Knight confident fans will return

[pornomagboy]

Knight confident fans will return
By Andy Naylor
Comment
Albion chairman Dick Knight predicted today the fans will be flocking back to Withdean - providing the team keeps on performing.

He admitted Saturday's low turnout for the first home game of the season against Northampton was "a bit disappointing".

But Knight has revealed season ticket sales are on a par with last season and he is expecting bigger attendances for the next two home games, against Southend and Millwall.

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Only 5,137 braved the rain and cold to see Albion beat Northampton 2-1, the second-worst League gate in Withdean history.

Knight said: "The interesting thing is season ticket sales are up to the same level as last year now after the friendlies against Fulham and Reading.

"There is bound to be some spin-over from last season's home form but it was a bit disappointing.

"We haven't made that many changes but the additions to the squad we have made (Nicky Forster and Andrew Whing) are both quality additions.

"Nothing succeeds like success and the fans will take heart from the result on Saturday. The second half performance was chalk and cheese compared to the first half."

Albion are at Tranmere this Saturday before returning to Withdean for consecutive matches against Southend on September 1 and Millwall on Friday September 7.

Knight said: "Sales for the next home game against Southend are already up compared to the same stage prior to Northampton and I don't think that is because Southend are necessarily more attractive opposition.

"The family stand is also a major factor now in terms of the crowd we get and that won't kick-in, because the schools are on holiday, until the Millwall game.

"That is in the week when the kids go back to school and we have a number of promotions lined up.

"At the end of the day though it is what Dean's team does on the pitch. I have no doubt if they play in the way they did in the second half on Saturday then all those empty spaces will start to be filled."

Are you a stayaway fan? What will it take to get you to go back? Let us know

 

[Horsham Gull]

Are you a stayaway fan? What will it take to get you to go back? Let us know

Falmer

 

[Silvanus]

More reasonable prices (so Falmer then)

 

[Beach Hut]

How can you brave the rain which was only the last 5 minutes ?

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

cheaper tickets please

 

[Icy Gull]

If I'm in England I'll go, even if it's dire, but I think DK is cluching at straws after 1 decent half in a multitude of games. A couple more players is the only realistic way crowds will increase unless Hinsh and Reid gain full fitness soon.

 

[Gully]

That might help, surely it is more important in the run up to Falmer that we build up the fanbase again, especially given some of the break-even figures banded about. If we could fill Withdean every week, even if the income drops slightly, then surely this is what we need to take with us to the new stadium. I am not an economist but surely 8k people paying £20 per week will give us more income than what we are getting at the moment, plus the atmosphere should be better...plus we would sell more programmes...etc, etc.

If we can stay in or around the top ten this season then crowds should increase anyway, if they don't then the club needs to take a serious look at why not and take reasonable steps to address the matter.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

The next two games will be well attended, Southend will bring a fair few and Millwall will fill their end and no doubt have a few others sat around the ground ( My Millwall neighbour has already got 5 tickets for the South Stand)

The trick will be to keep the crowds.

I hope Dick's comments are not preparing us for the fact that we are only signing two players ( forster and Whing)

 

[Scoffers]

Will Falmer actually help though? Once all the hype is over after the opening has died down

The two main reasons for the poor turnout are cost, and no option to turn up and pay, but the tickets will probably be as expensive as Withdean, and you still wont be able to pay on the day (for the casual fan).

 

[jonny.rainbow]

£20.00 tickets would get me back.

£24.50 is an absolute piss take.

 

[the right footed denilson]

"Nothing succeeds like success ..."

Guess not Dick.

Oh, and my answer? Cheaper prices and better football.

 

[scooter1]

I think the option to pay on the day will be the one to bring people back in. Nobody wants to be thinking on a Wednesday or a Thursday "What have I got planned for Saturday?" If you commit the money during the week and it humps it down on Saturday then you're less likely to go, even if you've paid - ok the club gets the money but its one less body who may jump up and down occaisionally lost..... There will always be your die hard STH's and every club needs them, but for this club to progress in any way shape or form we also need to appeal to the occaisional attendee and the fair weatherers....

Oh, and drop the prices a tad - £20 is fair enough, £24.50 is a little steep for this level

 

[Rookie]

You can pay on the day, internet saturday morning pick up the ticket at withdean before kick off.

 

[Scoffers]

You can pay on the day, internet saturday morning pick up the ticket at withdean before kick off.

The point is, you can't decide at the last minute to just turn up and watch. That is the real issue.

 

[Tummy Burger]

Cheaper Tickets. Pay on the day. Totally agree with both of them.
Plus allow people to at the very least smoke in the damn car park.

can understand in the seats but the bloody car park is plain shite

 

[Wozza]

For me, it's about ambition.

Is the club serious about getting out of this division (upwards, that is)?

It looks like the club is preparred to tread water until Falmer, which is understandable to a degree but a bit depressing too.

 

[Tooting Gull]

You have to say, even our great leader is susceptible occasionally to a bit of spin.

"Sales for the next home game against Southend are already up compared to the same stage prior to Northampton."

That flirtation with the dark arts does sound just a little bit desperate.

Wouldn't it be easier just to admit there's a big problem, facilities, pricing, Withdean fatigue, poor home form last season, etc etc. All the reasons why Falmer was so important.

Basically the club needs a major 'relaunch', big campaign to get people through the door, marketing, advertising, imaginative ticket pricing.

That will happen anyway, I'm sure, at Falmer - it's just whether we need another one before that. I think we do.

 

[durrington gull]

Max price of £20 would help

 

[portslade seagull]

Drop the prices £18 at most and get some decent midfielders in 2 at least and then people might return.....all we get is spin

 

[dougdeep]

Cheaper Tickets. Pay on the day. Totally agree with both of them.
Plus allow people to at the very least smoke in the damn car park.

can understand in the seats but the bloody car park is plain shite

We don't have a car park.