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Away game allocated seat etiquette


LondonBristolian

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I've been meaning to post this for a while and the Man City thread has prompted me.

Given as I live in London, am not really in touch with schoolfriends from Bristol and don't know many City fans in real life, I tend to go to away games on my own. I'm quite happy doing this and actually quite enjoy it but a few times recently I've arrived at games and found that I've got a ticket with an allocated seat but someone else is sitting in my seat.

In all honestly, I'm not particularly arsed on whether I'm in my allocated seat or not but I am aware that, if I sit somewhere else, then someone could turn up at any moment and ask me to move as I am in their seat, which they'd be well within their rights to do. 

In all my times attending games, I've never really been sure of the etiquette here - is the assumption that people sit in the seat their allocated or is it actually a free for all and I don't realise? At the moment I never ask people to move from my seat but am always willing to move from other people's seats and I sort of feel like I have the worst of all worlds...

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2 minutes ago, Drew Peacock said:

I am much the same.  There is no way I can stand for long periods but have a horrible feeling my seat is up at the back.  I think I may have a problem.

I really wish they would give people choices. I'm disabled but actually absolutely fine standing for 90 minutes but I totally get that some people cannot do that. I remember at Fulham last season everyone was standing and there was a poor chap who had been seated at the back desperately asking people to sit down but, of course, the people in front could not see unless the people in front of them sat down and so forth...

I know the problem is clubs cannot officially acknowledge people will stand during a game but I wish there was a box people could tick if you had a specific seating need so that could be met. For me, the ideal thing is being on aisle due to how bad my bladder is... I usually manage to stay in situ for a 45 minute half but there are never guarantees...

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2 minutes ago, Taz said:

If someone asks you to move, then move and tell the bugger in your seat to shift their hairy 'rse :P.

Ran out of likes for the day but you'd definitely get one otherwise. I think this is basically the strategy I go for. So far I've never actually been moved. The weirdest one was Brighton back in May when I'd been allocated a seat that didn't actually exist! (I mean technically it did exist but it had been blocked off to create a barrier between us and the Brighton fans prematurely celebrating their league title...)

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2 minutes ago, Busterrimes said:

This is my personal opinion but where it is a large sell out like this then people should sit in allocated seats. It is not fair on people who have bought tickets to then not be sat together.

I agree with that. I think the problem to me generally with most games is it is absolutely fine if everyone sits in allocated seats and it is absolutely fine when everyone knows they can sit were they like but when it is just some people ignoring the allocated seating then it causes unnecessary problems for everyone else...

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1 minute ago, Busterrimes said:

This is my personal opinion but where it is a large sell out like this then people should sit in allocated seats. It is not fair on people who have bought tickets to then not be sat together.

Agreed. Somewhere like Man City where its sold out, chances are you may have to sit in allocated seats. Sunderland away - maybe not so worried because of the number of seats empty.

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I'll be heading for my seat as I normally do, if it is taken I get as close to it as possible. That way if I'm asked to move then I can claim my seat without moving. If the person in my seat refuses to move then I'm not the moron in this situation and can justify staying put.

However. Stand at the back, sit at the front should be the norm.

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8 minutes ago, Welcome To The Jungle said:

I'll be heading for my seat as I normally do, if it is taken I get as close to it as possible. That way if I'm asked to move then I can claim my seat without moving. If the person in my seat refuses to move then I'm not the moron in this situation and can justify staying put.

However. Stand at the back, sit at the front should be the norm.

This.. just get to as near as you can to your seat, why can other clubs seemingly do it fine yet this always crops up up with our club.

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Every away end should be unreserved. Would save so much hassle. 

Everyone would also stay in their allocated seat if it was the norm for all our fans to stand up. But because it's not, the standing fans move towards the back so they're not blocking people's view. 

Sitting down at the football is a really uncomfortable feeling for me, and I expect the other 2000 odd fans who stand each game feel the same way. 

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Can also depend on how stringent the stewarding can be. I can remember at Fulham all kinds of hassle at half time where they were blocking people on the stairwells from coming back up demanding to see tickets. Some people had left their tickets with their mates who were already back in the stands. 

Depending on what time I get there and whether I’m on my own or with a group I tend to make my way to my seat for less potential hassle, if it’s gone I’m not bothered unless it’s rammed and I can’t see anything easy to get to. Been raised a few times but Stoke advertise when selling away tickets that if you prefer to sit / ability wise need to sit then it’s best to head towards the front where possible as generally speaking majority of people who want to stand make their way to the back.

