fan apathy in stadiums a concern

[dholliday]

Living in Germany I can't offer a personal opinion on this, what yous match-going blues think?

A creeping apathy spreading across Premier League grounds, long diagnosed and discussed by fans, seems to have reached the dugout and the boardroom.

What's being done at Everton:

Launch of a fan zone in the stadium, on-pitch interaction with young fans at half-time, interactive elements on the big screens and they are looking at a singing section being introduced.

Couple of comments from non-blues below the article:

It really is quite strange,

I went to Everton v Hull City recently and was quite excited by the prospect of going to an old ground with a low roof and a reputation for being noisy, as well as when they came to our place they were probably one of the best away followings of the season. On the train we met a few Everton fans who seemed quite boisterous and were singing as they left the station.

Then in the ground, absolutely no chants, nothing- not even when they scored. It was bizarre. A singing section sounds a bit sad but in reality I think it's a good idea (in conjunction with safe standing and cheaper tickets obviously!) as there are the people around who want to create an atmosphere- and do so at away games but because they are so spread out they don't make a peep all home game.

tiki-taki football is also responsible, fans go quiet when they see their team pass the ball around in their own half for 5 mins (eg quiet everton fans after martinez)

Is this really a thing? Is organised singing so bad? Many German clubs do it and they are praised for their fan atmospheres.

Were you a bit jealous at the atmospheres at away grounds? If so, which ones and what did they do better than our fans at Goodison?

In terms of our beloved younger brother, the reader comments don't let them get away with it either - there's a lot of suggestion that things were much better in the not too distant past:

Anfield's pretty shocking at the moment to be honest.

The atmosphere at Anfield is terrible for the vast majority of games just like everywhere else in England

I'd agree the old Anfield roar is just not the same

Has the derby also been affected by this apparent slump in crowd atmospheres? Or are marquee games (vs the Sky clubs) the ones that still generate that special Goodison energy? If so, then the problem is apathy when a non-Sky club is involved...not a great development considering the proud inclusive history of English football.


What say yous?

 

[bluejock]

Atmosphere began to die with the introduction of all seater stadiums, the astronomical rise in ticket prices that priced out a lot of working class supporters and was finished off by the clampdown on grock tackles above the knee.

Football has been diluted to taste so's it can be sold for massive sums of money around the world. It's not about fans that want to sing and shout any more, it's about how much can billionaires squeeze out of the viewing public.




Aways are better for singing too.

 

[Brennan]

Cena nails this discussion, it's all about pricing.

When tickets are as much as £45 per game you price out a lot of the young working class lads who are often the most boisterous and noisy.

 

[steken1]

How are the opposition players meant to hear all the abuse if everyone's singing?

 

[dholliday]

Atmosphere began to die with the introduction of all seater stadiums, the astronomical rise in ticket prices that priced out a lot of working class supporters

Aye...those two are the likeliest culprits. In extension: the players earning sums fans can only imagine if winning the lottery means there is a bigger disconnect, meaning less compulsion to dedicate songs to them.


Organised singing I'm not convinced by. I've been to some Bundesliga games, and while the singing is truly atmospheric and epic, it actually starts to dominate over the action on the pitch. As if the fans aren't there to watch football at all, they're there to communally sing and wave their scarves in sync.

Nowt wrong with that, it's all very harmless and look sgreat on the telly. But getting stuck into a football match sounds (and looks) different to me.

 

[roydo]

I dont think Sky/BT really appreciate the importance of loud, full stadiums is to their "product", and selling the PL to foreign markets, (which is where the real cash is) would suffer if the background to the matches was half filled stands. Might make the clubs do something sensible if/when the Sky money started to dry up a bit.

 

[riddick]

Atmosphere began to die with the introduction of all seater stadiums, the astronomical rise in ticket prices that priced out a lot of working class supporters and was finished off by the clampdown on grock tackles above the knee.

Football has been diluted to taste so's it can be sold for massive sums of money around the world. It's not about fans that want to sing and shout any more, it's about how much can billionaires squeeze out of the viewing public.




Aways are better for singing too.

Well said

 

[bignev23]

Ban women and kids under 7 they spoil everything.

 

[mawders]

Ban women and kids under 7 they spoil everything.

hear hear. There is Olympic football every 4 years, and women's football every week for those atmosphere killers

 

[kev101]

Cena nails this discussion, it's all about pricing.

When tickets are as much as £45 per game you price out a lot of the young working class lads who are often the most boisterous and noisy.

And because people like you shout others down, for merely suggesting that more singing would be a good thing.

 

[Quim]

Unfortunately football no longer means to me what it used to, I resent the players and game more then love it these days. I'm still a st holder and go away to watch us and love the highs, but they no longer outweigh the bad points of football. If Everton get beat it doesn't beat me up till we play again like it used to. I'll still always go as it's in me but football is no longer and never will be a game of the people.

In the last 20 years I can only think of Tim Cahill who played for Everton like I would and that is another problem.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

You can't force singing

It's an organic thing

 

[bluejock]

And because people like you shout others down, for merely suggesting that more singing would be a good thing.

More spontaneous singing would be ace.

Singing sections wouldn't.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

More spontaneous singing would be ace.

Singing sections wouldn't.

It's true that some fans do prefer to sing more than others, but I'm not for the Bundesliga approach of setting up a special section where everyone sings rehearsed stuff

Putting up a section where people can stand and then letting them sing if they want to is fine with me though

 

[TheFinnFan]