I was hoping it might rub off and other people might have, you know, courage of their convictions n' that. Instead they choose to continue lining the pockets of the owners but then be really mean to them on messageboards. That'll learn 'em.
There are many reasons why people walked away. How many pass-holders in the Upper West walked away because they took their kids and couldn't afford to pay the extra. Will those pensioners who walked away because of the removal of concessions pay the extra and return if all the Upper West is open? Did you get the figures for how much the club hoped to save from the closure of half the Upper West when you met James Mooney? If so you may like to pass them on.
They'd have to re-open it to find out, but it was generally an older demographic up there and most of those walking away were citing losing their seat as the reason, rather than the cost implications. Closing the West Upper was only going to save money if it didn't open at all, which was only ever the plan if we stayed in the Championship and couldn't fill it, closing only half of it has saved pretty much **** all, as it still has to be stewarded and concourse bars still have to be open (even if it's not all of them). There is absolutely no reason to not try and get the West Upper fans back in their seats, other than Ehab refusing to accept that he was wrong about moving the away fans up there. He puts his own pride ahead of common sense and generating revenue for the club, it's rank stupidity.
Hull City Fan View: Takeover cannot be completed soon enough as fan apathy starts to seep in The hopes of the Hull City faithful were lifted once again this week as reports emerged of Chinese consortium Greater China Professional Services Limited tabling a £130m offer to buy the club which would finally bring an end to the Allam era. Two promotions to the Premier League, a first FA Cup Final, and a brief, but highly enjoyable, first taste of European Football - In what has been, relatively speaking, such a successful period for the club, how has it got to a stage where the fans cannot wait for the Allams to leave Hull City AFC for good? I have written this blog, or one very similar, a thousand times over, but never for a readership which will consist primarily of fans of different clubs. It’s easy for fans of other clubs, and even different sports all together, to not understand what all the fuss is about. “You are a fan of a Premier League Club, a member of the elite, one of best 20 clubs in England, what do you have to moan about?” It’s a fair point, and to a certain extent I would agree. It feels almost churlish to feel disenchanted as a fan of a Premier League club, especially when there are fans of 72 other Football League clubs who would kill to be in our position, but this is what the Allam’s ownership has done to the club. As I mentioned in my last blog after Saturday’s defeat to Watford, in my lifetime as a City fan I have watched my beloved club battle for its very survival at the foot of the Football League, playing some truly terrible football, but I wouldn’t swap any of those experiences for the World. However, now, in our fifth Premier League campaign, I feel frustrated, angry, and most heart-breaking of all, apathetic towards my hometown club. I am not alone. Somewhere along the line the family atmosphere that has kept this club going in its darkest days appears to be dying, and ironically the reason for this is a set of owners who, in their own words, ‘saved the club’ just six years ago. It’s hard to even know where to start? The sacking of Nick Barmby, three, yes three, failed attempts to change our 112-year-old name from Hull City Association Football Club to the NFL Franchise-esque Hull Tigers, countless insults towards the fans (simply Google ‘The fans can die why they want’ and ‘Only football hooligans are opposed to change’), and allowing arguably the greatest manager in our history to simply resign after feeling unable to continue working under Ehab Allam. You couldn’t make this stuff up. However, even for the so-called pro-Allam brigade, the straw that broke the camel’s back came at the start of this season when the now infamous ‘Membership Scheme’ replaced the traditional season ticket system, which has abolished all forms of concession ticketing at the KCOM. The Hull City faithful have had enough of being treated like customers rather than the life and soul which has kept this Club going through its darkest days, and this is what I want fans of other clubs to understand. The levels of disenchantment, apathy and frustration have hit such levels that our average attendance is now three thousand fans lower than it was in the third tier of English football just over ten years ago. This is an absolute scandal, and once again begs the question I have discussed in my blogs many times: Would loyal Hull City fans be happier back in League 2, without two pennies to rub together, but rid of soulless, corporate ownership. I’m starting to think so - at least then there would be a feeling of excitement every Saturday rather than one of apathy or resentment. So could a takeover solve these problems? Well, in an interesting twist of fate, reports suggest that former Hull City chairman and fans favourite Adam Pearson is involved with Greater China Professional Services Limited’s proposed takeover. ‘Sir Adam’, as his is affectionately known in Hull, would almost certainly be lined up as the club’s new acting chairman/CEO figure if this takeover were to go through, presumably winning a large proportion of fans back immediately. However, for any new owners who want to get the support base back onside, an immediate inquiry into the Allam’s membership scheme and removal of concession tickets must be a priority, along with more obvious priorities such as heavier investment into the squad to keep Hull City in the Premier League. Of course, at this moment in time this is all just wishful thinking. After famously stating almost two years ago, “I’m a simple man. Do they want me to stay? If it’s ‘No thank you’, fine, in 24 hours the club is for sale…”, Dr Allam has refused to sell the Hull City despite a number of offers exceeding the Allam family’s original valuation of the club. Hull City fans know, to put no finer point on it, that the Allams like to play games. However, for the sake of the continued support of thousands of Hull City fans everywhere I am praying this latest report is accurate and that a takeover, preferably headed by Adam Pearson, finally happens. The Allam family claimed to have saved the club when they took control in 2010, and in terms of finances they did just that. However, in order to save the club again, this time from somewhat of an identity crisis caused by two years of civil war between the fans and the ownership, they must sell the club before it is too late. https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/hull-city-fan-view-takeover-cannot-be-completed-211019171.html
A biggie for me was not using the domestic loan market like every other low to mid table side does to good effect.
