New Stadium Plans - The Triangle - Planning

[Osei Yaw]

Promoting a singing section is a separate issue than unrestricted seating. I'd hope that a block or two is set aside as 'singing section' from the outset so like-minded people can go there. That doesn't mean you don't allocate tickets to seats/standing places.

Yeah I agree that setting the space aside for the singers from the outset is key - no good trying to do it when people have bought season tickets and then don't want to move. My understanding was that the singing section was most likely going to be where that safe standing spot is, and the type of people who would end up there are those who would probably appreciate a chance to have a few drinks beforehand before then making their way into an unreserved bit about 5 minutes before the game starts, so unlikely the types that want to be there for an hour before the game to reserve a spot.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Promoting a singing section is a separate issue than unrestricted seating. I'd hope that a block or two is set aside as 'singing section' from the outset so like-minded people can go there. That doesn't mean you don't allocate tickets to seats/standing places.

The problem with this is that you'll get people wanting to be 'in the atmosphere' without any intention of creating or helping it.

An unallocated section allows for a little more flexibility in terms of exactly where singers can congregate (within certain blocks), it means that if a few more mates want to go to certain games they can (and still be in that area), and ultimately it should be (as evidenced by this thread, and the Maidenhead one) enough to put off those who want their allocated seat from sitting in this area (and who I'd wager won't be those creating the atmosphere anyway).

For the record, I'll be choosing an allocated seat in whatever will be the equivalent of the SSU, but I certianly won't begrudge an unrestricted area for 'the atmosphere'. That seems entirely sensible.

 

[Scrongo]

should be singing & cheering your team on ,from all around the ground...

 

[Scrongo]

no matter where I'm sat , I would not be bothered by somebody singing & cheering & encouraging their team on to victory.
I'm afraid that's what is missing at the K***m.
Don't blame not having a 4 stand , I blame the fans for not trying....

 

[BeechRoadBokelberg]

no matter where I'm sat , I would not be bothered by somebody singing & cheering & encouraging their team on to victory.
I'm afraid that's what is missing at the K***m.
Don't blame not having a 4 stand , I blame the fans for not trying....

'Where arrrrrrre youuuuu, let's be avvvvvvin youuuuu!'

 

[Scrongo]

'Where arrrrrrre youuuuu, let's be avvvvvvin youuuuu!'

hahaha , serious though i was sat in the South stand Saturday
there was no encouragement, no singing , no cheering, it was like a morgue.
you wouldn't of thought we were top of the league, far from it.
if that was the old manor the place would of been rocking...

 

[OUFCwaffle]

hahaha , serious though i was sat in the South stand Saturday
there was no encouragement, no singing , no cheering, it was like a morgue.
you wouldn't of thought we were top of the league, far from it.
if that was the old manor the place would of been rocking...

It does baffle me people who insist on sitting in the central blocks of the east stand but never open their mouths.

 

[OUFCwaffle]

I spoke to the AFL rep at the event about the exact same thing regarding possibly moving the hotel rooms that are behind the home fans in the North stand to the west stand. His response was that it wasn't possible to add hotel rooms above the clubbs part of the stadium as there needed to be a vertical separation between the two. But who knows, things could possibly change.

If I were to choose between better atmosphere and increased hotel capacity I would chose the former. If it's not possible to move the top floor hotel rooms then just get rid of them and lower the roof there. Does it really need to have as many rooms as it shows so far? It's a football stadium first and foremost.

 

[Scotchegg]

If I were to choose between better atmosphere and increased hotel capacity I would chose the former. If it's not possible to move the top floor hotel rooms then just get rid of them and lower the roof there. Does it really need to have as many rooms as it shows so far? It's a football stadium first and foremost.

It's also costing £100m and needs to create revenue all year round to be viable.

 

[Yellow River]

Clearly the club are going to need to organise auditions for the singing/unrestricted/ safe standing area.

If you don’t know the tune and words to ‘Yellows, Yellows, Yellows’ then I’m afraid you’ll have to go away and learn the words before reapplying.

 

[Oslernorth]

What is there to like about it? You can't sell the full allocation, it prevents sitting/standing in the same spot with the same people week after week. You'd actually be encouraging people to just stand there early if they want a spot instead of spending money in the concourse / bar areas. It's absolutely tinpot, might as well go back to the Conference.

I can’t see too much of a problem if it’s just one designated area of un-allocated seating, with the vast majority of the ground retaining allocated seat as normal. This works very well at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where one section of the ground behind the goal has safe standing.

Essentially you get the choice of either.

 

[Marked Ox]

hahaha , serious though i was sat in the South stand Saturday
there was no encouragement, no singing , no cheering, it was like a morgue.
you wouldn't of thought we were top of the league, far from it.
if that was the old manor the place would of been rocking...

You never went in the Osler Road then.

