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Post by john on Apr 16, 2005 11:08:38 GMT 1
Take a look at the empty seats.
FA Balls up once again.
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Post by rob on Apr 16, 2005 11:16:26 GMT 1
Not surprised, earlier on this week a Blackburn spokesperson announced that they had sold 17,000 tickets.
Say they sold another few thousand before the weekend, this would still result in less people going to watch them in an FA CUP semi-final than those who go along week in week out to watch them
Absolutely pathetic.
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Post by DisCusted on Apr 16, 2005 11:27:04 GMT 1
45 and 55 quid a ticket!
no chance
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Post by rob on Apr 16, 2005 11:40:07 GMT 1
And remind me how often do blackburn make it to the last 4 final of cup competitions?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2005 12:24:20 GMT 1
I think it was only a few years ago when Blackburn won the League Cup and I think it was at Cardiff? Therefore you aren't going to get a lot of people who usually go to the games just for the one-off experience as they have been recently. Just like had our play-off final been at the Millenium I think we would have taken more because the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff has more of an appeal than Brittania Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent And to have it at a midday ko is a joke, Arsenal & Blackburn fans having to leave at 4 in the morning The FA are quick to criticise teams when they play reserve teams and "devalue" the FA Cup but playing semi-finals at the same place the final is held is doing just that. Everyone from fans, managers, players, pundits all agree. The best part is the FA try to say its for the fans benefit so everyone can go, nothing to do with profits or perhaps pressure from the owners of the Millenium Stadium Unfortunately it will get worse at the new Wembley as they will play as many games as they can there to reclaim the money spent
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2005 22:09:42 GMT 1
The k-o time was ridiculous.
The location was probably correct.
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Post by Dale on Apr 16, 2005 22:13:57 GMT 1
Arsenal v Blackburn should have been played at Villa Park, Manure v Newcastle should have been played at Elland Road.
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Post by meoleshrew2 on Apr 16, 2005 22:14:43 GMT 1
The k-o time was ridiculous. The location was probably correct. yep, new crowd control technique, make them get up at 4am make sure they are too knackered to do owt
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Post by Pilch on Apr 16, 2005 22:15:53 GMT 1
the best the fa cup has ever been for me was when the 2 games were back 2 back on a sunday at league grounds if the fa use their heads they will use wembley (when its ready) just for the final ovbiously they wont
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Post by Guest on Apr 16, 2005 22:21:02 GMT 1
Cardiff will be retained as a semi-final venue next season.
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Post by aleix on Apr 16, 2005 22:22:58 GMT 1
Today's semi should have been staged at Ninian Park!
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Post by ratcliffesghost on Apr 16, 2005 22:35:04 GMT 1
The location was probably correct. wind up surely Tony Lets play it in this country League champions TNS, only see you missing in the anogram
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Apr 17, 2005 0:07:35 GMT 1
So what would you have told the 9000 fans who didn't get tickets about why you played it at Villa Park?
Blackburn is a small club
The kick off time was stupid
But the decision to host it in Cardiff makes a lot of sense because 9,000 more fans were able to see the game todayand by tomorrow that figure will have risen to over 35,000 more fans will have been able to watch the semi finals (if it is a sell out)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 7:05:00 GMT 1
The main problem I have is that the semi final was played at the place where the final is being played. That is simply crazy.
It is part of the softening up process to reduce the FA's deficit on Wembley.
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Post by Dale on Apr 17, 2005 9:52:30 GMT 1
Cardiff will be retained as a semi-final venue next season. I suppose that wont be too bad once Wembley starts staging the final again, but it seems daft for two northern clubs to be playing in South Wales, maybe it isnt so bad for those based in the Midlands and south....
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Post by john on Apr 17, 2005 10:06:47 GMT 1
The daft thing is, is that all 4 semi finalists expressed disproval at playing them at the millenium.
There was nothing wrong with any of these venues for them:
City of Manchester Stadium Goodison Anfield Elland Road Stadium of Light Villa Park
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 10:12:33 GMT 1
It's a shame the FA decided to play the semis in Cardiff. Yes, there were a few more fans there but let's not kid ourselves. It's all about money, not the fans. Imagine the start off times for some of those fans - and Cardiff is a right bugger to get in and out of too.
