Stadium atmosphere

[CihanArsenalFC]

Hello all

I am new here and am jumping straight in to the deep end.

Want to share something that both means a lot to me and something that I feel we the fans can actually make a difference to (seeing as Mr Kroenke seems quite comfy where he is and with no apparent intention of selling up).

What I am talking about is the stadium atmosphere. I am grateful that the Redaction group exists. They seem to have worked very hard to achieve what they have but I am sure they would be the first to admit that it is nowhere near the level that it should be.

My thought is that the two main obstacles are that younger fans more eager to show their passion are priced out, as well as the all seater situation (although I do not fully accept that one, as my ST is an area where there is a lot of standing, yet there are still many people who never really seem to sing).

Obviously we all respect the ways in which people want to enjoy the match. But at the same time we see how impressed people are when they see away teams like Bayern (were German fans so loud a few years ago? I seem to remember them being a lot quieter - anyone?) come to our home and create such a special feeling.

It seems there are many barriers to achieving a loud atmosphere (like the team not doing as well as we would hope) but I am interested to hear opinions from various viewpoints.

I know that Redaction explored the subject of having an Arsenal anthem like Liverpool and Celtic have YNWA, but around the same time the club decided to start playing "Wonder of You" (apparently one of the directors' idea) and that just killed it for everyone.

So getting to my point. Would an anthem that gooners could associate/relate to the club be a step forward in improving the atmosphere? I can see now that with the lack of enthusiasm for these things within the ground, that there will be large groups moaning about this sort of thing, not just refusing to join in but more because they try to prevent it with cynicism. So how would we overcome this?

Am interested to hear more opinions about this and hope that people who are not interested in this subject do not share any extreme negative views, which are basically to take the mick (although we obviously love some banter).

Thanks in advance.

[QuartzGooner]

Safe standing - because it would allow people to be more "involved" and moving around, standing with friends as a fan and less a passive spectator sitting down.

Some of the stewards could be more relaxed too, they can be too authoritarian.

We already have "Good Old Arsenal" as a song.
I am not against new Arsenal songs but there are loads of them by various groups and none have really stuck.

[Perryashburtongroves]

A team that we can all get behind and feel are giving their all for the cause would help immensely. That and a manager we actually want in charge.

[Dan_85]

No one of the above will make much difference on it's own in my opinion. To improve the atmosphere we need to;

- First & most important, cut ticket prices & make them easier/more affordable for young people.
- Safe standing along the NB & CE lowers. Unreserved standing (but with regulated numbers for safety) would be even better but this might be wishful thinking initially at least.
- Relocate older people, those who want to sit & those who don't want to sing to the East/West lower or upper tier. Would probably necessitate a survey of some sort & would be a process that would have to be carried out over a season or two.
- Relax stewarding. We're not kids, we don't need babysitting. Someone standing with one foot in the aisle isn't gonna cause a mass panic or a fire hazard, chill the fuck out.
- Relax rules on banners & flags, within the above newly created standing areas anyway.

There's about as much chance of us winning the CL any time soon as there is of any of the above happening though.

[Brady's left peg]

No one of the above will make much difference on it's own in my opinion. To improve the atmosphere we need to;

- First & most important, cut ticket prices & make them easier/more affordable for young people.
- Safe standing along the NB & CE lowers. Unreserved standing (but with regulated numbers for safety) would be even better but this might be wishful thinking initially at least.
- Relocate older people, those who want to sit & those who don't want to sing to the East/West lower or upper tier. Would probably necessitate a survey of some sort & would be a process that would have to be carried out over a season or two.
- Relax stewarding. We're not kids, we don't need babysitting. Someone standing with one foot in the aisle isn't gonna cause a mass panic or a fire hazard, chill the fuck out.
- Relax rules on banners & flags, within the above newly created standing areas anyway.

There's about as much chance of us winning the CL any time soon as there is of any of the above happening though.

Agree with all of the above.......

I voted for safe standing mainly from a selfish point of view, I'm old school and remember viewing in the 60's/70's/80's. In my opinion Ashburton Grove is far too sanitised, the "Arsenalisation" of the stadium hasn't really made any difference except for a clock.
Another thing starting to get on my nerves is being told to sit down or watch your language........ It's a fucking football match if you don't like it fuck off and give your tickets to some proper supporters!!

[Chippy]

Smell a rat here. Why is someone posting from the US so interested in this. Been sent on a mission by silent Stan?

[gavbacon]

"There is no hope" 44%... Really?!!!!

[LDB]

Safe standing, cheaper tickets to get younger fans in and fewer sneering old farts who would rather sit and complain about the atmosphere then make any contribution of their own.

[augie]

Redaction.......the great bastion representing Gooners everywhere

[Henry Norris 1913]

the red section is an embarrassment. about 20 lads stood up in the corner of the lower tier starting "stand up if you 'ate totnumb" every five minutes.

In a perfect world we've have safe standing, GOA as the team comes out, flags, banners and the whole team's names sang out too (not in one word obviously, would sound terrible)

[olgitgooner]

It will take donkey's years to get any sort of noisy atmosphere going on at the Grove.

Total fuck up by our club. North Bankers and Clock Enders could have been guided toward singing sections. Wanky theatre-goers could have been guided to the East and West "Quiet Applause" sections.

Too late now. Our vocal support is diluted. Quiet people in the "Clock End" and "North Bank" will keep their seats. People who want to be in noisy sections won't be able to get there.

The "away section" will continue to out sing us from their cheap(ish) seats in the lower tier. In full view of the main TV cameras.

Total and utter fuck up.

[REB]

what olgit says.

[DB10GOONER]

It will take donkey's years to get any sort of noisy atmosphere going on at the Grove.

Total fuck up by our club. North Bankers and Clock Enders could have been guided toward singing sections. Wanky theatre-goers could have been guided to the East and West "Quiet Applause" sections.

Too late now. Our vocal support is diluted. Quiet people in the "Clock End" and "North Bank" will keep their seats. People who want to be in noisy sections won't be able to get there.

The "away section" will continue to out sing us from their cheap(ish) seats in the lower tier. In full view of the main TV cameras.

Total and utter fuck up.

^^ This.

[flash gunner]

It will take donkey's years to get any sort of noisy atmosphere going on at the Grove.

Total fuck up by our club. North Bankers and Clock Enders could have been guided toward singing sections. Wanky theatre-goers could have been guided to the East and West "Quiet Applause" sections.

Too late now. Our vocal support is diluted. Quiet people in the "Clock End" and "North Bank" will keep their seats. People who want to be in noisy sections won't be able to get there.

The "away section" will continue to out sing us from their cheap(ish) seats in the lower tier. In full view of the main TV cameras.

Total and utter fuck up.

Spot on

[denhaaggooner]

Just been watching the panarama show about millwall from the seventies then came on here and saw this thread and i had to say what the presenters last words of the show were ! If new regulations on football hooligans drive out the terrace supporters then the cure could be worse than the disease!!! never a truer word spoken .