 

[WuTang]

Trying to grow the Ultras group and improving home atmospheres is something I have done to death with the football club over many many years. I could write an entire essay on what works and what's a complete waste of time etc.

I don't have time today to go in depth on here about it but the easiest and best thing you can do for atmosphere is create an unallocated seating section at 10% lower capacity.

The singers can group together, you can naturally grow the singing group as years go on.

If I said we're bringing the Ultras back and need 100 people to "sit" together, we aren't buying 100 tickets in a row or across multiple rows game after game.

If the area behind the goal had this I would be tempted to buy a season ticket in there, however looking at plans and locations for away fans I would be encouraging singers to congregate behind the opposite goal alongside the away fans, identical to Derby. The proximity to away fans will ramp up the atmosphere and would be far more enjoyable than sitting at the opposite end in front of a hotel miles away from the roof.

 

[OUFCGav]

Looking further, the licensing body (Sports Grounds Safety Authority) has said (amongst other things - see linked doc):

• Any infrastructure must comply with the appropriate SGSA guidance.
• Licensed standing areas must be made available to both home and visiting supporters
• Each seat/space must be allocated to only one spectator
• Each seat and seat row must be clearly identifiable
• All clubs should develop a ticket sales strategy that accommodates home and visiting spectators who do not wish to or cannot, stand, including ambulant disabled people and families with small children. Close co-operation with the visiting club will be required when selling the visiting clubs ticket allocation.

https://sgsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Licensed-standing-criteria-October-2022.pdf

 

[OUFCwaffle]

Trying to grow the Ultras group and improving home atmospheres is something I have done to death with the football club over many many years. I could write an entire essay on what works and what's a complete waste of time etc.

I don't have time today to go in depth on here about it but the easiest and best thing you can do for atmosphere is create an unallocated seating section at 10% lower capacity.

The singers can group together, you can naturally grow the singing group as years go on.

If I said we're bringing the Ultras back and need 100 people to "sit" together, we aren't buying 100 tickets in a row or across multiple rows game after game.

If the area behind the goal had this I would be tempted to buy a season ticket in there, however looking at plans and locations for away fans I would be encouraging singers to congregate behind the opposite goal alongside the away fans, identical to Derby. The proximity to away fans will ramp up the atmosphere and would be far more enjoyable than sitting at the opposite end in front of a hotel miles away from the roof.

Agreed. People can buy season tickets for unallocated areas and just go wherever the feel like. Just need stewards checking people have the right tickets so not too many are cramming into the area.

Ultimately people will go wherever if the option is not there so just make it easy for people. Seems to work just fine for away games, granted it's never technically unallocated but just known by all.

Still hoping for an Ultras reunion. The 'fanatics' seem to have disappeared lately.

 

[Foley]

You never went in the Osler Road then.

Or the beach road!
Generally the singing at the Manor was from the London Road. It was fantastic when we were doing well ( and those in other stands joined in)
In the last season at the Manor the atmosphere was pretty awful ( but the team were awful)

 

[Scrongo]

It does baffle me people who insist on sitting in the central blocks of the east stand but never open their mouths.

Yes your right, I observed that on Saturday
most of the singing from the right & left of the East stand & hardly any from the middle .Strange??
Traditionally it is smack bang behind the goal in the middle that the vocalist fans congregated , up & down every ground in the land..

 

[Scrongo]

Clearly the club are going to need to organise auditions for the singing/unrestricted/ safe standing area.

If you don’t know the tune and words to ‘Yellows, Yellows, Yellows’ then I’m afraid you’ll have to go away and learn the words before reapplying.

What hell has happened to Come On Oxford, sounds like it's been put on 75 rpm why so fast ???

 

[MJB]

Trying to grow the Ultras group and improving home atmospheres is something I have done to death with the football club over many many years. I could write an entire essay on what works and what's a complete waste of time etc.

I don't have time today to go in depth on here about it but the easiest and best thing you can do for atmosphere is create an unallocated seating section at 10% lower capacity.

The singers can group together, you can naturally grow the singing group as years go on.

If I said we're bringing the Ultras back and need 100 people to "sit" together, we aren't buying 100 tickets in a row or across multiple rows game after game.

If the area behind the goal had this I would be tempted to buy a season ticket in there, however looking at plans and locations for away fans I would be encouraging singers to congregate behind the opposite goal alongside the away fans, identical to Derby. The proximity to away fans will ramp up the atmosphere and would be far more enjoyable than sitting at the opposite end in front of a hotel miles away from the roof.

The club would do well to learn from the mistakes it made with the Ultras under a previous regime.

They could learn what would make a genuine difference and also help to engage with a vital part of the matchday experience for all.

 

[Scrongo]

You never went in the Osler Road then.

hahaha I did , wasn't anywhere in that ground I' haven't sat or stood.
The most miserable was Beech rd seats, & the Manor Club Seats above the old changing rooms.
The thing is though ,when we were top of the league or big cup games,every part of the ground got involved,.