Anfield Library

[Daniel 7]

Good post.

In reality, it is like that for the majority of football clubs though. I have been to LFC v United, the manchester and north london derby games in the last couple of years and have been surprised how crap the atmosphere can be for such big games.

I think a large contributing factor of this has been the older crowd going to football matches these days. The root cause of this is the ticket prices. They have squeezed and squeezed the fans with regard to this and it has resulted in less and less younger fans going to games. Older people who have their mortgages paid off and don't have kids to spend all their disposable income on can justify it and afford to go to the match.

The irony in all of this is that as TV money has increased - and prize money has increased - it might actually be beneficial to clubs to slash ticket prices. Why? Because a better atmosphere could result in more wins, more points, more success and ultimately more prize money. What we are likely to see soon is clubs investing in measures to make the atmosphere better - so they will spend some of the extra ticket money on fixing the issues created by increasing ticket prices!!!

Look at Germany. Their stadium atmospheres are brilliant. But the next time you are watching a bundesliga game / highlights, take note of the crowd and you will see that it is predominantly young male supporters. They go in groups, go for a few scoops and go and watch the game. In the UK now it is funny how there are a load of fans that sit by themselves - not near any friends.


How do they fix it?? I am not really sure to be honest. Why would LFC drop ticket prices now? In reality they will have a 53,000 (?) seater stadium next year and the new stand will need to start paying for itself. Singing section is effectively the KOP anyway so to have another designated "singing section" will be pretty futile in my view. They also are not going to start kicking out older fans because they need them to pay for the stadium!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if we start to see "crowd sound" blasted out over speakers introduced in stadiums in the next couple of years. And that will end up turning even more of the hardcore fans away!!!

When I was a kid back in Cork, I used to watch LFC games and think "wow....the atmosphere there sounds electric". The thing that pisses me right off now though is the fact that if you watch a game in a busy pub these days, there is generally a better atmosphere than actually going to the game.

Yup, I think I mentioned on here that the atmosphere in a pub I went to in Oslo a couple of seasons back was brilliant - far better than going to Anfield to listen to thousands of cynics tutting at what's happening on the pitch. There was singing, cheering, laughing, mates together round tables with a beer in their hand... Heaven forbid you're allowed a pint within eyeline of a premier league pitch. Even when I don't go to Anfield and watch it on the TV, hearing the players yell at each other over the crowd still sounds wrong. I don't remember that ever being the case in years gone by.... Though that may be down to better mics being positioned all round the pitch too

[Liverpool]

you can blame tourists all you want but theres around 30k season tickets holders, all the prime seats in the kop.

50+ fat middle aged men moaning it not as good as in their day

[RedAndWhite]

you can blame tourists all you want but theres around 30k season tickets holders, all the prime seats in the kop.

50+ fat middle aged men moaning it not as good as in their day

[Vermilion]

you can blame tourists all you want but theres around 30k season tickets holders, all the prime seats in the kop.

50+ fat middle aged men moaning it not as good as in their day

[G]

you can blame tourists all you want but theres around 30k season tickets holders, all the prime seats in the kop.

50+ fat middle aged men moaning it not as good as in their day

As an oot myself, anytime I've been there's been signing around me in the oot filled Anny Road and virtual silence from the largely local filled main and centenary stands. Easy to say it'd be better with more locals but to be honest it'd be better if those locals were much younger, standing with their mates and having a bevy or 5. Same goes for the oots/wools/tourists.

Team being competitive helps too of course as 2013/14 proved.

[baitman]

people are getting random tickets from all sorts of strange sources, 'agents' [touts] who are just selling unused season ticket holders seats, etc.
too many people having a ST but never actually using it. no one gets to sit with mates, a ground full of strangers, maybe a few mates in there but they might be miles away.

[danperkins]

you can blame tourists all you want but theres around 30k season tickets holders, all the prime seats in the kop.

50+ fat middle aged men moaning it not as good as in their day

[Liverpool]

the front 8k in the kop, should be unreserved pay on the door £25. 2 hours before kick off first come first served, enter with your mates and sit with them. Cheap booze in the ground in them 2 hours.

[RoadEnd]

I have a seat in the paddock, main stand. I'm only one of a few round me that sing YNWA and hold a scarf before the game. As for singing during the game, I got told to be quiet once when I joined in with a song from the Kop.

We haven't created a new song for a while. Most songs for players are **** - just a feeble attempt at finding a tune for their surname.

In my view it's ticket prices and the type of person who can afford to go to the game. I never drink before a match and it doesn't stop me from singing.

[S-RED]

the front 8k in the kop, should be unreserved pay on the door £25. 2 hours before kick off first come first served, enter with your mates and sit with them. Cheap booze in the ground in them 2 hours.

that is a great idea, never happen, but a very good suggestion

[rodo]

Atmosphere has been **** for years and won`t get better any time soon far too many people go the match nowadays to be entertained like they are at a concert or something

[frank the tank]

I have a seat in the paddock, main stand. I'm only one of a few round me that sing YNWA and hold a scarf before the game. As for singing during the game, I got told to be quiet once when I joined in with a song from the Kop.

We haven't created a new song for a while. Most songs for players are **** - just a feeble attempt at finding a tune for their surname.

In my view it's ticket prices and the type of person who can afford to go to the game. I never drink before a match and it doesn't stop me from singing.

Snap. Have the exact same experience....

[rodo]

Well I dont wear a scarf and I rarely sing I love a moan and I`m 44 so does that mean I can`t go anymore

[vlahka]

Our home crowd enjoy singing when we're in the lead. But if we're losing they sit there like sullen potatoes. It's no wonder the team has trouble lifting itself.

[rodo]

Our home crowd enjoy singing when we're in the lead. But if we're losing they sit there like sullen potatoes. It's no wonder the team has trouble lifting itself.

works both ways though on sunday the players looked like they had gave up as well when Palace scored just stood there watching them celebrate whilst the mass exodus began