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Post by detox on Oct 22, 2014 10:09:40 GMT 1
Must be a worrying trend for Dean that we seem to be losing supporters ....
The average number of home fans (Town fans, not away fans) over the past few seasons is -
2011/12... 13,196 2012/13... 13,348 2012/14... 12,634 2014/15... 11,765 (7 games)
Even with the away fans included, the trend is ...
2011/12 ... 14,131 2012/13 ... 15,080 2013/14 ... 14,212 2014/15 ... 12,784 (7 games)
Although we still have some big games to come this season which will no doubt boost the gates, this is worrying for a club which is trying to balance the books..
The home gate last night was 10,515 (plus 302 from brighton) and while it was a cold night and back to back home games, that's pretty low for Championship football. It's not our lowest home gate either, as we had just 10,424 against Wigan..a 6 year low.
I could possibly point out 3 reasons for declining gates....
1) the recession biting into people's spare cash 2) the continued struggle Town have had at this level of football since promotion 3) admission prices for the casual fans (I'm assuming SC holders have not varied that much...)
there may be other factors...
Apart from the obvious solution, that is Town starting to compete a bit better and climbing up the table (which seems to be happening under Powell), what other solutions are there to bring back those casual fans ? Last night was only a category C game, so an Adult in the Kilner paid £24..but our next home game against Forest will likely be category A and that will cost casual fans in the Kilner another £4 to watch.
The fact is though, we're approx 1,600 fans lower than 2012/13..and over a full season that is around £900,000 in lost receipts..that is equivalent to the entire commercial revenues we receive through Sean Jarvis's efforts..
Town have tried to introduce certain schemes, like the buy 10 games and various special offers and free tickets for kids, but the evidence suggests this isn't working.
Worrying times for the club, and for us ..so the pressure is on the team and Chris Powell to continue to get results and rekindle the interest of the stay aways...
We've seen the topic on the price of football which has being doing the rounds, and compare that to Germany and other countries..but is it only about price, or are there other factors involved ?
One thing is for sure, we can not allow this trend to continue because it will inevitably lead to relegation back to league one as we have to make cuts to our budget. Like I said, Dean must be getting worried.
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Amigo
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Post by Amigo on Oct 22, 2014 10:23:07 GMT 1
I wouldn't be too worried yet. A poor last 5 months or so last season when we were dreadful to watch plus the average gates are generally lower at the start of a season due to holidays and the lack of crucial games for the floating supporter. Money will certainly be an issue for some fans. We've not had the biggest games at home yet either - Brighton, Blackpool, Millwall, Wigan, Charlton and Bournemouth aren't the biggest travellers nor the biggest crowd pullers for less regular fans. The average will be a lot higher if we continue is similar form (doesn't mean I'm expecting 11 points out of 15 regularly by the way!) and when teams like Forest, Derby, Leeds, Wolves and Wednesday start coming.
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Post by RickDangerous on Oct 22, 2014 10:26:17 GMT 1
Probably to do with us going on long winless streaks in the past couple of seasons, plus the football Robins dished up at the back end of last season was dreadful.
If they continue with the form shown over the past month the stadium will be nearly full come April - and we'll be sat in playoffs at least!!
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Post by terrier4life on Oct 22, 2014 10:37:46 GMT 1
Having just checked the relevant attendances versus same teams last year, we have had 190 more people attending the games than last season. so we dont have a downward trend at all
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 10:42:08 GMT 1
Lets face it we have never had big crowds and considering the dross we were served up last year itis admirable that our gates are just that little bit up. A good season and detractors may return. I ws very very late renewing my ST but so glad I did. UTT.
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Post by bluedogs, Esq. on Oct 22, 2014 10:55:47 GMT 1
Probably to do with us going on long winless streaks in the past couple of seasons, plus the football Robins dished up at the back end of last season was dreadful. If they continue with the form shown over the past month the stadium will be nearly full come April - and we'll be sat in playoffs at least!! the economic climate with inflation going through the roof and the coalition government leading us into a triple-dip recession
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buckers
Andy Booth Terrier
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Post by buckers on Oct 22, 2014 11:01:01 GMT 1
Probably to do with us going on long winless streaks in the past couple of seasons, plus the football Robins dished up at the back end of last season was dreadful. If they continue with the form shown over the past month the stadium will be nearly full come April - and we'll be sat in playoffs at least!! the economic climate with inflation going through the roof and the coalition government leading us into a triple-dip recession Triple dip recession? Am I been lied too then because every time I hear the GDP figures they are on the up.
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Post by Sio on Oct 22, 2014 11:08:26 GMT 1
Totally down to our performances over the last couple of seasons IMO. For large parts we've been depressing to watch and I couldn't blame people for not turning up. If we continue to pick up under Powell I imagine gates will increase slightly.
