Came up in the other thread but seems worth of a post of its own. Most people seem to agree the atmosphere at grounds is getting worse season on season, is it down to cost, policing, change in football culture? A good atmosphere makes a huge difference to peoples enjoyment at a game and possibly players/ coaches as well. So what can be done to improve it? Safe standing, reduce prices, change in attitude etc The best atmosphere in Europe seem to be in Germany, so why are some countries much better then ours when it comes to atmosphere, despite this supposedly being the "best league in the world".
Possibly. Dortmund was a lot of fun when I went there to see a game. There's plenty of Eastern European teams that rival the German teams for atmosphere though. I think part of the issue is a lot of the continental die-hard fans are significantly more organised than the English equivalent. Also, yes, I'd agree that standing areas of terracing help too.
I agree, it was just example of the "big leagues" if you like, but you are right much of Eastern Europe has some noisy fans. Without being disrespectful to them, I do wonder if football in some of those countries is still very much a working mans sport with cheap prices and this somehow increases atmosphere? In this country many teams with high ticket prices seem to attract lots of businessmen who often seem to have little interest or certainly are not interested in chanting and cheering.
Is this lack of atmoshere principally a Premier League phenomenon, or is it reproduced in Football League grounds as well? And if mainly a Premier League phenomenon, is it principally the grounds of the "also rans"?
Possibly down to the football? (No jokes please) I remember when my beloved team was playing with reckless abandon and the atmosphere was very good. A sustained period of an uninspiring brand of football does tend to suck the life out of fans. Also, as someone has possibly already alluded too, playing in the Premier league attracts a different type of supporter, the type that are primarily more interested in the players that are not playing in yellow. I dare say that those supporters wouldn't be as regular if it was Steve Morrison lining up against you, rather than Steven Gerrard
I go to lots of lower league matches and it is definitely the case throughout sadly. Although possibly for different reasons, such as who youngsters chose to support
No, quite the opposite. Arsenal in particular, but also Man U and recently Man City and Tottenham are awful (admittedly haven't been to the latter, but just going on what I've heard).
I think terracing should come back, makes for a better atmoshere, but there would need to be some serious conditions like an age limit, make that stand just all ticket, no pay on the gate (even though we have fantastic turnstiles). Also pricing needs to be looked at, its starting to get out of reach to the normal fan and thats when the corporates take over and that reduces the atmoshere. You guys are quite lucky, i have always thought when things are going well for you, carrow rd gets quite noisy and a good atmoshere!
It can do when things are going well, yes. When things aren't going so well, though, it's sometimes absolutely dire.
I think we are missing the goal music. Might encourage us to score more goals as everyone wants to hear it
I do wonder if they ever got standing back into grounds if it would actually be that much cheaper? Or, would they make it slightly cheaper (still expensive) and just cram more in. At Torquay in L2 I went to a match £20 sitting and £17 standing!!! Thats L2!!!
Thing is that is about the going rate, rarely see less then £15 unless there is a special offer for one off matches. And they wonder why people don't go!?
If the Premier League are going to allow standing, they should of course introduce widespread safety measures, but also a real drive to push prices down with restrictions on how much the standing tickets can cost. A good starting point IMO would be no more than 50% of the price of the cheapest ticket elsewhere in the stadium.
I'm not convinced the Premier League would want to do that as money means a lot to them to say the least. I think the FA would have to push them to do this, which they maybe able to do as I imagine it would be their decision whether or not to allow standing? Don't suppose the PL can do it on their own accord as they are not a governing body for the sport in this country. Could be wrong.
One thing I will say about support in this country is that our away fans are much much better then many other countries, travelling in far greater numbers despite the price.
I just thought it was the dodgy streams I have been watching the games on, but it has been noticeably quieter this season. I remember the transition from the old Barclay to new and it was chalk and cheese in terms of atmosphere. It helped that the away 'pen' was just across from us and the rivalry in terms of songs/banter/wind ups/flying coins etc added to it all. I think there's something to be said for being closer together and the noise just rumbling through the crowd as one - some of the noise in the old Barclay was deafening - I'd have tinnitus for hours afterwards. My first ever game was in the River End and as soon as I was able (the next home game) I went up the Barclay - I wanted the atmosphere - it drew me in. Though I accepted the changes post Taylor report and went to the first home (SKY TV! Dancing Girls! Fireworks!), sitting in the Barclay, the atmosphere was 5000 individuals sat together not one voice. The seats gave everyone a personality but took away our voice. I like the idea of safe standing and would like to see sections brought in.
