Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Hiya...... Alan.....Man City fan here, Seeing as it's your first visit ( or I think it is ), I i'd give a few bits of advice. Iv'e done this for quite a few teams, including Glasgow Rangers, which was a bit of an experience in itself, so I'l start off with a few basic do's and dont's. 1.. Get there early as you can, usual horrendous traffic, full body searches, can lead to big queues outside 2.. Parking ... unless it's unavoidable, avoid the official car parks, .... expensive and you will have an hours wait to get out. Try the unofficial ones you will see as you get about 1/2 a mile from the ground. Under no circumstances park on the streets around there, as you will get towed away £ 300 to get it back 3...Pubs,... wouldn't advise any boozing near the ground, if you want a drink, most away fans go in the ground or the Northern Quarter....... Great Chippy alongside the Mary D's pub behind the South Stand. 4.. The Tram...... might be useful before the game, although will be packed if you leave it late...... £ 1 .50 ( I think ).... 10 mins from Piccadilly............after the game gig queues, so you might be better getting the bus from behind the South Stand....... you will see them lined up, same price. .... If it's good weather, lots of fans, home and away walk to the City centre down the hill, as sometimes with the traffic, it's just as quick. ( 20 mins or so ) 5.. Food and drink in the ground is reasonable, but very expensive 6.. South Stand tier 3 is very, very high. 7.. Stewards are generally ok as long as you don't overdo it a bit and get silly. 8 Programme is about average. id give it 7/10. maybe less# 9.. Depending on the mood of the police commander for the match, you may be locked in for 10 mins or so after......... depends how he feels I think. 10... Coach park is 40 yards or so from the South Stand. can Okoidoke..... anything else, I will have a gander on here between now and the game, ( wiil be at the Watford game tonight) so I will try and answer any other stuff, if I can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alandicks Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Hi Alan Thanks for the useful advice. Is it true there is a free car park for mini buses ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esmond Million's Bung Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Thanks mate. The only advice you will need for the 2nd leg is if you buy a Clarks pie, to avoid serious injury you will need a Clarks pie health and safety course before you eat it, you have been warned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 I 've heard that as well........ if it is, it will be alongside the main coachpark next to the South Stand............ will find out 100% for you by tomoz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Thanks for the info - things have changed since my last visit which was to Maine Road. I presume a pitch invasion will be frowned upon if we win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Ha Ha ...... better ground but not as good atmosphere as Maine Rd................ Etihad has become a bit too corporate for many Man City fans......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
italian dave Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bazooka Joe said: Thanks for the info - things have changed since my last visit which was to Maine Road. I presume a pitch invasion will be frowned upon if we win. From teir 3 I should think it would be bloody impossible! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Just a point. if you get there particularly early, a few fans have a look at City Square which is near the tram stop ( North Stand )...... Bands and pre match chat are on about 1 hour before. Couple of bars down there as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Cigar Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 21 minutes ago, Alanthemanc said: Hiya...... Alan.....Man City fan here, Seeing as it's your first visit ( or I think it is ), I i'd give a few bits of advice. Iv'e done this for quite a few teams, including Glasgow Rangers, which was a bit of an experience in itself, so I'l start off with a few basic do's and dont's. 1.. Get there early as you can, usual horrendous traffic, full body searches, can lead to big queues outside 2.. Parking ... unless it's unavoidable, avoid the official car parks, .... expensive and you will have an hours wait to get out. Try the unofficial ones you will see as you get about 1/2 a mile from the ground. Under no circumstances park on the streets around there, as you will get towed away £ 300 to get it back 3...Pubs,... wouldn't advise any boozing near the ground, if you want a drink, most away fans go in the ground or the Northern Quarter....... Great Chippy alongside the Mary D's pub behind the South Stand. 4.. The Tram...... might be useful before the game, although will be packed if you leave it late...... £ 1 .50 ( I think ).... 10 mins from Piccadilly............after the game gig queues, so you might be better getting the bus from behind the South Stand....... you will see them lined up, same price. .... If it's good weather, lots of fans, home and away walk to the City centre down the hill, as sometimes with the traffic, it's just as quick. ( 20 mins or so ) 5.. Food and drink in the ground is reasonable, but very expensive 6.. South Stand tier 3 is very, very high. 7.. Stewards are generally ok as long as you don't overdo it a bit and get silly. 8 Programme is about average. id give it 7/10. maybe less# 9.. Depending on the mood of the police commander for the match, you may be locked in for 10 mins or so after......... depends how he feels I think. 10... Coach park is 40 yards or so from the South Stand. can Okoidoke..... anything else, I will have a gander on here between now and the game, ( wiil be at the Watford game tonight) so I will try and answer any other stuff, if I can Thanks for this. Two things: 1. Any idea if rucksacks allowed in? I think they're completed banned at Old Trafford. Obviously a lot of away fans travelling from afar and may have a bit of crap on them. I always bring food with me to aways! 2. Is Tier 3 higher than the stand for away fans at Newcastle? Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidercity1987 Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Mary D's now that is a pub to send a shudder through the heart of any Southern softie. What a total shithole! