Honesty (2 Viewers)

Grendel · Nov 4, 2013

This will descend into the usual mud slinging but anyway I want to explore the notion that the poor attendances at Northampton are driven as much by impracticality as anything else.

In truth Northampton was a nonsense ground share. Too far and a totally different county.

One thing I am sure of is that the people who would only go if its the Ricoh are a tiny minority. If the club had a 12,000 rugby stadium in the city it would sell out with the team now playing as it is.

What if it was a little bit further afield? Say a stadium existed in a 9 or 10 mile radius, what then?

In a honesty if this was the case i would have stayed away for a few games but, especially given the form of the team, returned by now.

NOPM has been made easy by the venue. It's a stupid choice, impractical for many. If it had been nearer I believe the resolve for many would have gone by now.

Sky Blue Harry H · Nov 4, 2013

You might be right, though the away followings suggest that there is an appetite to follow the team and that there is still a significant boycott factor at Sixfields. The MK attendance should illustrate that.

Covstu · Nov 4, 2013

To be 'honest' with you, I think you are bang on. If it was 'commutable' attendances would be higher and people's morals would be stretched a little more. We have seen the slow increase in attendances at 6fields given our fantastic form, if it was 9 miles down the road more would have followed.

Grendel · Nov 4, 2013

Covstu said:
To be 'honest' with you, I think you are bang on. If it was 'commutable' attendances would be higher and people's morals would be stretched a little more. We have seen the slow increase in attendances at 6fields given our fantastic form, if it was 9 miles down the road more would have followed.

I 100% agree. It'a impossible I could attend midweek and even Sundays arent easy so the stance was ready made. If the temporary share had a cv postcode it may have been very different.

Tonylinc · Nov 4, 2013

Covstu said:
To be 'honest' with you, I think you are bang on. If it was 'commutable' attendances would be higher and people's morals would be stretched a little more. We have seen the slow increase in attendances at 6fields given our fantastic form, if it was 9 miles down the road more would have followed.

I do not agree with that. People are not attending because the team are playing outside Coventry. It is a matter of principle!

ohitsaidwalker king power · Nov 4, 2013

Trying to strip out your each of your points in turn G.

The reason I don't go to Northampton isn't based on the distance or apparent impracticality of it-I am a fortunate man in that respect. It's because it is wrong and very avoidable in my opinion- mine is a protest vote with my feet against the owners- it ludicrous- sadly it also wraps me into the NOPM camp also-and I recognise the danger that this poses for the very existence of CCFC and always have, because the two things aren't mutually exclusive.

Were the ground share venue more local would I go?- I guess none of us will never know for definate-but I don't think I would if all other variables remained the same for my principled protest against it remains resolute at this stage.

If the club returned to the city(ideal) or a venue local to the city and that arena were its own stadium, then this is a very different scenario and I would be there in a heartbeat- it wouldn't be Cov in Cov I recognise and so my morality would be questioned by the purists- but there you have it.

I hope this thread doesnt turn to mud slinging.. too much of that.. and I'm as guilty as the next man.

Sky Blue Harry H · Nov 4, 2013

By the way Grendel, can I say that I'm a little bit less scared of you with the latest avatar - the other would have given me nightmares as a kid

mrtrench · Nov 4, 2013

What a pointless conversation. Nobody knows the answer to this.

Covstu · Nov 4, 2013

Tonylinc said:
I do not agree with that. People are not attending because the team are playing outside Coventry. It is a matter of principle!

I agree this is for the most but lets face it, attendances would be more than they currently are.

Grendel · Nov 4, 2013

mrtrench said:
What a pointless conversation. Nobody knows the answer to this.

The uncomfortable truth - you've answered the question.

Grendel · Nov 4, 2013

Sky Blue Harry H said:
By the way Grendel, can I say that I'm a little bit less scared of you with the latest avatar - the other would have given me nightmares as a kid

Nice of you to notice. The change is there for a purpose. It's the feast of consequences and its in Leamington on Wednesday.

olderskyblue · Nov 4, 2013

Distance is not the issue for me, in fact Northampton would be easier for me to get to. My stance would be the same wherever we "ground-shared"

I'm not going again until the team are back in Coventry, and even then I'm not certain I will go. SISU have worn me down with what they have done to our club (don't want this to be a SISU vs CCC issue, its just my opinion). I've supported the Sky Blues since 1966/67 season, and had a season ticket for the last 30 years, so it's not been easy to miss out.

The problem now though is I am finding other things to do at the week-ends. I realise now just how much of my life has revolved around trying not to miss a game, it was a habit... but that habit is slowly being eroded.

That's also true of the group of friends I go with, most already saying they're not going back while SISU are in charge, so 34 miles or 9 miles, I don't think it makes a difference to us.

Mr T - Sukka! · Nov 4, 2013

Its simple for me. If we play in Coventry i go. After all we are Coventry City and we play under the name for a reason.