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Post by bluedogs, Esq. on Oct 22, 2014 11:08:46 GMT 1
the economic climate with inflation going through the roof and the coalition government leading us into a triple-dip recession Triple dip recession? Am I been lied too then because every time I hear the GDP figures they are on the up. like the UK National Debt
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Post by terrier17 on Oct 22, 2014 11:17:12 GMT 1
They need to get rid of all the stupid price categories. Also is there a student price for matchdays? A big population of students live in Huddersfield which would attend games if there was discounts. Again they offer u23 season ticket prices, but if they can't afford a st and maybe can't attend most games, why not have u23 as a price category instead of just u18. The club lose a lot of fans between the ages of 16-20 who have attended games with parents all their lives due to having to pay adult prices.
That said, what happens of the pitch is the main reason! ;-)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2014 11:17:14 GMT 1
the economic climate with inflation going through the roof and the coalition government leading us into a triple-dip recession Triple dip recession? Am I been lied too then because every time I hear the GDP figures they are on the up. Also inflation is at its lowest level in more than five years.
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Post by bluedogs, Esq. on Oct 22, 2014 11:26:24 GMT 1
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Post by Gordon Tuckers silky skills on Oct 22, 2014 11:45:49 GMT 1
Might be something to do with us being a Town....and not the size of Leeds...just a thought like,
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Post by detox on Oct 22, 2014 11:48:57 GMT 1
Having just checked the relevant attendances versus same teams last year, we have had 190 more people attending the games than last season. so we dont have a downward trend at all I have to disagree with that... last season total = 90,296, away fans..= 5,342 home fans = 84,954. average =12,136 this season total = 89,487.. away fans = 7,132 home fans = 82,355, average = 11,765 that's 371 less (3%)
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walshy
Iain Dunn Terrier
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Post by walshy on Oct 22, 2014 11:50:47 GMT 1
I think these are all common trends and could justify why our attendance isn't all that special.
Apart from me living in Poland now, the reason why I got bored and stopped going, (and I used bored strongly) isn't necessary because the football we played at times was shite, the cost of the day (i'm very fortunate the cost of the day out doesn't burden me, but i know people that it does) but because the atmosphere at the ground and the leniency towards the fans had been lost.
Football for me, watching anyway is all about the banter with the lads on a saturday, releasing all the weeks stress and the weekly build up of excitement towards matchday, the beers, the food, the good aul sing song, and a cracking day with like minded folk. Now I appreciate this aint for everyone, but isn't that what an "atmosphere" is? Something we create, something we feel?!
Away days brings that. And I'm so glad to hear the work the NSL are putting in, to increase that match day feeling and buzz. And I 100% when i'm there will be in there with those guys come wind, rain or shine.
I don think its been the last year footballing performances, the cost, or the fixtures I think its been a long continued battle with stewards, and John Robinson to have that "football feeling" at the ground!
Just my thoughts...
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Post by terrier4life on Oct 22, 2014 11:51:53 GMT 1
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Post by Gordon Tuckers silky skills on Oct 22, 2014 12:00:11 GMT 1
The cost of living is going up, wages are not, football is a luxury for alot of folk. People will be picking and choosing games to attend, Brighton at home doesn't exactly give me wood any more!!! also with midweek games people who live a certain distance away might not be able to attend through work or family commitments.....
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Post by Doc Halladay 32 on Oct 22, 2014 12:24:17 GMT 1
It might have something to do with the attractiveness of our first 7 opponents.
Bournemouth, Charlton, Middlesboro, Wigan, Millwall, Blackpool and Brighton aren't the most appealing sides in the division.
We have local derbies against L666s, Weds, Rotherham, games against the better supported Lancastrian teams in addition to Derby, Forest and the 3 relegated Premier League teams.
I was a ST holder last year but only attended 2 games this season before moving away.
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Post by SaudiTerrier on Oct 22, 2014 12:41:36 GMT 1
Down to performances mainly I think. Recession hit hard but things have been looking up recently so that'll help, but it's the long winless streaks we've been going on and the general increase in difficulty compared to league one that's to blame.
It's easier to pull in the floating fans if they think they're more likely to see a good game, good performances and a good win. Doesn't mean we need to win every game but we need to build up a reputation of being strong and hard to beat. Even with the recent results, if we were to concede first I'd feel like it was game over..because that's been the case for the last few seasons. Or if we're winning by one there's always a feeling we'll concede (which we did again yesterday).
It takes time to overcome those feelings/reputations and that can only come with more consistency in putting out good performances, which luckily we've started doing recently. I doubt there's much confidence in us though even with that, we've got a run of tough games coming up and I doubt many people will be expecting us to take a few points. When people start seeing us as a serious threat that's when you'll start seeing gates increase.
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Post by kes on Oct 22, 2014 13:17:21 GMT 1
This is why ST sales are crucial. People just wont pay 24 quid on a Tuesday night to watch Brighton when it`s howling a gale.
