| Block A singing section next season? 15:26 - Mar 20 with 8423 views | Matt_Netherlands |
Does anyone sit here and can verify if this is legit? Does this mean the BA move is going again?
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| Block A singing section next season? on 20:52 - Mar 20 with 2718 views | Slambo |
| Block A singing section next season? on 16:11 - Mar 20 by Jon_456 |
Did anyone think the atmosphere improved when they trialled it?
My initial reaction was that it seemed the same but I wasn’t in my usual seat so hard to compare.
Still think a better solution is to spread the ‘singers’ across the lower north so the whole stand is singing as one rather than two sides singing different chants. |
It doesn't really work like that unfortunately - hear speaks the bitter voice of experience. We'd hoped that us being slightly more central would allow chants to flow across the stand, but unless people in the immediate adjoining rows join it the chant's doomed to die; or, if someone, say, 20 rows away does hear it, it's extremely hard to synch with the original singer and it just sounds a mess. We tried to unite the North Lower, but it hasn't happened - at least as much as we would've hoped - so the only thing for it is to create a space for the singers to congregate. Hopefully it'll act as a focal point for the rest of the ground, but my advice to anyone who wants a sing song at the footy is to not wait for it to come to you, but come into block A and get stuck in. Anyone who was in there for the Burnley game knows. Imagine that every home game... |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 20:57 - Mar 20 with 2702 views | Slambo |
| Block A singing section next season? on 16:55 - Mar 20 by ITFC_Forever |
Next moan from some of the S6 lot (not the inner circle of BA), will be the price of STs in Block A, can’t see the club reducing them in price just for them, and they are more expensive than the North Lower. |
We asked if the club would price that block as they would North Lower, but they said no as they didn't want to upset fans in the neighbouring blocks. It's no big deal - there's barely any difference in price up to u23 and as long as the youngsters can afford it, that's the main thing... | |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 21:04 - Mar 20 with 2669 views | Slambo |
| Block A singing section next season? on 19:14 - Mar 20 by Matt_Netherlands |
Not really sure why people are struggling with this suggestion so much. Players feed off the energy of a crowd so surely you’d want the loudest section of said crowd as close to the pitch for the players to get as much impact from as possible. You can notice it when we score - players celebrations at the SBRL end are much more involving of the fans and much closer so them, compared to when we score at the SAR end.
Can’t think of many other grounds that have a ‘Singing section’ in an upper tier…. |
I know what you mean - a big bank of vociferous fans right behind the goal just looks proper. But it was never going to work as the existing fans in s5 would never have moved in such numbers as to make it work. Having 'singing sections' in more obscure parts of the ground isn't as uncommon as you think: Middlesborough, Leicester and Bradford have done something similar and most of the singing at Man U doesn't come from the famous Stretford End but the Alex Ferguson stand in the opposite corner... | |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 21:26 - Mar 20 with 2622 views | Brads |
| Block A singing section next season? on 20:57 - Mar 20 by Slambo |
We asked if the club would price that block as they would North Lower, but they said no as they didn't want to upset fans in the neighbouring blocks. It's no big deal - there's barely any difference in price up to u23 and as long as the youngsters can afford it, that's the main thing... |
Not convinced by club’s reasoning as Cobbold Block C is more expensive than neighbouring B and B’s more central than A but the price difference between NSL and A wasn’t huge this season anyway, so hopefully not make or break if similar for next season. Difference for an adult renewal for this season was £90 / £7.50 pm on DD and there was no difference for U23’s or U19’s. |  | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 21:30 - Mar 20 with 2595 views | Brads |
| Block A singing section next season? on 19:14 - Mar 20 by Matt_Netherlands |
Not really sure why people are struggling with this suggestion so much. Players feed off the energy of a crowd so surely you’d want the loudest section of said crowd as close to the pitch for the players to get as much impact from as possible. You can notice it when we score - players celebrations at the SBRL end are much more involving of the fans and much closer so them, compared to when we score at the SAR end.
Can’t think of many other grounds that have a ‘Singing section’ in an upper tier…. |
Quite a few when you think about it…Forest upper corner, West Ham, Lincoln (appreciate it’s a single tier but Cobbold lower is tiny so similar position). | | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 08:30 - Mar 21 with 2360 views | Bobbychase |
| Block A singing section next season? on 16:16 - Mar 20 by Sawtrich |
That's good news I think. This season we've seen the whole ground getting involved again and it really makes a difference. Nobody expects the oldies (in my fifties myself) to know every chant but getting people clapping along all around the ground can make for a really intimidating atmosphere. |
I've been surprised to see negativity towards this on Twitter in particular, one guy saying "99.9%" of Town fans would be against it. Couple of points:
1 People suggesting away fans moved down to Block A to improve atmosphere - I can never see the police going for this. There have been regular scuffles this season with Town and away fans mixing on the walk back to the station. Chance of any flashpoints would increase if away fans have to walk through home fans down to the end of Cobbold.
