[Albion] The waning power of Fortress Amex

[sydney]

Precisely, we're far too nice. The stadium design and being constrained by away ticket pricing doesn't help.

I'm sick of away fans enjoying their day out at our expense, on and off the pitch.

nail on head , we are the perfect hosts both on and off the pitch , another pie dear boy..?? a cup of our finest east sussex ale perhaps...?? what about a nice lamb ragout and a glass of jacobs creek ......?? stop those nasty men singing and swearing ..?? oh of course sir and perhaps we'll ask Big Bob to dive over a couple of free kicks just to make sure you go home with a point .....how does that make sir feel ..?? observations from watching on the box was as stated , a surprising amount of empty seats , a library like atmosphere for long periods and we lost the plot for most of the second half , ball security was terrible.

we have a lot of geriatric fans who wouldn't shout if a shark bit them.

 

[Swansman]

Needs sorting.

My 7 year old son (playing football, watching football, living football - I'm sure many other posters here have had kids the same) has been to 4 home games this season and has yet to see Brighton score a goal. He tells everyone he is a Brighton fan and I'm sure he will be, but he is definitely casting a few eyes at other teams that look more fun to support. He wasn't there today admittedly, but a bundled-in goal, an own-goal and then throwing away a 2-0 lead is hardly going to have won him over.

I've had some great days out in London this season on the beers, but that doesn't mean anything to local young fans who only go to home games - it won't help win us any supporters.

It's all very well telling him that we nearly went out of the football league 25 years ago, but what the **** does that mean to him? My early days watching the Albion were Barry Lloyd in (then) Division 2 and it was dire, but you know what? Sometimes we scored and won games, and it was fun.

Why dont you send an email to Paul Barber telling him that "today is one of the 4 times this season I'm bringing kiddo to football so you need to score and win" and see if they will solve it for you?

The same old "I didnt go to this or this or this or this game, so I haven't seen any goals"... yeah. Thats the reality of it. Brighton is never going to score in all home games as long as it remains a Premier League club. And it is probably "funnier" to support Manchester City, just like it was probably "funnier" to support Manchester United in the 90s or Liverpool in the 80s etc.

As you say the team scored goals yesterday, but apparently those goals weren't good enough, so they dont count. It must be a 30 yard screamer I suppose, and Brighton is never going to score a 30 yard screamer in every home game, regardless of division... so yeah

I wonder if other fans of bottom half PL clubs also have this mentality, "sry not renewing/singing/supporting unless the team is winning or if it is some kind of class matter.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

nail on head , we are the perfect hosts both on and off the pitch , another pie dear boy..?? a cup of our finest east sussex ale perhaps...?? what about a nice lamb ragout and a glass of jacobs creek ......?? stop those nasty men singing and swearing ..?? oh of course sir and perhaps we'll ask Big Bob to dive over a couple of free kicks just to make sure you go home with a point .....how does that make sir feel ..?? observations from watching on the box was as stated , a surprising amount of empty seats , a library like atmosphere for long periods and we lost the plot for most of the second half , ball security was terrible.

we have a lot of geriatric fans who wouldn't shout if a shark bit them.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I’m not sure there are many stadiums that have singing fans in the main stand, I’ve just read post #52 complaining about the singing in the North Stand.
It’s been said many times on here, if the whole of the North sang the same song, fans in other stands join in, especially if it’s a popular or well known song.

If we were in a relegation battle, everyone would be singing the Great Escape, and when getting promoted in the Championship, everyone sang On our Way.

Midtable anonimity and dead rubbers are not conducive to raucous singing.

Away fans have always sung louder in the 60 years I have been to football. It isn't going to change now.

 

[Wilko]

Good to see “everywhere we go” even get a play in the west upper today

What are the words to this? People seem to sing the first two lines then get a bit stuck.

 

[Clive Walker]

honestly like it or not the home support at selhurst park is something to be admired compared to the amex. Totally different ends of the spectrum.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

What are the words to this? People seem to sing the first two lines then get a bit stuck.

