Seat Counters - 2024/25

[Tbilisi]

Whatever reason the club thinks left us with three and a half huge, visibly obvious - almost obscene looking empty blocks, they have to do some blue sky thinking to try and ensure it never happens again. I was in Block 141 so those empty blocks were opposite me on the other side of the pitch. I'm not exactly rolling in money, but I always go to Wembley. I don't know what the solution is (yes, we all know it's expensive), but I doubt that it's let this or that group have first dibs. Khaldoon will be privately seething and asking his ticket distribution team for ideas. To be fair though, I've seen vast swathes of empty seats in the Chelsea end when we've played them in a semi or a final and to a lesser extent, Arsenal - even though Wembley's a short bus ride for those clubs. With the size of our fan base, the coach we have and the quality of football we are privileged to see almost every season, we shouldn't be talking about this.

I said to my mate after the game could you imagine how many we would have taken v Dortmund if we had got to the CL Final last season? We have the support.

Its fatigue as the main reason, Wembley not the draw it was after 25 or so visits in the last 14 years.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

Don’t agree Mll. There will have been people there who were attending their first match of the season, southern based maybe, I don’t see how they should be prioritised over people who’ve been to loads more matches but for some reason couldn’t get there yesterday, wouldn’t be fair, in my opinion

I think your points are fair, but they do need to try and give people more incentive to get to these less attractive semi finals, because it certainly won't be our last. I like the idea of people who went to the semi final getting some sort of priority, although it needs to be done in a way that stops somebody who just attended their first game getting priority over a fan who's been to loads, but happened to miss the semi final.

 

[cleavers]

One great thing yesterday with our relatively poor (adult) turnout, was the number of kids in attendance, this is great for the future, many will not have been at such a big game, so to win it will cement their support.

 

[cleavers]

Its fatigue as the main reason, Wembley not the draw it was after 25 or so visits in the last 14 years.

Very much so for me.

I'm lucky, I'm only a few stations along the Chiltern line, so easy for me, and I fully understand those who didn't go, especially with the KO time.

Had it been at a nuetral ground in the north or midlands, I might not have gone either. Semi finals used to be a novelty for us, but even finals have now become somewhat "routine".

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Don't understimate City's gross overestimation of ticket sales in advance of the sales criteria being opened up. I think because we've been selling out charity shields recently they assumed this would have even more demand so they put the usual ticket restrictions in place and I believe people who would have gone didn't. You don't plan the whole logistics of a Wembley trip at the last minute, and if you are taking a kid of a family member you want to sit with them.

If they'd allowed everyone to purchase additional tickets from the off I believbe this would have sold out easily.

 

[paulchapo]

I think your points are fair, but they do need to try and give people more incentive to get to these less attractive semi finals, because it certainly won't be our last. I like the idea of people who went to the semi final getting some sort of priority, although it needs to be done in a way that stops somebody who just attended their first game getting priority over a fan who's been to loads, but happened to miss the semi final.

We're back into the press ganging of fans to attend games territory here and it doesn't sit well with me. The club have already started this, with season ticket holders being told they have to attend ten games minimum in person or face losing their season tickets.
Attending a football game is supposed to be a pleasure not a chore. A hobby, something people do to escape the rigours and grind of everyday life. If you're on the cup scheme they take your money whether you actually go or not if we're drawn at home. The semi final is voluntary as it's held at a neutral venue 200 miles from Manchester. Now people might look at the date for an fa cup final and keep the calender clear just in case, but I doubt they do so for a semi final.

We already have season tickets, memberships and a cup scheme people sign up for and commit too and as such get priority if we get to a final. That's more than enough.

 

[Corky]

Full Ham on sale Wed, and paper tickets by the Thames for a potential CL play-off.

 

[Mike_F]

Don't understimate City's gross overestimation of ticket sales in advance of the sales criteria being opened up. I think because we've been selling out charity shields recently they assumed this would have even more demand so they put the usual ticket restrictions in place and I believe people who would have gone didn't. You don't plan the whole logistics of a Wembley trip at the last minute, and if you are taking a kid of a family member you want to sit with them.

If they'd allowed everyone to purchase additional tickets from the off I believbe this would have sold out easily.

Exactly this. It beggars belief that the people in charge of these decisions cannot see this, or hadn't at least considered that the Charity Shield take-up (1) had a big number of people who were there for Haaland, (2) was, as a glorified friendly, a very 'safe' environment for neutrals and families, and (3) might have also had something to do with the opposition being Arsenal. Loads of data but not much common sense.

 

[Beaker]

Whatever reason the club thinks left us with three and a half huge, visibly obvious - almost obscene looking empty blocks, they have to do some blue sky thinking to try and ensure it never happens again. I was in Block 141 so those empty blocks were opposite me on the other side of the pitch. I'm not exactly rolling in money, but I always go to Wembley. I don't know what the solution is (yes, we all know it's expensive), but I doubt that it's let this or that group have first dibs. Khaldoon will be privately seething and asking his ticket distribution team for ideas. To be fair though, I've seen vast swathes of empty seats in the Chelsea end when we've played them in a semi or a final and to a lesser extent, Arsenal - even though Wembley's a short bus ride for those clubs. With the size of our fan base, the coach we have and the quality of football we are privileged to see almost every season, we shouldn't be talking about this.

