Serie A - Triestina fills ground with 'virtual spectators'
Eurosport - Mon, 06 Sep 11:53:00 2010
Italian club Triestina have come up with a novel way of addressing the problem of low attendances at their matches - by covering seats with 'virtual spectators'.
The Serie B side from Trieste in the North-East of the country are unable to attract anywhere near enough fans to fill their 32,500 capacity ground, the Stadio Nereo Rocco, and have taken the decision to shut down the entire Colaussi stand for the whole season in order to bring down costs.
However, rather than leave the empty seats on full show, the club have attempted to hide them by covering the lower part of the stand with several large banners printed with crowd scenes.
The effect was put to the test in front of the 3,810 supporters that saw Sunday's 1-0 win over Pescara.
When Ettore Marchi scored what proved to be the winning goal after nine minutes, the two-dimensional crowd looked jubilant but stayed silent.
It is not the first time a football club has tried to create the illusion of a stand full of fans. In the early 1990s, Arsenal demolished the North Bank of their old Highbury stadium in order to build a new, all-seater stand in its place, in accordance with the Taylor Report.
For the year it took to build, the club erected a mural of celebrating fans in front of the construction site, complete with speakers playing the sounds of crowds cheering whenever a goal was scored at that end.
However, the Gunners were forced to make some hasty changes to the picture when it was pointed out that there were no ethnic minorities represented on it.
Comment 12 - 31 of 31
neat, i like it!
the smokeban at english grounds has decimated the support for english clubs..and isnt even the law under the health act 2006..stadiums are not over 50 per cent enclosed..the fa and football league have shot themselves in the foot over this petty rule.they deserve to suffer....
I suggest you look up information about what caused the fire at the Bradford City stadium in the 80's - what am i saying - you're probably too dumb to know how to do proper research cos your opinion gets in the way too much (i'm guessing you;re a smoker) - tip then - go to wiki and type in bradford city.
85% of Man Utd's "fans" are virtual too, as they come from Asia, Africa and other countries where football fads will change with whoever is successful. Still, as Kenyon realised, might as well fleece the dumb @#$% while you can!
85% of Man Utd's "fans" are virtual too, as they come from Asia, Africa and other countries where football fads will change with whoever is successful. Still, as Kenyon realised, might as well fleece the dumb @#$% while you can!
85% of Man Utd's "fans" are virtual too, as they come from Asia, Africa and other countries where football fads will change with whoever is successful. Still, as Kenyon realised, might as well fleece the dumb @#$% while you can!
NUMBER 17, Unfortunately this is the sign of the times, apparently there was not enough Englishmen on the mural
the smokeban at english grounds has decimated the support for english clubs..and isnt even the law under the health act 2006..stadiums are not over 50 per cent enclosed..the fa and football league have shot themselves in the foot over this petty rule.they deserve to suffer....
Wow it's like playing on an old skool fifa on my ps2!
omg you could just sell the ground
Man Utd have had plastic fans for years, it seems to work for them!
What about cheap hoes and no families? Rooney would flll the stadium.
Terence, I would respect your comment and approach to the subject a great deal more if you did not have such a silly name.
Has it held you back in life?
what about cheap seats for families? This would build up the fan base for the future
ftm.
Filling the seats with rubber dummies? Hang on, they've been doing that in the English Premier League for years, but they're called 'fans'. LOL
Arsenal have been doing this for years? Do you really think that 50,000+ live people could make so little noise? They clearly use the same solution and have been doing so since the infamous renovation to their previous 'Library' ground.
Quote: "However, the Gunners were forced to make some hasty changes to the picture when it was pointed out that there were no ethnic minorities represented on it": Unquote.
It`s things like this that make me mad. What difference did it make FFS!
pete, whos tap of the league son?
The one 'live' football match I have ever seen was in the 1970's. It was at Banbury United, and the opposite wall to the stand was painted with a mural to look like supporters. I think I had oxtail soup in a polystyrene cup. I can't be sure.....
Dave Whelan was going to try this at Wigan but opted out after it was explained to him that he wouldn't be able to charge the virtual fans
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