2 The best way to improve the atmosphere is to have people starting/joining in with songs in areas of the stadium that aren't the SBR. Practically, the best chance of this working is to have them in a block close to the SBR so they can amplify any noise coming from there, or start their own chanting that the SBR can join in with. I still hope one day the upper SAR will be a bit more vocal as the acoustics are decent in there, but that's a big step.
3 It's great to see the club doing something about this, it's far from Tinpot. Tinpot is clappers on seats and that awful video Reading put out a few years ago when they'd written their own (cringey) song for fans to join in with. |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 08:54 - Mar 21 with 2330 views | CityBlue |
No noticeable difference from the SAR stand, but that is because the noise is projected across the park. |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 09:00 - Mar 21 with 2327 views | GeoffSentence |
| Block A singing section next season? on 21:26 - Mar 20 by Brads |
Not convinced by club’s reasoning as Cobbold Block C is more expensive than neighbouring B and B’s more central than A but the price difference between NSL and A wasn’t huge this season anyway, so hopefully not make or break if similar for next season. Difference for an adult renewal for this season was £90 / £7.50 pm on DD and there was no difference for U23’s or U19’s. |
If they dropped the price for Block A, would they not also have to drop it for the away fans in the other end of the stand. |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 09:58 - Mar 21 with 2266 views | LankHenners |
| Block A singing section next season? on 09:00 - Mar 21 by GeoffSentence |
If they dropped the price for Block A, would they not also have to drop it for the away fans in the other end of the stand. |
Pretty sure the answer to that is yes as I think it's am EFL regulation that away fans are charged whatever the price would be for home fans in an equivalent area. |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 10:41 - Mar 21 with 2193 views | Brads |
| Block A singing section next season? on 09:00 - Mar 21 by GeoffSentence |
If they dropped the price for Block A, would they not also have to drop it for the away fans in the other end of the stand. |
I was talking about season tickets, not individual matchday prices, so think there’d be wiggle room if the club wanted there to be. You’re probably right re match day prices though. Financial reason more believable than the neighbouring block one they gave BA which they don’t seem to have applied across the rest of the stand. There’s a reason why there’s alot more availability in A than B.
Anyway, whatever the real reason, they’re not price matching according to Slambo so kinda irrelevant and my point was more to back up the idea that it’s still not that much more expensive for adults in A-block than NSL, and the same price for concessions (if this season’s prices are anything to go by, I obviously haven’t seen what they are for 23/24 yet but guessing they won’t be hugely different). | | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 11:46 - Mar 21 with 2132 views | Brads |
| Block A singing section next season? on 08:30 - Mar 21 by Bobbychase |
I've been surprised to see negativity towards this on Twitter in particular, one guy saying "99.9%" of Town fans would be against it. Couple of points:
1 People suggesting away fans moved down to Block A to improve atmosphere - I can never see the police going for this. There have been regular scuffles this season with Town and away fans mixing on the walk back to the station. Chance of any flashpoints would increase if away fans have to walk through home fans down to the end of Cobbold.
2 The best way to improve the atmosphere is to have people starting/joining in with songs in areas of the stadium that aren't the SBR. Practically, the best chance of this working is to have them in a block close to the SBR so they can amplify any noise coming from there, or start their own chanting that the SBR can join in with. I still hope one day the upper SAR will be a bit more vocal as the acoustics are decent in there, but that's a big step.
3 It's great to see the club doing something about this, it's far from Tinpot. Tinpot is clappers on seats and that awful video Reading put out a few years ago when they'd written their own (cringey) song for fans to join in with. |
I was surprised too. If they’re not going to move there, not sure why it bothers them. Must have been feedback showing that there was some demand for it.
Main criticism seems to have been the club referring to it as a singing section (“tin pot”). I don’t see why it matters what it’s called in the article, other than to make it clear what the block’s set aside for. If it was done on the QT as one bloke suggested, it would’ve just led to issues. I doubt it’ll continually be referred to as that, it’ll just be A-Block or Block A. When clubs make it to Wembley, there’s usually a designated block or two referred to as the singing section. How else do you sign post it? Nothing more tin pot than your traditionally vocal end regularly standing in silence.
