Why Don't You Stay To The End?

[Tudor]

One of the things that infuriates the heck out of me is why thousands of Blues leave the Etihad Stadium well before the referee blows the final whistle.

Both sides of the argument

In bygone years (thinking of Maine Road) I have to openly admit the times I left well before the end but when I check my ageing memory banks I seem to remember the reasons why. I was young and didn't want to get crushed by thousands. Then there were the inevitable punch-ups and public order situations.

Another reason was, (donkey years before the invention of microwaves) if I was late for dinner my mother would treat the rest of the evening as if the world was about to implode and that my life would not be worth living for a day or two post-match. There was nothing worse than a meal being kept warm in the ray-burn - the gravy would congeal and...remember? Mother was a stickler for time and I hated burnt and dried up food.

Then there are the times when, a few minutes after leaving the ground I used to hear the crowd go into a frenzy - did I miss a goal, was someone sent off? The pain of not knowing used to drive me crazy!

Some will have scheduled transport departures while others will have pre-arranged engagements, all of which are genuine reasons. However on the flipside I tend to look at this subject a little differently these days.

It costs a fortune to attend top flight Premier League matches and I appreciate the value of money much more than I used to - probably because my pockets are not at deep as they used to be.

These days, I enjoy a pint after the game and its rude to leave the stadium knowing the bar won't open until after the final whistle - it's the law don't you know to do a security check before travelling home - that's what I tell the wife!

Winning the title

I couldn't make the QPR game a few years ago and so I watched Sky Sports coverage and Martin Tyler's infamous commentary, but the thought of leaving when we were losing and then in the 93rd and a certain Sergio Aguero did what he did then I think I would have spent the last couple of years in a secluded padded cell.

Why don't you stay until the end?

Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=575957#ixzz4U8k3UG9P

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

There are several reasons why fans leave early,

thousands leave just to get a jump on the traffic, being so close to the City centre or the walk to the car does add time to get home, especially if it an evening kickoff. Saturdays at 3 pm is a nightmare because once you leave the stadium car park you are on your own and can be sat in traffic for some time.

The service at the bars for beer, coffee tea food etc is so slow and they close down as soon as they can so you have to get there pretty quick if you want a drink.

I personally stay to the end, but in doing so i miss the post match entertainment and have to queue for drinks and by the time I have got to City square there is no food left and the tea and coffee are not the best standard, especially if the weather is not kind to you.

Other reasons are that you have children with you and it easier to keep an eye on the little ones or the infirm if you leave that bit earlier and whilst public transport is available, it may not be going in your direction if at all

One reason is, If you are losing it is very hard to watch your team get annihilated and the only time I can remember staying to the end was a 1-5 drubbing by the Gooners and they were just easy on the eye to watch even though it was us they were thrashing, at least we scored.

 

[Bluedub]

We're Man City, we fight 'til almost the end.

 

[Colin Is The King]

It's a strange one.

On the infrequent occasions I do go, I've usually walked from town along the Ashton canal (about 25 minutes), and stayed until the final whistle. The Metrolink fare is £4.30, but a couple of times I've stayed on to the Etihad campus (£5).

When I've gone with my sister, we've parked on a Chinese restaurant car park for a fiver, and had a 5-10 minute walk to the ground.
Getting away hasn't been too bad either, although we've headed for the north side of the city through Harpurhey and Cheetham.

The main reason I've seen given is that traffic is so bad around the ground that's why fans leave early. Prehaps we've been lucky? :048:

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

If they could solve the traffic problem, then they would stay to the end. Especially if your car is parked 15 minutes away then as Colin says it depends then which way you are travelling, some routes are lighter than others.