Famous Five Lower - Singing Section v ICT

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

Do people really need their own special section in a very specific part of the ground in order to capture their imagination?

And what if the atmosphere was still pish? Where will they commandeer next?

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Look around Europe and even some teams in the UK for the proof that it works, and these designated areas do indeed capture the imagination of many (hence how they have spread across the continent).

Instead we'll persist with the broken system we have for ticketing (unable to buy tickets for the derby for FFL without a kid, even though there are no seats together) and continue with the sterile, flat atmosphere that we have now.

We really know how to shoot ourselves in the foot.

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Originally Posted by Chuck Rhoades

The ones complaining presumably?

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

We are in danger of alienating an entire generation of young football supporters in Edinburgh if we carry on listening to the demands of a vocal minority that have a backwards attitude to active support. Let’s be serious here, we are not Barcelona, we will not attract young kids to Easter Road through stunning, trailblazing football. It is things like ultra scenes and tifo displays that will attract youngsters away from watching football on their TV screens and into the stadium.

And what does our club do to facilitate that? Nothing. Because a handful of stubborn people have got it in their heads that any help given to Since 1875 is “preferential treatment” and somehow unfair. These people are genuinely damaging the standing of our club, and I really hope there comes a day when Hibs stop listening to them.

A few seasons ago, our atmosphere was the envy of most clubs in Scotland. Now, it is disjointed and piss poor most weeks. I don’t care if you’re not bothered by it, the status quo doesn’t help the team, we NEED to make Easter Road as atmospheric as possible.

So for everyone who complained, well done, if we’re outsung by 400 Caley fans (as I expect we will be) and shooting towards a 10% full FF lower in the second half (as I expect we will be), then you know who to blame, it’s yourselves.

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I agree with everything you're saying about atmosphere, however I don't believe that anything was confirmed by the club regarding changing the set-up for Friday's match.

On February 14th Hibs advertised that ST holders could buy their own seats up until Friday 21st. As soon as that was done there was no way that a singing section was going to be accommodated in the FF lower. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn't telling the whole truth IMO.

People then started criticising the club on this thread because of this - that's the only thing to which I was objecting - unfair criticism of the club.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

We are in danger of alienating an entire generation of young football supporters in Edinburgh if we carry on listening to the demands of a vocal minority that have a backwards attitude to active support. Let’s be serious here, we are not Barcelona, we will not attract young kids to Easter Road through stunning, trailblazing football. It is things like ultra scenes and tifo displays that will attract youngsters away from watching football on their TV screens and into the stadium.

And what does our club do to facilitate that? Nothing. Because a handful of stubborn people have got it in their heads that any help given to Since 1875 is “preferential treatment” and somehow unfair. These people are genuinely damaging the standing of our club, and I really hope there comes a day when Hibs stop listening to them.

A few seasons ago, our atmosphere was the envy of most clubs in Scotland. Now, it is disjointed and piss poor most weeks. I don’t care if you’re not bothered by it, the status quo doesn’t help the team, we NEED to make Easter Road as atmospheric as possible.

So for everyone who complained, well done, if we’re outsung by 400 Caley fans (as I expect we will be) and shooting towards a 10% full FF lower in the second half (as I expect we will be), then you know who to blame, it’s yourselves.

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i support what you guys do and what you are trying to do re FFL and cant understand the resistence I am in my sixties and take my grandsons to ER (we are all st holders - 6 in total) and the kids are always looking to the SS in FFU we are in the East

Good luck as i agree re the lack of atmosphere

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

Your mentality, as displayed on the posts on this thread, is an embarrassment to the Hibs support. Why can you not accept that a decent portion of your team’s fans want a designated section of the ground to make an atmosphere? Why do you try and turn it into some massive conundrum? It’s not difficult, give those who want to make an atmosphere whatever they need to do so, because it is pivotal that we have one, ESPECIALLY for games like Friday night

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You still haven't told me what's embarrassing about what I've posted.

I've been consistent in my support of the club. Whenever I cross swords with people on here, it's almost always because I'm defending the club.

If your embarrassed by that then it's you that has a problem.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

I agree with everything you're saying about atmosphere, however I don't believe that anything was confirmed by the club regarding changing the set-up for Friday's match.

On February 14th Hibs advertised that ST holders could buy their own seats up until Friday 21st. As soon as that was done there was no way that a singing section was going to be accommodated in the FF lower. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn't telling the whole truth IMO.

People then started criticising the club on this thread because of this - that's the only thing to which I was objecting - unfair criticism of the club.

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I have it on good authority that this move was verbally agreed by the club for a one-off and it has now been reversed because of the complaints made from a handful of supporters. It was going to happen, it now isn’t. And when we are kicking towards less than a 1,000, lifeless fans in the second half on Friday, I’ll know exactly which section of our support the blame lies with

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

You still haven't told me what's embarrassing about what I've posted.

I've been consistent in my support of the club. Whenever I cross swords with people on here, it's almost always because I'm defending the club.

If your embarrassed by that then it's you that has a problem.

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I have no issue with you defending the club, it’s not the club I’m attacking here, it’s a portion of self-centred, short-sighted fans who do not understand active support culture and are therefore determined to wreck any meaningful attempts of getting it back off the ground at Easter Road

You said it all when you asked why we even need a designated singing section at Easter Road anyway. Have you heard how sterile the atmosphere is at most games these days?

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

I agree with everything you're saying about atmosphere, however I don't believe that anything was confirmed by the club regarding changing the set-up for Friday's match.

On February 14th Hibs advertised that ST holders could buy their own seats up until Friday 21st. As soon as that was done there was no way that a singing section was going to be accommodated in the FF lower. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn't telling the whole truth IMO.

People then started criticising the club on this thread because of this - that's the only thing to which I was objecting - unfair criticism of the club.

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Why couldn’t it happen? There is less than 100 tickets sold in that section other than the front two rows.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

I have it on good authority that this move was verbally agreed by the club for a one-off and it has now been reversed because of the complaints made from a handful of supporters. It was going to happen, it now isn’t. And when we are kicking towards less than a 1,000, lifeless fans in the second half on Friday, I’ll know exactly which section of our support that the blame lies

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You're wrong to blame people in the family section. Their section until informed otherwise by the club- which until now they haven't been.

It's not the fault of those that are there that the place isn't fuller.

Neither is it their fault if they don't waant to take their kids to a behind the goal singing section - that isn't what they bought their tickets for.

I think something has to change in the FFL, it makes perfect sense to turn it into the rowdier area of the stadium, preferably with safe standing installed and the family pricing scheme relocated, maybe to the FFU?

I don’t think commandeering an area of the ground during the season - with or without the permission of the club - is the way to do it though. After all it’s not the supporters that need to be encouraged towards change but the club.

I don’t like the way that the club have handled this, by coming and going on the decision then changing their mind - if that’s the case, I’m not privy to information.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

I have it on good authority that this move was verbally agreed by the club for a one-off and it has now been reversed because of the complaints made from a handful of supporters. It was going to happen, it now isn’t. And when we are kicking towards less than a 1,000, lifeless fans in the second half on Friday, I’ll know exactly which section of our support the blame lies with

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Don’t blame the supporters. It’s not their fault they don’t want seats that some them will have had for 20 years changed.