Most critics seemed to be making clueless alternative suggestions that were clearly never viable due to availability or the likelihood of the stakeholders allowing it. The section wasn’t just selected at random without any consideration. | | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 12:11 - Mar 21 with 2102 views | N2_Blue |
| Block A singing section next season? on 11:46 - Mar 21 by Brads |
I was surprised too. If they’re not going to move there, not sure why it bothers them. Must have been feedback showing that there was some demand for it.
Main criticism seems to have been the club referring to it as a singing section (“tin pot”). I don’t see why it matters what it’s called in the article, other than to make it clear what the block’s set aside for. If it was done on the QT as one bloke suggested, it would’ve just led to issues. I doubt it’ll continually be referred to as that, it’ll just be A-Block or Block A. When clubs make it to Wembley, there’s usually a designated block or two referred to as the singing section. How else do you sign post it? Nothing more tin pot than your traditionally vocal end regularly standing in silence.
Most critics seemed to be making clueless alternative suggestions that were clearly never viable due to availability or the likelihood of the stakeholders allowing it. The section wasn’t just selected at random without any consideration. |
People just like to moan.
Its nothing new and all clubs have an element of fans that moan, however we do seem to have an excessive amount of moaners which i put down in part to there being nothing else to do for the whole Evans tenure...now that there are are things to actually be positive about they can't snap out of it! |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 12:11 - Mar 21 with 2101 views | bournemouthblue |
| Block A singing section next season? on 17:27 - Mar 20 by textbackup |
Seems strange doing it now when the club plan to knock down/rebuild the cobbold within the next 18-24months |
It's a funny one isn't it, based on current crowds, you'd rather take the 'hit' in the Championship and benefit from extra capacity for a Premier League stint
The cost of building a stand is substantial and almost always effects on field performance, our record with news stands being built, isn't a good one by any means
The Cobbold certainly needs to be replaced at some stage and West Stand at some stage is likely to be redeveloped at the very least. I'm not sure if they could reprofile the top tier and install a new roof or simply install a new roof without the need for pillars etc.
The facilities all around the ground need modernising and improving but I'm sure that's a project Ashton has in hand |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 21:47 - Mar 22 with 1891 views | Blue_Order |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 11:08 - Mar 23 with 1690 views | ArnieM |
If BA wants create an atmosphere as they put it, perhaps they should relocate to the “ library” that is the SAR stand. Perhaps more specifically upper quarter near the away fans. The banter would be fun to watch! And good luck trying to get the SAR ( Churchman’s) to sing! |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 11:13 - Mar 23 with 1662 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| Block A singing section next season? on 17:27 - Mar 20 by textbackup |
Seems strange doing it now when the club plan to knock down/rebuild the cobbold within the next 18-24months |
Link? |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 11:23 - Mar 23 with 1624 views | geg1992 |
| Block A singing section next season? on 11:08 - Mar 23 by ArnieM |
If BA wants create an atmosphere as they put it, perhaps they should relocate to the “ library” that is the SAR stand. Perhaps more specifically upper quarter near the away fans. The banter would be fun to watch! And good luck trying to get the SAR ( Churchman’s) to sing! |
I thought this too, SAF upper next to the away fans. As far as I'm aware, there aren't many season tickets here so could have been ideal. |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 03:21 - Mar 25 with 1447 views | OvenGlove |
Held my fire, but for what it's worth;
Cobbold can't cope with this, the physics of the area coupled with the family/elderly demographic in there presently makes this a potentially very bad idea.
Cobbold is awful for any crowd other than elderly/family, access/egress is frankly hazardous at the best of times. The FA cup 'dress reheresal' proved this, if the club want to ignore the very obvious safety issues raised so be it.
My dynamic RA is that this stinks, the N half of Cobbold A is traditionally under-sold, hence always being given up for 'visiting tame fans' and 'school parties'. I think BA have been played here by the club. Can't blame them (the club) for trying to find a purpose
for a oft neglected part of the stadium, but wrong people, wrong place isn't a solution.
I don't get this 'acoustics/'atmos' nonsense, if the team are playing well the 'atmos' is fine, with no recourse to norwich or a geriatric chef.
Not knowing what the options were before the Club imposed this 'solution' for my money an unreserved, but obviously limited, area of seats, in the North Stand, at season ticket (or even reduced) turn-up prices would have been a much more considered approach.
