The atmosphere at Celtic Park: What could be improved/changed, if anything at all?

Cheerleaders and Tennent's Lager on draught might add a little je ne sais quoi

 

I love the GB and wish we had a bigger singing section. I might be wrong but they actually dont sound as loud as what they sounded last season.Lots of empty seats today and the same will be on tuesday or even more empty seats yet when we play barca it will be sold out? some "Fans" are shocking.I know we have fans from ireland and many cant afford to go to every game.

 

The ground being near empty before the 90mins doesn't help either...

 

Exactly. I hate that you can't get a ticket near the GB yet the * that sit there are quiet as *. I was sitting in 109 today and 113 for the Dundee match. That's probably less than 50-100 seats away from the GB but no-one anywhere near me was singing. I had some * sitting next to me today and him and his pal gave everyone a running commentary on the match for 85 minutes. It's ridiculous that fans who want to sing can't and we have to be stuck in with the people who just sit on their arses and moan at the team the whole match. We need to get a standing section in ASAP. I sat near the GB for the two Euro qaulifiers and it was brilliant but even in those matches people about 20 seats further away than me weren't singing at all.

 

Well, firstly, we can start by not allowing grumpy * that complain at anything and everything into the stadium, but that won't happen. Therefore we're stuck. The GB are a * savior to our atmosphere, the place would be dead without them.

 

I think an extended "singing section" from where the GB sit would help if there was enough people interested. And I dont think any blame lies with the GB as regards any poor atmosphere as they are the guys who put in the effort every week to try and get other fans motivated. They may not be on top form every game but at the same time they arent machines.

I am a bit hesitant to say this, and I really dont want to derail the thread, but I would love it if the GB cut out all the political stuff as it does create a barrier to entry for a lot of people. I am typically quite a quiet guy (though certainly not a "grumpy *") but I know several celtic fans who are far more likely to jump about and sing. And none of them would consider joining the GB purely down to the political stuff (although they all appreciate them all the same).

I would also say, this isnt just a celtic issue - it is football wide. The atmospheres in most big grounds are getting worse because the demographics of football fans are changing. Young working class males are being priced out and being replaced by a more middle class audience and more women and children. This leads to arguably less violence and less intolerance, but also less of an atmosphere. Prices being what they are, I dont think this is likely to change any time soon.

 

It's got nothingto do withthe GB. They've got a section of 300/400 in a 60,000 stadium! It needs the rest of the support to join in or even start songs instead of sitting like zombies and depending on the GB to do all the work!

 

And the United States :icon_mrgreen: Although I seem to go to more games than fellow bhoys who actually live in Scotland! :smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002:

 

Not starting anything here mate. Just want to say, it's not just your "working class boys" that are priced out. It's mostly everyone. Even middle class and upper. It's become more of a point of principle now. Did you look at the pricing lists that came out the other day? Shocking

Also it's great seeing more females and kids are the football. The game for everyone.

 

Drink always helps. Everyone acts like animals at the NEP's games. It's all the beer. :icon_mrgreen:

 

Resurrect the jungle in the form of a safe standing section. It'll quickly turn into another green brigade section but who cares if it improves the quality of the atmosphere in the stadium

 

Oh and it's oh so American but cheerleaders is a phenomenal idea. Plus we'd get macca at every game!

 

Course, US aswell! you probably do aswell! thats what you call dedication! must cost a fortune.Hat off to you mate.

 

Hate the idea of cheerleaders. It's far too cheesy.
They tried to start that at my local teams ground but it never caught on. Thankfully.

 

Dont get me wrong, I wasnt at all knocking the number of females and kids at games. Just pointing out that it is one of the reasons why the atmosphere has changed.

As regards the wealth issue we still get 45000+ at our games so there are people who can afford it. But we have priced out the local area which is tradionally pretty poor and these are the guys who likely have been connected to the club for years. And these are the guys that bring the songs and the banter to the games.

I wasnt giving an opinion on whether things are better or worse, but the average football fan is clearly changing from what he was like 20 or 30 years ago.

 

I hate the 'hot chocolate, man, wife and child applaud goals instead of jumping about like a madman, don't curse in front of my child' crew. But then again, at least they're putting money into the club. Takes away from the atmosphere though in my opinion.

 

It depends on the game though, the thing is against Killie if Celtic were to score most in the stadium will clap because its not a massive goal is it, i mean we expect Celtic to beat every team in the SPL.

Its different when you go into the CL or ex Old Firm games where the goals meant so much more and everyone would literally go crazy.

Another problem i find at home games is that we are fast turning into a counter attacking team when we play 1 up top. Our players like to break quickly and use the space, this has meant we perform a lot better away from home than we do at home. Thereby leading to some very dull and frankly awful home games that simply don't get the crowd elevated.

 

I think this is a big problem. We are playing in a league that we are expected to walk it. And no doubt we will. So it means we either win as people expect or we dont and people have a mild grumble. And even when we lose fans dont really react all that much because we still know we are going to win the league.

Think back to the 3 3 game against Killie at this point last season. When we equalised the fans went absolutely mental because they knew that one goal could be so important (granted it was an away day crowd). Passions were running so high, Lennon's job was in danger, and we were 10 points behind our biggest rivals.

Contrast with this year. There is zero real competition so the players treat the SPL like a training session and because of it fans are struggling to get passionate. This is actually one of the worst starts Celtic have made in the SPL in 15 years or so yet everyone is happy enough because of our European progress. The league has become a second thought, the players are treating it as such, and the atmosphere is suffering because of it.

 

We just need a massive singing section.

 

1st step is a necessity to fill celtic park..season tickets holders can be compensated by being allocated vouchers towards reduced cup tickets or the superstore

2nd step is the creation of singing sections in the other stands and areas of the ground and will probably need to be organised with club involvement so that wannabe singers can sit together

The support needs to be proactive to ensure that the atmosphere improves