Local owners for Blues?

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Originally Posted by WBA1955

Local derbies were different. In the late sixties early seventies we used to get over 40,000 for the games with Wolves and Villa. We used to get the same v Manchester United.
Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton always pulled around 35,000.
Our lowest crowd was always Burnley, around 18-20,000.
Towards the end of the decade football hooliganism almost destroyed the game. Crowds fell alarmingly.
European champions Forest only got around 22,000.
The crowds have never really returned apart from those at the top six. I doubt they ever will.
I was in the last 40,000+ crowd at the Hawthorns. We will never see those gates again.

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From a fans point of view....is the viewing and stadium better or worse?
While the atmosphere may be better....I wonder if the experience is better all round...

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Originally Posted by Dubbag

From a fans point of view....is the viewing and stadium better or worse?
While the atmosphere may be better....I wonder if the experience is better all round...

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Today’s experience doesn’t remotely compare with the 70’s and early 80’s Dubs.

It was a visceral experience in those days, the noise, the cramming together, the mass purposeful collapse of the whole of the terrace dwellers when we scored.

It was mayhem, manic, magnificent.

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Originally Posted by WBA1955

I don't recall Blues getting gates of 56,000 back in the seventies. Manchester United didn't get that. But you are right about the potential of Blues being a big city club.
They have always been second rate though with little in the way of trophies or traditions.
They are probably better known for their Zulu warriors than their football heritage.

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I checked attendance figures Des.

From around 72 to 75 Blues had best attendances of over 50,000 and in 72 had 52,400 as a best attendance.

In 72-73 they had an average attendance of 36,500 whilst we averaged 21,500 albeit we were relegated under Howe.

Blues constantly averaged 35,000+ over a stretch in the 70’s.

They definitely have the ability to be a 35,000+ average crowd under a decent owner with money I think.

All this talk of clubs being sold brings up the question of how the sale of our club is progressing.

Have to agree that with the right owners and decent investment Birmingham have a lot of potential. Still lots of rumours about exactly who is interested in buying them (ranging from ex-owner David Sullivan, the supporters favoured Maxi Lopez group to an undisclosed buyer working through financier Keith Harris) but at least there seems to be genuine interest. Just wish we could attract similar as cannot see things changing until Lai sells.

Keith Harris?

Knowing their luck it'll be bloody Orville.

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Originally Posted by Albionic68

Keith Harris?

Knowing their luck it'll be bloody Orville.

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Orville would have more idea how to run a football club than the wretched Lai.

FOL

A big difference between us and Bham is that we own our ground and they don't. We also own land around the ground too. As a result we'll be much more expensive because we have more assets.