Match Atmosphere

[brummie]

1 minute ago, bobbydazzla said:

I think overall the ballot has had a negative effect compared to last season, but mainly down to the auto-allocated seating and people not being able to congregate in areas where it's acceptable to be stood up and loud

 

 

Couple of (genuine) questions - you buy a seat and they just allocate you one where they fancy it? How on earth does that work? That sounds weird.

 

Also re singing areas, does SJP still have the Gallowgate in the sense it did in the 80s, or pre all-seater? I mean, is that still your 'singing and standing' end?

 

The Holte is still ours, but also the lower north stand, in both of which everyone stands, but I can't see how something like auto allocation would ever work with that sort of set up - I never go in the Holte any more because I'm not up for standing and/or singing for 90 minutes any more, and I wouldn't go in our lower North stand for the same reasons (and also that I am not up for pointing at and shouting at away fans, either).

 

I know standing is not supposed to happen, but it's obviously tacitly accepted everywhere, but only in certain places. I can't imagine getting allocated a ticket behind thousands of people who are all stood up.

[LFEE]

Very surprised to the criticism of the atmosphere as I thought it was fine in the Gallowgate. The team were urged on whilst behind and cheered off for their efforts. Goals change games and they also change atmospheres and we didn’t score yesterday.

 

I do think some of you are a bit unrealistic with your expectations at times in search of some atmospheric narnia. Yes things can be done to improve this over time (choose your seat, new stadium, increased standing areas) but as it stands we’ve still got one of the best atmospheres going. Wether that’s a low bar these days I don’t know.

 

 

 

[HaydnNUFC]

2 minutes ago, Bada Bing said:

Not being able to select a seat is a complete joke, it puts me off even bothering to be honest. It can't be right when you feel isolated and almost like a stranger going to a ground you've been to many many times.

 

 

 

 

Posted this a few times now I think but there's a row of seats in the East Stand; a mate of my dad's, my old seat, my dad, another mate of my dad's, mate of mine.

 

I was buying my old seat all of last season and the season before. I'll likely never get it again, whereas others are winning it in the ballot, sitting there and have been deadpan silent. There was a young lass there last night who left at HT. There was a student on his phone for most of the game there against Palace. While I'm fucking desperate to get in for any/every game and am sitting in seats I never would in years gone by. Understand this is a bit selfish but it's fucking shite.

[Wandy]

3 minutes ago, brummie said:

 

Couple of (genuine) questions - you buy a seat and they just allocate you one where they fancy it? How on earth does that work? That sounds weird.

 

Also re singing areas, does SJP still have the Gallowgate in the sense it did in the 80s, or pre all-seater? I mean, is that still your 'singing and standing' end?

 

The Holte is still ours, but also the lower north stand, in both of which everyone stands, but I can't see how something like auto allocation would ever work with that sort of set up - I never go in the Holte any more because I'm not up for standing and/or singing for 90 minutes any more, and I wouldn't go in our lower North stand for the same reasons (and also that I am not up for pointing at and shouting at away fans, either).

 

I know standing is not supposed to happen, but it's obviously tacitly accepted everywhere, but only in certain places. I can't imagine getting allocated a ticket behind thousands of people who are all stood up.

 

Yep. Ridiculous isn't it?.

 

The Gallowgate is still the "Kop" end but it's nowhere near as good as it was in the 90s.

[bobbydazzla]

12 minutes ago, brummie said:

 

Couple of (genuine) questions - you buy a seat and they just allocate you one where they fancy it? How on earth does that work? That sounds weird.

 

Also re singing areas, does SJP still have the Gallowgate in the sense it did in the 80s, or pre all-seater? I mean, is that still your 'singing and standing' end?

 

The Holte is still ours, but also the lower north stand, in both of which everyone stands, but I can't see how something like auto allocation would ever work with that sort of set up - I never go in the Holte any more because I'm not up for standing and/or singing for 90 minutes any more, and I wouldn't go in our lower North stand for the same reasons (and also that I am not up for pointing at and shouting at away fans, either).

