Cardiff Dragons

[Thunder Bolt]

I would say a max of about 5,000 of the Amex regulars are properly "new" fans. Have got to know about a dozen people round us in our seats and not a single "new" fan. All of them went to Withdean semi-regularly then went for their first ST last season - same as me, my brother and my dad. I think people like me make up the vast majority of our support.

I know quite a few neighbours, colleagues, and friends who went to the Goldstone ground, went to Withdean maybe a handful of times during our 10 years there, but now go to watch regularly at the Amex. The mistake a lot of people make is that the 5,000 season ticket holders at Withdean were the same people year in and year out.

 

[Foolg]

I know quite a few neighbours, colleagues, and friends who went to the Goldstone ground, went to Withdean maybe a handful of times during our 10 years there, but now go to watch regularly at the Amex. The mistake a lot of people make is that the 5,000 season ticket holders at Withdean were the same people year in and year out.

Likewise I recognise a most people around me, very few who I don't. Many of whom I know were STH's near me at Withdean, and other's I recognise from away games in the past, which suggest's they'll have been to a fair few for me to pick up on them.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Likewise I recognise a most people around me, very few who I don't. Many of whom I know were STH's near me at Withdean, and other's I recognise from away games in the past, which suggest's they'll have been to a fair few for me to pick up on them.

I've noticed loads of 'faces'around in the east stand. I'm sure we've grown old together over the years up and down the country supporting the Albion together.

I also think that Mellotron is right, massive amounts of support is 'old' but not necessarily from ex Withdean season ticket holders. A huge number of my generation that grew up in the 70's and early 80's have returned after a long long hiatus

 

[brightn'ove]

I think I'd rather be watching my team play in league 2 every week then sell the soul of the club to some foreign investor who will no doubt be gone in a few years. How long until he thinks, "I could get more fans in if I moved the club"

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Brighton's economy has survived without the Amex and the 25,000 minimum fans we have recieved this season, however it represents a significant boost for employment in the area and has a profound impact when compared to when Brighton were at the Withdean, just look at employment statistics. Also premier league footballers spend more, and this is recognised by all clubs and local councils. To suggest otherwise is plain idiocy. It also doesn't matter whether it is Tan's intentions it is an inevitable positive side effect of the club's growth.

Aesthetic changes that could potentially mark the leap from mediocrity to unprecedented success for the Welsh club. It will undoubtedly benefit the local economy, the fans will have something to cheer about, and the chairman will have saved another company from bankruptcy, something that would have severe financial repercussions for the league.

It isn't the same thing as these changes are less a move of desperate necessity and more inclined towards personal taste, and after all he is the owner.

At the end of the day the sport should be a business because it would encourage clubs to be safe and less grounded in blind optimism and aspiration that has led many clubs to rack up substantial debts and go under through inept management. We purchase a ticket in the club but that makes us customers, not representatives within the club, and our views are the equivalent of feedback at a supermarket. They can take our advice on board but they have the ability to disregard it fully leaving us with the decision whether we want to switch our patronage to another business.

Forget the economy, it is irrelevant. It's not in the fans thinking and its not in Tan's thinking. He wants the money and prestige of having an 'Asian' team in the premier league. He doesn't care which team it is, so long as he can get into the premier league and then exploit that club to the Malaysian market. He cares not one bit for the clubs fans, history or tradition. The club is having its soul ripped out and being repositioned for a market on the other side of the world that has no link whatsoever with the city or club of Cardiff. All that's left is a dessicated husk of a club. That is what is sad.

As for your last paragraph-is that really how you see football and being a supporter? Did you just shrug your way through the Archer years and consider 'switching patronage to another business'?

 

[beardy gull]

Cardiff City owner backtracks over 'Dragons' rebrand suggestion | Football | guardian.co.uk

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Cardiff City owner backtracks over 'Dragons' rebrand suggestion | Football | guardian.co.uk

That article carries a very convenient picture of Tan with a blue scarf!

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Cardiff City owner backtracks over 'Dragons' rebrand suggestion | Football | guardian.co.uk

He backtracked over the colour change and badge change, before going ahead anyway.

 

[drew]

Cardiff's economy has managed to survive without premier league football thus far. I'm sure it would continue to do so if Cardiff weren't promoted. As if that is what is behind Tan's thinking.

Cardiff City Football club is dying. The club that has represented Cardiff for however many generations over the past 110+years is being torn down. The club colours, the club badge, the name?! The Cardiff Malay Dragons or whatever the clubs name will eventually become might be on the verge of becoming a 'successful brand' but it will be at the expense of a traditional football club-Cardiff City. And for what? The local economy?! The city? The fans? Nope, for vanity and profit.

Wimbledon were a club in debt struggling to pay its way. They were taken from London and transported to milton keynes because winkleman saw an opportunity for more fans, more money and more prestige. The same thing is happening to Cardiff. The whole club is getting remade in an image suitable to Tan and aimed at a foreign market. Soon Cardiff will be only the place that the Dragons have to play their home games. If he could get away with playing home games in Malaysia he probably would.