Massive opportunity missed if this was agreed and the club have gone back on it (I don't know if that is the case).

I would be pretty certain there would be youngsters looking at Easter Road on the tele thinking to themselves "that looks ****ing amazing I want a bit of that". That's how you grow a fanbase. Ultra groups are all the rage. Motherwell are winning fan awards because of theirs, bloody Motherwell.

Like a previous poster said. We really don't help ourselves

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

I agree with everything you're saying about atmosphere, however I don't believe that anything was confirmed by the club regarding changing the set-up for Friday's match.

On February 14th Hibs advertised that ST holders could buy their own seats up until Friday 21st. As soon as that was done there was no way that a singing section was going to be accommodated in the FF lower. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn't telling the whole truth IMO.

People then started criticising the club on this thread because of this - that's the only thing to which I was objecting - unfair criticism of the club.

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To be honest the club are fully to blame, why you wouldn't want to take on board the opinions of a group of people who want to create a bit of atmosphere is beyond me. Instead listening to the views of, genuinely, a handful of people in a stadium that's rarely 60/70% full.

This is something the club should have set out a long time ago, never mind now. So i would say they are fully to blame here.

The club should be throwing a bit of weight behind this and partially funding things like displays and tifo's which is going to attract a lot more people to the club, whether they are lifelong fans or visitors its a no brainer. It works for almost every club in Germany and probably most of europe.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

You're wrong to blame people in the family section. Their section until informed otherwise by the club- which until now they haven't been.

It's not the fault of those that are there that the place isn't fuller.

Neither is it their fault if they don't waant to take their kids to a behind the goal singing section - that isn't what they bought their tickets for.

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I’m not blaming those in the family section, but less than 100 tickets have been bought for Friday night in this part of the ground. SURELY, for the good of the team, move to the side for one game, and let a group of people determined to sing their hearts out for 90 minutes have that block for one game and see if it has a positive impact, I’m sure it would

Sadly, as I’ve said, the club seem to wilt to a bunch of dinosaurs who refuse to learn what active support actually entails on almost any issue. I’ll repeat again, we need an active support at Easter Road, otherwise - regardless of success on the pitch - the good feeling around Hibs will evaporate when things start to go south

At least then, maybe those who want to make an atmosphere will get free reign over where they want to stand, and we can make Easter Road an intimidating atmosphere once more

So nothing was official, someone complained on the back of a rumour and the club have retracted?

Sounds ridiculous. It’d be more likely that nothing was agreed in the first place.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

I have no issue with you defending the club, it’s not the club I’m attacking here, it’s a portion of self-centred, short-sighted fans who do not understand active support culture and are therefore determined to wreck any meaningful attempts of getting it back off the ground at Easter Road

You said it all when you asked why we even need a designated singing section at Easter Road anyway. Have you heard how sterile the atmosphere is at most games these days?

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The Taylor report and the SPL's unforced implementation of it in Scotland scunnered the atmosphere at matches.

I'm all for initiatives to bring the atmosphere back, but it has to be done properly - club & fans hand in hand.

Friday was never happening as proposed in this thread.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Don’t blame the supporters. It’s not their fault they don’t want seats that some them will have had for 20 years changed.

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For *one* game for the benefit of the atmosphere in a Scottish Cup quarter final tie that won’t have the greatest of attendances anyway?

I despair at the backwardness of this mentality, “it’s ma seat”, it’s a piece of bloody plastic for crying out loud. This was not billed as any sort of permanent move, just a one-off. But of course, the usual voices protest and the club wilts to them, to the detriment of our team’s chances of progressing on Friday night

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

So nothing was official, someone complained on the back of a rumour and the club have retracted?

Sounds ridiculous. It’d be more likely that nothing was agreed in the first place.

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Agree with this. What is also ridiculous though, IMO, is the continual lack of appetite from the club to do anything in that part of the ground where we have problems due to self imposed restrictions.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

You're wrong to blame people in the family section. Their section until informed otherwise by the club- which until now they haven't been.

It's not the fault of those that are there that the place isn't fuller.

Neither is it their fault if they don't waant to take their kids to a behind the goal singing section - that isn't what they bought their tickets for.

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There is still absolutely nothing about this area being a family section for Fridays game, and like I said I’d imagine a majority of kids will be like my own, and myself back in the day whereby the singing section is a huge reason behind them wanting to keep coming back. Sitting in a quiet stand, in the freezing cold/pishing rain is not going to make them want to come back.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

I have it on good authority that this move was verbally agreed by the club for a one-off and it has now been reversed because of the complaints made from a handful of supporters. It was going to happen, it now isn’t. And when we are kicking towards less than a 1,000, lifeless fans in the second half on Friday, I’ll know exactly which section of our support the blame lies with

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What was verbally agreed though? That there would be a lift of the accompanying child restrictions in the FF lower? When had the club planned on announcing this? The game is in four days time and tickets have already been on sale for three days.

IMO there's no way that the club ever agreed to lift any ticket restrictions for this match. What most likely happened is the singing section approached them after initial ST sales window ended (when this thread was posted) and said to the club, we're going to move down to FF lower, to which the club probably said 'Aye on you go'. (nothing to stop them so long as there's an accompanying child).

If ticket restrictions were going to be lifted there's no way the club would do this halfway through ticket sales and it would have been communicated well in advance. I don't think they ever agreed to it.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

We are in danger of alienating an entire generation of young football supporters in Edinburgh if we carry on listening to the demands of a vocal minority that have a backwards attitude to active support. Let’s be serious here, we are not Barcelona, we will not attract young kids to Easter Road through stunning, trailblazing football. It is things like ultra scenes and tifo displays that will attract youngsters away from watching football on their TV screens and into the stadium.

And what does our club do to facilitate that? Nothing. Because a handful of stubborn people have got it in their heads that any help given to Since 1875 is “preferential treatment” and somehow unfair. These people are genuinely damaging the standing of our club, and I really hope there comes a day when Hibs stop listening to them.

A few seasons ago, our atmosphere was the envy of most clubs in Scotland. Now, it is disjointed and piss poor most weeks. I don’t care if you’re not bothered by it, the status quo doesn’t help the team, we NEED to make Easter Road as atmospheric as possible.

So for everyone who complained, well done, if we’re outsung by 400 Caley fans (as I expect we will be) and shooting towards a 10% full FF lower in the second half (as I expect we will be), then you know who to blame, it’s yourselves.

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What would stop a group of fans buying where ever in the ground and singing if they wanted to do that if sales are so low?

You couldn’t make it up.

Fans precious about their seats in a near empty FF stand denying fellow fans a chance to come and help the team progress to a semi final.

The club and staff should get criticism as they are clueless how to engage with the support at times and move with the times.

The ST renewals will be going out again soon and I hope they have thought what the plan is for the singing section as the current location isn’t working and ignoring it won’t fix it.

Also ignoring the fact the FF is always empty for cup games and nearly 50% full for most home games except Hearts when it still isn’t full even though is supposedly sold out isn’t right. Change is required.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

Don’t blame the supporters. It’s not their fault they don’t want seats that some them will have had for 20 years changed.

