% of that for youth/juniors
- 3000 standing rails in the NS, with alleged scope to increase
- 'new experience for 500 fans on matchdays' in the City Hall on level 0. Not stated as GA+, hospitality etc. Not stated how it affects overall City Hall capacity or plans.
- 'small number' of seats on Tier 0 need to relocate to accommodate the City Hall. Actual number, extent or location not stated. Whether they are GA+ not stated. General location pieced together collectively from blues noting they have been affected.
- no seats will be relocated to accommodate 300 capacity cross bar, at the 'start of the expanded section'.
- club statement was released shortly after (within half an hour according to a few) the affecred fans were notified.
- provisions and alternatives noted for those affected

ASSUMPTIONS :
- the noted 500 in the city hall is additional GA+, corporate etc
- it reduces the overall capacity from 1800 to 500, limited to better off fans
- there are 350, 500, 1100 etc seats within tier 0 that correspond to the 500 in the city hall,
- these are also additional GA+
- the 648 GA+ seats are moving up a level
- the cross bar serving the 648 seats is moving up a level
- the 648 seats are staying where they are, along with the bar
- the 648 and the bar offering are 'swapping' with the 500 in the city hall.
- tier 1 will have the first 3rd of it as the family stand
- tier 0 will both remain a gamilynstand and have new GA+ in it
- people are being relocated to accommodate new corporate
- there are likely to be further announcements
- there may be further changes
- the club must have planned this all along

Etc etc.

I include my own assumptions amongst that and a collection of ones I have noticed on here. All based on interpretation of the statement. Nothing wrong at all with guessing and speculating. I do however have a bugbear with people claiming their guesses as facts, hence felt the need to highlight both.

Good summary of options that are floating around, thanks!

 

[jockblue]

Still think the obvious solution would be to pick those 500 people up and drop them back down in the first few rows of the non-premium seating of the new expanded stand, and protect their prices. Not rocket science really....

 

[Coatigan]

Still think the obvious solution would be to pick those 500 people up and drop them back down in the first few rows of the non-premium seating of the new expanded stand, and protect their prices. Not rocket science really....

But then those 500 need relocated into the new free zones.

 

[Centurions]

But then those 500 need relocated into the new free zones.

I'm guessing they're talking about the expanded tier behind the existing seats.

The Cross Bar was originally down as a 600 capacity hospitality area but I'm thinking that was a typo in the design & access statement. Even allowing for the poor graphic, that would make it rammed.

 

[Coatigan]

I'm guessing they're talking about the expanded tier behind the existing seats.

The Cross Bar was originally down as a 600 capacity hospitality area but I'm thinking that was a typo in the design & access statement. Even allowing for the poor graphic, that would make it rammed.

View attachment 174719

No it is not a typo, the physical capacity of that space is indeed 600-ish. But that unravels a whole other distraction. It is why I used the word 300 'stated' capacity, probably best sticking with that for now.

 

[Centurions]

No it is not a typo, the physical capacity of that space is indeed 600-ish. But that unravels a whole other distraction. It is why I used the word 300 'stated' capacity, probably best sticking with that for now.

Fair enough, it just looks a tad small for a 600 capacity hospitality area to my eye. If they're seats around tables or raised areas, I'd roughly estimated them at around the 300 mark. More wait and see.

 

[Chappie]

A bit too boot lick-ish that, mate.

Don’t ever make up excuses for billion pound companies, ran by millionaires and owned by billionaires, pricing people out.

Chappie the bootlicker, well there's a new one, you clearly dont know me.

 

[Chappie]

Being able to afford to watch football is what's important, real fans of football clubs go through thick and thin.

The club get enough money and I don't care one way or other how they make it manageable for fans to watch football even if it means dropping the wages of the players, fans first and foremost.

You are talking to a fan who does go through thick and thin and the reality of it is, that what you and I crave will not happen.
Do you think highly paid players are going to drop their wages.
The reality is , it's a business now and City are intent on maximising every avenue open to them and you and I might not like the fact that many fans are becoming disenfranchised but the facts remain that the ground is be filled on most occasions.
It is also being filled with people who spend money onc club merchandise.

 

[mexico1970]

You are talking to a fan who does go through thick and thin and the reality of it is, that what you and I crave will not happen.
Do you think highly paid players are going to drop their wages.
The reality is , it's a business now and City are intent on maximising every avenue open to them and you and I might not like the fact that many fans are becoming disenfranchised but the facts remain that the ground is be filled on most occasions.
It is also being filled with people who spend money onc club merchandise.

It's sad but we have to take a stand not just willingly accept it mate.