Woah oh woah
Everywhere we go
Following Brighton (&) hove Albion
Pride of the south coast

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I’m not sure there are many stadiums that have singing fans in the main stand, I’ve just read post #52 complaining about the singing in the North Stand.
It’s been said many times on here, if the whole of the North sang the same song, fans in other stands join in, especially if it’s a popular or well known song.

Maybe, maybe not, but it’s relatively soulless where I sit currently.

Being nearer (on the same level) as the north will hopefully improve my expectations of a football atmosphere, rather than a few tuts we received yesterday!

Edit: I should have added everyone has the individual right to be as vocal or not as it were, I’m moving as it’s simply not what I want where I am, that and the stairs for no atmosphere after the pilgrimage

 

[Badger Boy]

Uninspiring manager, uninspiring home performances, uninspiring home support.

Change the first to hopefully change the second and then inevitably the third will have changed as well. Time's up.

 

[Spiros]

You might just as well title this thread 'The waning appeal of going to the Amex' as that's probably a major contributor to the deteriorating atmosphere. Think back to when we first had the stadium and in the heady days of being competitive in the Championship and then playing in the prem. People wanted to be there, the trains sort of worked and there were 3 park and ride sites to chose from and getting to the ground was OK, if not lightning meaning I could leave home 2 hours before the game and be in the ground less than an hour later. A pie and a pint was OK-priced so I regularly had a pie and at least 2 pints before kick-off. If you couldn't go you could just pass your ticket on to a mate who could so plenty of seats were full. Quite often different people would randomly appear in some of the seats near me, especially for rearranged games or evening games. Even my Arsenal supporting next door neighbour came to a few games with me when my daughter couldn't use her ticket, enjoyed himself and bought plenty of food and drink as well

Now compare it to yesterday

Left home in Worthing just before 12 in the car - train not really an option as it was Sunday, let alone because of the likely timetable changes for engineering works somewhere. Arrived at 12:30 at Mill Road P&R which was already full (good job I'd parked in Vale Avenue). Got on a bus but didn't actually make it to the ground until gone 1:30. By the time I'd queued up to get in there were less than 20 minutes to kick-off. If I'm going to pay nearly 5 quid for a point of Harveys then I actually want some time to enjoy it, not have 10 minutes to chuck it down my throat before the teams come out. Get to my seat and there are loads of empty spaces around me - same situation as most of the season, just different seats. None of this has anything at all to do with the team performance on the pitch, but it does set the scene for the fans watching

The club has somehow convinced itself that the way to go is to introduce a whole set of petty rules - the no bottle tops thing, the no flasks thing (doesn't affect me but can understand why it pisses some people off), the can't just pass a ticket on to a mate thing, the dropping of Mithras park n ride with no replacement thing, the steady ratcheting up of food and drink prices thing. Each one on its own probably sounds petty but add it all up and it really grates.

"Thanks for all your help in campaigning for our new 'community' ground - now we're in the Premier League please move over and let the tourists in"

 

[chaileyjem]

Left home in Worthing just before 12 in the car -

(I've never used park and ride and i know engineering works can cause substantial disruption so feel for you but felt worth sharing a positive experience)
I left home yesterday for Lewes at about 12.10, parked in Lewes for free as its Sunday. Walked straight onto a train and was at ground by about 1pm.
Didn't queue for my drinks/pies.
Stayed til the end , got the 4.35 from Falmer , back in Lewes / home by about 5pm.
This is pretty much been the normal to and fro from Lewes/Falmer - for 10 years.
Sometimes more of a delay and sometimes i leave it later to get to Lewes so harder to park, sometimes (once a twice a season) the club / Southern put on buses, sometimes the weather makes it a pain but i've never once missed kick off and the normal wait to get away after the match is 30 minutes as it was yesterday. I really don't notice any difference in the (Lewes to Falmer) service to 10 years ago, 5 years ago or 2 years ago.

