The principle is good, however as always is the case with the Allams, little fan consultation, too short a timeline for implementation post the announcement as well as the glaring problems that apparently exist revolving around our next generation of supporters, teenagers!
That is the crux. Do we sit back and wait and see if the club listens or do we try and gently, or not so gently, encourage them? One of the things that you have said is unlikely to change is the eviction of 1700 City fans from the upper west without any consultation and attempt to get their agreement. That is simply so wrong.
The release date was not due to be last Tuesday. Nothing to do with the owners either. The club is being run by club employees with Ehab signing things off. The scheme was only presented to the owners last month. Assem Allam, has nothing to do with the day to day running of the club and Ehab Allam has a very hands off approach. The SMC and the club are being run completely as separate businesses, landlord and tenant. Both have to be self financing. Just like the team, Steve Bruce manages without any interference from the owners, they control the transfers and do not interfere.
I'd suggest waiting to see what's announced before considering protesting about it. The West Upper is a messy one. I'd far rather we looked to make sure we filled the ground, rather than closing stands because it's not full, but while there's 7,000 empty seats, it's easy for the SMC to justify the need to close it.
There's s significant cost involved in policing it, which the club are trying to avoid under the new system, their attempts to solve the issue under the old system failed.
There are a lot of clubs playing in stadiums where a third of the seats are empty. How many have shut stands and forced long time fans to move?
While i dont agree with clsoing Upper West. I remember we were discussing FC having to close a stand i said then if our gates kept dropping it would make economic sense to close one of ours. Its a tough decision to make but i can see why economically.
But they already weren't using Upper West when the decision was taken to close another stand. And the decision wasn't taken by FC. A sad state of affairs when a club which has recently been in the PL and has been near the top of the table finds itself in the same situation as a team which plays in a category B sport.
As you well know the offers we have had for U22's etc have been pretty bloody good but the take up has been crap, apart from 40 year old blokes... . Its a tough decision but i can see why they are doing it. Not that i like it. If we stay in this league and we do these prices but with 50% reduction for concessions our gates will still drop to 12000. I have a feeling the best days are behind us if we dont go up.
Coventry City have closed one stand this season and several clubs now close one stand for cup games (even Man United).
Barcelona average under 70,000 in a 99,000 stadium. I wonder if they will be closing a stand as they have a third of the seats empty? If an 18- 21 year old is old enough to join the forces, marry, vote drive a car etc then they are old enough to pay the same price as a 25 or 40 year old. People keep mentioning concessions but Ehab has told us why he doesn't agree with them. Will we see an Allam admit they are wrong and go back on a decision? I wouldn't count on it unfortunately.
So how many have closed it for league games as a matter of course? How many fans of other clubs have been told they will be sat elsewhere and pay more for the privilege of a worse view?
Like I said I have some thinking to do. The issue for me isn't just the prices, although what's currently proposed is disgusting. The main issue is the way the club treats its supporters. I've heard the club was rude to the chairman of the Supporters Trust at one meeting, wouldn't answer the questions he raised on behalf of not606 posters and didn't invite him to the meeting to discuss the membership scheme. You may be able to confirm whether that's correct. The chairman represents a significant section of our support and, as such deserves some respect. The North East corner was evicted without any consultation, the upper west is getting evicted without any consultation and there was no consultation about the pricing of the new membership scheme. We are treated like little bits of plastic to be shunted around the ground at the whim of the club and told to like it or lump it. Respect not in our community
How can anyone treat seriously an organisation that thinks shutting West Upper and dispersing the people from there around the lower bowl will improve atmosphere? The majority of the ones sat there watch the game in the sort of reverential hush you encounter at a theatre. Are they suddenly going to become animated and vocal? Or, as is more likely, tut at people being vulgar and making a noise and complain about people standing leading to the intervention of our stewards who are all too ready to evict City fans whilst giving away fans a tree rein? The Allams don't see fans, they regard everyone as customers there to consume their product whilst meekly accepting whatever crap they fling at them.
So there aren't any, then. Otherwise you would have quoted them in your usual smug, condescending manner.