Do you think he cares? I'm not saying he doesn't, and I hope he does; I have no idea.
The only way to fix this is to re-establish some form of fan engagement, which contradicts everything they have done in recent years. As others have said, I think they anticipated the community shield crowd to pick up the slack, which they plainly got horribly wrong.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

We're back into the press ganging of fans to attend games territory here and it doesn't sit well with me. The club have already started this, with season ticket holders being told they have to attend ten games minimum in person or face losing their season tickets.
Attending a football game is supposed to be a pleasure not a chore. A hobby, something people do to escape the rigours and grind of everyday life. If you're on the cup scheme they take your money whether you actually go or not if we're drawn at home. The semi final is voluntary as it's held at a neutral venue 200 miles from Manchester. Now people might look at the date for an fa cup final and keep the calender clear just in case, but I doubt they do so for a semi final.

We already have season tickets, memberships and a cup scheme people sign up for and commit too and as such get priority if we get to a final. That's more than enough.

Rewarding fans for attending an unattractive fixture at a stadium we've been to 30+ times is NOT "press ganging fans to attend".

I'd never have a go at anybody for not making the trip, but we should reward fans who do go. Plenty of the young lads who made up the numbers yesterday and sang their hearts out won't even get a sniff at a final ticket. I don't think that's fair on them.

 

[There is a Light]

I think they anticipated the community shield crowd to pick up the slack, which they plainly got horribly wrong.

They seemingly cant get anything right at the minute

 

[There is a Light]

It may be unpopular but the tickets just should have been allocated to Forest yesterday once it was obvious they weren’t going to shift. That said any selling restriction should have been lifted well before they were, it just puts people off attending.

 

[fathellensbellend]

Rewarding fans for attending an unattractive fixture at a stadium we've been to 30+ times is NOT "press ganging fans to attend".

I'd never have a go at anybody for not making the trip, but we should reward fans who do go. Plenty of the young lads who made up the numbers yesterday and sang their hearts out won't even get a sniff at a final ticket. I don't think that's fair on them.

replaced by the flask brigade who will all of a sudden find a bit of energy and interest

 

[There is a Light]

Don't understimate City's gross overestimation of ticket sales in advance of the sales criteria being opened up. I think because we've been selling out charity shields recently they assumed this would have even more demand so they put the usual ticket restrictions in place and I believe people who would have gone didn't. You don't plan the whole logistics of a Wembley trip at the last minute, and if you are taking a kid of a family member you want to sit with them.

If they'd allowed everyone to purchase additional tickets from the off I believbe this would have sold out easily.

Same thing happened for the Liverpool semi final when we were first slaughtered for not selling out, Completely over-cautious.

 

[herrock]

I think that's fair. But people will cry fowl. And the club won't do that. TBH I didn't go to the semi-final, so I could potentially miss out on a final ticket.

I'm not going to get into an argument about it, as it won't happen, but it did cross my mind yesterday after the match.

Only joking, season ticket holders and cup scheme definitely first of course.

 

[Worsleyweb]

I dont think i will go to Wembley again - find it painfully boring

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Same thing happened for the Liverpool semi final when we were first slaughtered for not selling out, Completely over-cautious.

It certainly did. Then they made it really easy to get tickets for the Arsenal charity sheild when the fans instigated a boycott and it sold out fast. It's like they swing from one extreme to the other. They should talk to some of us on this thread who instinctively have a better feel for how sales will go.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Do you think he cares? I'm not saying he doesn't, and I hope he does; I have no idea.
The only way to fix this is to re-establish some form of fan engagement, which contradicts everything they have done in recent years. As others have said, I think they anticipated the community shield crowd to pick up the slack, which they plainly got horribly wrong.

I’ve no idea what Harry is moaning about. Blues chose or couldn’t afford to go. No issue with that everyone has different priorities / budgets.

Costing moaning about “the Club” creates negativity and affects ticket sales too. Criticise when justified by all means.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

I dont think i will go to Wembley again - find it painfully boring

 

[supercity88]

Rewarding fans for attending an unattractive fixture at a stadium we've been to 30+ times is NOT "press ganging fans to attend".

I'd never have a go at anybody for not making the trip, but we should reward fans who do go. Plenty of the young lads who made up the numbers yesterday and sang their hearts out won't even get a sniff at a final ticket. I don't think that's fair on them.

It's on the club and not the fans this one.

The issues are partly cost and kick off times, but lots of season ticket holders would have gone had this been our first trip to Wembley, or even our 15th! But they've been there and done it and I don't have an issue with many saving their money for the final if we made it and agree that semi finals at Wembley are farcical.

But the majority will go to the final and I feel to for some of those there yesterday who won't get an opportunity. But that's on the club because they're not releasing any new season tickets. All season ticket holders will get the chance to go to the final and if they introduced more some of the kids and youngsters there yesterday could get one and get the chance to watch City in the final.

The club are really missing quite an obvious business strategy by targeting day trippers who come and spend a fortune as opposed to younger fans who will be our future and who would have helped fill the empty seats yesterday. Clearly we're still not attractive enough as a club to the day trippers or it would have been sold out with all the memberships we've sold. Those fans will come and go. Manchester is a big city with a big population and there are thousands of kids who would come and watch us and who haven't got the same Wembley fatigue some of our fans have.

What's the population of Manchester now? For anyone born in the early-mid 2000s we've been the most successful club in England. So we should be selling out without a problem. It's all about pricing and availability of the right tickets for the local fanbase.