Imps v Barnet, 2017. City win 2-1 thanks to Ollie Palmer and Harry Anderson on a cold September evening.
Unremarkable, right? Wrong. That was the night the club officially opened the fan zone behind the South Park stand. For the first time ever, fans didn’t just have to go into the bar for a drink, but they could mingle outside.
From humble beginnings…. this weekend, the club have announced a new addition to the fan zone, now a staple of many supporters’ pre-match routine. Rather than battling for a seat in your local to watch the lunchtime game, fans will be able to view it at the ground.
Not only that, but the evening kick-off will be shown this weekend as well. If you’re a City fan with Newcastle United or Chelsea links, it’s a dream. After the game, rather than finding a pub to watch Liverpool and Spurs in, you could watch in the fan zone. If you’re there early, before 1:30, there is cheap beer as well – Stella Artois at £4.50, Camden Hells Lager and Kopparberg at £4.80, Camden Pale Ale at £4.80, and Camden Stout priced at £5.20.
Back in 2017, I said ‘build it, and they will come’ when talking about the fan zone. Since then, I’ve enjoyed a lot of laughs in there, shared memories and met familiar faces, and it’s great to see another initiative to build on the experience. Of course, commercially, the club want it to bring in revenue, but like the planned scoreboard, it is just another element of the matchday that has been brought bang up to date.
Goal 2010 was all about having a club that was Championship-ready. In 2025, I genuinely believe off the field, that goal has been reached.
You must be logged in to post a comment.