troyboy

Say it ain't so!!

Should be taking notes from the RBB. They have a Youtube account dedicated to uploading audio clips of a few of their main lads chanting with lyrics on screen. And Not just one capo but several to coordinate the support! I agree about the extra capos and really think this needs to be considered. Not forever but at least for the first few home games. The main capo can lead some secondary ones in each bay. We have so many new(and first time) active supporters that we really need them to feel included right from the first game to overcome their nerves about being so vocal, and that it's ok not to know all of the chants straight away. These "extra" capos could promote the Melburnians app and point people in the right direction to find out more about our active group. I'm happy to pitch in and help in any way if it's needed.

I have been pondering that exact question but never been brave enough to commit it to a post. I'm glad to see that I am not the only one thinking this!!!! Now my concern is that some bright spark will start a " Does Bearded Heart have a beard??" thread.

Our average first game attendance is only about 9,500( versus an overall home game average of 6,775 not including derbies) so I think anything above 10K should be viewed as positive or at least headed in the right direction. Yes but our average member base for the first game those seasons was remarkably lower. We have almost a 5000 member difference between this time last year. Having almost 10k members by Sunday will ensure we will get bare minimum close to 14k or very possibly above, I think. Don't get me wrong, I hope you're right(and I'm wrong!!) and we get 14-15k to the game. I just don't want people to be disappointed that we "only" got 10/11/12k and look at it as a positive based on where we are starting from

Our average first game attendance is only about 9,500( versus an overall home game average of 6,775 not including derbies) so I think anything above 10K should be viewed as positive or at least headed in the right direction.

I have a spreadsheet of all Heart "home" attendances. Your memory serves you well. The average for all 46 non-derby matches played at AAMI Park is only 6,775. Phew!! I thought I was close. Thanks for the back up champion.

Being that our average home attendance hovered around 6 - 8,000(I don't have stats, just going on my memory of attendance announcements from last season. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong!!!) not taking in to account derby matches, I think anything between 10-12,000 would be realistic and should be considered a positive result. For the record my prediction is 12,132!!!!!!

I agree. I would also change Redmayne for Velaphi and that side will be very hard to beat.

Rock up anytime bring your membership card so you can get the drink/food discounts Will do. Thanks for the info

My son and I will be coming to the Imp for the first time to watch the game and just want to know how it all works. Do we have a specific area allocated to us? Do you need to bring memberships or anything like that or is it pretty casual? What time do people normally start arriving before kick off? Really looking forward to doing this with him(he's over 18 so it's all good!!) so any information will be appreciated.

HOME NEWS NEWS: ACTIVE SUPPORTER BAYS EXPAND WITH MEMBERSHIP DEMAND NEWS: Active Supporter bays expand with membership demand Active Support Active Supporter areas will be expanded for the 2014/15 season due to demand for Melbourne City FC membershipsWednesday, 30 July 2014 - Julius Ross Comments Melbourne City FC is delighted to announce the expansion of the Active Supporter areas. Melbourne City FC is delighted to announce the expansion of the Active Supporter areas for the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season. With less than 100 seats left in the current area of Bays 16, 17 and 18 at the Yarra River end, the Club will be extending these bays vertically to accommodate the increasing demand for Active Supporter memberships. You might not be able to get GA tickets in 16/17/18 anymore. The above was on the website earlier this year. You might be able to get them in anyways, just depends on how eager the AAMI Park staff are on checking the memberships for that area.

How bout this???

I'm pretty sure you don't need to speak to anyone. If you get there and there's some empty seats and you're ready to stand and sing then grab a spot and go for it!!

I think you are spot on with this. I'm pretty sure that these families are the ones buying the active memberships to avoid the reserved seat charge. Rather than burn them, I would rather educate them and let it happen with some gentle persuasion!!! Have someone from the organising group go in to the bays for the first few home games and explain what is expected of them. Those that want to participate will be encouraged to come down. Those that don't can either move to the back of the area, or go to a vacant section of the GA area. If anyone complains, then I would quote them the following from the active supporter membership page from the website: "Join the energetic voice of members in the southern end at AAMI Park, standing and singing throughout the game. You will be amongst the pulse of support taking in the great atmosphere." If people don't like the activity in the active area they have bought a membership in, they can take it up with the club and in my opinion, should have read the page properly.

OK I'm new to this forum thing so if I'm posting this in the wrong area then apologies in advance!! With the increase in the active area in both membership and space allocated to it, I have noticed that there hasn't been much discussion about how this expansion will be handled(if there has been and I just can't find the thread then will be happy to be pointed in the right direction!!). Anyway, I thought I would float some ideas/issues and see what people think: Inactive "active" supporters - Bay 16(directly behind the goals) has always appeared to be the active area despite the 2 bays either side also being designated active. There are a number of reasons why this is: 1.Active memberships are a reserved seat and the same price as a GA membership so people who don't really want to be active buy these to guarantee a seat at Victory Derby matches at AAMI Park and avoid paying the extra charge for the reserved seat on top of the GA membership. We can't change this now but we have to make these people feel comfortable enough to maybe become active. 2. It's a reserved seat so people sit where their ticket says they have to sit(it's an AFL thing). This will be my 3rd year as an active member but it took me at least a season before I felt comfortable enough to ask if I could join the fun group in bay 16. 3. The outer bays are rarely filled and as a result no one wants to be the first one to get up and sing. I didn't that's why I asked to join the fun group!! With the expansion of this area I think we have a great opportunity to build a really successful, entertaining and fun area that people will want to come to. Here's some suggestions: Bring everyone together - Encourage people to fill the empty seats at the front(when/if possible). Let them know it's ok to sit closer despite what their ticket says. We want them to feel welcome. Have some people from the core organising group( I'm happy to pitch in and help) go to the outer bays and explain that we need them to stand and sing. Make them feel included rather than yelling at them for not participating. Most of them want to join in they are just too shy to ask!! Get the capo with the megaphone to start some chants from the outer bays and people will get on board. This happened once last year and it works. Or put some of the organisers in each bay to help co ordinate some chants. I am a recent convert to soccer and the main reason for that is because of the fun I have had as an active supporter of this club. It has given me a new perspective of the sport that I never imagined. Up until I got involved I thought the songs were taunts that soccer hooligans used to start fights. I had no idea they were entertaining and sometimes funny. If I can be turned around then I'm sure there are others out there who are waiting for us to make them welcome. Let's go get 'em!!!

I get what we are going for and it's probably worth a shot, but I don't think its going to be our YNWA type song. YNWA is a slow build to a big finish, whereas " We are Australian/Melburnians" doesn't seem to have the same build up to a big finish. Also, the reason YNWA works so well is because it represents what the club is about without being changed. When you have to adapt a song to suit your club it comes across as a bit tryhard. I think it's a good chant, but probably not "our" song(but happy to be proved wrong).