I wont go if its outside of Coventry, simple as that. I dont have much say other than to buy a ticket or not.

This is only my view, but im getting very fed up with this now, the Ricoh is our true home and its where we should be playing on a Saturday.

The atmosphere would be tremendous like the Preston JPT game. As we have a winning team.

RegTheDonk · Nov 4, 2013

Honestly? No. Regardless of the supposed justification of moving the club outside Cov, can't see the point or validity in having to travel 9/10 miles (even if there WAS such a place which had FL approval) when there is a perfectly good venue sitting idle which could be used if both sides gave a little.

IF hell froze over and Fisher actually built a stadium "closer to the city centre than the Ricoh" then more than likely yes.

skybluefred · Nov 4, 2013

Coventry City--Coventry City--Coventry City it's the name of our great City--And it's the name of our Football Team.

Coventry City play their home games in Coventry not some little Town 37 miles down the m1.

It's passion for our Football Club that keeps fans away and hopefully will continue to, until we return to our rightful
home in our City.

SIR ERNIE · Nov 4, 2013

Ten thousand and more are staying away because they despise the contempt shown by a shady hedge fund in trashing 130 years of proud history.

Ask the average guy in the street, do you think he's more likely to say

'well it's a bit too far to travel' or

'I'm disgusted by these owners, they've lost me as a supporter'

ajsccfc · Nov 4, 2013

Sorry, didn't catch the name of the team?

italiahorse · Nov 4, 2013

The nearer it is the more that will be able to come.
However for me its what happens next that dictates my attendance.
I believe that the longer we are away from Coventry the bigger the debt so my drive is to get the team back to Coventry as soon as possible.
This means the Ricoh.

Only Sisu really knows whats hurting them over in Northampton but I have made the assumption that money drives them rather than the football or the fans opinions.
To that extent I will not give them money.

In the short term this will hurt the team, but this was always the case when moving into Sixfields, it's a question of degree.

Could get involved in the size and position of a new stadium and its ability to service the debt but I have already done that.

I can live with not going to Sixfields in my belief that Sisu don't really plan to build a new stadium and they are holding out for the Ricoh.
The more income they get while they are holding out the longer our return will be.

Another bigger stadium nearer Coventry would only further delay the move back so a definite no from me.

It's my logic and I will not change it.

stupot07 · Nov 4, 2013

I tend to agree with you Grendal and Stu, if we were closer attendances would be higher.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse and spelling or grammar errors

johnb · Nov 4, 2013

If the Ricoh had been destroyed by fire and it would take three years to rebuild and the nearest groundshare availible was say in Peterborough then I would have renewed my season ticket. As it is now I have been to Northampton once to protest on the hill. Have gone away to Carlisle, Shrewsbury, Port Vale, Wolves , Walsall and ticket bought for MK.

I admit I was wavering for about ten seconds whether to go against Notts County but thought this is no time to cave in with imminent talks between Ann and Joy.

shmmeee · Nov 4, 2013

Firstly:

Grendel said:
This will descend into the usual mud slinging

ORLY?

Grendel said:
NOPM has been made easy by the venue. It's a stupid choice

You were right!

Grendel said:
but anyway I want to explore the notion that the poor attendances at Northampton are driven as much by impracticality as anything else.

Well there's a couple of points here. Firstly, one of the reasons given for NOPM by many is the impracticality, so the two are not mutually exclusive. Secondly, if (as I suspect) you are suggesting that there are less than say a couple of thousand NOPMers, then surely any away game further away from Sixfields would attract the same or fewer fans. However, this is patently untrue. We've sold out our allocations at Walsall and Wolves, which are almost an identical distance and look like selling over 3k for MK Dons which is 15 miles further out.

I'd add, for what it's worth that the anecdotal evidence for me is 100% about the owners/ground share idea itself rather than the distance. Now you could argue that people would say that, in conjunction with the away attendance data, the proof would be on you really.

Obviously the gate would be higher if we were closer, just like it's higher as we keep playing well, however the amount I suspect is negligible compared to the impact of those not going on principle.

skybluetony176 · Nov 4, 2013

you may be right in some cases Grendel but not all.

take me for example i live Hillmorton side of Rugby and can jump on the M1 at junc18 in about 3/4mins tops, head south get of at the next junction and be in sixfields a hell of a lot quicker than i can get to the Ricoh. + the tickets are cheaper, + the car parking is free. so for me i stand to gain financially.

BUT and it is a big BUT, if i wanted to watch football in Northampton i would be a Northampton fan.

DazzleTommyDazzle · Nov 4, 2013

I live some distance from Coventry and have been used to travelling to games from various parts of the country over the last few decades.

The Coventry fans that I know are people from the same industry who are all in the same position of being used to travelling some distance to home games.

The sample is very small (four) but none are prepared to attend games at Sixfields. For most, Northampton is closer than Coventry, so for this small sample, distance is not the issue.

