I go to all home games and most away games each season. If IFollow was available next season I would still have the same pattern and use Ifollow for the one or two away games that I don’t get to. However I do think that having Ifollow freely available would have a significant effect on attendances.
I have saved hundreds of pounds this year in ticket and travel expenses. An away day usually takes up a good chunk of a Saturday. I am retired, I have the time to spare and I can afford the expense. I love the whole experience of attending games, there is nothing like it. I get the argument that some people due, to age, infirmity, finance work or family commitments would buy Ifollow and would not attend the game anyway, but I do think it would be a tipping point for a lot of people who would attend if a TV version of the game wasn’t available but will take the easier option if it was.
I’ve mentioned before attending Newport away in League Two. (extreme case I know). Three hours to get there( horrendous traffic). Arrive half two but get in late due to size of away following and lack of open turnstiles. It is belting down with rain, soaked before we get in the ground. Wade through mud to get to the open terrace. Stand on open terrace, on concave planking which have already filled with water, which meant we stood in a puddle being rained on all game. Despite being desperate for the toilet at half time, the toilets under the stand couldn’t be reached as so many people were stood in the very narrow concourse, the single toilet behind the open stand had huge queues standing in the mud, so I held on until full time. The day out with tickets, travel and a bag of chips after the game was about £80 and took up a whole Saturday. With a VPN I could have watched it for a tenner, cup of tea and toilet at half time and used up only 2 hours of my Saturday. Now, I look back fondly on that day and even defeats in the rain at Forest Green but I do understand why lots of more sensible people would choose the easier option.