 

I know standing is not supposed to happen, but it's obviously tacitly accepted everywhere, but only in certain places. I can't imagine getting allocated a ticket behind thousands of people who are all stood up.

 

Yep, apply for a ballot and there's 4 price points to choose from. They can then can put you anywhere in the ground related to your chosen price, you have no say on which stand or block. It's absolutely dogshit.

 

We had an official singing section in the Leazes end around 15 years ago and it was great, but Ashley forced it to disband as we sang nasty songs about him.

 

Since then the unofficial singing section is in the Gallowgate and part of that section got converted to safe standing over the summer. The "unnoficial" standing sections adjacent have had letters from the club telling them to sit down or be banned

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by bobbydazzla

[brummie]

Christ, that's shit. And it's purely about commercialism because it's hard to sell single seats.

 

My biggest gripe in football ATM is that the prices are 50 or 60 quid a ticket, yet the actual service (not the on-pitch, i mean the rest) you get is still not reflecting those prices.

 

Them telling you where you'll sit is a great example of it, you're paying big money, but you'll sit where they want you to.

 

We have had our own version of this this season - they've created two 'premium' areas in the Holte end, one which is new and has been carved out of existing food / drink space and costs 40 quid or so a match to go in, and another which is under the Holte and was previously free to ST holders to use, but is now an 'all you can eat and drink' place for 60 quid - and that's on top of your ticket price, but if you want a ticket and the food, they keep 1000 seats not on general sale but reserved for these 60 quid people, which is fucking annoying, but more so because elsewhere in the ground you can be paying over 60 quid for your ticket but with even shitter refreshment options than before.

[Bada Bing]

1 minute ago, HaydnNUFC said:

 

Posted this a few times now I think but there's a row of seats in the East Stand; a mate of my dad's, my old seat, my dad, another mate of my dad's, mate of mine.

 

I was buying my old seat all of last season and the season before. I'll likely never get it again, whereas others are winning it in the ballot, sitting there and have been deadpan silent. There was a young lass there last night who left at HT. There was a student on his phone for most of the game there against Palace. While I'm fucking desperate to get in for any/every game and am sitting in seats I never would in years gone by. Understand this is a bit selfish but it's fucking shite.

 

Enjoying the match with your mates and family is a big part of what its all about ultimately. Even if you go alone, everyone has a part of the ground they feel most comfortable in, and its reassuring to see familiar faces. Being atomised doesn't create the same sense of belonging. That said, it doesn't explain the atmosphere situation completely.

[HaydnNUFC]

1 minute ago, Bada Bing said:

 

Enjoying the match with your mates and family is a big part of what its all about ultimately. Even if you go alone, everyone has a part of the ground they feel most comfortable in, and its reassuring to see familiar faces. Being atomised doesn't create the same sense of belonging. That said, it doesn't explain the atmosphere situation completely.

 

I think last night it was a case of expecting to beat Dortmund; they had 1 point, were yet to score and hadn't won in England for 7 and a half years. I felt it went flat after 20 minutes; it took a similar pattern as PSG, Dembele had a chance early doors just like Dortmund did last night but the difference was we scored early v PSG. The longer the first half went on without us scoring the flatter it got. That seeped into the 2nd half.

[bobbydazzla]

6 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

 

I think last night it was a case of expecting to beat Dortmund; they had 1 point, were yet to score and hadn't won in England for 7 and a half years. I felt it went flat after 20 minutes; it took a similar pattern as PSG, Dembele had a chance early doors just like Dortmund did last night but the difference was we scored early v PSG. The longer the first half went on without us scoring the flatter it got. That seeped into the 2nd half.

 

The way a match is playing out will always be a factor, but the Gallowgate Corner barely stopped singing last night and it was deafening at times. As is the case most games 

 

Create sections like that in the other corners of the ground and you've got a decent atmosphere. It's not rocket science

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by bobbydazzla

[pedro111]

I've never been to a game abroad and at least to me whenever you watch a match it seems like everyone is sitting or standing exactly where they want to be with like-minded people. Everyone is catered for. How do they achieve that over there? It seems like in England and particularly Newcastle, there are so many obstacles put in place to achieving a good atmosphere.

