daveduke67
Well-Known Member
What first amazed me on the way in was the number of stalls outside that were selling scarves, flags and t-shirts. It was like a funfair. Yet every one of them was selling. It was obvious from the number of people walking round with bags of souvenirs and their new shirts and scarves on that they were there for the first time or at best, rarely went. Hundreds of people were taking photos with the ground behind them or stood next to the statue - I don't know many people that would do that if they were there every other week.
The number of tourists pouring money into that club is amazing. I was wondering how much of their revenue is from one off visitors purchases or yearly visitors. I wondered if we'd ever be half as popular with tourists - it really is phenominal the way that club attracts people from all over the world.
Once I was in the ground and the game started I decided that no matter how much money being one of the two most famous clubs in the world brought in, I hope that we are never like them. For a crowd of 72,000 home supporters the atmosphere was pretty dire. Until Saturday I had only been in the Stretford Paddock for derby games and that was 20 years ago.
I really was expecting a cauldren of hatred, an barrage of abuse and a constant stream of united songs. It was pathetic. The only time that united fans made any noise was when they scored and at the final whistle, which considering the noise they generate towards us the rest of the time is frankly disgraceful.
Saying that though, when you consider that a significant amount of the home stands are filled with people who are there so they can say they've been there and have the photos to prove it, is hardly surprising. I hope that we are never that popular if it means filling a third of our seats with people who think a 4-4-2 comes with boiled rice - fried 50p extra.
So to the people hoping the we surpass the rags in attendance numbers - be careful what you wish for - I for one do not wish to sit in a ground full of foreigners who see their visit to a football ground as another tick in their things to see and do when in England book. I'd rather be one of 44,000 FANS than one of 72,000 a significant slice of whom are sit down all match and clap when everyone else does tourists.
The number of tourists pouring money into that club is amazing. I was wondering how much of their revenue is from one off visitors purchases or yearly visitors. I wondered if we'd ever be half as popular with tourists - it really is phenominal the way that club attracts people from all over the world.
Once I was in the ground and the game started I decided that no matter how much money being one of the two most famous clubs in the world brought in, I hope that we are never like them. For a crowd of 72,000 home supporters the atmosphere was pretty dire. Until Saturday I had only been in the Stretford Paddock for derby games and that was 20 years ago.
I really was expecting a cauldren of hatred, an barrage of abuse and a constant stream of united songs. It was pathetic. The only time that united fans made any noise was when they scored and at the final whistle, which considering the noise they generate towards us the rest of the time is frankly disgraceful.
Saying that though, when you consider that a significant amount of the home stands are filled with people who are there so they can say they've been there and have the photos to prove it, is hardly surprising. I hope that we are never that popular if it means filling a third of our seats with people who think a 4-4-2 comes with boiled rice - fried 50p extra.
So to the people hoping the we surpass the rags in attendance numbers - be careful what you wish for - I for one do not wish to sit in a ground full of foreigners who see their visit to a football ground as another tick in their things to see and do when in England book. I'd rather be one of 44,000 FANS than one of 72,000 a significant slice of whom are sit down all match and clap when everyone else does tourists.
