April 29 – Watching your team take to the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium is often described as a ‘bucket list’ experience for many fans of English clubs, yet Sunday’s match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest revealed thousands of empty seats in the City section as they secured a 2-0 victory and a place in the FA Cup Final.
In a venue with a 90,000-seat capacity, the announced attendance of 72,976 brought renewed attention to a longstanding debate that has simmered since the Football Association designated Wembley as the host for both the semi-finals and the final of the prestigious cup competition.
In 2008, the FA determined that shifting semi-final matches from traditional neutral grounds to Wembley would help offset the enormous construction costs of the national stadium (£789 million, equivalent to £1.51 billion today).
However, this decision has created significant financial burdens for supporters who travel from North of the Watford Gap prompting Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to suggest, “one day maybe the FA Cup Final will be played here in the north.”
“They will come here to Old Trafford or [the] Etihad or Anfield or Goodison Park,” Guardiola continued. “I understand the people, I’m not the person to say. All around the world people suffer economically and I understand completely it’s not easy for them.”
Speaking to BBC Sport, Nick Clarke, a founder of the MCFC Fans Foodbank Support, emphasised that City are “a northern club” requiring fans to make a 400-mile round trip.
Clarke reported being “out of pocket” after organising a 16-seater minibus for £850 that attracted only 12 passengers, while his match ticket cost £45 and food and drink expenses totalled £60.
With ticket prices ranging from £30 to £150, and Wembley becoming almost a second home for Guardiola’s frequent semi-finalists, many supporters find themselves either priced out or experiencing “Wembley fatigue.”
Kevin Parker, general secretary of City’s official supporters’ club, told BBC Sport: “It is an expensive day out and when you have done it 25 or 30 times, there are decisions you have to take in terms of the cost.
“Our record in the FA Cup under Guardiola has been unbelievable, but fans – without disrespect to Nottingham Forest – are hoping to be reasonably confident we will play in the final. Those games are only three weeks apart. People do have to make a financial choice.”
The situation underscores the remarkable consistency of Manchester City, who will appear in their sixth FA Cup Final in the last fifteen years, complementing their impressive 12 semi-final appearances during the same period.
Yet, this success has paradoxically contributed to diminished fan attendance as the financial and logistical challenges of repeated Wembley trips take their toll on the club’s faithful supporters.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1745952550labto1745952550ofdlr1745952550owedi1745952550sni@r1745952550etsbe1745952550w.kci1745952550n1745952550