I should also add that my profession is in health and safety, although not this particular area, and, I've always absolutely hated the drum.
Come on Town sort it out! |  | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 07:25 - Mar 25 with 1361 views | textbackup |
| Block A singing section next season? on 03:21 - Mar 25 by OvenGlove |
Held my fire, but for what it's worth;
Cobbold can't cope with this, the physics of the area coupled with the family/elderly demographic in there presently makes this a potentially very bad idea.
Cobbold is awful for any crowd other than elderly/family, access/egress is frankly hazardous at the best of times. The FA cup 'dress reheresal' proved this, if the club want to ignore the very obvious safety issues raised so be it.
My dynamic RA is that this stinks, the N half of Cobbold A is traditionally under-sold, hence always being given up for 'visiting tame fans' and 'school parties'. I think BA have been played here by the club. Can't blame them (the club) for trying to find a purpose
for a oft neglected part of the stadium, but wrong people, wrong place isn't a solution.
I don't get this 'acoustics/'atmos' nonsense, if the team are playing well the 'atmos' is fine, with no recourse to norwich or a geriatric chef.
Not knowing what the options were before the Club imposed this 'solution' for my money an unreserved, but obviously limited, area of seats, in the North Stand, at season ticket (or even reduced) turn-up prices would have been a much more considered approach.
I should also add that my profession is in health and safety, although not this particular area, and, I've always absolutely hated the drum.
Come on Town sort it out! |
Cobbold stand can’t cope with this…. Yet in the other corner it can cope with 2,300 away fans at any given time?! |  |
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| Block A singing section next season? on 03:15 - Apr 10 with 1073 views | OvenGlove |
| Block A singing section next season? on 07:25 - Mar 25 by textbackup |
Cobbold stand can’t cope with this…. Yet in the other corner it can cope with 2,300 away fans at any given time?! |
2.3 K away fans, once in a blue moon. And no, it doesn't cope, having heard first hand accounts from the stewards who have to deal with all the ensuing nonsense.
I'll say it again for the hard of thought, and to the club (who no doubt read this) the Cobbold can't cope with this. The existing concourses/entries/exits/facilities are woefully inadequate and it is only by luck that an incident hasn't already occurred.
When BA tried to move to the centre of the North they were rightly told to sling their hook, no group of fans, no matter their self importance should be pandered to by the club.
If it isn't organic it's really tin-pot (???). The 'atmos' is generated by the team, screw all this flag waving, drum beating (sheeesh) nonsense. Any contrived 'atmos' is exactly that... There wasn't a single person in the Cobbold that didn't want the drum moved out, we really, really don't want him back. Unfortunately we weren't even consulted, bit rude, unlike the courtesy extended to the centre North.
The Cobbold is family/older generation orientated, and can barely cope with that demographic. The club have stated (I've seen letter from Mark Ashton) that this is only temporary, so why actually even bother.
Friday was the first game where the many, long standing, regulars in this this area were able to to express their feelings on the way this has been imposed by the club, many have already sent their concerns directly to the club, all were appalled by the way it had been announced. No one welcomed the move.
But as always the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
And to BA, if you don't 'fit' in the North, really... | | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 08:18 - Apr 10 with 904 views | Sawtrich |
| Block A singing section next season? on 03:15 - Apr 10 by OvenGlove |
2.3 K away fans, once in a blue moon. And no, it doesn't cope, having heard first hand accounts from the stewards who have to deal with all the ensuing nonsense.
I'll say it again for the hard of thought, and to the club (who no doubt read this) the Cobbold can't cope with this. The existing concourses/entries/exits/facilities are woefully inadequate and it is only by luck that an incident hasn't already occurred.
When BA tried to move to the centre of the North they were rightly told to sling their hook, no group of fans, no matter their self importance should be pandered to by the club.
If it isn't organic it's really tin-pot (???). The 'atmos' is generated by the team, screw all this flag waving, drum beating (sheeesh) nonsense. Any contrived 'atmos' is exactly that... There wasn't a single person in the Cobbold that didn't want the drum moved out, we really, really don't want him back. Unfortunately we weren't even consulted, bit rude, unlike the courtesy extended to the centre North.
The Cobbold is family/older generation orientated, and can barely cope with that demographic. The club have stated (I've seen letter from Mark Ashton) that this is only temporary, so why actually even bother.
