Our initial member survey went out in April as we looked for answers on what people were most concerned about at City and what you wanted the Trust to focus on. The responses are shaping our public stances and will feed into future campaigning.
What are our members’ priorities?
The initial results were as follows:
- Ticket policies – 88%
- Ticket pricing – 59%
- Ticket availability – 51%
- Atmosphere – 48%
- Transport – 40%
- North stand expansion – 38%
- Stewarding – 33%
- Catering – 27%
Comments from members
Our members also left a range of comments adding more detail to their concerns:
On the 10-game rule / attendance limits
“I am due surgery in the next month and I have no idea if I will be given dispensation for the last couple of games and if this will mean we both will have our season tickets taken away for next season. It really truly shouldn’t be like this.” – #73
“My son’s are 4 and 5, unrealistic to attend 35 matches as paying supporters. I’ve raised this with City Matters but no reply. This for me isn’t a fair policy.” – #36
*”The 10 game policy is a real killer for my wife and I. Travelling from Scotland for each game is what we want and chose to do but there is little recognition of the impact of illness/poor weather/midweek games and changing kick off times/holidays/withdrawal of club car parking.”*
– #73
“Not enough weekend home fixtures. I have to take annual leave to attend mid week games which makes hitting the 10 game ST limit difficult.” – #194
“As a rostered worker, a long haul pilot… when matches are rearranged with only 4 weeks notice it is not possible for me to rearrange my roster! Any moved matches should count as 1 of the 10.” – #284
On transfer restrictions / inability to share tickets
“We all know that one of the main issues this season has been not being able to send tickets to friends and family. The club want those tickets back so they can sell on ticket selling websites for 4 times the price. There is no flexibility on any last minute issues. Tone deaf the club has become.” – #24
“The inability to transfer your season ticket is a joke.” – #39
“Not happy not being able to give my ticket to another season ticket holder so they can take someone else, if I can’t attend.” – #60
“I haven’t lived in Manchester for 35 years travelling from South Yorkshire to every home game. With work commitments and family there are matches I have to miss, so the ticket transfer restrictions are frustrating. There are so many blues I would like to transfer my ticket to, but I’m unable to.” – #112
“Ticket transfer (eg Man City tickets). We should be able to swap between ourselves. It is ridiculous that we can put on resale but not sell at face value to friends.” – #135
“Sick of the club trying to push out legacy fans. They need to drop their association with the 9 different touting sites. It’s ok for them to do but if you dare to offer your ticket to a mate they are coming after you.” – #192
“Ticket transfer policy needs highlighting as specific issue, particularly lack of flexibility in transferring to additional people.” – #166
Working class roots being abandoned
“The club’s disregard of legacy supporters and their obvious high regard of one game ‘tourist’ fans.” – #309
“I’ve stopped going champions league now, because I’m surrounded by nobody I know, and definitely nobody with an SK or M postcode! We don’t seem interested in doing something special for the local fans.” – #68
“It seems now that those fans they craved are an irrelevant irritation to the ownership.” – #174
“A complete and total lack of understanding of the importance of local fans. The diminishing amount of real season tickets (not flexi gold), too many corporate seats that for most games are not filled/only part filled for games.” – #295
“The club have lost sight of the benefits of atmosphere, of a fan base that is supportive of both the team and the club, and has ultimately eroded fan culture.” – #235
“Season ticket holders being unwelcome and unwanted.” – #235
“We need to make sure the club understand that there is still fan power.” – #24
“Ensuring the club do not devalue, diminish or price out the core local support on which the club once heavily relied. And on which the club may one day find themselves heavily relying again to fill the stadium, if the success we currently enjoy disappears post-pep.” – #105
“Something that has a knock-on effect to many of the issues… is that it seems the club do not know (or care) what it is to be a traditional, match-going fan. They are alienating many existing fans.” – #300
Forgetting future generations / young fans
“We’ve already priced out a generation, what do we do to tangibly re-capture lost young match attending support.” – #46
“I’m worried that in the future, my own children won’t be able to attend a game at City let alone have a season ticket of their own.” – #172
“Supporting the next generation of Blues and ensuring we are welcoming in young supporters. Are we doing enough to help young families/single parents etc get to games?” – #61
“Attracting families with children who’ll be the future supporters at sensible prices.” – #133
“The club need to do more to give young local fans a chance to attend games. Both in terms of availability and affordability.” – #199
“I can get a season ticket but my dad can’t and I can’t go without my dad so it’s a bit pointless so I feel you should make the amount of games you have to go to to get a season ticket lower for adults or similar numbers so it’s easier for family’s to get season tickets.” – #273 (Written by a younger fan)
Want to have your say?
We are a democratic, member-led organisation committed to representing our members and City supporters as a whole. If you want to have your say, join The Citizens Trust today and get involved – we can only act on the information and input we are given!