Any saving from closing the West Upper would be insignificant in relation to our total income when you bear in mind total gate receipts make up probably less than 5% of total income They would be better placed with a pricing structure that fills the stadium & enhances their chances of making money rather than concentrating on what they can save.
Ah yes the Upper West debacle. Chapter 34 of 122 in the book of "How the Allams Completely ****ed Up Hull City" Would be a nice stocking filler for Xmas except they don't make stockings big enough...
If they are staying they would be better placed sitting down with representatives of supporters of Hull City and trying to sort out the mess they have made of running the club. The £100 million TV money has more or less been accounted for already, £20 to the banks, £60 million to the players, £5 million to the SMC and £8 to £9 million in transfer fees. Depending on how much was paid up front.
Chien Lee @NewCityCapital I love our fans. Thank you for the support! please log in to view this image An owner who loves the fans, what a refreshing change that would make.
Most who walked away just finally got worn down. Firstly name change, then concessions farse and finally the movement from Upper West. All of those things effected me and the three who came with me, at the moment with no plans to return. It stopped being enjoyable, more arguments than pleasure. A few things would have to change before we returned. Fair play to those who still go, but everyone has a breaking point.
Likewise Its a start and a stand something which isnt happening at the moment People just look for excuses to still go "ooooh it wont affect them " course it ****ing will More and more will question why our grounds empty, more and more media coverage on why, more and more bad publicity for the allams, it creates embaressment if their morals are questioned leading to pressure to hurry up and sell The pawltry lost revenue is just principle why would you put a pound in there pockets? Do you the players really care? Theyd play in an empty margerine tub if they still got there 40k a week, all they care about is if there contracts secure for the next year or so Are any supporters trusts planning anything? If you are going still at least protest!!!!!!! Since you have great excuses for still attending what excuses do you have for not constantly protesting in the ground? Our fans have the passion of a wet sock at the minute
I'm not saying any of that & I've no idea how you managed to summise that that was what I was suggesting. Gate receipts make up probably less than 5% of total income. Any supposed saving they are making by closing part of Upper West is insignificant. I believe by closing it & continuing with their proposterius Membership Scheme they are purposely denying the club additional income, albeit an insignificant amount. Their main driver in this matter isn't increased income, it's already been ascertained that the amounts involved are insignificant, but denying supporters the opportunity to attend games. They'll be getting a self satisfying kick out of people staying away, missing PL football & missing their Saturday afternoon buzz. The empty seats are their drive, if they wanted arses on seats then all seats would have an arse in it. Make the tickets £10, £5, it should be like breathing air, free of charge. Unfortunately for men who repeatedly declare their honesty, integrity & principle to the world they have no respect for other people's honesty, integrity & principles. Each one of those empty seats tells a story, an individual story of a supporter's non attendance. Be it the name change, the lies, the deceit, the cost, the threats, lack of concessions, the re-homing service, the continued Hull Tigers soap opera, the list rumbles on & on. Many differing reasons but most have two things in common & they're both ****s. The pair of spiteful ****s will continue to run down small parts of the club's finances if they think the supporters are suffering because of it. Let them carry on, **** 'em.
The main driver is money and cutting costs. They don't understand why there is so much antagonism towards them after what they've done and see no reason why they should accommodate our views, especially if it costs them money. They want their money back and like Bartlett before them they have found that getting promoted and staying in the Premier League is very expensive and something they can no longer afford, at least in my opinion. They cannot control the players' wage bill so they concentrate on the things they can control, other staff costs, ticket pricing and stewarding. So the vicious circle continues. Eventually it will end. They will sell up whilst we're a Premier League club, we could be relegated and become the next Blackpool or we could try and ignore our differences and see if we can turn the situation around. If they are staying sitting down and talking is in the best interests of the Allams, the supporters and Hull City AFC. It is also the least likely to happen in my view.
