[Other Sport] How to improve the Amex atmosphere?

[blue-shifted]

It’s right that we’ve bought this up.

But there’s too much emphasis on what the club should be doing. Too many excuses.

Surely the answer is to sing more, sing louder and sing longer. Take some responsibility rather than make out there’s some inherent design problem in the amex which is contributing to the problem.

The solutions need to come from the bottom down. The club have done their bit. They’ve given us decent players, playing decent football in a very good stadium in the Premier League. They don’t need to do anything more.

 

[Dave the OAP]

This is a good idea. There are lots of fans who are not 'in the know' when it comes to joining in with the chants. I've been singing 'We've been to Wembley' instead of 'Withdean to Wembley' for months, until Sat when I cottoned on.

Maybe just a lyrics thread on NSC which can be plugged on socials for those who would like to join in would help rather than an official song sheet/book. Got to be simpler and better than clown suits, megaphones, clackers or any kind of seat changes. It might even rekindle some classics.

"KNOCK KNOCK!!......"

Don revie said to bill shankly
Have you heard of the north bank, Highbury
Shanks said no, I don’t think so,
But I’ve heard the Brighton Aggro!

People won’t sing that these days...snowflakes!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Tongue in cheek post I imagine/hope, but for me it’s a one way street, the fans doing their bit regardless, rallying the team. I really don’t buy into this ‘the team need to give us something to cheer’ mindset, or ‘we need a flashpoint to spark the crowd.’

Is it bollocks a one-way street.

Wisdom can be found with The Simpsons. Same as it usually can. Sums up the Amex to a T...

 

[whitelion]

Is it bollocks a one-way street.

Wisdom can be found with The Simpsons. Same as it usually can. Sums up the Amex to a T...

That brought a smile to my face.

 

[portlock seagull]

Look around you on match day.

I see all sorts as I’m sure you do - I’m just interested in your statement about the club targeting certain types. What type of fan are they specifically targeting and how? I’ve not seen any such marketing campaign myself but you obviously have so please spill the beans!

 

[AK74]

After all the effort which went into the Brighton Magiko song, perhaps this is the moment to resurrect it...

 

[portlock seagull]

It’s right that we’ve bought this up.

But there’s too much emphasis on what the club should be doing. Too many excuses.

Surely the answer is to sing more, sing louder and sing longer. Take some responsibility rather than make out there’s some inherent design problem in the amex which is contributing to the problem.

The solutions need to come from the bottom down. The club have done their bit. They’ve given us decent players, playing decent football in a very good stadium in the Premier League. They don’t need to do anything more.

Agree. And stop trying so hard people. Stick to the classics everyone knows, or at least should be learning as an introduction to the Albion if they’re new, instead of thinking up new tunes and lyrics every season that will never take off because people can’t hear the lyrics or had to attend Watford away or the like when it was debuted! Most fans, even ex goldstone regulars don’t even know the words to GOSBTS. There’s little hope they know the latest diddy for Bernardo to the tune of Depeche Mode for example.

Albion, Albion, Albion...

 

[Dave the OAP]

On a more serious point, I don’t think modern football is conducive to good atmospheres.

The growth of all seater stadiums split out the “ singing areas” like the old north stand used to be.

To put it in context, the goldstone west stand is more like the Amex atmosphere. There is a vast majority of albion fans who go and watch and do not get involved with mass chanting. Tippy tappy slow football kills atmosphere apart from when the crowd get frustrated and start yelling at the team! VAR ups the atmosphere...there is no doubt, be it indignation, outright hatred or piss take joy when a opposition goal is disallowed.

When we moved to the Amex, Tony bloom asked a bunch of albion fans to meet with the club to find out why the atmosphere was so poor when we were winning games. Gus couldn’t understand why when we were winning 4-0 and dominating, the place wasn’t rocking ...he didn’t get the sitting and watching brigade either.

Personally I will sing along every time, but if we play like we did Saturday, I reserve the right to stand and watch in silence muttering “ what the **** am I wasting my time here” and turn away when instead of picking out a winger surging forward, we turn backwards and pass it back along the defensive line,

MFIS

 

[zefarelly]

North stand to open standing terracing. Job done.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Hand out chocolate buttons & a toy before games.....oh.

 

[BHAryan]

Unreserved seating in the back 6 rows of the NS? Stewards can check that your ST is in the back 6. Generally people would go to the same area most weeks anyway. But it gives everyone the choice; If you want a specific seat/area to stand, get in the ground earlier. If you’re not fussed, jump in at 2:59 wherever you can.
More fans in their seat earlier should lead to a better atmosphere in the pre game build up. Also gives people a chance to stand nearer their mates or gravitate towards other singers.

 

[BeHereNow]

Is it bollocks a one-way street.