Dont think my Man City one has a seat allocated as such, just Tier 3 general admission and the email just says Level 3, not sure if it will arrive with an allocated seat though and whether their stewards will try to enforce where possible. 

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Away games should 100% be unreserved, at least unofficially. That way everyone's happy. For Man City, my brother and I will likely head to the back like we normally do, regardless of where our allocated seats are. People coming up with 10 minutes till kick-off telling people to move are often biting off their nose to spite their face, given they may well not want to be standing for 90 minutes. 

Stewarding is hugely important too; QPR recently was a nightmare as they were being so so strict on people sitting in their allocated seats, but ran in to some people who refused to move from the back. This then led to one steward giving up and telling latecomers to sit wherever they could and another steward still attempting to remove people from the middles of rows. 

Ideal solution is we can choose when booking our tickets whether we want to be sitting or standing (like when you book for Brentford away), but until then I propose we all go where we want to go - standers to the back, sitters to the front. 

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Away games shouldn't be 100% unreserved . I wouldn't care about unreserved seats etc but I know for a fact my old man who goes away every single game rain or shine doesn't want to stand up all game whilst someone else stands in his seat space.

Its about getting the balance right and it's not fair to assume that every fan would be alright with unreserved allocations because they wouldn't or nor should they.

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5 minutes ago, Spoons said:

Away games shouldn't be 100% unreserved . I wouldn't care about unreserved seats etc but I know for a fact my old man who goes away every single game rain or shine doesn't want to stand up all game whilst someone else stands in his seat space.

Its about getting the balance right and it's not fair to assume that every fan would be alright with unreserved allocations because they wouldn't or nor should they.

I know I said it earlier in the thread and I know clubs can't do it but it would be so much easier if clubs were able to openly ask you if you wanted to sit or to stand when you were booking...

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Like you I’m normally on my own when I go away, don’t really have any city mates they are all Swindon in my neck of the woods. usually head to my seat and suss out what it’s like but I like to be involved with the singing and atmosphere so if I’m likely to around people who want to sit I’ll trt and make my way to an area that’s a bit more lively.

away ends should be unreserved but when it’s a sell out and you get there close to kick off it could be a nightmare finding the odd seat or two

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When young I tended to get there a little early and head for the back.

Now I am a bit older I get there a little early and head for much nearer the front.

I know it is tricky but tend to regard a ticket as getting me in, then it is grab the best seat you can for you!

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5 minutes ago, Spoons said:

Away games shouldn't be 100% unreserved . I wouldn't care about unreserved seats etc but I know for a fact my old man who goes away every single game rain or shine doesn't want to stand up all game whilst someone else stands in his seat space.

Its about getting the balance right and it's not fair to assume that every fan would be alright with unreserved allocations because they wouldn't or nor should they.

Common sense will tell you if you want to stand to go at the back and to sit near the front, they could print this on the ticket. Problem with allocated seats is it causes upsets everywhere, i like to stand so i always head to the back but i have had before someone who wanted to sit head to the back and ask if they could have their seat and then started moaning cause everyone's standing

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As a young lad i can barely bare sitting at home games so when made to sit at an away game it really sucks a lot of passion out personally. If people want to complain about poor away noise (disregarding villa as heard that was great) then this should be the first issue looked into as well as travel prices. You only have to look at Section 82 and the back of the south stand where people stand to see that that's what gets the noise levels up. A general understanding that standers go back and sitters at the front would work wonders in my opinion.

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5 minutes ago, South Somerset Red said:

Common sense will tell you if you want to stand to go at the back and to sit near the front, they could print this on the ticket. Problem with allocated seats is it causes upsets everywhere, i like to stand so i always head to the back but i have had before someone who wanted to sit head to the back and ask if they could have their seat and then started moaning cause everyone's standing

Agree with most of that except the bit about ' allocated seats cause problems everywhere' . They really don't. 

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2 minutes ago, South Somerset Red said:

At away games they can cause problems

I'm not a Superfan but over the last 25 years I've survived sitting/standing in allocated seats!!

Not so sure it's such a problem people make out it is.

 

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2 minutes ago, Spoons said:

Why should people lose any choice just because they want to sit in a allocated seat ? Front or back ? 

But someone who wants to stand can just go wherever ?

Because people who want to stand and make an atmosphere come first my friend :yes::thumbsup:

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Monday was the first game in my life, 20 seconds before kick off i was asked if i intended to sit down. (In other words sit)

While most people were stood, as was sadly front row, didn't have too much choice. 

I do think the best away followings all stand!!

