Seat Counters 25/26

[Kippax1973]

As others have said the club have a problem , they have pissed that many core fans of now ,,them fans have got into the habit of watching at home or the pub ,,they need louder reversing bleepers than a 44ton truck and put shit right that they have fkd up on

And please don't come and give me shit defending some of the clubs actions ,they have fkd up royally

The sooner they realise we just ain't got the pull of the red shit clubs yet, the better the support will be , just stop trying to grab every last bit of money out off your fan base , go back to actually caring about your support city

 

[asahartford1]

As others have said the club have a problem , they have pissed that many core fans of now ,,them fans have got into the habit of watching at home or the pub ,,they need louder reversing bleepers than a 44ton truck and put shit right that they have fkd up on

And please don't come and give me shit defending some of the clubs actions ,they have fkd up royally

The sooner they realise we just ain't got the pull of the red shit clubs yet, the better the support will be , just stop trying to grab every last bit of money out off your fan base , go back to actually caring about your support city

These hard core who no longer attend is it purely the 50 quid a ticket that they are not prepared to pay?
The ticket price is something the club can do something about.

But if your hard core don't like evening kos, busy Trams, early kos, "Tourists", 3 games in a week,

We have never in recent history had more than 39000 core fans, so in regularly attracting over 50000 to the Stadium, the club may believe they are doing OK.

Sorry if I haven't totally concurred

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

These hard core who no longer attend is it purely the 50 quid a ticket that they are not prepared to pay?
The ticket price is something the club can do something about.

But if your hard core don't like evening kos, busy Trams, early kos, "Tourists", 3 games in a week,

We have never in recent history had more than 39000 core fans, so in regularly attracting over 50000 to the Stadium, the club may believe they are doing OK.

Sorry if I haven't totally concurred

It should be very concerning to the club that only 2 years ago we were selling out games for fun, and now we can't seem to sell out a game to save our life, unless it's Category A.

Whilst the reasons you've mentioned do definitely have a impact, they weren't stopping people a couple of years ago. Price is the main factor at play in my opinion.

The way the club have fucked up the momentum they should've gained after winning the treble, through nothing but greed, should be studied, and heads should be rolling.

 

[asahartford1]

It should be very concerning to the club that only 2 years ago we were selling out games for fun, and now we can't seem to sell out a game to save our life, unless it's Category A.

Whilst the reasons you've mentioned do definitely have a impact, they weren't stopping people a couple of years ago. Price is the main factor at play in my opinion.

The way the club have fucked up the momentum they should've gained after winning the treble, through nothing but greed, should be studied, and heads should be rolling.

OK, I agree that ticket prices have an effect. The majority seem to argue it means core supporters are lost. This is anecdotal. Let me make an anecdotal argument. In 1968, my dad took me and 2 schoolmates, and a brother of one to Newcastle to watch City win the league, my elder brother was also in the van that day. All hard-core blues. As we got older our little group was swollen by a couple of cousins, and secondary school mates.
Every home match on the piss. When we moved to the Etihad about 10/11 had season tickets.
In 2007 City had 37000 core fans, and empty seats. Nothing changed for our group apart from where we drank after the game.
Fast forward and we will have soon a Stadium needing 60000 home fans, 23000 more than the hard cord support could muster in 2007. When the ground wasn't full.
Now, Of my group, one is Superbia, another 2 have Season cards, the others have drifted, age, laziness, illness, other priorities, still attend the odd game. NOTHING to do with cost. They could all afford it. That is anecdotal, but now I go to the match with Mrs Asa because we travel, it is an all day event, the couple that still go, leave home at 2pm, and get in at 3pm. As does Superbia.
The club have to find over 20000 new regular fans, and that pre takeover 37000 will continue to diminish.

One more bit of anecdotal input. 2 families at the club where I play golf have started to go to the Etihad in the last few seasons. The parents are not City fans, the kids were Haaland fans , now they are City fans.
So yes, some core may be out because of cost, but it is not the full story, by far.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

OK, I agree that ticket prices have an effect. The majority seem to argue it means core supporters are lost. This is anecdotal. Let me make an anecdotal argument. In 1968, my dad took me and 2 schoolmates, and a brother of one to Newcastle to watch City win the league, my elder brother was also in the van that day. All hard-core blues. As we got older our little group was swollen by a couple of cousins, and secondary school mates.
Every home match on the piss. When we moved to the Etihad about 10/11 had season tickets.
In 2007 City had 37000 core fans, and empty seats. Nothing changed for our group apart from where we drank after the game.
Fast forward and we will have soon a Stadium needing 60000 home fans, 23000 more than the hard cord support could muster in 2007. When the ground wasn't full.
Now, Of my group, one is Superbia, another 2 have Season cards, the others have drifted, age, laziness, illness, other priorities, still attend the odd game. NOTHING to do with cost. They could all afford it. That is anecdotal, but now I go to the match with Mrs Asa because we travel, it is an all day event, the couple that still go, leave home at 2pm, and get in at 3pm. As does Superbia.
The club have to find over 20000 new regular fans, and that pre takeover 37000 will continue to diminish.

