Stadium Discussion
- Thread starter Gene
- Start date
I'm still struggling with DAZN.
MancBlue
Registered
Its what they have done in Manchester.
Been great winning trophies as I had not seen one in 35 years but the club is about to open a new stand taking the capacity to 60k which I cant see us filling. The new stand has some great new facilities but I am sure they will be directed at people unlike me who come and spend more in the club shop and food outlets.
Fair weather fans have been taken at the expense of local legacy fans over the last 10 years which is really poor planning imo for medium/long term.
On a brighter note NYCFC stadium looks fantastic I have to say. Only comment would be I thought that maybe it should have been a little bigger?
Back in the early days of NYCFC and this forum (2014-2015) we had a decent contingent of Man City fans participating here and it seemed the consensus then was that CFG was a rather fan friendly steward of the club. I'm curious if you would have agreed with that view back then and if so, when did it change in your opinion.
Our stadium size is partly a limitation of the real estate footprint the club was finally able to secure after a decade, and partly a decision to prioritize a filled stadium over occasional bigger crowds.
Last edited:
Thanks for dropping by.
I have a great memory of visiting Manchester with the NYCFC supporters group in January 2022 for a game against Chelsea. Was a terrific atmosphere.
I am curious how they could expand that stadium with a new stand - it seems fairly complete and uniform.
As for our stadium - I can't wait. The baseball stadiums were fine at first, but after so many years it's hurt the atmosphere and therefore attendance as well. The seats are too far from the pitch, and the noise from the supporters just drifts off into the air. The new venue will be so much better.
I also think the stadium is a bit too small. Our first year, we averaged 29,000 fans. That dropped pretty quickly to the low 20,000s. My guess is that a proper stadium will drive that number back up - especially given its location is in a soccer-mad part of the city.
ZYanksRule
Registered
25k is going to be the 7th largest soccer specific stadium in the league. It's a pretty big stadium by MLS standards.
The end on the left (from the team benches perspective) was a normal level but they've extended that upwards to add a ton more seats. I think the goal was to have enough seats to be eligible to host things like World Cup matches.
Would be nice to have some walk-up tickets available (I know, impossible dream LOL). I went a couple of years ago to see my first City match in person and it was a blast, but it was also simply not possible to buy tickets the "normal" way.
MancBlue
Registered
I think it changed after the Treble season, City started ramping up prices then.
This started protests which coincided with a poor season and so the club dropped prices.
The new stand was a great opportunity for MCFC to get a singing section going at the stadium with lower prices but it looks like its going to be a corporate dream now.
MancBlue
Registered
If any NYCFC fans are coming to a game at MCFC in future be sure to let me know on here.
The club’s ideal number was 25k expandable to 35k. But they sacrificed that expansion in order to get the deal through the door in what they considered the ideal location in the City.
The issue of pricing out “legacy” fans (an obnoxious term they use if you think about about it) in favor of corporate, premium, tourist, and other “customers” with gobs of disposable money is a problem across all the so called big clubs and beyond, right?
Proper pints at the Townley? I’ll be there March
ZYanksRule
Registered
Yep -- I think pure supply and demand will help to increase our attendance and cause sellouts for at least a few years after the stadium opens.
Anyone know the economics of how the revenue of clubs typically breaks across TV rights, sponsors, merch, player sales and ticket / game day sales?
I ask because I want cheap tickets and I also want a club that will spend on the product I go to see. And I actually want them to spend in all kinds of ways - players, coaches, stadium, facilities, community.
I know we have all discussed at length how badly we think the team spent on players over the last few years, but they did spend. I think we'd be even angrier (or perplexed) if they hadn't spent any transfer fees.
So the team spends. And the money has to come from somewhere. I just wonder what percent of revenue comes from ticket sales vs other sources and how possible it is to have that big spending club while maintaining cheap tickets.
I don’t have the numbers but I think a much bigger proportion comes from ticket sales in MLS than in other sports. Like, a meaningful amount.
MLS clubs are only getting about four mm per from tv after production costs. Clubs like NYC Miami LAFC in top markets with modern suite focused stadiums can hope to push up to 150 a year in stadium revenue. Miami rumored to get 19 for naming rights. Miami will top the jersey sponsor, nyc getting nine. Small clubs closer to 2-3. So in the mls 3.0 world these top clubs can afford nearly a 35-50mm roster while Montreal will still struggle to break even at 12 and Philly is probably comfortable at 25. Expect a monster nyc signing in summer of 26.
LAFC's recent stadium naming rights deal with BMO was reported to be 10 years for $100m
Good comp. I think etihad is paying 9. 5000 premium seats are gonna generate say 25mm per year? Maybe more. The other 20k will generate 40mm. So that’s 75. Concessions. Merch. Then you’ve got summer concerts and soccer tours each worth 1-2mm. 100mm. Debt service on 750 is about 55. No taxes IIRC.
Where have you seen the $9m/year for Etihad?
You're right, I'm wrong. I had it in my head and realize now it's unverified. LAFC deal is 100mm for 10 years. Miami is rumors only. And NYC deal is 20 years without a number. The whole sovereign wealth moving money around thing is so....
EDIT: Found it, shirt sponsor deal from ProSoccerWire (don't know if it's credible)
EDIT: Found it, shirt sponsor deal from ProSoccerWire (don't know if it's credible)
- NYCFC took home the top spot last year with themost lucrative kit deal in the league, earning $9 million from Etihad Airways in 2022. The airline has been a longtime partner of the club as well as others within City Football Group including Manchester City and Melbourne FC. Etihad Airways is based in Abu Dhabi, which also owns a majority stake in City Football Group.