The FA Cup used to be special, but over the past few years stunts like these have devalued it somewhat which is a terrible shame.
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Post by rob on Apr 17, 2005 11:06:41 GMT 1
I guess ticket prices had something to do with it. £45-£55 i think they were. Thats a hell of a lot of money for a family to pay, especially for a lunch time kick off where barring a foiotballing mirical on a par with Saudi Arabia winning the World Cup everyone knows it'll be an Arsenal V Man United final. Why not just play it at Croke Park, fourth largest ground in Europe
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 13:05:09 GMT 1
If you're a family of four who can afford to go and watch PremierLeague footie every week you can probably afford to go to a cup semi.
I do take the points about the games being played in England though and there are some good venues about. I also agree with Pilch that when the two games used to be played on the same day (Sunday) at different venues it was good.
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Post by peterjones nli on Apr 17, 2005 13:07:05 GMT 1
The daft thing is, is that all 4 semi finalists expressed disproval at playing them at the millenium. There was nothing wrong with any of these venues for them: City of Manchester Stadium Goodison Anfield Elland Road Stadium of Light Villa Park Why should Liverpool have had their game postponed just so someone else could play a game on their ground?
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Post by CuyBlue on Apr 17, 2005 13:28:52 GMT 1
Going back a few more years when both semi's were played on a Saturday - 3:00pm KO The venue was as neutral as possible between the two clubs, with as large a venue as possible chosen. I remember Villa Park, Hillsborough as being popular choices - can't remember which southern grounds were used - Highbury? Sat at League grounds
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 14:15:42 GMT 1
Why did Blackburn only sell 17,000 tickets?
That's pathetic considering it's their first appearance in the semi-final for 40-odd years.
Ok, Cardiff is a fair treck from Blackburn but why not make a day of it?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 14:20:20 GMT 1
Why did Blackburn only sell 17,000 tickets? That's pathetic considering it's their first appearance in the semi-final for 40-odd years. Ok, Cardiff is a fair treck from Blackburn but why not make a day of it? Fair play, that's terrible. Southend more than that to the LDV final a week ago at the same ground!
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Post by meoleshrew2 on Apr 17, 2005 14:20:42 GMT 1
Part financial, part protest, same as those missing in todays game, all four teams official supporters groups agreed that they would support those who wanted to boycott
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 14:29:26 GMT 1
Part financial, part protest, same as those missing in todays game, all four teams official supporters groups agreed that they would support those who wanted to boycott If a smaller venue had been chosen i'm sure some supporters still would have complained as not all would have got tickets.
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Post by meoleshrew2 on Apr 17, 2005 14:43:37 GMT 1
The boycott was all about the final venue being used for semi's and some have made it clear to the FA that they could afford one visit not two if they got through
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 15:22:01 GMT 1
Oh well, their choice.
If I was in their position I'd be lapping up the fact I'd get a chance to see my team (possibly twice) at a beautiful stadium like the millenium stadium.
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Post by john on Apr 17, 2005 16:34:26 GMT 1
Why should Liverpool have had their game postponed just so someone else could play a game on their ground? Why would they of? It could of been played today.....silly boy
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Post by john on Apr 17, 2005 16:39:47 GMT 1
Oh well, their choice. If I was in their position I'd be lapping up the fact I'd get a chance to see my team (possibly twice) at a beautiful stadium like the millenium stadium. Phil, Wayne Hemmingway was speaking to Soccer AM yesterday from Cardiff, he said it had cost him, his wife and 3 kids over £500 to get there etc, when its live on TV at that price for maybe not a one off as they might actually win and get to the final, loads are going to say they cant afford it and watch it on tv.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2005 16:44:37 GMT 1
Phil, Wayne Hemmingway was speaking to Soccer AM yesterday from Cardiff, he said it had cost him, his wife and 3 kids over £500 to get there etc, when its live on TV at that price for maybe not a one off as they might actually win and get to the final, loads are going to say they cant afford it and watch it on tv. 2 adult tickets = £100 3 kids tickets = £60 £340 in travel costs to get 5 people to Cardiff? Where were they traveling from - Germany??
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