But if someone near the front chooses to sit, cant really blame them, not everyone likes standing!!

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I like the idea of other posters that you should be able to indicate a preference for position in the stands, particularly for those who prefer to stand. Personally, at my age and size I now prefer to sit, and preferably no more than half way up as I don’t wish to climb the north face of the eiger to get to my seat. Newcastle last season and Sunderland this were a struggle, as will I expect tier 3 at Man City. 

I am all for allowing people to stand who wish to do so, but no one should be standing in all seater stadiums, not solely because of the law but because the pitch of some stands makes it clearly unsafe to do so. FFS the authorities blanket approval for the installation of safe rail seating is long overdue. 

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10 minutes ago, A Darkwood Red said:

There are 8 of us going including 4 kids, all our accounts are linked so we bought our seats together. We will be sitting in our seats! If someone else is in them when we get there we will be getting them moved. 

That comes across a little aggressive, certainly not my intention :laugh:. However the sentiment there, we will want to be together as a group, that's why we bought tickets together.

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I have been a city fan for almost 50years and this sort of debate is always emotive. 

Every fan is equal - whether they wish to sit or stand - they have equal rights. 

What is wrong is the way clubs sell their tickets. If those of you who are old enough remember how tickets used to be sold you could choose between buying a ticket to sit or stand. In that way everyone got what they wanted. 

It is not fair to those who want to sit to be forced to the front as many grounds provide a better view from the middle upwards and if everyone has paid the same price for their ticket then they should receive the appropriate value for money. 

When there are sell outs like Man City - and until schemes like Safe Standing are brought in - everyone should be made to ‘sit’. Then everyone can get to see - what will hopefully be - a great game. 

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1 hour ago, kivsy said:

Had seperate seats from my brother who works away , managed to get tickets for villa.   

Personally i  stand anywhere , but a couple of times I got people saying this is my seat ,  this is not the hippodrome ,

upper lansdown , looked the type 

So you’d continue to stand if you were knowingly blocking the view of someone who couldn’t or didn’t want to stand? 

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IMO away games should be unreserved. Means people who haven't bought tickets together can sit together and improves atmosphere as a 'singing section' establishes itself. Then if you want to stand you move towards the back of the stand and if you want to sit, you're a family etc. you stay nearer the front. 

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32 minutes ago, A Darkwood Red said:

There are 8 of us going including 4 kids, all our accounts are linked so we bought our seats together. We will be sitting in our seats! If someone else is in them when we get there we will be getting them moved. 

You had best bring a spanner then!!!!!!

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2 minutes ago, littlered said:

IMO away games should be unreserved. Means people who haven't bought tickets together can sit together and improves atmosphere as a 'singing section' establishes itself. Then if you want to stand you move towards the back of the stand and if you want to sit, you're a family etc. you stay nearer the front. 

Stay near the front and get soaked !!

You're really selling it to me and my family mate! 

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14 minutes ago, Denbury Red said:

I have been a city fan for almost 50years and this sort of debate is always emotive. 

Every fan is equal - whether they wish to sit or stand - they have equal rights. 

What is wrong is the way clubs sell their tickets. If those of you who are old enough remember how tickets used to be sold you could choose between buying a ticket to sit or stand. In that way everyone got what they wanted. 

It is not fair to those who want to sit to be forced to the front as many grounds provide a better view from the middle upwards and if everyone has paid the same price for their ticket then they should receive the appropriate value for money. 

When there are sell outs like Man City - and until schemes like Safe Standing are brought in - everyone should be made to ‘sit’. Then everyone can get to see - what will hopefully be - a great game. 

Couldn't disagree in stronger terms.

"Every fan is equal - whether they wish to sit or stand - they have equal rights... It is not fair to those who want to sit to be forced to the front"

It's also not fair for those who want to stand be made to sit, by the same token. 

It's a common sense approach to allow those who want to stand to buy tickets at the back. Saying tough shit to those who want to do that, and that you have to sit, is exactly the same as saying if you want to sit, you have to go to the front.

 

One rule for these, a different one for another.

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3 minutes ago, ZiderEyed said:

Couldn't disagree in stronger terms.

"Every fan is equal - whether they wish to sit or stand - they have equal rights... It is not fair to those who want to sit to be forced to the front"

It's also not fair for those who want to stand be made to sit, by the same token. 

It's a common sense approach to allow those who want to stand to buy tickets at the back. Saying tough shit to those who want to do that, and that you have to sit, is exactly the same as saying if you want to sit, you have to go to the front.

 

One rule for these, a different one for another.