 

Here's a radical solution. Sell season tickets not for a specific seat but for a specific stand and make all seats first come first serve on the day. That way all the singers could get in early, group together and sing. Plus they would sell more food and drink so everyone's a winner.

[RodneyCisse]

Reckon the fact that me plus all my mates who get in on ballot are miles away from each other doesn’t help with any type of community atmosphere creation.

[LFEE]

7 minutes ago, pedro111 said:

I've never been to a game abroad and at least to me whenever you watch a match it seems like everyone is sitting or standing exactly where they want to be with like-minded people. Everyone is catered for. How do they achieve that over there? It seems like in England and particularly Newcastle, there are so many obstacles put in place to achieving a good atmosphere.

 

Here's a radical solution. Sell season tickets not for a specific seat but for a specific stand and make all seats first come first serve on the day. That way all the singers could get in early, group together and sing. Plus they would sell more food and drink so everyone's a winner.

You mean like it was pre 90’s with terracing? It be great but the irony is some on here whinging about the atmosphere have been the ones whinging about having to queue to get in the ground 20-30mins earlier than usual. Back in the 90’s under KK we were in the ground 2hrs before KO to get our singing spot. Some people still want to be downing a pint in a pub 10mins before KO then expect a instantly great atmosphere 😆

[Sima]

13 minutes ago, pedro111 said:

I've never been to a game abroad and at least to me whenever you watch a match it seems like everyone is sitting or standing exactly where they want to be with like-minded people. Everyone is catered for. How do they achieve that over there? It seems like in England and particularly Newcastle, there are so many obstacles put in place to achieving a good atmosphere.

 

Here's a radical solution. Sell season tickets not for a specific seat but for a specific stand and make all seats first come first serve on the day. That way all the singers could get in early, group together and sing. Plus they would sell more food and drink so everyone's a winner.

 

Problem with that is that they will sell all of the seats but there'll be single seats dotted around everywhere because people are looking for a 2 or 3, even 4+

 

Didn't have that issue with standing as you would just wedge yourself in somewhere and people would shuffle across slightly to accommodate.

[NUFC_Chris]

42 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Very surprised to the criticism of the atmosphere as I thought it was fine in the Gallowgate. The team were urged on whilst behind and cheered off for their efforts. Goals change games and they also change atmospheres and we didn’t score yesterday.

 

I do think some of you are a bit unrealistic with your expectations at times in search of some atmospheric narnia. Yes things can be done to improve this over time (choose your seat, new stadium, increased standing areas) but as it stands we’ve still got one of the best atmospheres going. Wether that’s a low bar these days I don’t know.

 

 

 

Same. Thought it was good in the Gallowgate Upper. Definitely depends where you sit. 

[pedro111]

Good point @Sima. And @LFEE yeah I guess that's what I meant. So the only answer is make the Gallowgate full terracing again. 

[LFEE]

Just now, NUFC_Chris said:

Same. Thought it was good in the Gallowgate Upper. Definitely depends where you sit. 

And who you sit near. I’ll forgive an odd grumble as we are mostly all guilty of that but if someone is incessant then I’ll question their support in front of everyone. Do others do the same?

[OCK]

I'd love for the Gallowgate to be a constant buzz, banner waving, fuckfest. 

[Vedder]

29 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

 

The way a match is playing out will always be a factor, but the Gallowgate Corner barely stopped singing last night and it was deafening at times. As is the case most games 

 

Create sections like that in the other corners of the ground and you've got a decent atmosphere. It's not rocket science

 

 

 

 

 

Not creating an excuse for the atmosphere, but I was sat in lower Milburn towards the Leazes and I couldn't hear the strawberry corner at all. This is likely because of that drum of the away fans and I think it played a part in songs not travelling around the ground.

