I love it behind the goal when it's all happening at your end, but when it's happening at the other end of the pitch it's pretty crap!
I'm currently in the South Stand, I wouldnt object to a move to the North stand if I could help with the atmosphere! I try and do my bit in the South but look like a twat most of the time!
E3 here....do i want to move ? not really. but if everyone else did then i would as well.... dont want to be left stood on my own in silence.... best idea for me would be for everyone in the east stand to make as much noise as possible...
A couple of points on the atmosphere at the KC. Firstly, the east stand is relatively long and narrow, it has an open back (where the roof meets the seating) and is also open at both ends (because the stadium is a bowl). This makes it practically impossible to generate an intense atmosphere you can get at the old fashioned grounds, particularly in 'kop ends' where stands are taller, infilled at ends and low roofs. Also, because the stand is down the touchline, often fans in the same stand are not even singing the same chant or in sync. Secondly, fans that blame the west standers for poor atmosphere need a reality check. Most of the bottom tier is made up of Directors Box, Executives, Corporates etc. The upper tier is probably too high to get involved in chanting in the current stadium design. There should be enough fans in East, South & sometimes North to generate a decent atmosphere at KC, but I think a lot of the times this season it just seems the fans can't be bothered. Anyway, I think the North Stand for home fans would improve things because it would eliminate some of the east stand problems above. Also, for accoustics the back of the stand has the scoreboard and police box which fills in the gaps under the roof - one reason why away fans can be louder than city fans. If the capacity is increased at the stadium I would hope Pearson would look at creating a Single tier 'kop end' style North stand.
The reason why so many fans moved from the South Stand to Kempton was because the stand was conducive to making a lot of noise. Nobody seemed to consider a football atmosphere when they designed the KC. If they want atmosphere then they will have to dramatically mess with the look of the stadium.
We just need the crowd to be like that night when we beat Watford 4-1 in the playoffs. Now that was atmosphere..
I reckon ther'll be enough migrate out of the East / West to get the good seats behind the goal. This should carry enough to fill in the majority of the stand. Those displaced from the West will have no option but to move east or north. The risk is that the guys who make a bit of noise get spread too thin round the stadium and we end up with a South stand atmosphere in the East and North? Only time will tell. I say give it a go, we can always move back. PS We spent one season in upper west, the fans up there were almost dead in thier seats, many didn't know what they were watching and I'm sure a few were out of breath from the walk up Back in E5, much happier but still too many old guys who have seen it all before and cant get a hard on any more
I think it is best to stop this before certain members start moaning about this supposed to be a football forum LOL
"still too many old guys who have seen it all before and cant get a hard on any more" Steady on - we just prefer to choose our moments.
I will move for a free beer per game for the first season to get our 'kop' up and running. I would actually move for free but that could be a good incentive for rest of east standers. Oh and providing we can stand and the stewards be relaxed on that rule.
I'm in E4 too, and there's no way I'd swap that view for one behind the goals. I just can't get used to watching football from behind a goal. Though while there's not much atmosphere, I'll not be impressed if the east stand becomes as quiet as the west.
Any away following is by and large going to be noisy because these are usually the hard core who follow their team home and away, and away from home you want to stamp your mark on opponents territory. Whereas since the introduction of all seater stadiums the home sides fans are usually dispersed around the ground and very rarely make a lot of noise. I have noticed this following City home and away for a few seasons and how easy it is for a thousand City fans to out sing the home fans. Its the same at the KC, but when the East Stand gets into full volume, which sadly is not too often in my view, I doubt if there are a noisier set of fans anywhere.
I,m in E3, and I wouldnt want to move, I,m happy there, also got to know the people around me over the years, and we have some good banter between ourselves. Plus I like to watch football veiwed from the side and not behind a goal.
