1000 English Fans Travel To Every Dortmund Home Game...

[Gwylan]

I remember seeing a bunch of Scandinavians (complete with horned helmets) at an Exeter v Brighton match in the mid-90s. I have no idea what possessed them to come down to see Exeter - maybe they got their St James's Parks mixed up.

And didn't we have a big block of Dutch supporters at the Amex for a game? I remember them taking their shirts off in the depths of winter

 

[drew]

So, Borrussia has it's obvious appeal but how many English fans travel to other German clubs in such numbers. As others have said, there are plenty of foreign fans travelling to premier league games.

 

[drew]

Be fair, he isn't a 'fan' of bleeding the supporters dry, as you put it. Part of his remit as CEO is to do something about the millions of pounds that the Club is losing down the toilet every year, and to do that, in some cases prices have to go up.

What is he supposed to do? He is a perfectly amiable bloke if you were to meet him, likes a chat about football and a good pint of beer. I feel sorry for the bloke, he is damned by some if he does, and damned by others if he doesn't.

Exactly. How many of these people complaining about being bled dry are the same ones bemoaning the lack of players coming in during transfer windows!

 

[Brighton Breezy]

I went to Hertha Berlin v Schalke on Saturday.

I will definitely be making more trips to German football.

 

[Titanic]

Be fair, he isn't a 'fan' of bleeding the supporters dry, as you put it. Part of his remit as CEO is to do something about the millions of pounds that the Club is losing down the toilet every year, and to do that, in some cases prices have to go up.

What is he supposed to do? He is a perfectly amiable bloke if you were to meet him, likes a chat about football and a good pint of beer. I feel sorry for the bloke, he is damned by some if he does, and damned by others if he doesn't.

Another nail hit squarely on the head.

 

[Dave the OAP]

http://twitter.com/CasualUltra_/status/398206654548037632/photo/1

 

[herecomesaregular]

If I had money to burn maybe I'd travel to Germany to see a few games too. I don't so I'm happy with the Amex experience thanks. Rich plastic fans travel far to sample "authentic" football experience *yawn*

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

it's a non story, I've been to quite a few matches abroad and at the biguns (Barca, Real, Lazio and Inter) I've always met plenty of English, I'd estimate there's always several hundred at Barca every match. Even if you go to shite like Ferencevaros it's easy to bump into Brits.

 

[Brother Sid]

On at least two occasions I've spoken to German fans at the Amex. Last time at the Burnley home game two Schalke fans who were impressed by the stadium, but a bit disappointed by the atmosphere.
These two explained that they come over Friday of a weekend and try to get three games in, as they try to clock up grounds.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Spot on. When we played Liverpool a couple of years ago I had to stay over for a business meeting the following day. We stayed in a hotel in the centre of town, and there were dozens of foreigners staying there, who had travelled from abroad for the game. The hotel receptionist told us this happens for every home (Liverpool) game. Many were Scandanavian, and there was a group of 10 or so from South Korea. I'd guess that far, far more than 1000 foreigners travel to the UK for Premier league games every week. Couple that with the dozens of coachloads of fans that travel to Anfield/Old Trafford from hundreds of miles away (London, Cornwall, Devon) every week with STH in them. Some years ago a very active poster on this site was a STH at Anfield and travelled to Liverpool from Sussex for pretty much every match, he's seen sense now and has a ST at the Amex. I wonder how many Celtic fans travel from Ireland for their home games.

I don't think Dortmund are doing anything groundbreaking by having so many visiting "home" supporters, but I guess it makes for interesting reading for some.

Hotel I stayed in had around 50 scandis in when I was there for Liverpool Newcastle game.

Spoke to some and said there are hundreds doing this every game from Norway.

Also, when I saw west ham v villa two years ago and got the bus, was full of tourists going as it was the cheapest London game by some distance (£35ish).

I've been to german games at

Leverkusen
Kaiserlautern
Cologne
Ausburg

Each had incredible atmosphere and most I've paid is 15e for a ticket.

 

[Justice]

Would rather see the Albion play Mansfield away on a wet Tuesday night.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

Plus the 'lets bleed our supporters dry' attitude that Barber is such a fan of.

To be fair, if we had 90k a week, the prices would be much, much lower. Besides - German football is on different financial terms to English football, lower wages for players too - and that is where the problem lies.

And as others say, lots of PL grounds have a high amount of foreigners at each game. Went to Old Trafford last year, near enough most of those round me were foreign.

 

[Brownstuff]

I was on a flight from Copenhagen to Manchester that was ~40% Liverpool fans in colours and god knows how many more not.

Jan Molby is to blame for the Danes love of Liverpool

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

pop along to the new Den
regards
DR

 

[Guinness Boy]

To be fair, if we had 90k a week, the prices would be much, much lower. Besides - German football is on different financial terms to English football, lower wages for players too - and that is where the problem lies.

And as others say, lots of PL grounds have a high amount of foreigners at each game. Went to Old Trafford last year, near enough most of those round me were foreign.

If we got 90k at the Amex you & Ernest would spend 24 hours a day 7 days a week either running extra trains up Coastway East or dealing with the binfests on here when they were late. You'd never sleep!

 

[Gullys Cats]

It's a proper football experience and it doesn't cost an arm an a leg!

 

[martin tyler]

Having sat at the away end with A friend from Germany who is a big Schalke fan last night v Chelsea the experience in the German end is nothing i have ever experienced. Its almost like a fitness regime. Jumping clapping and got knows what else for 90 minutes. Everyone was united and its co ordinated and loud. Even at 3-0 down did not hear a peep from Chelsea in comparison. Very good experience and i imagen that at home there atmospere is very intimidating. Half as good an atmosphere at the AMEX would be incredible. However not sure we will see atmosphere's like it in the UK anytime soon

 

[Seagulls over Lewes]

This sort of. I remember over 20 years ago coming home from watching us play Stoke away and sitting on the train with a large number of well oiled Belgian and Dutch Man U fans. However I can't remember knowing anyone in England at that time who went to Germany for games whereas there are a few Brighton fans who make the odd trip now.

I used to pop over to Holland about 20+ years ago taking in a game while over there also went for other things as well but enjoyed the football too.

 

[Vicar!]

Having sat at the away end with A friend from Germany who is a big Schalke fan last night v Chelsea the experience in the German end is nothing i have ever experienced. Its almost like a fitness regime. Jumping clapping and got knows what else for 90 minutes. Everyone was united and its co ordinated and loud. Even at 3-0 down did not hear a peep from Chelsea in comparison. Very good experience and i imagen that at home there atmospere is very intimidating. Half as good an atmosphere at the AMEX would be incredible. However not sure we will see atmosphere's like it in the UK anytime soon

Were you in the Silver Cross before?
http://www.s04.tv/de/saison/vorberi...erichte/131106_fanclubuk/page/665---204-.html

 

[Commander]

To be fair, if we had 90k a week, the prices would be much, much lower

Er, no they wouldn't. If we had 90,000 people happy to pay to watch us then why on earth would we lower the price? That's the last thing we'd do!