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It’s a piece of plastic inside of a stadium that is a hangover from a badly put together Taylor Report, which was created with the intention of absolving negligent police officers and gentrifying football for good.

How I wish we could return to the days where “your seat” was not a thing, and you simply sat/stood wherever you fancied. Did you notice that the atmosphere was better then too? That’s not a strange coincidence, there’s a direct correlation.

Aberdeen last month allowed their Merkland (family) end to be turned into a one-off ‘red shed’, with unallocated tickets and standing allowed. The result? A vastly improved atmosphere for a game between Aberdeen and Dumbarton. Hopefully, Ron Gordon will take a leaf out Cormack’s book and realise that upsetting a few .net overthinkers is a price worth paying for improving the Easter Road atmosphere.

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Originally Posted by GreenCastle

You couldn’t make it up.

Fans precious about their seats in a near empty FF stand denying fellow fans a chance to come and help the team progress to a semi final.

The club and staff should get criticism as they are clueless how to engage with the support at times and move with the times.

The ST renewals will be going out again soon and I hope they have thought what the plan is for the singing section as the current location isn’t working and ignoring it won’t fix it.

Also ignoring the fact the FF is always empty for cup games and nearly 50% full for most home games except Hearts when it still isn’t full even though is supposedly sold out isn’t right. Change is required.

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I take it you're not criticising the club here either?

Makes a change eh?

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Originally Posted by GreenCastle

You couldn’t make it up.

Fans precious about their seats in a near empty FF stand denying fellow fans a chance to come and help the team progress to a semi final.

The club and staff should get criticism as they are clueless how to engage with the support at times and move with the times.

The ST renewals will be going out again soon and I hope they have thought what the plan is for the singing section as the current location isn’t working and ignoring it won’t fix it.

Also ignoring the fact the FF is always empty for cup games and nearly 50% full for most home games except Hearts when it still isn’t full even though is supposedly sold out isn’t right. Change is required.

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There’s nothing stopping anyone coming - there just won’t be any organised fun for them.

And there’s nothing to say the club agreed it and others are “stopping” the organised fun.

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Originally Posted by JimBHibees

What would stop a group of fans buying where ever in the ground and singing if they wanted to do that if sales are so low?

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You can’t buy a ticket in the FFL without purchasing a child’s ticket

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

I take it you're not criticising the club here either?

Makes a change eh?

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I’m criticising it here as it’s another missed opportunity.

This is my view and you are in the minority so give it a rest or please give solutions and stop trolling folk on this thread.

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Originally Posted by GreenCastle

I’m criticising it here as it’s another missed opportunity.

This is my view and you are in the minority so give it a rest or please give solutions and stop trolling folk on this thread.

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You don’t know it’s a minority and someone disagreeing with you doesn’t make them a troll.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

For *one* game for the benefit of the atmosphere in a Scottish Cup quarter final tie that won’t have the greatest of attendances anyway?

I despair at the backwardness of this mentality, “it’s ma seat”, it’s a piece of bloody plastic for crying out loud. This was not billed as any sort of permanent move, just a one-off. But of course, the usual voices protest and the club wilts to them, to the detriment of our team’s chances of progressing on Friday night

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I agree with the principle, but others will argue that they want to sit where they’ve always sat. I’ve suggested solutions to this issue on other threads about giving them first dibs to relocate elsewhere in the stadium and rip the seats out of the FFL, so I’m not here defending the mentality, I’m saying that these kinds of things really should trialled pre season, or maybe give it over entirely to the cup competitions.

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

So nothing was official, someone complained on the back of a rumour and the club have retracted?

Sounds ridiculous. It’d be more likely that nothing was agreed in the first place.

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With you on this one. Sounds like a rehashed attempt of the previous failed attempt to hijack the FFL by a small, vocal and opinionated group which ultimately backfired and led to the current ban on buying singles for adults or upgrading kids tickets to the detriment of the wider support.

If KP, who is actually a director of the club, has not been able to confirm what must have been a board or at least CEO approved decision I'll treat claims that this was agreed then pulled after complaints with a sizable pinch of the old Saxa.

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Originally Posted by mcohibs

What was verbally agreed though? That there would be a lift of the accompanying child restrictions in the FF lower? When had the club planned on announcing this? The game is in four days time and tickets have already been on sale for three days.

IMO there's no way that the club ever agreed to lift any ticket restrictions for this match. What most likely happened is the singing section approached them after initial ST sales window ended (when this thread was posted) and said to the club, we're going to move down to FF lower, to which the club probably said 'Aye on you go'. (nothing to stop them so long as there's an accompanying child).

If ticket restrictions were going to be lifted there's no way the club would do this halfway through ticket sales and it would have been communicated well in advance. I don't think they ever agreed to it.

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You’re naïve in the extreme if you think the club relay everything to the wider fanbase first before doing it . I’m sure I’ve read on here before that they and the group have had meetings where stuff like this gets discussed.

Also, this idea that each member of the singing section were going to have to take a child in with them? 😂 It’s not a mascots in the tunnel situation and I’m confident in saying that the club were going to overlook it.

Something obviously needs to be sorted out, but for the start of next season.

Anything sooner isn't going to happen.

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Originally Posted by GreenCastle

I’m criticising it here as it’s another missed opportunity.

This is my view and you are in the minority so give it a rest or please give solutions and stop trolling folk on this thread.

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No a minority view. It looks as though the singing section have decided to move down to FF lower after the ST priority window and after tickets had already went on general sale on Friday.

Something like this needs to be planned well in advance to give the club the opportunity to accommodate and explore lifting ticket testrictions in that area. That takes a lot of planning through Ticketmaster etc.

Not the club's fault if the decision for singing section to relocate for this game was sprung on them.

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

You don’t know it’s a minority and someone disagreeing with you doesn’t make them a troll.

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The majority on this thread want action. More want action than don’t.

Anyway hopeful change can happen for next season as this season we have missed the boat again trying to improve ER match day experiences.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

Something obviously needs to be sorted out, but for the start of next season.

Anything sooner isn't going to happen.

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By which point we’ll have alienated another 50 or so young fans who are fed up of trying their best to create an atmosphere at Easter Road only to run into endless brick walls in doing so.

Read up on the Red Ultras at Aberdeen if you don’t believe me, obstinance from boards and fans alike kills active support, and I would not blame the folk in Since1875 if they gave up before long

We have to start treating those who want to make an atmosphere at Easter Road as a priority, and I know that will irk those of you who think “but singing doesn’t make you a better fan” or “I used to sing back in the day”, however it’s a harsh truth. The way football is going, we need all the vocal backing we can get, and the fact even a one-off trial is met with this level of resistance from some is an absolute embarrassment, in my eyes

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Originally Posted by May2116

Hearts games should be treated as a totally desperate entity, it’s going to sell out so we need to have a priority window of some sort.

In smaller games where the majority of the stadium lies empty, and 10% or less take up the option of their own seat/discount then we need to look at other ways to group everyone together and create an atmosphere, to me that is closing top sections of the ground until they are needed to open.

