Time to move the family stand

[Jesus H Gabz]

Do we need a family stand, just affordable seats for families around the ground would suffice, when City were struggling and introduced 95 quid season tickets for kids anywhere in the ground, it was a great idea, today the pricing began at 50 quid up to 70, those creating the prices are clueless

Far better than alienating a generation of young kids by sticking them in the rafters. Kids love to be close to the action, watch the players warming up, and maybe get autographs/pics etc, it’s how you inspire the next generation of supporters, how are they supposed to form an organic bond with our players? (That’s not tv or internet based) we’ve already taken the support further away from the players by removing seats. Touching on your idea, Maybe kids prices could be a percentage of the adult ticket, say 1/3 and like you say available all round the ground

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

I’ve sat in the north stand upper since 2005 it’s virtually the old faces from Maine road

 

[jrb]

There are a few things wrong (in my view) about how you are seeing things. Unless the North Stand is redeveloped (unlikely for many years I think) then NS2 will be the family stand. NS1 is already designated non family stand so the question is what could be done to make that a singing end. There is no prospect whatsoever of 'relocating' it into SS3 or anywhere else. What would need to be done is to put forward something whereby supporters could register their interest to move into it whilst offering those currently in NS1 preferential treatment to move with friends and family elsewhere in the stadium. That is easier said than done but it's the only way I could see it happening.

As far as we’re aware the family stand still exists. Family stand season tickets are still being sold. The club may have relaxed the rules and criteria so older people can now buy a seat in the family stand, but it’s still the family stand.

I would move the family stand to the 2 corner blocks of the NSL1. Guessing, those 2 blocks would be enough for the family stand.

I would create a new safe standing end in the remainder of NSL1 and try and fill it with fans who want to support the team, sing, and want to create an atmosphere, which would get the kids going in the 2 family stand corner blocks. How the club go about that is the issue. The club gave block 115 in SSL1 over for a new signing section and it flopped.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

As far as we’re aware the family stand still exists. Family stand season tickets are still being sold. The club may have relaxed the rules and criteria so older people can now buy a seat in the family stand, but it’s still the family stand.

I would move the family stand to the 2 corner blocks of the North stand. Guessing, those 2 blocks would be enough for the family stand.

I would create a new safe standing end in the remainder of NSL1 and try and fill it with fans who want to support the team, sing, and want to create an atmosphere, which would get the kids going in the 2 family stand corner blocks. How the club go about that is the issue. The club gave block 115 in SSL1 over for a new signing section and it flopped.

The problem I have with your ideas is that you think that whole stands can be moved into specific areas.

What then happens to SC holders in those areas?

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

If City didn’t give away 100’s of ‘free tickets’ in the Family stand, it would be emptier.

I don’t agree with that. If city made those seats available to season ticket holders they’d by full most weeks or even if they were available cheap. The north stand never used to have the problem we do now with empty seats

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

The lower tiers have that perennial North Stand Maine Road issue, who wants to sit in the pissing freezing rain! Especially at night games and when it’s on the box. Whilst I agree ticket pricing is a big issue, especially for the young adults, what I would like to see is the NS get its third tier, then put a retractable roof on the stadium. Spend on the ground isn’t subject to FFP, however, I doubt the club would see it ever paying for itself.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I do agree.. but we need a sustainable fan base so that those 18 year olds who will come and create the atmosphere do come from the 8-10 year olds from the Family Stand. It’s not easy and I was on a bit of a wind up with that comment before. Surely the club can look at other models maybe in Europe? From my own experience it just seemed to be seamless going from the Platt Lane with my old fella to the Kippax singing section with the lads and then to away games.

I agree with what your saying mate. It’s not sustainable as it is now. Kids are going into the family stand with their parents, once they get to a certain age they are then priced out until they get a decent job. (21 -30 year olds) that’s one of the main reasons we have a big gap in our match going demographic.

the family stand concept as it is now doesn’t work. It’s never full and large amounts of tickets are given away to lots of kids who aren’t city fans. (Schools/ sports clubs). What was wrong with affordable tickets for kids throughout the ground. The family stand now is not helping to grow our fan base

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

What is the fix then as 1 of the things the Club has done to encourage younger supporters is being talked about as being a problem and should be fucked off!

The club used to have affordable season tickets for kids throughout the whole ground. Think it was 95 quid. That’s a great idea not what we have now.

and you say encourage young fans. I’m not sure I agree with that. It helps parents take little kids. Once those kids turn into young adults it’s no help at all

 

[East Level 2]

I might be missing the point, but City fans who want to "create an atmosphere" have also said they want to be close to the away fans for the banter. So South Stand middle and the south end of the East Stand are the obvious choices.
There's no reason those in the North Stand, or anywhere else in the ground can't join in though.
And anybody who suggests moving the away fans can just get to fucketty-fuck-fuck as the police refuse to have away fans away from that corner as that's where the away coaches park. - And that is a position the police have held since we moved from Maine Road.

 

[jrb]

The problem I have with your ideas is that you think that whole stands can be moved into specific areas.

What then happens to SC holders in those areas?

It’s not the whole of NSL1. The family stand doesn’t take up the whole of NSL1. That is evident from the empty seats and free seats given away in NSL1 for almost every home game, bar the big games.

Once again there is no easy option. If the club want to move or plan to move the family stand to another part of the ground(according to PB), season ticket holders in that part of the ground will have to be moved to make way for the family stand.

It’s a mess with no easy answer or outcome. But it’s all the clubs own making.

If the club don’t try and resolve the family stand issue, empty seats will remain in NSL1.

I’ve got nothing against the family stand. Especially not against the Kids, as they will be supporting City after we’re all dead. But as others have stated, the family stand issue, more so the constant empty seats in the family stand needs sorting out once and for all by the club.