Improving attendances (2 Viewers)

[SlowerThanPlatt]

So we got 13,000 tonight on a rainy Monday night against Southend, which is pretty good all things considering off the field and on the field rubbish in the past few seasons.

My question is: how can we raise it to 16,000, 17,000 etc. Obviously winning helps but there's more to that. I used to work in Leicester and I was told by someone who worked at Leicester City that they used to 'give away' 4,000 tickets each game in the Championship. Derby also do similar with a free season ticket with a phone contract I believe.

I see no downside to giving tickets away to local school kids and families who can't afford it every week. More fans in the ground > more money spent on the concourses and club shop > more kids interested in CCFC. I understand CCFC would be working at a loss and for the first few months they'll probably be loosing money but the long term results would outgrow the money the club has lost. The club lost plenty of interest from youngsters and families when it decided to move to Northampton, how about enticing them back?

We've gone from 8,000 at the end of last year on a Saturday to 13,000 on a Monday night. That's a 5,000 increase, it's time to build on that, we can do that in my opinion. There's no point being small minded 'we can only realistically attract 13,000 in League 1', not in my book. It's time to get the new generation hooked and if that has to be done at a financial loss, so be it. The positives in the future outweigh the potential money loss in the short term.

 

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[Sky Blue Pete]

Great crowd tonight and great entertainment to keep them coming back

 

[cornoccfc]

Have to be careful giving freebies away.

Carry on winning and keeping the feel good factor at the Ricoh can only entice fans back.

Couldn't help notice how positive the crowd were tonight in the last half hour, despite plenty to moan about (poor decision making as well as the referee).

 

[pusbccfc]

The attendances have improved due to the entertaining football and all-round better matchday experience thanks to the closure of the north stand.

Was surprised how big the crowd was tonight, thought it would have been lower than the Crewe game.

 

[wingy]

How soon will those running the club utilise the surplus and let TM go a little further Into the market which should gain help to grow the crowd another 2-3K

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

My thinking is: the ground is only 1/3 full. In my opinion, it should be at least half full - that's 'only' 3,000 more people to entice to come to games. Our support has fallen in recent years because of shit managers, shit finishes and woeful mismanagement by SISU.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Pleased and surprised we're averaging 12.5k, looks like the cheaper tickets have had some effect it seems. Question remains how much it will drop if we go on a bad run, today makes it two games without a win. Say we only get 1 point from the next two away matches and make it 4 matches without a win, what will the Chesterfield attendance be?

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Fans got turned away last night apparently. It was the clubs decision to close the CT, and it was the right one, but they shouldn't be turning fans away. They should pay Tesco stand price and be offered a seat in Llyolds Pharmacy

 

[Hobo]

Suprised if fans got turned away as their were empty seats in the open part of the ground. If this team can stay in the top 8 the crowds will come back.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

How soon will those running the club utilise the surplus and let TM go a little further Into the market which should gain help to grow the crowd another 2-3K

I would bet that it takes longer for him to get any excess than if they had to cut it.

 

[The Lurker]

Will this mean an extra loanee in? 2,000 in at say average of £17.50. Hopefully extra revenue gets given to mowbary

 

[Esoterica]

Will this mean an extra loanee in? 2,000 in at say average of £17.50. Hopefully extra revenue gets given to mowbary

It definitely needs to be an avenue pushed at the next SCG or fans forum. Would really like some clarity around how the budget works - they were pushing 11.5k as the figure to meet their budget predictions I think, so if we do end up consistently over, is that cash made available to Mowbray and when? Now, January, next season, cautiously put aside for a point in time when attendances drop? If not used for this, where is it and what is the plan for the surplus? This kind of clarity (and I'm not asking to see the actual numbers) will be another positive step to healing old wounds and make fans feel like their cash really does make a difference if they can sign another player and say 'the fans made this happen by getting 12.5k in each week'

 

[Steve.B50]

Great crowd tonight and great entertainment to keep them coming back

Was good entertainment even with such a rubbish ref.
I have just said on another thread I thought the support last night was great again.

 

[Steve.B50]

It definitely needs to be an avenue pushed at the next SCG or fans forum. Would really like some clarity around how the budget works - they were pushing 11.5k as the figure to meet their budget predictions I think, so if we do end up consistently over, is that cash made available to Mowbray and when? Now, January, next season, cautiously put aside for a point in time when attendances drop? If not used for this, where is it and what is the plan for the surplus? This kind of clarity (and I'm not asking to see the actual numbers) will be another positive step to healing old wounds and make fans feel like their cash really does make a difference if they can sign another player and say 'the fans made this happen by getting 12.5k in each week'

Good points, will make sure this subject is raised at next SCG meeting.
Lets all keep things positive.