I’m fed up sitting in a soulless atmosphere for smaller cup games just for the sake of some wee guy getting to sit in the west upper corner on his own, when reality is he would probably have absolutely no issue sitting in the lower tier.

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There's absolutely no chance of that happening.

"I realise you and your mates have had a ST in that seat for many years, but you're going to have to sit in the last row of the lower tier."

"Aye, well you can stick next year's season tickets where the sun doesn't shine".

That would be totally self defeating.

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Originally Posted by Jones28

I agree with the principle, but others will argue that they want to sit where they’ve always sat. I’ve suggested solutions to this issue on other threads about giving them first dibs to relocate elsewhere in the stadium and rip the seats out of the FFL, so I’m not here defending the mentality, I’m saying that these kinds of things really should trialled pre season, or maybe give it over entirely to the cup competitions.

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How can you work out if its going to work or not over 1 or 2 games though? especially in a pointless friendly against Swansea or some pish like that? or Forfar in the league cup.

This needs to be trialled for a season and hopefully next, ideally safe standing in the FF Lower, the club properly throwing their weight behind it, engaging with the fans that want to carry out displays and partially funding them.

to the 10 or 15 people that might have a problem with this to the extent they feel the need to send a strongly worded email to the club then tough. find a new seat. would rather look over the that part of the ground and see it absolutely bouncing than how its been since it was built.

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Originally Posted by BoomtownHibeys

You can’t buy a ticket in the FFL without purchasing a child’s ticket

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Is that still the case or have they changed it ?

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Originally Posted by HFCEighteen75

You’re naïve in the extreme if you think the club relay everything to the wider fanbase first before doing it . I’m sure I’ve read on here before that they and the group have had meetings where stuff like this gets discussed.

Also, this idea that each member of the singing section were going to have to take a child in with them? 😂 It’s not a mascots in the tunnel situation and I’m confident in saying that the club were going to overlook it.

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'This idea' is the current regulations when buying a ticket in the FF lower. What makes you confident that the club were planning to overlook it? When were they going to announce this? When were they planning to overwrte Ticketmaster's block on purchasing single seat tickets in that section? The game is in four days time with tickets on sale three days ago.

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

By which point we’ll have alienated another 50 or so young fans who are fed up of trying their best to create an atmosphere at Easter Road only to run into endless brick walls in doing so.

Read up on the Red Ultras at Aberdeen if you don’t believe me, obstinance from boards and fans alike kills active support, and I would not blame the folk in Since1875 if they gave up before long

We have to start treating those who want to make an atmosphere at Easter Road as a priority, and I know that will irk those of you who think “but singing doesn’t make you a better fan” or “I used to sing back in the day”, however it’s a harsh truth. The way football is going, we need all the vocal backing we can get, and the fact even a one-off trial is met with this level of resistance from some is an absolute embarrassment, in my eyes

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How do you feel about alienating all the parents and their children?

There's a lot more of them than 50.

Also, in terms of the “don’t blame the club” line, I think our board have done many great things (most recently the greenest club in Scotland initiative - which I think is fantastic!) but they are due criticism on this specific issue, and they have been due it for several years now. They are absolutely determined to turn a blind eye to it, kick it into the long grass and just hope the status quo remains. Surely it can’t go on for any longer, especially when so many fans agree something HAS to be done to address the poor atmosphere at Easter Road

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Originally Posted by May2116

Hearts games should be treated as a totally desperate entity, it’s going to sell out so we need to have a priority window of some sort.

In smaller games where the majority of the stadium lies empty, and 10% or less take up the option of their own seat/discount then we need to look at other ways to group everyone together and create an atmosphere, to me that is closing top sections of the ground until they are needed to open.

I’m fed up sitting in a soulless atmosphere for smaller cup games just for the sake of some wee guy getting to sit in the west upper corner on his own, when reality is he would probably have absolutely no issue sitting in the lower tier.

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Your reckoning of probability may owe more to it fitting your own perceptions and bias than any meaningful canvassing of opinion. Here’s mine:

I’d take great exception to moving down to the lower tier and swapping that with my great seat - which is further from the potential bad weather, has a great view and is not squeezed into a narrower space. I appreciate the option to move for cup games but am disinclined to do so.

Why do folk want to close the west upper for some cup games? Is to try and force an ‘atmosphere’ or to look good for the cameras? If it is the former then they are flogging a horse well beyond rigour mortis - there has not really been an ‘atmosphere’ in the west since the old north wing standees could stamp their feet.:wink: Moving folk down from the tier above will not change that.

Custom and practice is that you can have your season seat for cup games which has been the case from when cup games were removed from the season ticket.

The atmosphere that folk are looking to return is one rooted in the ability to stand and congregate together as desired. The fan influenced choice of a single tier east stand in retrospect was a mistake not just for the lengthy time to exit but the steepness makes it harder for a standing area to be placed there, i.e. where the atmosphere had naturally occurred in particular after the ‘benching’ of the cave behind the goals.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

Something obviously needs to be sorted out, but for the start of next season.

Anything sooner isn't going to happen.

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Season ticket renewals will be starting any day now, if previous years are anything to go by.

You’re not seriously suggesting that the club will just throw something together in August and hope for the best?

And anyway as has been pointed out Friday is a big match, the sort that could determine how many season ticket holders we have next year (particularly if we make a final). The club has a chance to give Hibs an edge (open to debate how big this edge is but I think it’s a significant one personally) by putting our most active, loudest support right behind the goals. It works across Britain and Europe, and it could be a difference maker on Friday.

The fact that it’s not looking likely to happen because maybe twenty season ticket holders in the FF Lower have some slavish devotion to sitting in their bit of plastic is a testament to Hibs’ priorities being completely wrong. Give the young team a section in the lower for the night and let them crack on with it. Simple as.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcohibs

'This idea' is the current regulations when buying a ticket in the FF lower. What makes you confident that the club were planning to overlook it? When were they going to announce this? When were they planning to overwrte Ticketmaster's block on purchasing single seat tickets in that section? The game is in four days time with tickets on sale three days ago.

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Wouldnt be difficult to do considering we have sold less than 100 tickets as it stands.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

How do you feel about alienating all the parents and their children?

There's a lot more of them than 50.

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Honestly? I would say almost every single area at Easter Road is essentially a family stand right now (Hearts and OF games aside). The whole point of having a family section is it’s meant to differentiate from more boisterous areas. What our club (and a portion of our fans) seem to want is a sterile ground with an even more sterile area behind the goals. It’s just ridiculous, I will never stop criticising those who want the status quo to remain, they are completely and utterly wrong

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

Also, in terms of the “don’t blame the club” line, I think our board have done many great things (most recently the greenest club in Scotland initiative - which I think is fantastic!) but they are due criticism on this specific issue, and they have been due it for several years now. They are absolutely determined to turn a blind eye to it, kick it into the long grass and just hope the status quo remains. Surely it can’t go on for any longer, especially when so many fans agree something HAS to be done to address the poor atmosphere at Easter Road

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Did the club help with the last move the singing section made? I’m sure they were involved in relocating several fans who had been in seats for years and liked them due to the access etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

We have to start treating those who want to make an atmosphere at Easter Road as a priority, and I know that will irk those of you who think “but singing doesn’t make you a better fan” or “I used to sing back in the day”, however it’s a harsh truth

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Having a drum, some flags on sticks and knocking out a couple of songs now and again doesn’t mean anyone should be treated with any kind of priority.

