I have had a passion for football, as we Brits call it, for as long as I can remember. I loved playing it when I was younger and I still love to watch football whenever I get the opportunity. I support Liverpool FC and England. It's frustrating but someone has to do it! The England fans have waited with excited anticipation for the new Wembley Stadium to be finished. Over budget and overdue, it finally opened and in time for the spectacle of the F.A Cup Final. The problems with its construction do not bode well for the London hosted Olympic Games in 2012.
So, was it worth the wait? It is an elegant stadium, not flash or burdened with gimmicks. The arch will no doubt become an icon of the capital, in line with the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. There is leg room and a clear view of the action from all seats. Most importantly, there are plenty of toilets. The pitch, however, does seem to cut up easily. The stadium doesn't cause anyone to gasp in wonder but it does its job. Fans just want to watch football in reasonably comfortable surroundings and at a reasonable price.
There have been negative comments with regard to ticket prices and the cost of food, drinks and programmes. A trip to the Cup Final for an average sized family was a small fortune. The reasoning is that 21st century fans expect more than a warm beer and a chewy pie. Why not have choices between gourmet food and simpler fare? There could have been two versions of the Cup Final programme with a different price structure for each; one with basic match information and one, which also had all the stadium background.
The devoted working fan has been sidelined in recent years. Tickets have soared in price as player's wages have reached incredible levels. This hasn't just affected the Premiership. Average players are rewarded with star status money and this bleeds the fan dry as he or she sits in the rain to watch teams in the lower divisions.
Corporate hospitality and selling the brand in developing football nations are the priorities now. It evokes a sense of nostalgic yearning for the good, old days as shown in crackly, black and white footage. The terraces were filled with a sea of flat caps and trilby hats and players played their hearts out for a few shillings a week. No one begrudges generous rewards for talent but enough is enough. Our stadiums are safer now and more comfortable but they have come at a high price for those least able to afford it. It's simply too expensive for some people to watch football now.
Politicians and celebrities trip over each other to be seen at the important games. Football is the new rock and roll and everyone wants a piece of the action. It brings enormous pressure on managers, some of whom have been fired before the brass nameplate is ready. It's becoming big business in India, China and Africa. It is, after all, a business with a lot of money riding on merchandise and television rights. Somewhere along the way, the true fans have been forgotten. They're not that fussed over herb pastry pies when they watch football. They just want to follow their team without breaking the bank. Is that too much to ask?
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