Friday was the first game where the many, long standing, regulars in this this area were able to to express their feelings on the way this has been imposed by the club, many have already sent their concerns directly to the club, all were appalled by the way it had been announced. No one welcomed the move.
But as always the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
And to BA, if you don't 'fit' in the North, really... |
So, your initial post about health and safety was just a cover for the fact that you don't like BA? |  | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 16:59 - Apr 10 with 752 views | Brads |
| Block A singing section next season? on 03:15 - Apr 10 by OvenGlove |
2.3 K away fans, once in a blue moon. And no, it doesn't cope, having heard first hand accounts from the stewards who have to deal with all the ensuing nonsense.
I'll say it again for the hard of thought, and to the club (who no doubt read this) the Cobbold can't cope with this. The existing concourses/entries/exits/facilities are woefully inadequate and it is only by luck that an incident hasn't already occurred.
When BA tried to move to the centre of the North they were rightly told to sling their hook, no group of fans, no matter their self importance should be pandered to by the club.
If it isn't organic it's really tin-pot (???). The 'atmos' is generated by the team, screw all this flag waving, drum beating (sheeesh) nonsense. Any contrived 'atmos' is exactly that... There wasn't a single person in the Cobbold that didn't want the drum moved out, we really, really don't want him back. Unfortunately we weren't even consulted, bit rude, unlike the courtesy extended to the centre North.
The Cobbold is family/older generation orientated, and can barely cope with that demographic. The club have stated (I've seen letter from Mark Ashton) that this is only temporary, so why actually even bother.
Friday was the first game where the many, long standing, regulars in this this area were able to to express their feelings on the way this has been imposed by the club, many have already sent their concerns directly to the club, all were appalled by the way it had been announced. No one welcomed the move.
But as always the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
And to BA, if you don't 'fit' in the North, really... |
It wasn’t just BA who made it known that there was an appetite for a vocal section. The club rightly responded to the demand. Never easy to incorporate anything new into the ground and presumably A-Block made most sense because it was sparsely populated (now pretty full for next season). Club can’t please everyone but can’t have received a large volume of complaints, simply because there weren’t that many season ticket holders there previously (anyone could see that from the seat map).
The facilities in the Cobbold are awful and the concourse is overcrowded anyway, so if that was a priority for people, they probably wouldn't have chosen to stay in that stand until now.
Any existing ST holders in A-Block who weren’t in favour could have moved across to block B when they renewed, if they’d have acted when they first went on sale (assuming the club didn’t offer to facilitate it before hand). Better or very similar view there, depending on which part of the block, same price. I know there was availability because some family moved there.
Interesting that Ashton’s letter said it’s only temporary. I guess until the new stand is built as the club probably wouldn’t want the section in there after that. I wonder if the future ground developments might eventually see it in the South Stand, along with the away fans, if they could build in some kind of divide outside? | | | |
| Block A singing section next season? on 17:09 - Apr 10 with 729 views | Brads |
| Block A singing section next season? on 03:15 - Apr 10 by OvenGlove |
2.3 K away fans, once in a blue moon. And no, it doesn't cope, having heard first hand accounts from the stewards who have to deal with all the ensuing nonsense.
I'll say it again for the hard of thought, and to the club (who no doubt read this) the Cobbold can't cope with this. The existing concourses/entries/exits/facilities are woefully inadequate and it is only by luck that an incident hasn't already occurred.
When BA tried to move to the centre of the North they were rightly told to sling their hook, no group of fans, no matter their self importance should be pandered to by the club.
If it isn't organic it's really tin-pot (???). The 'atmos' is generated by the team, screw all this flag waving, drum beating (sheeesh) nonsense. Any contrived 'atmos' is exactly that... There wasn't a single person in the Cobbold that didn't want the drum moved out, we really, really don't want him back. Unfortunately we weren't even consulted, bit rude, unlike the courtesy extended to the centre North.
The Cobbold is family/older generation orientated, and can barely cope with that demographic. The club have stated (I've seen letter from Mark Ashton) that this is only temporary, so why actually even bother.
Friday was the first game where the many, long standing, regulars in this this area were able to to express their feelings on the way this has been imposed by the club, many have already sent their concerns directly to the club, all were appalled by the way it had been announced. No one welcomed the move.
But as always the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
And to BA, if you don't 'fit' in the North, really... |
Also, you say that everyone was appalled and no-one welcomed it, yet the thread begins with a positive tweet from an existing A-Block season ticket holder, so not much balance in your assessment. It wasn’t the only one I’ve seen either. | | | |
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