 

[Fluffsta]

I worked at Magna Park just inside the Leicestershire border with Warwickshire a few years back, I worked for Walmart UK in a huge warehouse filled with football fans. I would say there was a 70/30 split between Leicester fans and Coventry fans. We had some great banter between the two sets of fans in the warehouse. Everytime a Leicester fan started some anti Cov banter with me I would grab the nearest product or box and lift it into the air like Houchen did with the F.A Cup!

All in all we give each other some stick but most of them were great people. What used to really annoy me though is Leicester City used to give out free tickets to children and very discounted tickets for families, they even would send players to visit our workplace and also had a table sometimes at work encouraging people to get to their games. I asked one of the guys responsible who arranged this Leicester business why Coventry didn't get a fair shake and he told me they never got back to him even though he had tried over a few years, we are talking about 1000 people who worked at this warehouse 24/7.

This all accrued between 2006-2012 and both teams had hugely varying form and huge ups and downs but fair play to whoever sorts out Leicesters promotional department because it was massively superior to ours.

All I could think about at the time was not the banter between colleagues but how all of this affected the future of our club. Children are a priority of any clubs future. Something Leicester has done and still does is look after the children.

 

[SkyBlueCharlie]

As I see it there would appear to be one problem with trying to increase the attendance much beyond where we are now is that it would need the North Stand reopening. To make that a regular practice we would probably need an increase to around 16000 and that would mean one heck of any increase in advance ticket sales and walk-up.

 

[Joy Division]

There is also the option of using the South Stand next to the away fans. The stand is already being used so wouldn't have to pay to open another stand if that is the current stumbling block.

 

[Mild-Mannered Janitor]

Fans got turned away last night apparently. It was the clubs decision to close the CT, and it was the right one, but they shouldn't be turning fans away. They should pay Tesco stand price and be offered a seat in Llyolds Pharmacy

Seriously, how do you write this rubbish, turned fans away, completely made up story of the highest order.

Good to see crowds increasing and they will if we keep playing good football, word of mouth after the Crewe game had people who missed it buzzing, hopefully Monday, whilst not 27 shots, was still end to end with good attractive football which will hopefully encourage others to go.
Television game will be a big one for some, if they like what they see then they may go to the next home game.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

I worked at Magna Park just inside the Leicestershire border with Warwickshire a few years back, I worked for Walmart UK in a huge warehouse filled with football fans. I would say there was a 70/30 split between Leicester fans and Coventry fans. We had some great banter between the two sets of fans in the warehouse. Everytime a Leicester fan started some anti Cov banter with me I would grab the nearest product or box and lift it into the air like Houchen did with the F.A Cup!

All in all we give each other some stick but most of them were great people. What used to really annoy me though is Leicester City used to give out free tickets to children and very discounted tickets for families, they even would send players to visit our workplace and also had a table sometimes at work encouraging people to get to their games. I asked one of the guys responsible who arranged this Leicester business why Coventry didn't get a fair shake and he told me they never got back to him even though he had tried over a few years, we are talking about 1000 people who worked at this warehouse 24/7.

This all accrued between 2006-2012 and both teams had hugely varying form and huge ups and downs but fair play to whoever sorts out Leicesters promotional department because it was massively superior to ours.

All I could think about at the time was not the banter between colleagues but how all of this affected the future of our club. Children are a priority of any clubs future. Something Leicester has done and still does is look after the children.

Lad I work with went to the Villa Game on saturday his mate got free tickets at JLR.

BTW he is a season ticket holder at the City.
Best thing was he said that the Vile fans never stopped moaning and they were by far worse then City fans

 

[Grendel]

Fans got turned away last night apparently. It was the clubs decision to close the CT, and it was the right one, but they shouldn't be turning fans away. They should pay Tesco stand price and be offered a seat in Llyolds Pharmacy

Both open stands had plenty of access. No one could have been turned away.

 

[rupert_bear]

Not rubbish I know a group of chaps who couldn't get in. Closing the North Stand was the correct decision at the time but now needs a review. There are still seats available in our stand but not lots together and if you pay on the gate it's a lottery if you sit in a seat already sold. CCFC the business cannot afford to turn business away we need to add to our support and hope they come back, the product is much better than it has been for seasons. Last Tuesday's gate in horrible weather proves fans are sticking around. Why they can't open a block in the North stand next to the East for walk ups is beyond me, do we have a c.e.o now or has he been shifted out ?