Just IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GreenCastle

You couldn’t make it up.

Fans precious about their seats in a near empty FF stand denying fellow fans a chance to come and help the team progress to a semi final.

The club and staff should get criticism as they are clueless how to engage with the support at times and move with the times.

The ST renewals will be going out again soon and I hope they have thought what the plan is for the singing section as the current location isn’t working and ignoring it won’t fix it.

Also ignoring the fact the FF is always empty for cup games and nearly 50% full for most home games except Hearts when it still isn’t full even though is supposedly sold out isn’t right. Change is required.

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Change isn't necessarily required for the family section. It is what it is and that has to be accepted somewhat.

We all like to see the high season ticket numbers, we want to encourage a new generation of fans - family areas and family pricing are part of that.

Empty seats are an issue if they aren't sold - these are largely sold. It is only going to be an issue when fans that want to come to games can't get a ticket. Even then, if that's the case - buy a season ticket when you get a chance.

It has been covered lots of times on here - families don't always go, it's not always the same ones that are empty - that's just the way it is. I wouldn't discourage people from buying season tickets so that the odd walk up on a very rare occasion that they can't get a ticket has an issue. How many genuine full sell outs have we had?

I bought my daughter a season ticket in the East when she was 2. That was 10 years ago, when we had basically the whole block to ourselves because it was empty back then. I still buy that season ticket every year. She's been to about 2 games a season on average and it is empty the rest of the time. There will be a lit of similar situations, more concentrated in that family area.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

Having a drum, some flags on sticks and knocking out a couple of songs now and again doesn’t mean anyone should be treated with any kind of priority.

Just IMO.

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When the alternative is sitting for 90 minutes and not contributing whatsoever to the atmosphere, then I think they should be treated with some sort of respect for the fact that, without them, Easter Road’s atmosphere would be even worse than it currently is

It used to be good a few years ago, mind. It’s not like this is an impossible task to make it decent again

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

So nothing was official, someone complained on the back of a rumour and the club have retracted?

Sounds ridiculous. It’d be more likely that nothing was agreed in the first place.

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I agree.

"The club" verbally agreed according to a good source.

It's a perfect hibs.net FACT.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

Did the club help with the last move the singing section made? I’m sure they were involved in relocating several fans who had been in seats for years and liked them due to the access etc.

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Yup.

And now they’ve decided they don’t like that place, then some people would like to see more long standing season ticket holders punted out their seats to make way for where they want to go this time.

Bottom line is, the atmosphere in the stadium is dictated largely by what’s going on on the pitch. The ground will be noisier when the team is doing a lot of attacking and playing good football.

To be fair to those pushing for it, we only need to look at a club like Killie or Aberdeen who've tried something like this recently.

Killie installed 300 or so safe standing seats behind the goals and now their home is a fortress, I could barely hear the BT sports commentators when we went down there. It obviously works as well, as we didn't come away with any points from that game.

Looking at the Aberdeen example, which is probably closer to what people are suggesting and look how well it worked for them. They had 6th place in league 1 Dumbarton and trialled putting everyone behind the one goal - end result - a fenerbache like atmosphere which roared the dons on to a huge win.

In addition, look at the average attendances for both clubs since then too - Through the roof.

We either have an entitled section of the support who pursues their own priorities without the support of the club, or

We have a club that doesn’t take the time to think through what they allow fans to try out and too late realise that they just can’t tear up their own ground rules.


Personally I don’t buy the idea that the fans are at fault here (either those trying to move the singing section or those that had bought tickets as normal).

What we have is another example of a Director of the club stepping into a vacuum left by the SLO.

Hopefully the plans that are about to be announced address this.








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

When the alternative is sitting for 90 minutes and not contributing whatsoever to the atmosphere, then I think they should be treated with some sort of respect for the fact that, without them, Easter Road’s atmosphere would be even worse than it currently is

It used to be good a few years ago, mind. It’s not like this is an impossible task to make it decent again

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So what exactly do you you expect this priority treatment they should be getting given to be?

I am 100% in favour of moving the singing section to FF lower but I don't think the club should be in for criticism when there's no evidence to suggest that for Friday there was ever actually a properly planned out strategy for moving them down there (including removal of ticket restrictions), bar someone on here posting that they 'heard through the grapevine' that the club agreed to it and have now backed down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

Yup.

And now they’ve decided they don’t like that place, then some people would like to see more long standing season ticket holders punted out their seats to make way for where they want to go this time.

Bottom line is, the atmosphere in the stadium is dictated largely by what’s going on on the pitch. The ground will be noisier when the team is doing a lot of attacking and playing good football.

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They are trying to do something about the dreadful atmosphere I don’t think it has to do with “liking” anything?

We’re at risk of seeing the 2/300 up there packing it in completely then we’ll be even worse off than we are now which is unimaginable given how good the atmosphere only 3 seasons ago.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

Honestly? I would say almost every single area at Easter Road is essentially a family stand right now (Hearts and OF games aside). The whole point of having a family section is it’s meant to differentiate from more boisterous areas. What our club (and a portion of our fans) seem to want is a sterile ground with an even more sterile area behind the goals. It’s just ridiculous, I will never stop criticising those who want the status quo to remain, they are completely and utterly wrong

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Ok, but how do you feel about alienating those parents and children who have paid to sit there?

I'd be pissed off if you told me to move to somewhere I didn't want to go because someone who might not even have a ST wanted to sit there.

I don't read many people arguing that the status quo should be maintained indefinitely, but there's a way to do this, and the current suggestion isn't it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

There's absolutely no chance of that happening.

"I realise you and your mates have had a ST in that seat for many years, but you're going to have to sit in the last row of the lower tier."

"Aye, well you can stick next year's season tickets where the sun doesn't shine".

That would be totally self defeating.

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It’s not a perk that’s noted at the time of the sales of season tickets, and if someone buys a season ticket purely because they can keep their own seat for cup games then I’d question their intentions.

Also, they wouldn’t have to sit in the last row of any lower tier, they could literally pick 90% of the seats as less than 10% have purchased a seat in the priority window, presumably much less than this are season ticket holders buying their own seat as some sold will be walk up supporters.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

Honestly? I would say almost every single area at Easter Road is essentially a family stand right now (Hearts and OF games aside). The whole point of having a family section is it’s meant to differentiate from more boisterous areas. What our club (and a portion of our fans) seem to want is a sterile ground with an even more sterile area behind the goals. It’s just ridiculous, I will never stop criticising those who want the status quo to remain, they are completely and utterly wrong

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Why target the one area that is most definitely for families? There's a whole rest of the stadium to play with if you think everywhere is too quiet.

This thought that atmospheres need to be co-ordinated and accompanied by drums and so on is a bit odd. 4 or 5 of us together used to start songs left, right and centre from under the gantry back in the day.

