FA Cup Semi-Finals should not be played at Wembley

This takes away so much about the final experience in my opinion, id have them at another, neutral venue, perhaps picked at random alternating each season from a selection of those that seat 45k+. Or maybe at the Olympic stadium once thats up and running from the 2013 FA Cup onwards. Opinions?

 

i agree that they shouldnt be held at wembley, but at the end of the day if they can fill wembley out full for 3 games they will do, just to get a **** load of money.

the FA would get more money from having the games at wembley as they would come up with their wembley experience bullshit,a chance to see your club at wembley......... plus they can charge more money for wembley tickets then what they would/could do if they had them at st james/old trafford etc....


plus they will also say its gets the police,stewards etc ready for the final itself.....etc...

 

Used to play them at club grounds back in the day. Maine Road, St Andrews, Hillsborough, being three of the most used. Couldn't see St.Andrews getting one now though.

 

I agree, Wembley should only hold the final. However, I still think a neutral ground should be used for the Semi-Finals. It would be nice to see the FA use the Millenium Stadium again.

 

This That would be perfect for Semi's, then Wembley will feel more exclusive, as it should.

 

100% agree with all of the above. Having the semi's at Wembley takes away a lot of the prestige surrounding the final itself. It's a shame really but what Pete says is pretty much spot on.

 

I think the FA should consider Twickenham for this year's semi final to accomodate Stoke's football.

Fat Sam could be one of the touch judges.

 

As long as Wenger isn't a judge, he wouldn't see anything...

 

Apparently it's to offset the costs of building Wembley (i bet once it's paid off they'll still hold the semis there though)

 

I was glad Stoke won yesterday, rather confident for next week now.

I'm 50-50 on this debate. There are some teams who have to wait decades to get to Wembley, so to go twice kind of makes up for it. On the other hand, fans can only afford one trip to Wembley, especially if we got there, our fans would turn up but it's a long way to go and a lot of money.

Manchester United should be one Semi Final, hate the idea of Villa park, it's ****ing horrible! If you are going to make teams go to Wembley, why not use the Emirates for a semi? Or switch it round, let St James' host it.

 

All those northeners making the long trip to London in one weekend

We'll run out of gravy

 

Am I thick or is Stoke more South?

 

Hmm maybe not.

 

Stoke and Manchester is midlands. Look at a map, how Manchester and Liverpool get classed as Northern baffles me. Quite solidly in the middle of the country.

 

I used to love the semi finals when they were at Villa Park and so on.

For the smaller clubs though it will be a great experience for players and fans.

Now it is to do with money F A are trying to recoup money back for Wembley stadium.

 

Back in the 90s I could understand Villa.

But now. If you get all that way in the cup and your reward is to go to Aston ****ing Villa. Dear me.

 

I know that with us being at the top of the country the fa will never consider it
but SJP would be a cracking venue for Semi's
****ing rediculous how Wembley is used

 

I'm frankly amazed we have been allowed to host some Olympic matches!! Think i might get tickets to one of the Semis/Quarters days (cant remember which we have). Should be a decent day.

 

do we not have a specific group mate?

 

Nah, the matches are on the Olympic website. We have certain matches from different groups I think and one quarter final.