 

[fernandopartridge]

The main reason appeared to be out of the club's direct control. The gangways to the north stand blocks were blocked with furniture presumably left over from the geek fest.
I got in after KO and had no problems (they had run out of tickets mind).

I hope the club complains to ACL about lost revenue.

 

[Grendel]

Not rubbish I know a group of chaps who couldn't get in. Closing the North Stand was the correct decision at the time but now needs a review. There are still seats available in our stand but not lots together and if you pay on the gate it's a lottery if you sit in a seat already sold. CCFC the business cannot afford to turn business away we need to add to our support and hope they come back, the product is much better than it has been for seasons. Last Tuesday's gate in horrible weather proves fans are sticking around. Why they can't open a block in the North stand next to the East for walk ups is beyond me, do we have a c.e.o now or has he been shifted out ?

There were plenty of seats in the west stand

 

[rupert_bear]

If that's true re. The furniture whoever to blame for that needs bringing to book for safety reasons, think if we maintain where we are in the league gates will increase. There is still an issue with walk ups imo Tuesday's weather will have put a number off a nice night the walk up would have been higher as well as what seat they sit in

 

[Ashdown]

Bizarre all this ?! There were spare seats all over the 'open areas' ? Besides didn't the club open up blocks 25 and 26 anyway beyond what is normally on offer ?
All they need is the ability to open blocks by moving a few barriers, starting with block 27 on one side and 14 on the other. It's just the pedantic crappy modern day interference of the health and safety Nazi's that prevent common sense prevailing.

 

[rupert_bear]

There were plenty of seats in the west stand

Agree there were but which are reserved, already sold or available ? You get half a dozen blokes sitting where you do some in your seats they are hard to shift and you shouldn't be put in that position

 

[italiahorse]

Agree there were but which are reserved, already sold or available ? You get half a dozen blokes sitting where you do some in your seats they are hard to shift and you shouldn't be put in that position

There were massive gaps in the main stand.
There always is at the moment.

 

[italiahorse]

Bizarre all this ?! There were spare seats all over the 'open areas' ? Besides didn't the club open up blocks 25 and 26 anyway beyond what is normally on offer ?
All they need is the ability to open blocks by moving a few barriers, starting with block 27 on one side and 14 on the other. It's just the pedantic crappy modern day interference of the health and safety Nazi's that prevent common sense prevailing.

This H&S crap needs to be consistent across all grounds.
They should be bought to task why CCFC has 4 blocks between fans whilst most PL grounds have 4 seats.

 

[Nick]

This H&S crap needs to be consistent across all grounds.
They should be bought to task why CCFC has 4 blocks between fans whilst most PL grounds have 4 seats.

isn't it the advisory group who has.closed the.station that requires it?

 

[rupert_bear]

Just out of interest what is the capacity of the West stand up to block 15 ?

 

[pusbccfc]

Just out of interest what is the capacity of the West stand up to block 15 ?

You would have to guess around 12,000. 6000 each stand behind the goal, 8000 in the main stand?

Although it is busy near the top of the stands there has been plenty of space down the bottom. Both corners have had empty seats in larger quantities.

 

[pusbccfc]

This H&S crap needs to be consistent across all grounds.
They should be bought to task why CCFC has 4 blocks between fans whilst most PL grounds have 4 seats.

If the attendances increase, I think they should at least open up block 14 where the netting currently is.

 

[cornoccfc]

Opening block 14 would be common sense, and as away fans are right in the other corner, even the safety group couldn't even have concerns.

Regarding standing in exits... well it chucked it down second half, and nobody wanted to use the front 10 or so rows of seats in the corner.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Seriously, how do you write this rubbish, turned fans away, completely made up story of the highest order.

Good to see crowds increasing and they will if we keep playing good football, word of mouth after the Crewe game had people who missed it buzzing, hopefully Monday, whilst not 27 shots, was still end to end with good attractive football which will hopefully encourage others to go.
Television game will be a big one for some, if they like what they see then they may go to the next home game.

It isn't rubbish. I noticed 2 CCFC fans commented on the CCFC Facebook page after they posted the full time score that they got turned away as it was 'sold out'.

 

[torchomatic]

Sure they had a good moan about it.

It isn't rubbish. I noticed 2 CCFC fans commented on the CCFC Facebook page after they posted the full time score that they got turned away as it was 'sold out'.