(21 Nov 2022, 8:31 pm)Ambassador wrote I’m sure the last buses on the Angel last year was around 7pm

I don’t think it’s public transport operators responsibility to get folk home, aside the commercial opportunity.. Newcastle have played on NYD when there’s no service. It’s really up to the safety advisory groups and police to ensure there’s transport home

I think that's why operators are struggling to be honest and why they're on that apparent downward spiral.

As you mention, there's the commercial opportunity. That goes without saying. 
However, theres 52,000 who will need shifting to/from the match and a vast proportion won't be on the Metro network. 
They're either going to drive in or they're going to bus it in.

If it's the former, then the regular punters will be inconvenienced due to the inevitable bedlam on the roads, cancelled services and so on. 
If it's the latter, than it goes without saying, that a proportion of them will be wanting to return home.

I agree that there's a duty of care needed from the club, but the operators have a duty of care towards their passengers.
It's the only way those passengers are going to keep using the service.

If they have a bad experience this time, there's the chance they won't risk that next time and will make the modal switch.
Adding to the traffic, making the inevitable delays worse and assisting with that downward spiral operators are on.