City’s fourth round replay win over League One Notts County attracted 27,276 fans to Eastlands on Sunday, with many choosing instead to stay at home and watch the game on TV.
It was the Blues’ second-lowest home crowd of the season, with only the Europa League play-off game against Romanian side FC Timisoara in August attracting fewer fans.
That was despite a positive ticketing policy from City, who reduced prices for adults to £15, with under-21s and over-65s getting in for £10 and under-16s for just £5.
According to Blues fan Dave Wallace, editor of club fanzine King Of The Kippax, a combination of cold weather, TV exposure and an awkward kick-off time kept a significant chunk of the regulars away.
“It’s a strange one, because we took more than 4,000 to Leicester in the third round and to Notts County for the original fourth round tie, so the interest in the cup is definitely there,” said Wallace.
“It’s definitely not an issue with ticket prices, because the club do their best in that respect. The standard of the opposition was a factor, and the fact the fans aren’t sure what sort of team will be put out – although it was a very strong side on Sunday.
“I know the weather would have been a factor with some too, because it wasn’t the warmest day.
“Churchgoers would have found it tricky to get to the ground in time for a 2pm Sunday kick-off as well.
“My brother is a lay preacher, and he couldn’t make it for that reason.
“And I think if you combine all of those factors with the fact that the game was on TV, you’ll get a good picture of why the crowd was down.
“But City’s fans are interested in the FA Cup. I would expect a bigger crowd against Aston Villa in the next round, and then Everton or Reading if we get through.
“And if we get to Wembley, just wait and see the clamour for tickets then!”
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Does available funds just not enter the equation!!?
I can only afford one trip a season at close to NZD 5,000 I believe I'm making the effort.
We just aren't used to being so close to the top of things so maybe a few are scared it'll self implode!!!
According to Blues fan Dave Wallace, editor of club fanzine King Of The Kippax, a combination of cold weather, TV exposure and an awkward kick-off time kept a significant chunk of the regulars away. He also forgot to mention the 30% bigger pies
The simple fact of it is that our fanbase is picking and choosing its games, based on the cost involved. A game where the ticket price is £15 equates to £30-40 over the course of the day, which to a lot of City fans is a decent wedge to fork out for a run-of-the-mill home game. WE dont have the fanbase to fill our empty seats with the "day-tripper" with floating fans, unlike certain clubs.
I personally dont get the obsession with attendances at City. It smacks of the reds running out of sticks with which to beat us. I dont think articles like this helps though. We dont need to make excuses. We won 5-0, thats what counts.
So you are admitting you are Glory Hunters?? if we get to wembley watch for the clamour of tickets?
This is 100% proof that your support is a disgrace imagine tickets at United for£15,£10,and £5?
Don't start with the 30,000 missing against Wolves we stayed away for a reason I have no shame in admitting your club do more for the fans than ours,we had to pay top dollar and also in the FA Cup,but you lot your crowds at those prices are a disgrace especially when you bleat about being the best fans in the country and Manchester is blue and this is our city etc!!!.
I await the venomous and bitter replies but before you vent your fury even my city supporting mates agree with me and they are proper blues!!!
If we go back a few seasons and over ALL clubs, we will find the FA Cup attendances at all top level clubs sinking. What crowd did Fulham get last Sunday? I'm sure I heard it was 7,000. Only at OT with a forced ticket buying policy do we find this trend bucked. I'm afraid this competition has been demoted to a minor one now. It doesn't help when clubs openly play weakened teams to try out younger, unknown players. A trend started by Wenger, followed soon after by another club which half shares our name. The prize for winning the thing is a place in the Europa League. So what? A club can finnish seventh in the Premier League and still qualify for the same competition. If the Cup is to regain it's glory, a better reward has to be offered. Maybe a wildcard entry into the Champions League qualifying round...
And I guess all the reds on here are currently posting from Marseille.......
Thought not.
The weekend before last, one of my fellow man city fans was involved in a horrific car crash. He survived the crash but sadly his wife and 12 year old daughter died. and his son is fighting for his life. Just dont think its appropriate to go to a match after such a massive loss.
Puts things into perspective.