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Post by saintlyterrier on Oct 22, 2014 13:20:46 GMT 1
This is a really helpful analysis by Detox. Perhaps a means of shedding light on the reasons for the decline (and I'm too lazy to do it myself) might be see how the attendances at matches in the FL divisions we have been in recently also declined at a comparable rate, too. I suspect they have. Whether that reflects the increasing power of TV (with the new activities of BT) or the lower spending power of the audience I'll remain open to argument. My belief is that the fall of average earning behind prices has been the principal reason. While more people are in jobs, many new jobs are poorly paid (don't believe the Tory propaganda)as Gordon Tucker has pointed out.
If the stats show that most average attendances for other teams rose, then the club would need a look at itself. I like the idea of lower student ticket prices and I would personally (biased, moi?) favour lower seniors' prices. Mind you, Town are more generous in that respect that Southampton are.
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Post by Christ in Shades (art) on Oct 22, 2014 13:30:52 GMT 1
Crowds for night games in particular seem to be going down, the stadium was nearly empty last night. Ok, I understand that fans who live outside the area may not be able to attend on a night, even for me who lives and works in Huddersfield night games are becoming a pain, can be an effort to drag myself down after I've been at work all day. The international breaks mean that night fixtures increase in number, keeping people away for various reasons, work, family, distance to travel.
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Post by waltzingthecowshed on Oct 22, 2014 13:37:38 GMT 1
This is why ST sales are crucial. People just wont pay 24 quid on a Tuesday night to watch Brighton when it`s howling a gale. But it wasn't a gale
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Post by waltzingthecowshed on Oct 22, 2014 13:40:02 GMT 1
18k to 20k for Forest game no worries
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Post by Jello Biafra on Oct 22, 2014 14:06:22 GMT 1
£24-£28 to watch a game of football? Doubt I'll ever watch another game there.
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Post by Headless Chicken on Oct 22, 2014 14:11:41 GMT 1
A lot of folks are also lazy and tight, so even if they're not impacted personally, it's still a good excuse to do bugger all and still justify being demanding on the ambitions of the club and player commitment.
Still their choice I suppose.
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Post by otium (EPBS) on Oct 22, 2014 14:11:55 GMT 1
1. Rubbish football 2. Rubbish players 3. Rubbish managers 4. Negative/boring tactics (3 years now) 5. Crap facilities/catering 6. Lack of other entertainment 7. Idiot stewards 8. Massively expensive/cost 9. Poor atmosphere 10. Ugly women 11. Ugly blokes 12. The end of witty banter (phones/nerds/old geezers) 13. Lack of a home end 14. Crap parking 15. Lack of good pre-match venues/after match for a pint or catch up 16. Kirklees now being mostly Moslem with no interest in football or UK tradition 17. Too much footy on TV 18. Rubbish public transport 19. Over-policed by moron coppers
Could add another 20 if you want?
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Post by aideybabes on Oct 22, 2014 14:25:45 GMT 1
1. Rubbish football 2. Rubbish players 3. Rubbish managers 4. Negative/boring tactics (3 years now) 5. Crap facilities/catering 6. Lack of other entertainment 7. Idiot stewards 8. Massively expensive/cost 9. Poor atmosphere 10. Ugly women 11. Ugly blokes 12. The end of witty banter (phones/nerds/old geezers) 13. Lack of a home end 14. Crap parking 15. Lack of good pre-match venues/after match for a pint or catch up 16. Kirklees now being mostly Moslem with no interest in football or UK tradition 17. Too much footy on TV 18. Rubbish public transport 19. Over-policed by moron coppers Could add another 20 if you want? Keep em coming..
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deepc
Iain Dunn Terrier
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Post by deepc on Oct 22, 2014 17:45:31 GMT 1
Given that it was a crap night- weather wise Cold as a witch's tit as my dear old gran used to say
8 champions league games live on tv. The fact that you can watch Sky and see every goal in the championship within 30 seconds of it being scored
There's three more to be going on with
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birkbybloke
Iain Dunn Terrier
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Post by birkbybloke on Oct 22, 2014 18:06:54 GMT 1
1. Rubbish football 2. Rubbish players 3. Rubbish managers 4. Negative/boring tactics (3 years now) 5. Crap facilities/catering 6. Lack of other entertainment 7. Idiot stewards 8. Massively expensive/cost 9. Poor atmosphere 10. Ugly women 11. Ugly blokes 12. The end of witty banter (phones/nerds/old geezers) 13. Lack of a home end 14. Crap parking 15. Lack of good pre-match venues/after match for a pint or catch up 16. Kirklees now being mostly Moslem with no interest in football or UK tradition 17. Too much footy on TV 18. Rubbish public transport 19. Over-policed by moron coppers Could add another 20 if you want? Could you add the stats that support No 16 please ?
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