 

[zefarelly]

You might just as well title this thread 'The waning appeal of going to the Amex' as that's probably a major contributor to the deteriorating atmosphere. Think back to when we first had the stadium and in the heady days of being competitive in the Championship and then playing in the prem. People wanted to be there, the trains sort of worked and there were 3 park and ride sites to chose from and getting to the ground was OK, if not lightning meaning I could leave home 2 hours before the game and be in the ground less than an hour later. A pie and a pint was OK-priced so I regularly had a pie and at least 2 pints before kick-off. If you couldn't go you could just pass your ticket on to a mate who could so plenty of seats were full. Quite often different people would randomly appear in some of the seats near me, especially for rearranged games or evening games. Even my Arsenal supporting next door neighbour came to a few games with me when my daughter couldn't use her ticket, enjoyed himself and bought plenty of food and drink as well

Now compare it to yesterday

Left home in Worthing just before 12 in the car - train not really an option as it was Sunday, let alone because of the likely timetable changes for engineering works somewhere. Arrived at 12:30 at Mill Road P&R which was already full (good job I'd parked in Vale Avenue). Got on a bus but didn't actually make it to the ground until gone 1:30. By the time I'd queued up to get in there were less than 20 minutes to kick-off. If I'm going to pay nearly 5 quid for a point of Harveys then I actually want some time to enjoy it, not have 10 minutes to chuck it down my throat before the teams come out. Get to my seat and there are loads of empty spaces around me - same situation as most of the season, just different seats. None of this has anything at all to do with the team performance on the pitch, but it does set the scene for the fans watching

The club has somehow convinced itself that the way to go is to introduce a whole set of petty rules - the no bottle tops thing, the no flasks thing (doesn't affect me but can understand why it pisses some people off), the can't just pass a ticket on to a mate thing, the dropping of Mithras park n ride with no replacement thing, the steady ratcheting up of food and drink prices thing. Each one on its own probably sounds petty but add it all up and it really grates.

"Thanks for all your help in campaigning for our new 'community' ground - now we're in the Premier League please move over and let the tourists in"

Yep

The days of football with mates as a social are gone for Brighton, at least until we slump out of the PL and there's a rethink

 

[Spiros]

I left home yesterday for Lewes at about 12.10, parked in Lewes for free as its Sunday. Walked straight onto a train and was at ground by about 1pm.
Didn't queue for my drinks/pies.
Stayed til the end , got the 4.35 from Falmer , back in Lewes / home by about 5pm.
This is pretty much been the normal to and fro from Lewes/Falmer - for 10 years.
Sometimes more of a delay and sometimes i leave it later to get to Lewes so harder to park, sometimes (once a twice a season) the club / Southern put on buses, sometimes the weather makes it a pain but i've never once missed kick off and the normal wait to get away after the match is 30 minutes as it was yesterday. I really don't notice any difference in the (Lewes to Falmer) service to 10 years ago, 5 years ago or 2 years ago.

Well lucky you! Getting to the ground from the West has got harder since Mithras House P&R closed. Also we have to be lucky that there are no train problems on both Coastway Easy AND West - you're just going the one stop. You might as well say it was easy getting to the ground from central Brighton.

I know quite a few people - long term ST holders - from this neck of the woods who have packed in their tickets for next season as they're fed up with the hassle of just getting to a game

 

[zefarelly]

Well lucky you! Getting to the ground from the West has got harder since Mithras House P&R closed. Also we have to be lucky that there are no train problems on both Coastway Easy AND West - you're just going the one stop. You might as well say it was easy getting to the ground from central Brighton.

I know quite a few people - long term ST holders - from this neck of the woods who have packed in their tickets for next season as they're fed up with the hassle of just getting to a game

SO many times I've gone on line to get tickets, sat there, thought about the train and not bothered. from Shoreham its painful at best.

a bike/scooter ride is the only enjoyable way to travel, but you just go to watch the game as opposed to enjoying a day out. . .

 

[GT49er]

Well, as PB appears to prefer to have empty seats rather than other alternatives, he'll just have to find a way to make the empty seats make more noise. Over to you, Paul .............................

 

[Bry Nylon]

SO many times I've gone on line to get tickets, sat there, thought about the train and not bothered....

Pretty much exactly where I am, Zef.

