After the dust has settled from one of the most dramatic derby games ever, I have a question. I know that some of you, as part of the banter joke about St Marys Stadium as the flat pack, the Ikea, etc. Mostly this is about two things really. Firstly, there is the comparison with Fratton Park and that it's a less intimidating bearpit to visit, which is a comparison which also made with the old Dell. Secondly, there's a bit of the green-eyed monster abroad and what else can you say when your rival gets a brand new stadium? It's about all you throw at it and I have never seen a neutral describe it as other than excellent. Now my question is aimed at those who actually went to the match , and I am specifically not asking you to compare SMS with FP as the replies would just be predictable but, would those who attended not agree that the atmosphere was fantastic and therefore agree that SMS does not have a problem in that respect?
I didn't go to the match, but personally I think a stadium can have a either a good or a bad atmosphere regardless whether it's an 'old' stadium like Fratton Park or 'new' stadium like St Mary's. I don't think either type is necessarily inherently more or less atmospheric than the other.
It does not bother me one bit that Pompey have an old tinpot for a stadium . The Saints might have a new stadium , but they cant buy or have the passion and loyalty of Pompey . Just look at the atmosphere generated by the most passionate and best fans in the land at St Fairies on Saturday . Enough said .
I was very careful to not compare the stadia. Since you agree that the atmosphere was electric (and it was, I assume you were there?)) I guess that that's at least one person who thinks there is nothing wrong with it from the atmosphere point of view. I am guessing that you have not been to any other games at St Marys so I don't suppose that you can properly comment on how passionate the Saints fans are when the Pompey fans are not there.
in the first half, the atmosphere was definitely electric and contributed by both sides. however it was very quiet from both sets of fans in the second half, i think more nerves than anything but what happened in injury time definitely rectified that. i think the atmosphere at SMS is helped by having all the noisiest fans at the same end of the ground (from both sides) as im sure watching from the other end is a totally different affair. too look at, st marys is a very boring stadium but i think southampton have noisy enough fans so that it isn't like a wigan-esque matchday experience and there are many much quieter days out at old and new stadiums
I was sat in the Chapel end (opposite goal end to where the Pompey fans were sat) and the atmosphere was amazing.
The trouble with StFairies is that it is a bowl. They're all the same- and unless it's a special game and a full house, it will always struggle with the 'atmosphere' factor against a traditional four sided stadium....and that's not comparing it directly to FP. Arsenal have the same problem at the Emirates. The stadium looks magnificent-especially empty! but that's not what it is about. Go a couple of miles up the Seven Sisters to WHL and experience the difference. Looks like you'll get the chance now CF. Sorry, but give me good old FP every time-that's not a wind up either. I dread the day it ever goes, especially if whoever tries to replace it does it on the cheap. Again, no disrespect, but you're now stuck with your bowl for maybe another 50 years
I don't think that any Saints fan will find that a great hardship. I agree that any stadium which is less than 2/3 full might have problems with atmosphere but that hasn't been a problem and if all goes to plan, certainly won't be next year. I don't think it's the stadium which is the most important factor in creating atmosphere, or even the fans per se; it's what's happening on the pitch, certainly for home games. The noise increases during periods of prolonged pressure. You know, when you have the opposition penned back in their half, perhaps a run of corners. You can feel that a goal is coming. That's more important than the shape of the thing. If your own team fails to produce these, it's unlikely to really take off.
Don't whatever you do mention the "bubble" - I did yesterday in a thread, and have been shot down by all and sundry ever since !! I still believe it is was a very humourous piece of journalism though, but hey, that's only my view on it
The bubble bus concept was pretty naff, I prefer the good old days when you could run around the other teams town/city , down several pints, take over their pubs and have a good laugh with the locals.............PUP At a push I would also say the St,Fairy's stadium although a boring plastic flatpack was a little better than the old Subuteo stadium that you had at the Dell, but at heart still a library in disguise.
[video=youtube;0MRmxfLuNto]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MRmxfLuNto&feature=player_embedded[/video]