 

[AlBuxton]

Still think the obvious solution would be to pick those 500 people up and drop them back down in the first few rows of the non-premium seating of the new expanded stand, and protect their prices. Not rocket science really....

That’s what we want to happen , but those that don’t fancy it, should be able to choose where they go.

 

[wearethesouthstand]

I really do understand people being upset. I even get upset when I get moved from my seat in the SS for just a one-off cup game.

However, progress often has impacts and we all had to move seat when we moved to COMS from Maine Road but the progress was worth it. Hopefully those that will lose their seats will be able to find an alternative location that works for them and can continue to attend and support the lads.

Moving to another area of the ground us never nice because it breaks our familiarities and routines but this isn’t the first and won’t be the last time that progress means enforced change for some

We all had a vote on whether to leave Maine Road or stay. These fans have had no such luxury.

 

[Chappie]

It's sad but we have to take a stand not just willingly accept it mate.

I took my stand on the introduction of the platinum scheme.
Watching City home and away is my life(sad I know) and to off set the platinum charge, I vowed never to give them another penny, other than the ticket price and i have stuck by that.
Unfortunately I am the vey supporter who the club would like to see the back off.
They could probably make the money back i pay them for my seson ticket in 5 matches and the other 15 matches are pure profit on my seat
Your problem and a few like minded people is the numbers game.
For each fan that moans there are others who will jump at the possibility of attending a match.
Citys rational is its better to have 48000 in the ground paying the price's they want to charge than having 52000 at present ,paying tefuced rates through season tickets.

 

[jrb]

And what about all the other factors that have also risen in that time.
Players salaries
Staffing costs
Minimum wage increases
Utility bills increases
Policing costs
Stewarding costs.
Health and safety compliance
Stadium maintenance
Maintaining success comes at a price, do you want to watch the best or do you want to go back to mediocrity or worse.
The choice is yours.

After City beat Masters and the PL, or as it was reported, a compromise was agreed between City and the PL about sponsorship rules, that could, and probably will pave the way for the new Etihad sponsorship deal, rumoured to be valued at £1bill.

That's on top of increasing sponsorship deals, increasing PL and CL prize money, increasing TV money, pre-season tours, concerts returning to the Etihad, etc.

Not to mention increased match day revenue and hospitality revenue from the expanded Etihad.

Those additional revenues and more should offset all of the increases you have highlighted.

 

[asahartford1]

I took my stand on the introduction of the platinum scheme.
Watching City home and away is my life(sad I know) and to off set the platinum charge, I vowed never to give them another penny, other than the ticket price and i have stuck by that.
Unfortunately I am the vey supporter who the club would like to see the back off.
They could probably make the money back i pay them for my seson ticket in 5 matches and the other 15 matches are pure profit on my seat
Your problem and a few like minded people is the numbers game.
For each fan that moans there are others who will jump at the possibility of attending a match.
Citys rational is its better to have 48000 in the ground paying the price's they want to charge than having 52000 at present ,paying tefuced rates through season tickets.

@Coatigan has stated 4000 new season tickets as part of the developments 50% for youth.
Are they not for the fan who doesn't want to spend a penny other than the ticket, or am I too solid to comprehend.

 

[jrb]

I took my stand on the introduction of the platinum scheme.
Watching City home and away is my life(sad I know) and to off set the platinum charge, I vowed never to give them another penny, other than the ticket price and i have stuck by that.
Unfortunately I am the vey supporter who the club would like to see the back off.
They could probably make the money back i pay them for my seson ticket in 5 matches and the other 15 matches are pure profit on my seat
Your problem and a few like minded people is the numbers game.
For each fan that moans there are others who will jump at the possibility of attending a match.
Citys rational is its better to have 48000 in the ground paying the price's they want to charge than having 52000 at present ,paying tefuced rates through season tickets.

No there aren't.

How many home matches have completely sold out so far this season? United, Liverpool.....

There will be another 8000 seats to fill next year.

I don't see 8000 extra City fans jumping at the opportunity to fill those seats on a regular match by match basis.(unless the club comes up with more affordable ticket prices)

 

[BLUE PEANUT]

It's been suggested on another thread that the club monitor this forum. Has anyone considered that these proposed/rumoured GA+ seats at the back of NS level 0 are as a result of the club reacting to all the negativity about how GA+ at the front of level 1 would look poor and kill any attempts to generate atmosphere (that's not to say the club aren't still going ahead with level 1 GA+, and they have seen an opportunity to convert other areas as well).
Either way, still feel the way it has been communicated Has been poor and with no real forethought or compassion to existing supporters affected.

 

[Axel Freed]

The next giant flag made by 1894 or whoever should simply say "SORIANO OUT"