Reddish Hugh
i think its shocking, and whats really annoying is if we do get to wembley tickets would sell out straight away, i think that everyone who has actually bothered turning up to these games should get priority to the tickets to wembley, just because a game is on tele doesnt mean fans shouldnt go, tickets are really cheap!!
Our fanbase is nowhere near as big as the rags locally or countrywide. When their regulars stay away they have plenty of 'fans' to replace them, we dont........... Its as simple as that.
TOP & BOTTOM of it is that there are 3 major domestic TROPHIES dished out at the end of each and every English Season, all of which (Trophies) are competed for on an equal level. Okay of late (years) due to TV finance directly related to progress in European competition largely, the big hitters (TOP4) have tended to "rest" players for certain Cup games with a view that the chosen 11 will still suffice to enable their club to progress through to the next round by beating what's put in front of them (opposition). In my eyes (40yr old LIFER Season Ticket holder at CITY), I don't see any problem in that theory whatsoever as it's: A) Potentially giving the "lesser" opponents a more-even chance of competing on a level and, who knows, getting a Cup Shock scalp in the bargain, and B) (crucially) giving the paying fans a more interesting and competitive game - the very reasons behind the FA CUP being historically known as the Biggest Cup Comp. in World Football, allowing BIG, Medium & small sides to compete on an equal level.
Can only speak for myself as a TRUE BLUE that attends ALL home games at CITY, but regardless of our new found wealth invested on the pitch, more attractive football, and a higher competition for squad/team places, it is a FACT that we're (CITY) still TrophyLess since 1976 and I don't give 2 hoots about how much dosh is being taken into the club by TV money for reaching the TOP4 (Champs Lge) as long as we don't miss out (on TOP4) which (crucially) is a BIGGER pull in attracting players to us than the money (wages) itself, as due to our new found wealth that's there anyway but the attraction in addition to BIG wages is obviously TOP4 / competing in Champs Lge as far as the World's TOP players are concerned - understandable.
However, THE F.A.CUP IS HERE TO STAY & FACT IS (as I've stated above) THERE ARE ONLY 3 x (domestic) TROPHIES DISHED OUT EVERY SEASON - ALL 3 ARE NO MORE OR LESS ATTRACTIVE THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN. THE FANS JUST WANT TO WIN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN & CAP IT OFF WITH WINNING A TROPHY !
FOR FAR TOO LONG NOW THE Media Driven HYPERBOWL HAS BRAINWASHED THE MODERN (& indeed some older/more experienced fans) FAN INTO DOWNGRADING THE TROPHY FOR WHAT REASON ? (and don't come up with the "big sides are dropping the big names for certain ties" drivel - as the ultimate goal of ANY fan, player, club, is to WIN any Trophy they're competing for end-of).
ALL WE (CITY FANS) WANT IS TOP4 & a TROPHY (ANY) THIS SEASON AS PAYBACK FOR OUR LOYALTY IN SUPPORT, VOICE, & NUMBERS OVER THE YEARS OF THIN & THINNER TIMES !
Crowds are NOT as low as the press make out in the FA CUP when you look back on history. The ONLY reason AFC, CFC, & MUFC are virtually selling-out early AND later Round games within FA CUP is due to a forced Purchasing/Ticketing policy in line with Season Ticket Holders (no purchase (for additional Cup games) then NO Season Ticket (give us your VISA / BANK account number)) - something I sincerely hope doesn't become the norm at Eastlands, although I fear it will be slowly but surely introducted with increased success.
COME ON CITY - LET'S WIN THE FA CUP (or ANY Cup for that matter) - 35 YEARS IS FAR TOO LONG FOR A CLUB OF OUR SIZE (FANBASE & STATURE) !
Hope these stay away fans can't get tickets for semi finals or finals if we get there...best team we have had in 35 years and half can't be bothered despite concessions...we used to be the best fans in the country..would hardly say that now.If you want to get behind the team and cheer us to a cup final turn up not sit in the pub watching it on tv spending the same price on beer than a ticket.
How's about moving the fixtures to the summer when the weather's warmer....and having kick off earlier on a Sunday so all of the lay preachers can get to the game...imagine,20,000 lay preachers doin the "poznan"!!
I heard the reason for the low attendance was because someone has stolen the salt and pepper from the hot dog stand!
I heard the reason for the low attendance was because someone has stolen the salt and pepper from the hot dog stand!