 

I was grateful for the few people around me trying to get behind the team but atmosphere was generally poor I have to say. 

[OCK]

We 100% need an American dressed as a Magpie that is suspended from the Gallowgate by a wire that flies around after we score. 

[pedro111]

1 minute ago, NUFC_Chris said:

Same. Thought it was good in the Gallowgate Upper. Definitely depends where you sit. 

 

I watched on the telly, on my own and had it cranked up loud. You had the constant Bang Bang Bang of the drum and murmur from the away fans that barely if ever let up that just over powered everything else. From our side of things we had the occasional "na na na na Geordies!" That was loud. You could also hear plenty of other songs being sung which I guess is the great atmosphere you mentioned in the gallowgate but they sounded so low level that it didn't come across well on the TV at all. There were also long periods of silence from us. Is it the microphone placement? I don't know but McCoist said how disappointed he was with the atmosphere. 

 

 

[Groundhog63]

PSG game must've been wall to wall, better, "legacy fans" who've done the hard work and not these newbies who couldn't give a fuck. 

Who knew. 

[bobbydazzla]

4 minutes ago, Vedder said:

Not creating an excuse for the atmosphere, but I was sat in lower Milburn towards the Leazes and I couldn't hear the strawberry corner at all. This is likely because of that drum of the away fans and I think it played a part in songs not travelling around the ground.

 

I was grateful for the few people around me trying to get behind the team but atmosphere was generally poor I have to say. 

that’s the sketchy acoustics due to the stadium design, in Gallowgate corner you can’t hear the away fans 

 

put standing / singing sections in each corner and the sound would be audible wherever you were in the ground 

[Kid Icarus]

It doesn't tell the full story, but there's definitely a short circuit in the loop like

 

⫘⫘Supporters⫘⫘/⚡ Seating and ticketing system ⚡\⫘⫘Atmosphere⫘⫘Players⫘⫘Player performance⫘⫘Supporters⫘⫘/⚡ Seating and ticketing system ⚡\⫘⫘Atmosphere⫘⫘Players⫘⫘Player performance⫘⫘Supporters⫘⫘

[mofo]

As others have said, the Gallowgate seemed as usual to try and create an atomosphere but the rest of the ground was extremely flat. Even when players were bursting down the wing or trying to run at defenders there was zero buzz.

 

I was in the Leazes and it was shocking. Also the amount of people who left well before the final whistle was weird?  There were large sections where you could clearly see patches of empty seats.

[Wallsendmag]

Bottom line is that when people can't choose to sit/stand where they want it's always going to have a detrimental effect on the atmosphere. The random ballot has just made this a far bigger problem.

 

Believe it or not, the moaners has always had an acceptable place in the ground. Back in the 80s when I first started going I remember if you wanted to stand and have a good whinge at everyone the Gallowgate M section, aka "old mans corner" was the place for you. No doubt there was seating areas for them.as well. If you went on like that in the other corner or the scoreboard you'd likely be booted all over!

 

The Leazes F Centre section was where you'd find our more studenty type of fans. They would stand over there, pushed up to the fence near the away fans and bait them for 90 mins. In the case of a big away following they'd be shifted to one of the corner Paddocks in the Leazes.

 

When the Milburn Stand was built, the crackerjack with a bit more money in their pockets would congregate in the Leazes section of the new stand and would make a hell of a racket. Basically there was a place for everyone and you could as good as guarantee that you would be stood/sat with likeminded people.

 

Season ticket culture mid 90s onwards party ruined that but the last few couple of seasons I felt we were getting back to the old times as much as is possible in this day and age. With best part of 50k seats up for grabs and around 32k season ticket holders there was the option to get yourself a decent spot around the people you have more in common with. Gallowgate Upper was my go to area and it was good the see the NE Corner in the Leazes become so vocal as well as the obvious Strawberry Corner.

 

We've completely lost all that again. You pick your category and if you are lucky enough to get your name picked out the hat you get a random seat somewhere.

 

It's not conducive to a good atmosphere unfortunately.