If you are starting stuff folk know it takes off - if you are expecting whole stands to pick up the new tune of the day then it will be a non starter. The classics were all there for a reason!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

Ok, but how do you feel about alienating those parents and children who have paid to sit there?

I'd be pissed off if you told me to move to somewhere I didn't want to go because someone who might not even have a ST wanted to sit there.

I don't read many people arguing that the status quo should be maintained indefinitely, but there's a way to do this, and the current suggestion isn't it.

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Kids can sit beside the singing section, they’re not exclusive of each other. Why is everyone of the opinion that youngsters don’t want to sit beside within the atmosphere?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chuck Rhoades

They are trying to do something about the dreadful atmosphere I don’t think it has to do with “liking” anything?

We’re at risk of seeing the 2/300 up there packing it in completely then we’ll be even worse off than we are now which is unimaginable given how good the atmosphere only 3 seasons ago.

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Surely they wouldn’t stop supporting the club because they couldn’t sit in the FFL?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by malcolm

Your reckoning of probability may owe more to it fitting your own perceptions and bias than any meaningful canvassing of opinion. Here’s mine:

I’d take great exception to moving down to the lower tier and swapping that with my great seat - which is further from the potential bad weather, has a great view and is not squeezed into a narrower space. I appreciate the option to move for cup games but am disinclined to do so.

Why do folk want to close the west upper for some cup games? Is to try and force an ‘atmosphere’ or to look good for the cameras? If it is the former then they are flogging a horse well beyond rigour mortis - there has not really been an ‘atmosphere’ in the west since the old north wing standees could stamp their feet.:wink: Moving folk down from the tier above will not change that.

Custom and practice is that you can have your season seat for cup games which has been the case from when cup games were removed from the season ticket.

The atmosphere that folk are looking to return is one rooted in the ability to stand and congregate together as desired. The fan influenced choice of a single tier east stand in retrospect was a mistake not just for the lengthy time to exit but the steepness makes it harder for a standing area to be placed there, i.e. where the atmosphere had naturally occurred in particular after the ‘benching’ of the cave behind the goals.

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Nothing to do with bias, well apart from wanting a better atmosphere really. I also couldn’t care about cameras, purely for atmosphere and costings for the club. If we don’t need to open the top tier then we shouldn’t, we don’t open the top tier of the away support if they are coming in small numbers and the same should be used for the home crowd for small cup games.

Everyone packed in tightly with no massive spaces in between leads to a better atmosphere as it suddenly feels fuller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chuck Rhoades

We’re at risk of seeing the 2/300 up there packing it in completely then we’ll be even worse off than we are now which is unimaginable given how good the atmosphere only 3 seasons ago.

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Why would they stop going?

I've given this thread a miss, as I'm one of those that has a seat in the FFL. To be honest, I can't be bothered with entering into the debate, as I know I'll be shouted down.

My tuppence worth is that I would happily relocate from the FFL, however when I check to see what seats are currently available it's all single seats that's no use for my party of five. I'm sure that's the same with the family beside me, who have six tickets and those in front of me with four, and those beside them that have five etc etc. Yes, there's probably seats in the far ends of the East and West, but there's a reason no-one buys these seats - the view is rubbish.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I was moved from our seats in the FFL I would probably not renew my party of five tickets. I like my seats and have built up a great friendship will the people beside me. If I was moved, I would likely pick and choose which games I go to and where I sit. The net result would be the loss of five season tickets, albeit the majority being kids.

No doubt I'll get the "but think about the atmosphere, that's what matters" response, which is why I'll abstain from this thread.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andy74

Why target the one area that is most definitely for families? There's a whole rest of the stadium to play with if you think everywhere is too quiet.

This thought that atmospheres need to be co-ordinated and accompanied by drums and so on is a bit odd. 4 or 5 of us together used to start songs left, right and centre from under the gantry back in the day.

If you are starting stuff folk know it takes off - if you are expecting whole stands to pick up the new tune of the day then it will be a non starter. The classics were all there for a reason!

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This is such a false argument, up there with “the atmosphere’s good when the team plays well”. Look around you on a match day. Look how few people actually stand for 90 minutes, never mind sing. It’s not like I’m harking back to a bygone era, the atmosphere in 2016 was booming some games.

Yes, the singing section made a mistake moving (although that was influenced by some people attaching themselves to the group and causing trouble), but that doesn’t mean they should be stuck there “because it will upset fans if they move again”

Truthfully, I do not care if a few fans are upset about losing their seat, I do not care one bit. It doesn’t influence the team’s performance on the pitch, which atmosphere actually does. So yes, I would move every family who didn’t want to sing, there are plenty of places in the ground for that. There are only one or two logical places for a singing section to be situated, and behind the goals is one of them

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

Why would they stop going?

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Because the club make it a thankless task, they wouldn’t stop attending altogether, but they may stop attending as an active group. That would be the final nail in the coffin for Easter Road’s atmosphere, and we therefore must do all we can to ensure it doesn’t happen. If that means upsetting people who sit on their hands for 90 minutes but happen to have an attachment to a piece of plastic in the FF lower, so be it - in my opinion

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Radium

We either have an entitled section of the support who pursues their own priorities without the support of the club, or

We have a club that doesn’t take the time to think through what they allow fans to try out and too late realise that they just can’t tear up their own ground rules.


Personally I don’t buy the idea that the fans are at fault here (either those trying to move the singing section or those that had bought tickets as normal).

What we have is another example of a Director of the club stepping into a vacuum left by the SLO.

Hopefully the plans that are about to be announced address this.








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Agree entirely on Kieran stepping in for the Supporter Liaison Officer.

I'd be surprised if most of our support were even aware we had a Supporter Liaison Officer, that says a lot in itself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by theonlywayisup

I've given this thread a miss, as I'm one of those that has a seat in the FFL. To be honest, I can't be bothered with entering into the debate, as I know I'll be shouted down.

My tuppence worth is that I would happily relocate from the FFL, however when I check to see what seats are currently available it's all single seats that's no use for my party of five. I'm sure that's the same with the family beside me, who have six tickets and those in front of me with four, and those beside them that have five etc etc. Yes, there's probably seats in the far ends of the East and West, but there's a reason no-one buys these seats - the view is rubbish.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I was moved from our seats in the FFL I would probably not renew my party of five tickets. I like my seats and have built up a great friendship will the people beside me. If I was moved, I would likely pick and choose which games I go to and where I sit. The net result would be the loss of five season tickets, albeit the majority being kids.

No doubt I'll get the "but think about the atmosphere, that's what matters" response, which is why I'll abstain from this thread.

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I know what you’re saying - I’m in the FFU and have looked the last couple of seasons for a move but trying to get more than 2 decent seats together elsewhere is impossible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

Ok, but how do you feel about alienating those parents and children who have paid to sit there?

I'd be pissed off if you told me to move to somewhere I didn't want to go because someone who might not even have a ST wanted to sit there.

I don't read many people arguing that the status quo should be maintained indefinitely, but there's a way to do this, and the current suggestion isn't it.