It may make good business sense but to me morally it reeks. Still, I guess its the inevitable consequence of the way football's been going the last 15-20 years.

You seem to miss out the fact that Wimbledon were homeless for 12 years, losing pot loads of money and the having no prospect that they could build a home in their own borough. To this day, even Wimbledon AFC don't play in Merton? What happened with MK Dons was far from ideal and will not happen again as I believe the rules have been changed. Talk of Cardiff being a franchise is ludicrous as they will stay in Cardiff. Also, all this talk of games being played overseas, where is your evidence to support that? Fifa have already suggested they will block any move as it they will no doubt seek to protect each domestic league around the world. Doesn't matter what the Prem owners want, if it isn't sanctioned by Fifa, it isn't going to happen. We don't know who the next Fifa president will be but if it is someone like Platini you can bet your bottom dollar that he would not support anything that makes the premiership even more financially superior to other leagues.

This is all just a storm in a teacup.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

This is all just a storm in a teacup.

It's not. No it's really not.

It's been pointed out that the businessman involved is riding roughshod over the history and tradition of the club. That seems to mean nothing to you. It's a free country so fair enough that's another view but I believe most long-standing fans around the country would be appalled at that attitude.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Cardiff Dragons for now.

How long before they become Malaysia Cardiff Dragons

More likely to be Berjaya Group Cardiff Dragons.

Or they could take the SA cricket and Rugby team route and just be called the Berjaya Group Dragons, with no mention of where they come from in the name at all.

 

[dingodan]

Let's ditch "Seagulls" and replace with "Unicorns" next season.

Who is with me?

 

[Simster]

It's not. No it's really not.

It's been pointed out that the businessman involved is riding roughshod over the history and tradition of the club. That seems to mean nothing to you. It's a free country so fair enough that's another view but I believe most long-standing fans around the country would be appalled at that attitude.

I'm tempted to agree but ultimately there is nothing to stop the next owners of Cardiff from simply changing their colours back to blue and the name back to Cardiff City. However, I do wish the FA would grow a pair and implement a REAL fit and proper test. I'm so tired of the number of foreign tosspots buying up our clubs and f***ing them up.

 

[Grapes of Wrath]

Let's ditch "Seagulls" and replace with "Unicorns" next season.

Who is with me?

Don't think so! I can just hear the Scum fans now singing "Brighton Boys have got the horn"

 

[GT49er]

Or Brighton Beijing

................or Brighton and Hove Royal Flush, perhaps?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Would I be upset if we changed from the seagulls to the Rockhopper Penguins or the Great White Pelican or the European Shag? Probably not. One doesn't have to change the name or symbol of the club to soil the whole idea of the team.

I am not comfortable with the current state of the club and heading towards the promised land, let alone our intended climb. What does progression in to the pits of the Premier League promise? No chance of winning the title. Higher prices. Aligning ourselves with overpriced entertainment, filling the pockets of those who, quite frankly, don't deserve it.

Maybe, I am on my own here (It wouldn't be the first time).

 

[Gullys Cats]

They need to start protesting!

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I am not comfortable with the current state of the club and heading towards the promised land, let alone our intended climb. What does progression in to the pits of the Premier League promise? No chance of winning the title. Higher prices. Aligning ourselves with overpriced entertainment, filling the pockets of those who, quite frankly, don't deserve it.

Maybe, I am on my own here (It wouldn't be the first time).

No. You're not on your own. I would experience two diametrically opposed emotions if we were promoted. It would certainly be a mixture of feelings.

 

[Notters]

I was wondering earlier this week how the cardiff fans feel about their colour change that I seem to remember being about bringing luck, now they're sat atop the Championship 8 points clear with a game in hand, after several seasons of falling short.

Will the "success" of the colour change make the fans more open?


I'm of the group that look to our own history with changing kit colours (green and white, then black and white, originally, I believe), and changing nicknames and think there's more to a club than it's colour scheme.

Nope. Green stripes was Brighton United, black stripes was Brighton Rovers. Completely different clubs.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

Would I be upset if we changed from the seagulls to the Rockhopper Penguins or the Great White Pelican or the European Shag? Probably not. One doesn't have to change the name or symbol of the club to soil the whole idea of the team.

I am not comfortable with the current state of the club and heading towards the promised land, let alone our intended climb. What does progression in to the pits of the Premier League promise? No chance of winning the title. Higher prices. Aligning ourselves with overpriced entertainment, filling the pockets of those who, quite frankly, don't deserve it.

Maybe, I am on my own here (It wouldn't be the first time).

No. You're not on your own. I would experience two diametrically opposed emotions if we were promoted. It would certainly be a mixture of feelings.

Thank God, I was feeling lonely.