One more bit of anecdotal input. 2 families at the club where I play golf have started to go to the Etihad in the last few seasons. The parents are not City fans, the kids were Haaland fans , now they are City fans.
So yes, some core may be out because of cost, but it is not the full story, by far.

The points you mention have always been factors in people giving it up. What would have always happened in the past though is that these people get replaced by the younger generation of blues.

The problem we've got is that the club have made the active decision that they don't care about the younger generation, and would much rather attract rich tourists from overseas. A decision they'll already be regretting.

We've been the most successful club in the world over the past decade and have 2 million locals right on our doorstep, yet we're unable to sell out most games. Let that sink in.

The club have fucked up monumentally.

 

[jrb]

It should be very concerning to the club that only 2 years ago we were selling out games for fun, and now we can't seem to sell out a game to save our life, unless it's Category A.

Whilst the reasons you've mentioned do definitely have a impact, they weren't stopping people a couple of years ago. Price is the main factor at play in my opinion.

The way the club have fucked up the momentum they should've gained after winning the treble, through nothing but greed, should be studied, and heads should be rolling.

Obviously not.

The Directors must be very confident in their continued belief that City fans will keep on filling the Etihad, even with an extra 8000 seats next season, and a new Etihad capacity of just under 62,000.

Brighton.

 

[asahartford1]

The points you mention have always been factors in people giving it up. What would have always happened in the past though is that these people get replaced by the younger generation of blues.

The problem we've got is that the club have made the active decision that they don't care about the younger generation, and would much rather attract rich tourists from overseas. A decision they'll already be regretting.

We've been the most successful club in the world over the past decade and have 2 million locals right on our doorstep, yet we're unable to sell out most games. Let that sink in.

The club have fucked up monumentally.

And yes, that is a different argument from core fans not going any more solely due to cost.
Replacing lapsed fans is the issue, as I have argued, with new regular fans, in our new Society it is an issue for all top clubs.
That said do you agree that 150,000 will attend the Etihad between the 4th and 10th of January.

 

[M18CTID]

And yes, that is a different argument from core fans not going any more solely due to cost.
Replacing lapsed fans is the issue, as I have argued, with new regular fans, in our new Society it is an issue for all top clubs.
That said do you agree that 150,000 will attend the Etihad between the 4th and 10th of January.

It’s not 150,000 different people though is it?

 

[asahartford1]

It’s not 150,000 different people though is it?

I wouldn't have thought so mate.
It is 150 ,000 entrance fees though.

And shows that there is much bigger demand than in 2007.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

And yes, that is a different argument from core fans not going any more solely due to cost.
Replacing lapsed fans is the issue, as I have argued, with new regular fans, in our new Society it is an issue for all top clubs.
That said do you agree that 150,000 will attend the Etihad between the 4th and 10th of January.

It's only an issue for all top clubs because top clubs all suffer from the same thing. Greed. It's got nothing to do with a new Society. How do you replace lapsed fans? You make it accessible for the younger generation. £200+ to take a family of 4 is not accessible.

Yes 150,000 people will attend in that week, however as @M18CTID points out, there will be many attending all 3 games so it's not 150,000 different people.

It feels like we're walking on egg shells though. What if we have a bad season. What if haaland leaves. The crowds will plummet and we won't have a core fanbase to lean on.

 

[asahartford1]

It's only an issue for all top clubs because top clubs all suffer from the same thing. Greed. It's got nothing to do with a new Society. How do you replace lapsed fans? You make it accessible for the younger generation. £200+ to take a family of 4 is not accessible.

Yes 150,000 people will attend in that week, however as @M18CTID points out, there will be many attending all 3 games so it's not 150,000 different people.

It feels like we're walking on egg shells though. What if we have a bad season. What if haaland leaves. The crowds will plummet and we won't have a core fanbase to lean on.

The only point from your post I might take issue is the terminology of "Greed"

I could go through each club looking at the business plan, the amount taken out of the club in dividends, the amount invested in infrastructure, amount spent on World talent. Academy creation. Match Day experience.

That is where our opinion of City disperses.
Although mistakes in pricing have been made, I find it difficult to find another club in the Country that I wished I supported and another ride I wished I had been on.

 

[asahartford1]

It's only an issue for all top clubs because top clubs all suffer from the same thing. Greed. It's got nothing to do with a new Society. How do you replace lapsed fans? You make it accessible for the younger generation. £200+ to take a family of 4 is not accessible.