 

[Napper]

Woah oh woah
Everywhere we go
Following Brighton (&) hove Albion
Pride of the south coast

sung fairly constantly by a handful under the police box. Was audible from the west so must of been heard by the rest of the North and I think only once did the rest of the North join in.

North is at an all time low for noise

When we were getting over run in that 2nd half , the only sound in the ground were groans. Fans didnt step up at all

 

[Dave the hatosaurus]

You might just as well title this thread 'The waning appeal of going to the Amex' as that's probably a major contributor to the deteriorating atmosphere. Think back to when we first had the stadium and in the heady days of being competitive in the Championship and then playing in the prem. People wanted to be there, the trains sort of worked and there were 3 park and ride sites to chose from and getting to the ground was OK, if not lightning meaning I could leave home 2 hours before the game and be in the ground less than an hour later. A pie and a pint was OK-priced so I regularly had a pie and at least 2 pints before kick-off. If you couldn't go you could just pass your ticket on to a mate who could so plenty of seats were full. Quite often different people would randomly appear in some of the seats near me, especially for rearranged games or evening games. Even my Arsenal supporting next door neighbour came to a few games with me when my daughter couldn't use her ticket, enjoyed himself and bought plenty of food and drink as well

Now compare it to yesterday

Left home in Worthing just before 12 in the car - train not really an option as it was Sunday, let alone because of the likely timetable changes for engineering works somewhere. Arrived at 12:30 at Mill Road P&R which was already full (good job I'd parked in Vale Avenue). Got on a bus but didn't actually make it to the ground until gone 1:30. By the time I'd queued up to get in there were less than 20 minutes to kick-off. If I'm going to pay nearly 5 quid for a point of Harveys then I actually want some time to enjoy it, not have 10 minutes to chuck it down my throat before the teams come out. Get to my seat and there are loads of empty spaces around me - same situation as most of the season, just different seats. None of this has anything at all to do with the team performance on the pitch, but it does set the scene for the fans watching

The club has somehow convinced itself that the way to go is to introduce a whole set of petty rules - the no bottle tops thing, the no flasks thing (doesn't affect me but can understand why it pisses some people off), the can't just pass a ticket on to a mate thing, the dropping of Mithras park n ride with no replacement thing, the steady ratcheting up of food and drink prices thing. Each one on its own probably sounds petty but add it all up and it really grates.

"Thanks for all your help in campaigning for our new 'community' ground - now we're in the Premier League please move over and let the tourists in"

Pretty much agree with all of this and would also add the loss of the the card you could put money on and get some cash back on spending thing , the very poor service on southern fail thing , the seat squeezing and loss of comfort thing , the no bag bigger than A4 thing and lastly but imo not leastly the new £20 per season extra charge for using a photocard that no one ever looks at thing !

Over the years since the amex opened i do feel that the experience as a whole has definitely reduced in quality for me and i am quite sure the club would be pleased to replace me with a young smart phone toting businessman with a large disposable income and i am also sure this attitude will continue as long as we remain in the prem so ironically it seems that my pleasure at the clubs success and hope for more in the future comes at the cost of my past matchday joy !

 

[BN9 BHA]

Maybe, maybe not, but it’s relatively soulless where I sit currently.

Being nearer (on the same level) as the north will hopefully improve my expectations of a football atmosphere, rather than a few tuts we received yesterday!

Edit: I should have added everyone has the individual right to be as vocal or not as it were, I’m moving as it’s simply not what I want where I am, that and the stairs for no atmosphere after the pilgrimage

I have been up there from day 1 at the Amex, I must admit I didn’t expect it to be a singing stand and it doesn’t bother me as I enjoy the view of the pitch.
If I really wanted to sing I would go in the North, I’m not sure the WSL is the answer, I’m sure others that sit there can confirm.

Sitting down singing is never going to be the same as everyone standing a belting out a song.

 

[BN9 BHA]

The club has somehow convinced itself that the way to go is to introduce a whole set of petty rules - the no bottle tops thing, the no flasks thing (doesn't affect me but can understand why it pisses some people off),

We have a regular mini waterfall in the WSU as bottles get knocked over next to seats behind mine, I spent most of the match yesterday paddling