Anyone attending the recent Manchester- City game, would have seen the wonderful stadium and surrounds of the Etihad. The gap between what the partnership of Manchester City Council and Manchester City Football Club achieve, and what is currently achieved at the KC is truly embarrassing in almost every aspect. From dedicated tram stop to liveried programme kiosks, from helpful stewards to imaginative stadium branding- it was an object lesson on how to do things well. Here's how they do post and pre match entertainment:- http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Features/2013/August/City-v-Newcastle-City-Square-highlights - live music, hundreds of people eating and drinking, post match big screen analysis and interviews. Contrast that with the **** we get at City: being filmed by the police, urged to disperse as quickly as possible on crowded narrow walkways ankle deep in horse **** with no attempt to create a convivial, lively, revenue-raising atmosphere. So many free lessons to be learned at Manchester. No attentive pupils from the club or council?
No I think having the whole thing purpose built for the Commonwealth Games helped with this. The infrastructure in place is fantastic, the wealth of the owners and the standing of the club have allowed them to take advantage of this. I agree that they have done really well to make it their own since, but a huge amount of the hard work had already been done.
How much would it cost to create a 'City Square' outside the KC ? At the Etihad, they have street cleaning teams at work almost immediately after the end of the game, making it spick and span. Contrast that with the rubbish-strewn walkway back to Argyle Street. How about some stylish HCFC related murals on the footbridges near the grounds, instead of the inane teen scribbles ? Could anything be done on the original prewar HCFC pitch area and surrounds apart from graze stray horses and deposit plaggy bottles? Or is it a race to the bottom between Allam and Brady?
Can't be too hard to do something imaginative with the railway triangle on the walkway outside the K.C.
I think if we can sustain solid premier league status for awhile, something similar could well be a goer. Allam clearly wants to rejuvenate the area, lining his pockets in the process, and it can only be so long til those old bastards clog it or get ****ed off for people with a real vision who won't abuse their positions to try and hold back one sport in order to hopelessly try and make their favourite failing fake rugby club the cities centre of attention.
City Square is new, it wasn't there for the Commonwealth Games, Man City built it and are now building their new training facility next door. Useless fact of the day - Thee food in City Square is provided by Jamie Oliver.
That has absolutely nothing to do with our useless stewards and incompetent, unfriendly police who treat everyone as a potential terrorist. Any thoughts of people spending money at the KC after the game or spending time and money in the city will be scuppered by these clowns. The club can do something about the stewards, though they don't seem bothered by their overbearing attitudes, suggesting they are not over concerned at fans enjoyment being spoilt by them, but unfortunately can do nothing about the anti-football attitudes of the police.
If we did ever see something similar at the KC you could have a word with uncle Bob to do the catering. Sorted.
Since the council are finding it hard to part with the money to fund local swimming pools and fill in pot holes, i can't see this being a massive issue.
I'd happily do the catering. I've got a few nice new recipes for 'delicacies' shall we say. And the world famous trifle of course, now on mass production.
The council own the stadium, but it's on a 250 year lease(which is pretty much a freehold) and I believe they gifted the land around it for other things the club are building.
And, if someone was willing to fund this as has happened in Manchester the ****wits on our council would stand in their way as it wouldn't be there to benefit the really important sports to them like rugby league and darts.
This is what I dont understand. Why cant the council give AA the land on the proviso that it is always used for sporting\leisure activities. E.g. it must always site community swimming pools, tennis courts, whatever. A massive burden off the councils hands and AA gets the land for other development too.
Nobody can compare with what Manchester City have in this country. Even Old Trafford and Arsenal are dire by comparison outside. The owners wealth will have helped more than Manchester City council like. But yes credit to them for an awsome area outside. Very friendly fans as well.