Yes 150,000 people will attend in that week, however as @M18CTID points out, there will be many attending all 3 games so it's not 150,000 different people.

It feels like we're walking on egg shells though. What if we have a bad season. What if haaland leaves. The crowds will plummet and we won't have a core fanbase to lean on.

When I say new Society. As an example.

I started attending City on my own at 11. I lived the other side of Town to Maine Rd, 2 buses and a hike away.
An 11 yr old cannot tie their shoe laces now.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

The only point from your post I might take issue is the terminology of "Greed"

I could go through each club looking at the business plan, the amount taken out of the club in dividends, the amount invested in infrastructure, amount spent on World talent. Academy creation. Match Day experience.

That is where our opinion of City disperses.
Although mistakes in pricing have been made, I find it difficult to find another club in the Country that I wished I supported and another ride I wished I had been on.

Physically extracting every possible penny you can out of your loyal fanbase that've been there through thick and thin, whilst the country is facing a cost of living crisis, would certainly cross the threshold of "Greed" for me.

Especially when matchday revenue isn't even close to the main source of revenue for football clubs these days.

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

When I say new Society. As an example.

I started attending City on my own at 11. I lived the other side of Town to Maine Rd, 2 buses and a hike away.
An 11 yr old cannot tie their shoe laces now.

I think that's a fair point, but kids these days want to go and watch football just as much as we did when we were youngsters. It's just nowhere near as accessible.

I spoke to a mate who's a Stockport fan yesterday, and you wouldn’t belive the amount of youngsters at their games who come from families of City and united fans.

 

[asahartford1]

I think that's a fair point, but kids these days want to go and watch football just as much as we did when we were youngsters. It's just nowhere near as accessible.

I spoke to a mate who's a Stockport fan yesterday, and you wouldn’t belive the amount of youngsters at their games who come from families of City and united fans.

When I referred to Society change most people would say "Rubbish" but it isn't.

Even older teenagers or young people don't plan or motivate themselves to do things.
My generation worked from 14 to get money to do things like go to the match.
And we did it together, and at personal cost.

When you mentioned "family of four" in my day Women were in a minority at a game, A Dad took his Son, the girls didn't go to the game, the wives didn't go. Another Societal change is the amount of Women who want to go, It is a fact , not anecdotal.
If I had a say, there would be a Junior "pen", 17-23yr old Season tickets, both at reduced prices,
Unlike most I don't think our Management are stupid or greedy, and I hope that they are as reactive as I believe.

But my last point is that some will moan whatever, unless they could get in for a tenner, with a free bus ride home. And then they would find something new.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

When I referred to Society change most people would say "Rubbish" but it isn't.

Even older teenagers or young people don't plan or motivate themselves to do things.
My generation worked from 14 to get money to do things like go to the match.
And we did it together, and at personal cost.

When you mentioned "family of four" in my day Women were in a minority at a game, A Dad took his Son, the girls didn't go to the game, the wives didn't go. Another Societal change is the amount of Women who want to go, It is a fact , not anecdotal.
If I had a say, there would be a Junior "pen", 17-23yr old Season tickets, both at reduced prices,
Unlike most I don't think our Management are stupid or greedy, and I hope that they are as reactive as I believe.

But my last point is that some will moan whatever, unless they could get in for a tenner, with a free bus ride home. And then they would find something new.

I really like your last point.

 

[Corky]

When we are expected to win the title and had the Haaland effect as new we sold a lot easier, and it is down from 22-24 peak demand but comparing like for like before and after that zenith it hasn't really changed.

Lowest attendance by far this season was Brentford QF LC 38,254, and adult tickets started at £17.50 CS.

Against Fulham 4th Rnd LC in 2018/19 it was £9 Adult and £10 other ST holders as starting prices and we got 35,271.

Agaian Burton Semi same season it was £15 adult CS and we got 32,089.

Southampton 4th Rnd 2019/20 was £9 and 37,143.

Wycombe 2021 £10 and 30,959.

Watford 2024 £15 40,584.

There are exceptions if we play a Sky Big 4 club and we get 50k, wolves in 2017 and the Everton semi, but go further back and we get 32 k will a large Sheff Weds following in 2014, the season before 25k v Wigan and 30k for the semi v west ham.

One of the biggest issues now is almost every game is on legitimate TV, and ADUG/Arena paying for additional parking restrictions, and the situation will get worse with the expansion. Night matches are always a problem to fill if low demand regardless of price, and the travel times and expenses have gone up for most who needed a quick get away. The Brighton game is affected by this, being sandwiched into two more desirable games, and one being a lot cheaper for most people, so it is fairly abnormal, but may become more the norm for a low demand PL game, especially when you have more CL games and fans are diluted.