Manchester City have made plenty of visits to Wembley Stadium in recent seasons.
However, judging by ticket sales for their FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, the novelty is wearing off.
The club received an allocation of 36,230 tickets for the game. A few hours before the deadline, they could still be purchased.
FA Cup semi-finals must return to club stadiums
When the new 90,000-capacity stadium was reopened after being rebuilt, the FA moved the semi-finals there out of financial necessity.
However, the FA’s 2022/23 annual report confirmed the debt has been repaid. Despite this, semi-finals are still staged there.
The highest attendance during the last three years was 83,672 for the Coventry City versus Manchester United fixture last year.
The previous year, just 69,603 people attended the last four tie between Man City and Sheffield United. Trips to Wembley do not have the same allure as previously.
Staging the semi-finals at Wembley undoubtedly takes some of the shine off the final. The ‘road to Wembley’ no longer has the same meaning.
With the stadium now paid for, the FA has no valid reason to continue staging semi-finals at Wembley. They should return them to club stadiums.
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What to watch
Stoke City versus Sheffield United in the Championship or an early night? Hello bed.