I think you are missing the point. 

Currently under existing rulings we all have to buy a seat!  So actually those who are sitting are abiding by League regulations. 

A solution to this is to have two different sections where those who wish to stand can buy their ticket and those who wish to sit can buy theirs - often at a higher cost.

Until that situation is resolved everyone should sit in designated areas - that’s what  happens at Ashton Gate after all. 

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3 minutes ago, Denbury Red said:

I think you are missing the point. 

Currently under existing rulings we all have to buy a seat!  So actually those who are sitting are abiding by League regulations. 

A solution to this is to have two different sections where those who wish to stand can buy their ticket and those who wish to sit can buy theirs - often at a higher cost.

Until that situation is resolved everyone should sit in designated areas - that’s what  happens at Ashton Gate after all. 

Im confused by this. Please elaborate, I really don't get your point.

Surely what you're saying in your solution is exactly the same as people at the back standing, and people at the front sitting?

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2 minutes ago, ZiderEyed said:

Im confused by this. Please elaborate, I really don't get your point.

Surely what you're saying in your solution is exactly the same as people at the back standing, and people at the front sitting?

Absolutely not!

As we used to have - and even clubs like Torquay Utd - they have an Away section for standing and an away section for seats - two prices, two views, customer choice. 

We need clubs in higher divisions to give the same choice -a standing section covering perhaps front, middle and back; and a sitting section with the same. 

The ‘customer’ then has the choice which ticket they buy knowing the experience they are going to receive. 

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1 minute ago, Denbury Red said:

Absolutely not!

As we used to have - and even clubs like Torquay Utd - they have an Away section for standing and an away section for seats - two prices, two views, customer choice. 

We need clubs in higher divisions to give the same choice -a standing section covering perhaps front, middle and back; and a sitting section with the same. 

The ‘customer’ then has the choice which ticket they buy knowing the experience they are going to receive. 

Ah I see what you're saying, totally agree with that. 

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38 minutes ago, ZiderEyed said:

 

It's a common sense approach to allow those who want to stand to buy tickets at the back. 

 

That’s all good if you know which way the tickets are being sold, eg did Man City sell top of stand down towards Tier 2? Fulham sold the very bottom of the stand across towards the goal, I know as I had those seats and moved. The steward confirmed that’s how Fulham sells their tickets.

I’ve had good seats and bad seats when I’ve been away. I usually head to our seats and then move around KO time to unoccupied seats if I don’t like where I am sat.

At QPR and Villa last year we had seats right at the back, then the singers arrived and basically turfed us out as they wanted to be there. Fair enough, I don’t mind being near the singers, just a bit intimidating being amongst them. But then we had to find other seats which wasnt easy. Same at Brighton, we found other seats then some pissed up thugs arrived 20 mins into the match and decided they wanted their seats, not a great experience.

Then at Southampton a couple of years back we sat as we had made our own way there and had been walking around all day. So we sat with the other ‘sitters’ at the front of the stand. Three idiots infront of us decided to stand the whole match, they stood out as they were the only ones standing, but they were in ‘their’ seats and were going to stand. The match was crap and I complained to a steward along with several people near me. The ‘lads’ wouldn’t sit down and there wasn’t anywhere to move. The stewards did nothing. I actually wrote to Southampton and complained on my return and got an apology.

It’s  certainly hit and miss regarding seating at away games, but I hope going away and have had some great times.

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Tell people to man up. People that are incaple of standing get down the front. Push the old diddies down the stairs.

we seem incapable of planning things as city fans, no one else has any other issues. 

How did all the wolves fans stand, Leeds etc? 

Section82 been unreserved all year, “reserved” for united and everyone has a breakdown.

city fans need to man up it’s pathetic. 

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8 minutes ago, AshtonPark said:

Tell people to man up. People that are incaple of standing get down the front. Push the old diddies down the stairs.

we seem incapable of planning things as city fans, no one else has any other issues. 

How did all the wolves fans stand, Leeds etc? 

Section82 been unreserved all year, “reserved” for united and everyone has a breakdown.

city fans need to man up it’s pathetic. 

Get back to your mum and dad's box room !! 

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Driving up with a few mates. Believe their seats are together however I'm elsewhere.. albeit in the same tier. I'll try to stick with them, If I get asked to move I'll move. 

Also one that likes to stand in and amongst the noise, seeing as I had no choice in where I'd be sitting/standing, I'll try and get away with anything I can. Those that want to stand, as previously mentioned, head towards the back.. That's what I'll be doing. 