Wisdom can be found with The Simpsons. Same as it usually can. Sums up the Amex to a T...

Good old Sussexton-Hamptonshire-On-Leith by the sea.
https://youtu.be/_77xJB5tlrw

 

[zefarelly]

Don revie said to bill shankly
Have you heard of the north bank, Highbury
Shanks said no, I don’t think so,
But I’ve heard the Brighton Aggro!

People won’t sing that these days...snowflakes!

We’d Probably get banned now for some pf the
Songs we Sang at the goldstone.

 

[blue-shifted]

Personally I will sing along every time, but if we play like we did Saturday, I reserve the right to stand and watch in silence muttering “ what the **** am I wasting my time here” and turn away when instead of picking out a winger surging forward, we turn backwards and pass it back along the defensive line,

MFIS

And it is your right not to sing if we're off colour or someone plays a bad pass. But how good would we have to be for you to never have that "I'm wasting my time here" opinion? As good as Liverpool? This has a very strong claim to being the best Brighton team ever, albeit in a hugely competitive division. They've done enough for us not to start muttering or thinking we're wasting our time if you ask me

 

[Creaky]

I don't get why they stopped doing for ages, started it again, stopped and then started it again! I wish they'd stop too, really not needed

When the words are on the screen the number joining in with the singing is significantly greater than when they are missing. When the words haven’t been displayed for a few games the East is almost silent

It may not be noticeable from the North Stand but it certainly is from the East Stand.

 

[Dave the OAP]

And it is your right not to sing if we're off colour or someone plays a bad pass. But how good would we have to be for you to never have that "I'm wasting my time here" opinion? As good as Liverpool? This has a very strong claim to being the best Brighton team ever, albeit in a hugely competitive division. They've done enough for us not to start muttering or thinking we're wasting our time if you ask me

Possibly, but I certainly preferred watching the football the first time we were in the top flight. The passing along the back culture which now includes no goal kicks has really done it for me.

If it wasn’t for the mates I have stood around me I would give up my ST as I really see the football as a social thing nowadays I have been watching them home and away for 44 years ( haven’t been away for 4 years to be fair) and apart from the occasional game like Tottenham, I haven’t enjoyed our style for ages now. It has also got to that if we have a 12:30 KO and I am playing golf in the morning, I will happily not bother going.

Certainly the Wednesday game and Saturday I did come away thinking that was an absolute waste of time.

Just my opinion really!

 

[Weststander]

Possibly, but I certainly preferred watching the football the first time we were in the top flight. The passing along the back culture which now includes no goal kicks has really done it for me.

If it wasn’t for the mates I have stood around me I would give up my ST as I really see the football as a social thing nowadays I have been watching them home and away for 44 years ( haven’t been away for 4 years to be fair) and apart from the occasional game like Tottenham, I haven’t enjoyed our style for ages now. It has also got to that if we have a 12:30 KO and I am playing golf in the morning, I will happily not bother going.

Certainly the Wednesday game and Saturday I did come away thinking that was an absolute waste of time.

Just my opinion really!

Good post and points.

Did you enjoy our 2015/16 and 2016/17 football? I did. That stood out for me as the best winning football we've consistently played since 1976 to May 1979.

 

[neilbard]

 

[Dave the OAP]

Good post and points.

Did you enjoy our 2015/16 and 2016/17 football? I did. That stood out for me as the best winning football we've consistently played since 1976 to May 1979.

Yes I agree. Certainly we had some cracking times and the place was buzzing. We played really attractive football and yes, winning more than you lose was certainly a benefit. That surely is the argument to why the atmosphere has deteriorated so badly. I don’t know about you but I never actually go to the ground with any certainty that we will win no matter who we play. I suppose that is always an issue supporting a club like us....inconsistency

Still comes back to the old adage...the journey is far better than the destination.

 

[Weststander]

Yes I agree. Certainly we had some cracking times and the place was buzzing. We played really attractive football and yes, winning more than you lose was certainly a benefit. That surely is the argument to why the atmosphere has deteriorated so badly. I don’t know about you but I never actually go to the ground with any certainty that we will win no matter who we play. I suppose that is always an issue supporting a club like us....inconsistency

Still comes back to the old adage...the journey is far better than the destination.

I’ve found someone with the same sentiments as me, everything you say is spot on.

I always said my main motivation for promotion was for TB to help financially, plus to break the spell.

As we walk to park n ride pre match, my results predictions are always:

a) Versus a better squad/team eg Chelsea or Leicester .... loss.

b) 6 pointers ... an equal ratio of win:draw:loss.

Never, “we should win this, we’re playing great stuff, our defence is incredible, we’re so fast and creative in attack”. It is doable, but our £200m spent on fees in the PL era, hasn’t been spent wisely in the main.