[Football] Semi Final Neutral Stadiums

[Chicken Run]

Pre ‘New Wembley’ days of the games would have been played in different stadiums often picked geographically to suit the two teams in each match, where would the two semi finals be played this year then if not at Wembley?

My thoughts would be Wolves v Watford at Old Trafford and us v Citeh at the Emirates?

 

[LVGull]

Pre ‘New Wembley’ days of the games would have been played in different stadiums often picked geographically to suit the two teams in each match, where would the two semi finals be played this year then if not at Wembley?

My thoughts would be Wolves v Watford at Old Trafford and us v Citeh at the Emirates?

It should still be this way. Wembley for the final only. Greedy FA.

 

[dazzer6666]

It should still be this way. Wembley for the final only. Greedy FA.

Hugely expensive stadium to pay for/justify FA.........so many corporate sponsors/hangers-on to keep happy FA......

 

[Rugrat]

Semis at Wembley is bollox, plenty of good neutral venues

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Hugely expensive stadium to pay for/justify FA.........so many corporate sponsors/hangers-on to keep happy FA......

I personally don’t see any need for a national stadium. That England on tour thing they did when Wembley was being rebuilt was hugely popular and also beneficial in many ways. Whoever came up with this idea needs a pat on the back

And today there’s plenty of very large stadia around the U.K. for the very big games.

 

[dazzer6666]

I personally don’t see any need for a national stadium. That England on tour thing they did when Wembley was being rebuilt was hugely popular and also beneficial in many ways. Whoever came up with this idea needs a pat on the back

And today there’s plenty of very large stadia around the U.K. for the very big games.

Agreed......rotating England games around the country was brilliant.

 

[vegster]

Used to often be Hillsborough, and Villa Park as I recall.

 

[Chicken Run]

Used to often be Hillsborough, and Villa Park as I recall.

But these days I’m assuming too small, I also forgot the Etihad ?

 

[n1 gull]

I personally don’t see any need for a national stadium. That England on tour thing they did when Wembley was being rebuilt was hugely popular and also beneficial in many ways. Whoever came up with this idea needs a pat on the back

And today there’s plenty of very large stadia around the U.K. for the very big games.

Totally agree and I don't understand why the FA got a load of stick when they were selling it?

 

[GT49er]

Pre ‘New Wembley’ days of the games would have been played in different stadiums often picked geographically to suit the two teams in each match, where would the two semi finals be played this year then if not at Wembley?

My thoughts would be Wolves v Watford at Old Trafford and us v Citeh at the Emirates?

Old Trafford would suit Watford and Wolves? It's well north of both of them. Villa Park, almost certainly (which would also have the advantage of fans approaching from opposite directions, not the same one).
Tricky one though - Villa Park would probably be the most geographically neutral for us and City too; guess the Emirates would do as second best - although if the semis can be played on successive days at Wembley, so they could at Villa Park.

 

[Return of the Rev]

The oval?

 

[Hugo Rune]

I hate the Wembley Semi-Final thing despite us about to play in one.

There are some great Stadia up north and in London but nothing big enough in the midlands as capacity wise, you really need 50k+, ideally something like 60k.

This stadium would have made an ideal venue for so many North Vs South Semis if it had been built.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Birmingham_Stadium

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Pretty sure the semis being played at Wembley predated the new stadium. Didn't it start with a semi between Spurs and Arsenal?

 

[LVGull]

Hugely expensive stadium to pay for/justify FA.........so many corporate sponsors/hangers-on to keep happy FA......

That’s correct. Doesn’t mean they can mug the fans off everytime a game is on.

 

[LVGull]

I hate the Wembley Semi-Final thing despite us about to play in one.

There are some great Stadia up north and in London but nothing big enough in the midlands as capacity wise, you really need 50k+, ideally something like 60k.

This stadium would have made an ideal venue for so many North Vs South Semis if it had been built.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Birmingham_Stadium

The Semi Final should be solely for both sets of fans, not 15,000 corporate tickets. Do the FA still hand out 2x tickets to every non league club?

 

[nicko31]

Semis at Wembley is bollox, plenty of good neutral venues

Indeed its no longer the 80's, loads of world class grounds now

Semi's at Wembley further erodes the FA Cup spectacle

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Used to often be Hillsborough, and Villa Park as I recall.

Both stadiums, especially Hillsborough, look quite dated and scruffy these days.

 

[Chicken Run]

Pretty sure the semis being played at Wembley predated the new stadium. Didn't it start with a semi between Spurs and Arsenal?

I think that was a one off, the other semi was at Villa Park, Forest v West Ham.

 

[drew]

Pretty sure the semis being played at Wembley predated the new stadium. Didn't it start with a semi between Spurs and Arsenal?

Spurs v Arsenal in 91 was the only semi at Wembley. Following year they were on neutral grounds then in 93 Arsenal played Spurs again at Wembley and the two Sheffield clubs both played at Wembley. After that it was neutral grounds until 2000 when they were both at Wembley again before it was redeveloped.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Neutral stadia should still be used IMO
But as we're playing Citeh at Wembley, I'm glad the Albion fans don't have to travel too far.
Emirates would've been the ideal choice or Spuds new ground, if it were ready!!