_brian_ · Nov 4, 2013

ajsccfc said:
Sorry, didn't catch the name of the team?

Coventry City.

covmark · Nov 4, 2013

Sixfields is much closer for me because I live down south, but I won't attend because we are Coventry city not Northampton town. For me it's nothing to do with NOPM or starving sisu out. It's the fact we shouldn't be there.
Having said that, I agree if we groundshared closer attendances would be higher, no doubt. If we returned to Coventry I would be straight there. Sisu or no sisu.

turlykerd · Nov 4, 2013

How can we be Coventry if we don't play in Coventry ?
if I wanted to watch another cities team I would ??
but I dont

theferret · Nov 4, 2013

turlykerd said:
How can we be Coventry if we don't play in Coventry ?
if I wanted to watch another cities team I would ??
but I dont

Give me strength.

Monners · Nov 4, 2013

In the pub before the Walsall game with about 30 other fans. Three of us live in Northampton (one walking distance to Sixfields), some others were from the Daventry/Rugby area and none of us attend "home" games. Nothing to do with NOPM and other labels, just purely that we are not playing in Cov. I understand the point that the OP is making, but anecdotally there is little evidence to support the argument.

letsallsingtogether · Nov 5, 2013

Spot on I'd say I travel to northampton for every home game(work permitting) but don't enter the ground due to principle so distance is not an issue.

I too go to away games and you will see a hard core that have and will never go and watch Coventry home games outside of the city.

You may have got maybe 1000 more if it had been closer to home. Unfortunately for Sisu there is No other stadium closer to home that fits your brief, unless you would have preferred to play at St Andrews.

shmmeee said:
Firstly:

ORLY?

You were right!

Well there's a couple of points here. Firstly, one of the reasons given for NOPM by many is the impracticality, so the two are not mutually exclusive. Secondly, if (as I suspect) you are suggesting that there are less than say a couple of thousand NOPMers, then surely any away game further away from Sixfields would attract the same or fewer fans. However, this is patently untrue. We've sold out our allocations at Walsall and Wolves, which are almost an identical distance and look like selling over 3k for MK Dons which is 15 miles further out.

I'd add, for what it's worth that the anecdotal evidence for me is 100% about the owners/ground share idea itself rather than the distance. Now you could argue that people would say that, in conjunction with the away attendance data, the proof would be on you really.

Obviously the gate would be higher if we were closer, just like it's higher as we keep playing well, however the amount I suspect is negligible compared to the impact of those not going on principle.

standupforcity · Nov 5, 2013

Grendel said:
This will descend into the usual mud slinging but anyway I want to explore the notion that the poor attendances at Northampton are driven as much by impracticality as anything else.

In truth Northampton was a nonsense ground share. Too far and a totally different county.

One thing I am sure of is that the people who would only go if its the Ricoh are a tiny minority. If the club had a 12,000 rugby stadium in the city it would sell out with the team now playing as it is.

What if it was a little bit further afield? Say a stadium existed in a 9 or 10 mile radius, what then?

In a honesty if this was the case i would have stayed away for a few games but, especially given the form of the team, returned by now.

NOPM has been made easy by the venue. It's a stupid choice, impractical for many. If it had been nearer I believe the resolve for many would have gone by now.

For me distance has nothing to do with it. I live in London and went to every home I could while we were at the Ricoh. Northampton is a lot closer for me but there's no way I'm going. So as far as I'm concerned if city were playing a mile outside of Coventry I wouldn't go. We are Coventry City and we should be playing our football in Coventry and nowhere else!

Astute · Nov 5, 2013

standupforcity said:
For me distance has nothing to do with it. I live in London and went to every home I could while we were at the Ricoh. Northampton is a lot closer for me but there's no way I'm going. So as far as I'm concerned if city were playing a mile outside of Coventry I wouldn't go. We are Coventry City and we should be playing our football in Coventry and nowhere else!

I live about 4 hours from Coventry and about 4 1/2 from Northampton. Just a traffic jam difference. And I get them frequently. If I am not at work I will go wherever. .....but not to Northampton as we shouldn't be there. I would have a rethink if we were close to Coventry.

lapsed_skyblue · Nov 5, 2013

Another variable....
If people could see an end to this exile - a projected return to the Ricoh or a brick actually be laid at an alternative, reasonable location - would more people go to Sixfields?

Moston · Nov 5, 2013

Cracking avatar Grendel - check the credits for a CCFC input

ajsccfc · Nov 5, 2013

Not me. It's the distance thing for me either ways.

Astute · Nov 5, 2013

lapsed_skyblue said:
Another variable....
If people could see an end to this exile - a projected return to the Ricoh or a brick actually be laid at an alternative, reasonable location - would more people go to Sixfields?

Not me. They will get me back when my team is where they should be. I would say that I am part of the majority.

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