Went to Etihad yesterday and took in sandwiches and drinks in plastic bottles and my bag was searched on entry. At over £4 for a lager and £2.50 for a bottle of coke would have been an expensive day.

A City supporting mate of mine showed me a picture taken from his iphone from the final match of the season - pint £3.60.
You could clearly see that it had been hiked up to £4.30 (along with all other food & drink). He was informed that it wasn't City policy and that the prices had been set by the RFL.

£2.50 for a bottle of coke? Robbing gits!!!!!

Why does it have to be one or the other. Sales were up in 2012 but they saw how much picnicing etc families were doing and so decided they want a bigger slice.

As for the refreshment prices being controlled by the RFL I would have thought they would only have been able to do this if they were actually running the refreshments stands. Otherwise, surely any element of "you will do it this way" would be grounds for a claim of price-fixing?

If football fans could get on, and they did something similar to magic, how much do you reckon a ticket would be?

You have the freedom to go outside the stadium, asda, McDonalds etc?

People have the freedom yet still moan, it's not as if you're locked in.

I spent £120 in all but i enjoyed the day and it's around the money i'd spend on a good night out anyway.

Northerners and moaning about beer price goes hand in hand.

But people with families don't want to go in and out all day. I'll have to check my ticket, but if its a complete change of policy surely they should make fans aware. We did the same as last year, turned up with a nice picnic to enjoy our day out.

Although we were pi$$ed off, fortunately we were able to take our food back to the car. But with the amount you could see being thrown away I imagine there will be some furious rl fans out there.

Asking people to bin food and drink on a hot day in the recession is not on IMO. If its the same policy if its done again I will be treating it like an away game and just turn up for our match. I appreciate where you're coming from, but for a lot of people £120 is just simply not affordable.

It's an event, expect to spend money, although i agree people should be warned if you can't take in food.

If you can't afford it you don't go, or you budget but don't moan.

I can't afford a Buggati but i don't moan about it.

Bit different when they want you to stay all day.

Do diabetics get any dispensation?

Or vegetarians?

Hotdog bun with onions and tomato sauce and chips.

They covered the bases

I had a big breakfast in Manchester before we went to the ground so i didnt feel the need to eat anything .....got home just after 11pm and had a chinese - surely if you eat sensibly and at a reasonable time prior to going you wont need to buy stuff in the ground ?.

News flash, Wembley and Old Trafford will sell beer and food at vastly inflated prices, just be warned in case you get caught out, i mean it has only ever happened at every show piece event i've ever been to ever, so be warned.

Indeed. Heaven forbid that people find themselves at a music festival or some other form of extended event.

Food and drink at anywhere where you are a captive market costs money and sports venues are no exception. If Manchester City didn't think that they'd generate revenue, then they wouldn't put themselves forward to host the event.

And let's not forget that the ticket prices, as far as professional sports go, are an absolute steal. In fact, they were that cheap, even Huddersfield fans bought them.

This is the first Magic Weekend I have been to and I was very impressed.

The entrance/exit situation was very easy to do and there were no issues in terms of that. We didn't get searched and took drinks/sandwiches but still spent whilst we were there.

If you're coming on the train then I can see the issue but the first game was at midday - you could stay outside and watch it on the screen and have lunch then go in for the second half, particularly as there were a lot of things for kids outside rather than inside.

For those coming on buses, ditto and for those driving, you can leave bags in your car with food in then come back out for it whenever you want. I don't see it as too much of an issue to be honest. My mother went with me and she has coeliac disease and so has to have a gluten free diet, not through choice but because of her diet. No food at the Magic Weekend would have been suitable so I cannot legitimately see how they can stop you from taking food into the ground for medical reasons.

Time to introduce tailgate parties to RL events?

I dont think its the cost of the food at the venue thats the issue but the "sudden" changes of policy without any announcement. Yes prices at wembley are VERY overflated, but weve never had an issue taking any food in or and caprisun type packs (and the lid off bottles/decanting to a pladtic glass policy has always been well publicised)

Food going in on medical grounds WAS allowed.

We had no problems going in with food even though bags were checked. Sausage rolls, crisps, sandwiches fruit and bottles of water. Wonder if it depended on which entrance you went in. We approached from Joe Mercer way.

the only thing I purchased at the stadium was a pint and a bottle of coke.
I knew the costs would be high so I had enough food and beer in Manchester centre before going up to the ground.

if you don't want to pay high prices for food and drink then don't, nobody makes you buy pints of beer and pies do they?

£4.20 a pint makes you take the time to think if you really want one. Having a load of bars knocking out £2.50 beer would be a recipe for disaster for those who cant handle their ale.

Now that should be true but at a couple of grand finals, in the last few years, it seems to me that the ones who can't handle their ale, get well and truly tanked up before entering the ground. They only need to buy maybe a couple of pints to maintain their inebriation dial set to pill*ck level.

Then this should come down to policing and/or stewarding on the day. For major events, police should always be in proximity (and indeed there was) due to the rival fans getting together. There are always a minority of idiots.

Entering (or attempting to enter a sports ground) whilst intoxicated/drunk is an illegal offence under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985 as detailed here:

How drunk do you have to be to commit the offence? Plenty of people had a drink and I saw at least a couple of people being helped out of the stadium (due to the state they were in) with no hint of them being arrested.

It got a mention in Andy wilsons piece on the guardian website.

Policing would have been done on the normal basis. If you've had a few drinks but your mates are willing to take you home quietly then go home. If you are drink and causing a disturbance or being aggressive, you will be arrested.