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Bar Wembley I’ve honestly never once even looked at the seat number on my ticket at an away game, I just find somewhere at the back to stand. The only time I’ve ever been asked to move was down Southampton, I think this is the game mentioned above when there was loads of problems between sitters and standers.

The Stoke idea definitely seems the best solution to me.

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What I'm finding quite useful having started this thread is that I've always assumed everyone else knew the etiquette and I didn't. It's reassuring to find out that everyone has got different ideas on how it works.

I'm also calling "bollocks" on the idea other clubs don't have these issues, or that fans of every club all stand whereas we don't. Pretty sure you'll find pretty much every club has a mixture of people who want to sit, people who want to stand and people who want to do a bit of both...

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15 hours ago, A Darkwood Red said:

There are 8 of us going including 4 kids, all our accounts are linked so we bought our seats together. We will be sitting in our seats! If someone else is in them when we get there we will be getting them moved. 

Same here, large group of us bought together so we can sit together. 

To me unless unless we sell like Stoke do, or there is space for people to move about people just have to sit where they'e aallocated for this one. It's a sell out so assume there is no additional space so only way they will get everyone seated is we are in allocated seats? 

Sadly the higher up the League's we go the more this will happen. 

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11 hours ago, WolfOfWestStreet said:

Why do we have these threads every. single. time. we have a large away following.

For the trippers, this is how it works .. go where you want, if you physically cannot stand for 90, front rows. Everyone else standing making a hell of a racket.

How arrogant does this sound? 

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22 minutes ago, phantom said:

It's a sell out so assume there is no additional space so only way they will get everyone seated is we are in allocated seats?

This may be the only way. It will be rammed in there. There will be chaos if people just decide to go where they want in that amount of space with that amount of fans.

 

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18 minutes ago, phantom said:

Same here, large group of us bought together so we can sit together. 

To me unless unless we sell like Stoke do, or there is space for people to move about people just have to sit where they'e aallocated for this one. It's a sell out so assume there is no additional space so only way they will get everyone seated is we are in allocated seats? 

Sadly the higher up the League's we go the more this will happen. 

Not always the case. You look at man utd, chelsea, arsenal and liverpool who have the biggest support in the country and sell out every away game they will never sit. In fact i bet if you told someone to sit at an away game of one of these you would possibly get told to f off.

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7 minutes ago, South Somerset Red said:

Not always the case. You look at man utd, chelsea, arsenal and liverpool who have the biggest support in the country and sell out every away game they will never sit. In fact i bet if you told someone to sit at an away game of one of these you would possibly get told to f off.

Not sit, but I bet you 100% each fan is stood in front of their allocated seat

It was something we have been fortunate with being able to do (move around) in the lower leagues but won't happen as much with sell outs

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26 minutes ago, Spoons said:

How arrogant does this sound? 

Ignore it - it was inevitable that someone would take the opportunity to remind everyone how much of a 'proper' fan they are. Pretty obvious to anyone reading this thread there are loads of people who go regularly and have different ideas on how it works...

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11 minutes ago, phantom said:

Not sit, but I bet you 100% each fan is stood in front of their allocated seat

It was something we have been fortunate with being able to do (move around) in the lower leagues but won't happen as much with sell outs

They really wont. An away ticket for these fans is nothing more than a ticket through the turnstiles 

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I tend to think you should just go wherever you want. I don't think I've ever once been in my seat at an away game. It really does solve everyones problems;

-- People who want to sit can go at the front.

-- People who want to stand at the back.

-- Large groups who want to be together can easily do so.

-- It makes for a better atmosphere.

-- etc etc etc

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49 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

Ignore it - it was inevitable that someone would take the opportunity to remind everyone how much of a 'proper' fan they are. Pretty obvious to anyone reading this thread there are loads of people who go regularly and have different ideas on how it works...

It's not about being a 'proper fan' or whatever yoy want to label it but managing expectations for those that only ever travel for the big events and get all funny when someone is stood up in front of them.

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As someone who's watched the overwhelming majority of away matches in some seasons, although not for a couple of years, I've never had any trouble finding and sitting in the seat I've been allocated...and that included most of the away matches in our Cotts promotion season when we were travelling in numbers. Most City fans I've met are reasonable people. 

Having worked behind the scenes at many big sports events I find it hard to imagine that a venue like the Etihad, which regularly hosts large crowds, will allow people to sit where ever they like. I'd expect them to consider that a recipe for chaos. 

...and for anyone wondering when they will be posted out, ours have just arrived. Row H in the third tier...looks like a decent view...

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