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I like where I sit. My sons are there, my mates are there, and the folk immediately behind me, and in front, are nice people.
I’d be furious if I was forced to move elsewhere, and given that I have really good folk around me – and that wouldn’t be guaranteed if I had to move, then maybe I’d reconsider renewing.
As it happens, my seat isn’t “in danger” as I am not far away from the current location of the SS guys and gals. To be honest, they don’t really make the ‘atmosphere’ any more exciting than it was previously before they re-located. I couldn’t really hear them when they were in the East, and now that I can ………… well…….. I’m ambivalent.
It’s great stuff ‘standing up if you hate the Hearts’ when your knees don’t complain about it.
I can well understand other folk also getting a bit miffed if they are forced to move away from what may be a ‘comfort zone’ and end up sitting within earshot of some walloper dishing out the abuse to our players.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by May2116

It’s not a perk that’s noted at the time of the sales of season tickets, and if someone buys a season ticket purely because they can keep their own seat for cup games then I’d question their intentions.

Also, they wouldn’t have to sit in the last row of any lower tier, they could literally pick 90% of the seats as less than 10% have purchased a seat in the priority window, presumably much less than this are season ticket holders buying their own seat as some sold will be walk up supporters.

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It's a well known arrangement whether someone has written it down or not.

All clubs give their ST members first refusal to buy their own seat for cup games and rightly so.

They're valuable to the club and should be treated as such.

What you're suggesting would be a huge, self defeating mistake and it just won't happen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chorley Hibee

Agree entirely on Keith stepping in for the Supporter Liaison Officer.

I'd be surprised if most of our support were even aware we had a Supporter Liaison Officer, that says a lot in itself.

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I didn’t realise we had an SLO - I had assumed it was Kieran.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

This is such a false argument, up there with “the atmosphere’s good when the team plays well”. Look around you on a match day. Look how few people actually stand for 90 minutes, never mind sing. It’s not like I’m harking back to a bygone era, the atmosphere in 2016 was booming some games.

Yes, the singing section made a mistake moving (although that was influenced by some people attaching themselves to the group and causing trouble), but that doesn’t mean they should be stuck there “because it will upset fans if they move again”

Truthfully, I do not care if a few fans are upset about losing their seat, I do not care one bit. It doesn’t influence the team’s performance on the pitch, which atmosphere actually does. So yes, I would move every family who didn’t want to sing, there are plenty of places in the ground for that. There are only one or two logical places for a singing section to be situated, and behind the goals is one of them

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Enough said. I'm out of here!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

Because the club make it a thankless task, they wouldn’t stop attending altogether, but they may stop attending as an active group. That would be the final nail in the coffin for Easter Road’s atmosphere, and we therefore must do all we can to ensure it doesn’t happen. If that means upsetting people who sit on their hands for 90 minutes but happen to have an attachment to a piece of plastic in the FF lower, so be it - in my opinion

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As far as I can see, the club has given quite a bit of leeway - they got to move to a different area of the ground when they all wanted seats together (the club even forcibly moved season ticket holders to make way for them), they’ve allowed various tifo displays and they even gave them priority/group tickets for some away games for a period.

What more do you expect them to do?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

Because the club make it a thankless task, they wouldn’t stop attending altogether, but they may stop attending as an active group. That would be the final nail in the coffin for Easter Road’s atmosphere, and we therefore must do all we can to ensure it doesn’t happen. If that means upsetting people who sit on their hands for 90 minutes but happen to have an attachment to a piece of plastic in the FF lower, so be it - in my opinion

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So on the one hand you don't care if some folk have to move because better fans than them want to sit there.

And on the other hand these "better fans" will stop going if they can't get their own way. They're not that good fans if that's the case.

There is zero chance that the club is going to insult current season ticket holders by telling them that they aren't good enough fans to sit in their paid for seat anymore.

From my view in the east the FF attendance could fit in either the lower or upper. That and the main stand attendance is really poor. I totally support the singing section trying new ideas to increase atmosphere. Really poor that the club don’t support there ideas. Just look at the continent and even spurs new ground they are actually designing grounds to help create atmosphere. Our club is doing very little if anything to create atmosphere. I actually feel for the guy on the mike introducing the players he try’s his hardest to get a shout for the players and generally gives up after a few as there is no enthusiasm for it.

Can I ask those involved ...why not head back towards section 42/43?? That’s where most of the other signing comes from these days

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldbutdim

I like where I sit. My sons are there, my mates are there, and the folk immediately behind me, and in front, are nice people.
I’d be furious if I was forced to move elsewhere, and given that I have really good folk around me – and that wouldn’t be guaranteed if I had to move, then maybe I’d reconsider renewing.
As it happens, my seat isn’t “in danger” as I am not far away from the current location of the SS guys and gals. To be honest, they don’t really make the ‘atmosphere’ any more exciting than it was previously before they re-located. I couldn’t really hear them when they were in the East, and now that I can ………… well…….. I’m ambivalent.
It’s great stuff ‘standing up if you hate the Hearts’ when your knees don’t complain about it.
I can well understand other folk also getting a bit miffed if they are forced to move away from what may be a ‘comfort zone’ and end up sitting within earshot of some walloper dishing out the abuse to our players.

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All good points.

I'm in the famous five and good on the young team trying to create an atmoshpere . The East of the stadium has always been where any singing has come from, the old East Terracing , old East Stand and the new East. Probably been answered before why did they move from the East? Why don't they go back to the East for this game ? Closer to the away fans and less likely to get outsung by 300 away fans. More likely to get more same minded fans joining in creating better atmosphere. How many people moved over from the East to joing the signing section in the FF upper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

I didn’t realise we had an SLO - I had assumed it was Kieran.

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That in itself is an issue. Most other clubs’ SLO have a decent presence on social media etc yet most Hibs fans won’t even know ours exists. It’s the first I’ve heard of us having one too. Dempster has done a lot of good but match day experience and fan engagement on matters like this are things she’s got massively wrong by mostly just trying to ignore things and hope they go away instead of actually talking to the fans

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chorley Hibee

Agree entirely on Kieran stepping in for the Supporter Liaison Officer.

I'd be surprised if most of our support were even aware we had a Supporter Liaison Officer, that says a lot in itself.

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To be fair, it's the sort of job that only gets noticed when it's not being done properly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

I didn’t realise we had an SLO - I had assumed it was Kieran.

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No, Colin Millar is his name, but the fact many people aren't even aware of him is a poor reflection on him and the club.

You need to work with the FF Lower ST holders, not against them. They're not your enemy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bigwheel

Can I ask those involved ...why not head back towards section 42/43?? That’s where most of the other signing comes from these days

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It would be great if we actually had 2 areas which created atmosphere

To put aside all the other comments on this thread, I too am stunned to learn we have an SLO, particularly when you see how interactive Aberdeen’s and St Johnstone’s ones are on social media

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Heedersnvolleys

From my view in the east the FF attendance could fit in either the lower or upper. That and the main stand attendance is really poor. I totally support the singing section trying new ideas to increase atmosphere. Really poor that the club don’t support there ideas. Just look at the continent and even spurs new ground they are actually designing grounds to help create atmosphere. Our club is doing very little if anything to create atmosphere. I actually feel for the guy on the mike introducing the players he try’s his hardest to get a shout for the players and generally gives up after a few as there is no enthusiasm for it.

