What's this re Flag ban at The Grove?

[PsychedelicCeltic]

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=435726&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Club+statement+-+National+flags

Some of our fans have been upset with the flying of certain flags denoting particular regions of the world

Arsenal as a club prides itself on being inclusive with respect to all nationalities, cultural and ethnic groups.

We have therefore decided that in order for all of our fans to enjoy their experience at Emirates Stadium, we are asking that only flags in support of Arsenal Football Club, without any national emblems, are displayed within the stadium.

We will be implementing this policy with immediate effect. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

So you can't fly the English flag with an Arsenal cannon in it? What?

:mad:

[Rewinder]

First the thing about the notes and inflatable cellphones, and now no national flags even with arsenal emblems on them?

Sound like the soup nazi has come to arsenal.

[pookspur]

arsenal as a club prides itself on being inclusive with respect to all nationalities, cultural and ethnic groups...

"and in the spirit of inclusiveness, we've decided to exclude them all."

bizarre.

[mpeabody]

I read that article this morning and I thought "surely this is something that won't really be enforced..."

[SF Gooner]

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=435726&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Club+statement+-+National+flags



So you can't fly the English flag with an Arsenal cannon in it? What?

:mad:

Someone has been hanging a Turkish flag at the stadium for home games. I bet a number of supporters complained about it and this was Arsenals solution. Arsenal have no idea. I disagree with the fans about not wanting the Turkish flag but that's their opinion. But Arsenal is just not going about this the right way. Really they need to re-think their strategy because they are not going about things the right way.

[Jeff L]

I noticed that at the Sperzz game there were a few (Greek) Cyprus flags being waved, so I gather one is in response to the other. A shame, as until the "brightened up" the stadium to get rid of the 3 grey bands with Arsenal motifs, anything colourful was welcome!

[Cannon]

Got to say that there seems to be more of these overly harsh policies coming from Arsenal in recent seasons. Was there some change in staffing that put some facist in charge of these decisions?

The Arsenal America banner is now outlawed under this stupid policy. :mad:

[49unbeaten]

this is an absolute joke...arsenal a team whose players are so diverse cant even have the flags of the nations in which our players come from in the stadium...what a joke

[Schu419]

this is an absolute joke...arsenal a team whose players are so diverse cant even have the flags of the nations in which our players come from in the stadium...what a joke

Well we dont have any Turks or Cypriots (is that the right word?)

[49unbeaten]

Well we dont have any Turks or Cypriots (is that the right word?) no but arsenal is a huge club with ties all around the world, in one of the biggest cities in the world, w/ god knows how many supporters clubs...and with that comes supporters from all backgrounds and arsenal has to accept that not everyone is in the ground will be from north london and we should let people support our club the way they want to support the club. obviously there are certain restrictions to personal saftey but waving a country flag that isnt dicriminatory shouldnt be resticted

[GoonerMan]

you would have thought, with a nice new big stadium to fill, that the club would be treating supporters and fans with more respect and trying to welcome more people to fill the stadium week in-week out. but all they seem to be doing is introducing more and more silly rules and regs that are, if anything, further alienating the supporters who visit the stadium. its getting beyond a joke, i work as a steward at the grove and i can sense the fans getting more and more frustrating by the month

[Teso Dos Bichos]

This even has me thoroughly pissed off.

[n4100]

So anytime an ArsenalAmerica, ArsenalAustralia, ArsenalCanada, ArsenalSweden, etc. have a roadtrip and bring in 20-50 people from hundreds/thousands of miles away they won't be able to bring their flag? Absurd, especially when those supporters' clubs need to have the flag approved by Arsenal, right? There's dumb and then there's dumb. This, this is insane.

[Hierarchyfive]

NOT TROLLING:

This seems to me like just another step in the Americanization of the beautiful game. Welcome to the NBA, NFL. I know at the bridge and other places you can't even stand, without stewards getting mad, so now the only thing you need at your new stadium is piped in music, make noise flashing graphics and you will be the joining the sad state of pro sports in the US.

[phishy]

NOT TROLLING:

This seems to me like just another step in the Americanization of the beautiful game. Welcome to the NBA, NFL. I know at the bridge and other places you can't even stand, without stewards getting mad, so now the only thing you need at your new stadium is piped in music, make noise flashing graphics and you will be the joining the sad state of pro sports in the US.

wtf are you talking about?
"sad state"???

weird opinion.

[Hierarchyfive]

wtf are you talking about?
"sad state"???

weird opinion.

Pro sports in the US make a ton of money and are seen as an entertainment busness. There is no passion in the crowd with the piped in rap music and PA announcers. Watch the NBA the crowd only cheers when prompted and the rest of the time they just sit there and are quiet.

College sports seem to be one of the only havens for passionate fans and atmosphere. There are exceptions in the US pro leagues but the last games I have attended have been boring with 90 percent of the crowd going just because it is the thing to do and not caring about the team. They are what is commonly called "plastic fans."

I have also found that my opinion is shared in numerous threads all over big soccer so I would say this is not a weird opinion.

[crazy150]

Pro sports in the US make a ton of money and are seen as an entertainment busness. There is no passion in the crowd with the piped in rap music and PA announcers. Watch the NBA the crowd only cheers when prompted and the rest of the time they just sit there and are quiet.

College sports seem to be one of the only havens for passionate fans and atmosphere. There are exceptions in the US pro leagues but the last games I have attended have been boring with 90 percent of the crowd going just because it is the thing to do and not caring about the team. They are what is commonly called "plastic fans."

I have also found that my opinion is shared in numerous threads all over big soccer so I would say this is not a weird opinion.
I have to agree to some degree...most professional sporting venues in the US are a joke (apart from much of the NFL). There is nothing worse than hearing organ music piped over a basketball/baseball game. I'm sure the owners would rather have more excitable and dedicated fans in the seats, but in the end they have to make money. So they raise ticket prices and schedule tons of games making it's hard for true fans to attend with regularity. This leaves you with a large percentage of corporate sods and tourists in the stands.

Unfortunately we can't have our cake and eat it too. The fans want big transfers and players want big salaries...the only way to do that is to accommodate the boring, petty people who get offended by national flags.

[Hierarchyfive]

I have to agree to some degree...most professional sporting venues in the US are a joke (apart from much of the NFL). There is nothing worse than hearing organ music piped over a basketball/baseball game. I'm sure the owners would rather have more excitable and dedicated fans in the seats, but in the end they have to make money. So they raise ticket prices and schedule tons of games making it's hard for true fans to attend with regularity. This leaves you with a large percentage of corporate sods and tourists in the stands.

Unfortunately we can't have our cake and eat it too. The fans want big transfers and players want big salaries...the only way to do that is to accommodate the boring, petty people who get offended by national flags.

Agree with you in that Football especially in the EPL is a business, and owners and GM's will do what they have too to maximize profit. I was pointing out in my first post that Americans have figured out how to maximize revenue to the nth degree and other leagues are gravitating towards that, however that this evolution towards revenue ultimately seems to kill the traditional/passionate side of sport.

[ASkergonan]

Unfortunately we can't have our cake and eat it too. The fans want big transfers and players want big salaries...the only way to do that is to accommodate the boring, petty people who get offended by national flags.

Spot on, that is exactly what it comes down to. I'm sure Arsenal wouldn't even address the situation, unless not addressing it would cause bigger headaches.

[Hierarchyfive]

Thank you for letting me participate and contribute to your forum, I will let you guys discuss this further as it concerns your fans and organizations. Glad I was able to add my 2 cents though.