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 I wouldn't bring a Rucksack ( on your own judgement , it will 100% be searched, just act dumb and say you didn't know etc ) After the Arena bomb , security has gone up 2 fold. Tier 3 is not quite as high as Newcastle............ but it aint far off either at the back 10 rows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AppyDAZE Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Hands up. Who thought he was going to say "Don't go gung-ho like you did at Villa" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Cider........ not quite the place it was 10 years ago.............. but the toilets are still 6 inches high in some strange smelly stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalcub Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Appreciate the info Alanthemanc you are a true gent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Benga .... no probs............. by the way, the best fans iv'e done this for believe it or not were Glasgow Rangers, my computer nearly blew up with hundreds and hundreds of them grilling me. Took football following to a new level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheese Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Hi Alan. Where's the best place to charge an electric car? I know there are chargers at the Ground and Velodrome but I suspect they fill up early with non-ev cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Cheese..........fooked if I know........ worth ringing the club up if you can. The main entrance is a no no or around the ground..... security all over the place. Believe me, iv'e tried to get in a disabled place 3 times this year and been told no..... you should have rung up in advance. Its all getting very strict these days unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderEyed Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Is cider sold in the concourse @Alanthemanc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 ZIDER...... I don't drink..... but I think it is. .................. big queues apparatly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dead Red Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Thanks Alan. Do the unofficial car parks cater for away fans. Are there plenty on the road in from the M56? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 YES......... The nearest ones Ito the ground are on Grey Mare Lane, form the Belle Vue / Hyde rd ......................... There is a school car park open, and there is another one next to the Townley Pub, ( 1/4 of a mile from ground) if you coming from the junction South Side. The Police have started to make people park a fair way from the ground this year. I heard a good motorway junction away fans are using is Ashton / Droylesden M60. if anyone's coming from that direction............................leave plenty of time, the traffic is terrible late on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Just remembered, there are 2 big action replay screens , very good quality. and half time replays of major incidents of the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanthemanc Posted January 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 RIGHT......... SETTING OFF FOR THE WATFORD GAME ......... leave anything on here and will be back on tommorow about 3 ish.................... okidoke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olé Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 1 hour ago, Alanthemanc said: If it's good weather Cracking post, and thanks for including this little joke for us too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanburyRed Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Having been for the first time for one of the England RWC games, have to say it's an impressive stadium, looking forward to seeing it with loads of Reds in it, in the concourses below and stands above! Definitely parking away from the ground, lots of little places dotted around charging £10 a car, might have gone up since then but easy enough walk to the ground and you can see some of the investment and infrastructure put in by the owners. Thanks for the info @Alanthemanc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivs Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 1 hour ago, Alanthemanc said: can Okoidoke..... anything else, I will have a gander on here between now and the game, ( wiil be at the Watford game tonight) so I will try and answer any other stuff, if I can Thanks @Alanthemanc - great info. The only game I've seen Manchester City at home was at Maine Road when I went along with a Watford supporting friend (I lived in Manchester). It absolutely chucked down and all 40 or so of us diehard Watford fans huddled against a tall wall to escape the rain. I've kept a watching brief on Watford ever since...so, normally I'd want them to win tonight. However, this time, I want a 4-4 draw with 3 (not serious) injuries each and a mass brawl at the end resulting in 3 sendings off each and 10 minutes extra time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderEyed Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Wondered if the Guvnors will be available to kick the shit out of me? Cheers. Also whats the stance on flags/banners? A lot of modern stadiums are funny about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvio Dante Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 30 minutes ago, ZiderEyed said: Is cider sold in the concourse @Alanthemanc? I went to the Etihad for a gig about 18 months ago. I have a horrible recollection your cider choice (draught) was Wrongbow or Wrongbow dark fruit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderEyed Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 1 minute ago, Silvio Dante said: I went to the Etihad for a gig about 18 months ago. I have a horrible recollection your cider choice (draught) was Wrongbow or Wrongbow dark fruit... Oh dear. Oh dear no that won't do. Oh no. Oh God. Cider for teenagers from Kent. Full scale riots if theres no Wilkins Farmhouse imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54-46 Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Thanks @Alanthemanc We’re staying around Deansgate Locks. Seems to be plenty of pubs round that way, is it much of a trek to Eastlands or would we be better off getting a tram. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.