Stadium MK

[Lord Football]

Just a thought really.

Having spent a freezing afternoon at the superbly named Stadium MK I was somewhat surprised to see the crowd announced at just over 10k. The place was half empty and the atmosphere was more akin to a funeral.

Given that MKD are 2nd in the league, it is likely that 10k is pretty much all they can expect so can look forward to playing out life surrounded by empty seats and in silence.

I also read a post on here that Colchester are averaging 1300 less per game than they had accounted for.

Food for thought as we consider our move to FF?

 

[effy67]

Thought it was a good if soulless ground. My mate summed it up by saying the MK fans have no passion, although what I think he really meant it there were no gobby morons giving it the big un next to the away supporters. Can't have it both ways I guess..

 

[duncan bulgaria]

I posted this in a earlier thread , if we have a 20k seater and only fill it half up , it will make for a very sad sight and a quite one at that , the noise just got lost in the Stadium today .

For a team that are 2nd the crowd was woefull and hardly heard a sound out of them , would hate to see that place if they were bottom of the league !!!

 

[TrueBlue]

Just a thought really.

Having spent a freezing afternoon at the superbly named Stadium MK I was somewhat surprised to see the crowd announced at just over 10k. The place was half empty and the atmosphere was more akin to a funeral.

Given that MKD are 2nd in the league, it is likely that 10k is pretty much all they can expect so can look forward to playing out life surrounded by empty seats and in silence.

I also read a post on here that Colchester are averaging 1300 less per game than they had accounted for.

Food for thought as we consider our move to FF?

Us and the scum should not be mentioned in the same breath

 

[Lord Football]

Us and the scum should not be mentioned in the same breath

Yes, but if we learn by their demise, it can only be good.

In fact, I see no losers.

 

[shrimperton]

If it means having a good stadium but an atmosphere like today, just dead to be honest, i would rather stay a roots hall

 

[TrueBlue]

catch 22 though we need the retail around the new ground to support the club

 

[TrueBlue]

Yes, but if we learn by their demise, it can only be good.

In fact, I see no losers.

Their demise only happens because they don't have the support where as I think we do!

 

[Sherif H]

If it means having a good stadium but an atmosphere like today, just dead to be honest, i would rather stay a roots hall

We all know the reasons why football clubs move to modern souless stadia, and that is because as the game has moved to a more corporate-based entity.
Modern stadia will only be accepted in planning terms if they serve a community function, fill a borough/area need and are in use 7 days a week. Stadia are also used as tools to attract players, sponsorship and other corporate Clients, so staying at Roots Hall will be the death of this club unfortunately.

The move is essential and we should be looking to follow the Plymouth, Swansea and ultimately, Reading models, building to regular five figure crowds in the first season, and looking to attain 75% capacity crowds if all is going well on the pitch. Only then will we really be able to grow as a club.

 

[sufcalways]

That ground was quieter than southend library!

 

[shrimperton]

Agree with all of the above but 8000 wont be great in a 22000 seater stadium, the blue voice can work as hard as they want but it could all be a waste of time, i mean 10,000 in mk today and it was terrible.

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

I think that the bowl design of FF will do a lot to counter any sparseness of crowds - I would certainly expect the acoustics to be a huge improvement over Roots Hall even if it is half full.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

It had all the atmosphere & noise of a mortuary, which would explain the pumped up volume of their tannoys. The funniest part was the complete silence of the ground. It was dreadful, but you can see why from the photo below!

Being a half finished stadium didn't help either!!

 

[Ricey]

That picture came out really good Rich.

 

[Southampton Shrimper]

Given that MKD are 2nd in the league, it is likely that 10k is pretty much all they can expect so can look forward to playing out life surrounded by empty seats and in silence.

It was eerily silent there this afternoon, which could in part be put down to the fact that many of these are "new" fans who don't have a history of going to a football match and making noise, but to be fair the match wasn't exactly the most inspiring to get them on their feet.

They've had five games there this season with higher attendances than this afternoon's, with the biggest being 17,073 last weekend in the 3-1 win against Leeds.

In today's match programme, MK Dons skipper Dean Lewington wrote about that match: "The team's performance was matched by those of you that were in the stands, creating the kind of atmosphere that inspires players. When you're rivalling a passionate bunch of supporters like Leeds for noise, you know you're doing something right so thank you to all of you for making it a memorable day."

So maybe they can do it if they really try.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

That picture came out really good Rich.

Impressive eh?!!! I've got one like that at every ground I've been to!! It will be going to Chelsea!

 

[Ricey]

Have you uploaded the 'other' photo's yet? ;)

 

[Forever A Shrimper]

If it means having a good stadium but an atmosphere like today, just dead to be honest, i would rather stay a roots hall

If we had a roof as high as that, with tragic acoustics I think TBV would too!

 

[toellandback]

They made very little noise against us either, the trouble is that the majority are kids. Most that i saw had other teams hats etc on. They are still to form a real fanbase. Yes people attend but do they care??

I was talking to a steward about finishing the ground and was told its being halted due to money. One of the big shops was going to build a a huge shop on the grounds which was going to pay for the upper tier, they have since backed out. There are plans though for concerts to be held in the arena next door and restaurants and shops to be built. The black building in the car park is going to be a JJB shop and gym

 

[BrettieAngell]

It was eerily silent there this afternoon, which could in part be put down to the fact that many of these are "new" fans who don't have a history of going to a football match and making noise, but to be fair the match wasn't exactly the most inspiring to get them on their feet.

They've had five games there this season with higher attendances than this afternoon's, with the biggest being 17,073 last weekend in the 3-1 win against Leeds.

In today's match programme, MK Dons skipper Dean Lewington wrote about that match: "The team's performance was matched by those of you that were in the stands, creating the kind of atmosphere that inspires players. When you're rivalling a passionate bunch of supporters like Leeds for noise, you know you're doing something right so thank you to all of you for making it a memorable day."

So maybe they can do it if they really try.

There was 5,000 Leeds fans though.

As an aside how many did we take yesterday?