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Re your last sentence. I think part of the reason that there is no build up of atmosphere just before kick off is that the 'stadium announcer'' shouts into
the microphone and plays ear splitting crap music right until a ball is kicked. Perhaps if he toned it down or kept quiet for 10 minutes before kick off things might prove.

This also applies to the atmosphere after a goal is scored. Why is there a need to play music? We know what to do when a goal is scored. We don't need a 'look at me' announcer to kept us right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

Surely they wouldn’t stop supporting the club because they couldn’t sit in the FFL?

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Of course not, I meant their efforts in terms of trying to proactively create an atmosphere / vocally the team along with visual displays etc. Seems like their fighting a losing battle here in terms of the non-existence of SLO / lack of comms with the club.

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Originally Posted by May2116

Nothing to do with bias, well apart from wanting a better atmosphere really. I also couldn’t care about cameras, purely for atmosphere and costings for the club. If we don’t need to open the top tier then we shouldn’t, we don’t open the top tier of the away support if they are coming in small numbers and the same should be used for the home crowd for small cup games.

Everyone packed in tightly with no massive spaces in between leads to a better atmosphere as it suddenly feels fuller.

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Maybe you’d have the directors and hospitality moved down too? :greengrin. I just don’t agree that the main stand attendees will suddenly start singing and bouncing just because there is someone sitting beside them - it does not work for other games. ( Though as to feeling fuller, I may have been known to let a bit of atmosphere escape when I’ve overindulged enough to feel overly full but I don’t think that is conducive to a good atmosphere among anyone nearby :wink:)

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Originally Posted by ABZHFC

To put aside all the other comments on this thread, I too am stunned to learn we have an SLO, particularly when you see how interactive Aberdeen’s and St Johnstone’s ones are on social media

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Agreed, got to wonder what is going on when most of the support aren't even aware he exists.

You'd have thought interacting with the support would have been a prerequisite of the position.

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Originally Posted by bigwheel

Can I ask those involved ...why not head back towards section 42/43?? That’s where most of the other signing comes from these days

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I`d agree with this. The East is historically the home of the more vocal elements of the support, and whether it is high up in the stand or down the front where the group was sited a couple of years back, it would be the more natural area for the 1875 group and would be met with less opposition from those who regularly sit in the East.

Buy up a block in there for the game on Friday and see how it compares to normal?

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Originally Posted by Onceinawhile

To be fair to those pushing for it, we only need to look at a club like Killie or Aberdeen who've tried something like this recently.

Killie installed 300 or so safe standing seats behind the goals and now their home is a fortress, I could barely hear the BT sports commentators when we went down there. It obviously works as well, as we didn't come away with any points from that game.

Looking at the Aberdeen example, which is probably closer to what people are suggesting and look how well it worked for them. They had 6th place in league 1 Dumbarton and trialled putting everyone behind the one goal - end result - a fenerbache like atmosphere which roared the dons on to a huge win.

In addition, look at the average attendances for both clubs since then too - Through the roof.

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There were about 30 Killie fans (and that's estimating very generously) stood in their safe standing area, and the only noise was coming for their small group sited next to the Hibs fans up the back of the stand where the cameras are. Probably where the mics picked it up too.
Aberdeen are unique in the sense that they have two ends populated by home fans making it an easier experiment, but a "Fenerbahçe" like atmosphere? Let`s not get carried away.

Get the group back in the East for this game and see how it differs from the norm - what`s there to lose?

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Originally Posted by bigwheel

Can I ask those involved ...why not head back towards section 42/43?? That’s where most of the other signing comes from these days

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Agreed East Stand is where they belong. Its where the sponaneous singing and atmosphere is generated, without any Capos directing them. Instead of displacing a thousand people the few hundred core group with the drum could surely relocate themselve back to the East into whatever seats are avaikable to movers and leave the families alone.

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Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

So what exactly do you you expect this priority treatment they should be getting given to be?

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they are already given priority ... look at Tynecastle on boxing day, they got a huge amount of tickets allocated to them before they went on sale to the rest of the season ticket holders which was wrong.

I wouldn't have an issue for example if they took a guaranteed 50 tickets for EVERY away game and they got it for tynie as well, but they only go to a few games a season as a group that large so for them to have been given what looked like 200 tickets for Tynie was outrageous.

its the same with supporter buses that go to every game like the Carlton and 2016 to name 2,
if these buses asked for 40 tickets for every away game then, I would have no problem with the club giving them priority for the ones where tickets are at a premium, (i.e. Tynie, celtic, Ibrox and cup matches). what I don't like is when the club allows the Singing section to get the amount of tickets they do for Tynecastle.
It was the same earlier in the season when Ibrox sold out quickly, yet somehow the singing section took a huge number through and miraculously all were together, but a few weeks ago there was probably about 20 of them there in total.

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Originally Posted by Chorley Hibee

Agreed, got to wonder what is going on when most of the support aren't even aware he exists.

You'd have thought interacting with the support would have been a prerequisite of the position.

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Most of the support don't need to know he exists.

the singing section to move to the West stand, we have people who sing in the east .. maybe the singing section can teach the west to sing ... i'm sure that having 2 sides singing would make it a good atmosphere

The entitlement in this thread is giving me the boak!

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Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee

The entitlement in this thread is giving me the boak!

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:agree:

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

It's a well known arrangement whether someone has written it down or not.

All clubs give their ST members first refusal to buy their own seat for cup games and rightly so.

They're valuable to the club and should be treated as such.

What you're suggesting would be a huge, self defeating mistake and it just won't happen.

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Aberdeen obviously don’t going by their initiative last month. We have less than 10% take up of the offer, so we are now looking after this minority over any others. For all we know they may be buying their seats in the window for the discount, because it’s easy (don’t need to look for other seats as it’s a notification). I’m sure a simple question at renewal time ‘would you stop renewing your season ticket if you weren’t guaranteed to purchase it for small cup ties’ would give a big indication.

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Originally Posted by Chorley Hibee

Agreed, got to wonder what is going on when most of the support aren't even aware he exists.

You'd have thought interacting with the support would have been a prerequisite of the position.

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I am a 70year old pensioner who has been in the FF Lower for years .I love my seat as do my family and friends . I would be happy moving to the FFU as long as my family and friends could come with me .

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Originally Posted by May2116

Aberdeen obviously don’t going by their initiative last month. We have less than 10% take up of the offer, so we are now looking after this minority over any others. For all we know they may be buying their seats in the window for the discount, because it’s easy (don’t need to look for other seats as it’s a notification). I’m sure a simple question at renewal time ‘would you stop renewing your season ticket if you weren’t guaranteed to purchase it for small cup ties’ would give a big indication.

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They've already chosen their seats in the family section. There are various reasons why they might do this.

Is that so difficult to understand or respect?

Oh well looking forward to this again then.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

They've already chosen their seats in the family section. There are various reasons why they might do this.

Is that so difficult to understand or respect?

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For league games. Less than 10% have taken up the option to buy their ticket for this cup tie, is that so hard for people to understand or respect the wishes of the rest of our support?

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Originally Posted by HTD1875

Oh well looking forward to this again then.

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But but but respect the majority.