[Albion] Are you going to the Chelsea Cup game?

[PILTDOWN MAN]

No - not sure will bother with TV either

Though off to the PL game week later as got ticket ages before FA cup draw ...

Wow

 

[Weststander]

But we definitely don’t have a fickle fanbase. Just people who can’t be arsed to turn up for a game they’ve already paid for because we’ve lost two games in a row.

I really don’t understand when the form of the team started to affect proper fans’ attendance. Especially when we are talking about two games!! It’s definitely a recent thing, and very sad to see

Was always the way, before your time if we struggle a bit in the league even 1979-83, the number of attendees fall away significantly. This really isn’t a football hotbed like Glasgow, Liverpool or Newcastle where it’s a religion. Per capita far more folk in the Burnley catchment go to their games.

I wouldn’t reference (after what you said about) CPFC2010, they’re the same as us.

 

[hart's shirt]

How is it overpriced? How is £25 to watch the 10th placed team in the Premier League play the 4th placed Premier League team over priced? Name any other live entertainment in the country at anything approaching this level that is anywhere near £25?

It will cost you only £8 less to get into Tonbridge Angels v Worthing the same day. Compared to a game packed full of international players.

The idea that it is overpriced is ridiculous.

As an ESTC member, my home end tickets for March's World Cup qualifers at Wembley against Albania and Latvia are £25 and £20 (plus £1.50 booking fees).

I'll happily criticize The FA for many things, but not this. Tremendous VFM with the whole Wembley prematch experience and watching the national team.

I'd recommend this to anyone on NSC who has ever felt that their loyalty as a football fan has been exploited.

But yes, I completely agree with you that Albion v Chelsea isn't overpriced at £25 for a Cup game between two Tier 1 sides.

It's quite reasonable IMHO.

 

[BN41Albion]

But we definitely don’t have a fickle fanbase. Just people who can’t be arsed to turn up for a game they’ve already paid for because we’ve lost two games in a row.

I really don’t understand when the form of the team started to affect proper fans’ attendance. Especially when we are talking about two games!! It’s definitely a recent thing, and very sad to see

But no-one has said they're not going to go since losing 2 games on the bounce? And I doubt that's the case at all.

 

[BN41Albion]

Was always the way, before your time if we struggle a bit in the league even 1979-83, the number of attendees fall away significantly. This really isn’t a football hotbed like Glasgow, Liverpool or Newcastle where it’s a religion. Per capita far more folk in the Burnley catchment go to their games.

I wouldn’t reference (after what you said about) CPFC2010, they’re the same as us.

Is it a bad thing that a lot of folk have other things going on in their lives, and football not the be all and end all? I quite like that, tbh. Besides, clubs around our size up and down the country see a significant drop-off in numbers when they drop out of the too division etc - even in the traditional hotbeds. And attendances even in the big cities you mentioned were often pretty terrible around the time you mentioned - football was very unattractive in those days!

 

[Machiavelli]

How is it overpriced? How is £25 to watch the 10th placed team in the Premier League play the 4th placed Premier League team over priced? Name any other live entertainment in the country at anything approaching this level that is anywhere near £25?

It will cost you only £8 less to get into Tonbridge Angels v Worthing the same day. Compared to a game packed full of international players.

The idea that it is overpriced is ridiculous.

Quite.
And there I was thinking that live entertainment has gone really expensive at least since Covid. And that you're lucky to get a ticket for so many gigs at that price. And don't even think about the theatre, dance, the opera, etc. And also that Brighton have been in the top tier for all of *checks notes* 12 years of its 124 history -- less than 10%. Within those 12 years, the club have managed a top ten finish on just two occasions. And we're currently in the top ten. And there's a meltdown.
I'll do it. We have a lot of deluded fans. We have a lot of entitled fans. We even have a lot of deluded entitled fans.
I've bought a ticket, and shall go along with 28k or 29k others of which, unfortunately, too many will be Chelsea fans.

 

[Machiavelli]

But no-one has said they're not going to go since losing 2 games on the bounce? And I doubt that's the case at all.

Commander was responding directly to a post indicating that fans that had bought tickets (presumably prior to last w/e) and were now not turning up so, yes, the losses and particularly the size of the loss do seem to be playing a role.

 

[BN41Albion]

Commander was responding directly to a post indicating that fans that had bought tickets (presumably prior to last w/e) and were now not turning up so, yes, the losses and particularly the size of the loss do seem to be playing a role.

Wasn't he responding to a post hypothesising that some fans might now not go, not indicating that was the case? I just can't see that being the case

Since the Amex opened we've had very consistent attendances, even in cup matches v lower league oppo over 20k, and very strong away following. We really don't have a fickle fan base imo

 

[Weststander]

Is it a bad thing that a lot of folk have other things going on in their lives, and football not the be all and end all? I quite like that, tbh. Besides, clubs around our size up and down the country see a significant drop-off in numbers when they drop out of the too division etc - even in the traditional hotbeds. And attendances even in the big cities you mentioned were often pretty terrible around the time you mentioned - football was very unattractive in those days!

Yep, due to violence and similar. A steady decline from 1968.

But 76 to 79 the Goldstone was invariably rammed, Sussex folk (and elsewhere) are drawn to a winner. When it fell away as we didn’t become a sure bet to win every Saturday, my Dad and I said even then people round here have other interests.

Burnley get 20k gates in a catchment of just 150k. We struggle to get 28k to turn up going by ESL, despite 500k living Brighton to Littlehampton alone. Add Lewes, Eastbourne, mid Sussex. On a big high in our history, but it’s interesting how many of us find it less appealing when we have a team that very, very rarely wins at home.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

But 76 to 79 the Goldstone was invariably rammed, Sussex folk (and elsewhere) are drawn to a winner. When it fell away as we didn’t become a sure bet to win every Saturday

Although I stand to be corrected the gates for the promotion season 78/79 were slightly down on the near miss season before.

 

[BN41Albion]

Yep, due to violence and similar. A steady decline from 1968.

But 76 to 79 the Goldstone was invariably rammed, Sussex folk (and elsewhere) are drawn to a winner. When it fell away as we didn’t become a sure bet to win every Saturday, my Dad and I said even then people round here have other interests.

Burnley get 20k gates in catchment of just 150k. We struggle to get 28k to turn up going by ESL, despite 500k living Brighton to Littlehampton alone. Add Lewes, Eastbourne, mid Sussex. On a big high in our history, but it’s interesting how many of us find it less appealing when we have a team that very, very rarely wins at home.

Agree in that the north west smaller clubs get impressively high attendances. I do think people are reading too much into tomo though. Despite poor form at home, tomorrow would've sold out at not such a shit ko time. As it is, there'll be about 25k there (albeit a fair few Chelsea fans) for a shit ko time on telly in a game we're unlikely to win. Really not too bad.

 

[Machiavelli]

Wasn't he responding to a post hypothesising that some fans might now not go, not indicating that was the case? I just can't see that being the case

Since the Amex opened we've had very consistent attendances, even in cup matches v lower league oppo over 20k, and very strong away following. We really don't have a fickle fan base imo

It's a little too late for me, and maybe I should be on the "it's Fridaaat" thread. I might have to leave it up to @Weststander and @Commander to clarify.

 

[Weststander]

Quite.
And there I was thinking that live entertainment has gone really expensive at least since Covid. And that you're lucky to get a ticket for so many gigs at that price. And don't even think about the theatre, dance, the opera, etc. And also that Brighton have been in the top tier for all of *checks notes* 12 years of its 124 history -- less than 10%. Within those 12 years, the club have managed a top ten finish on just two occasions. And we're currently in the top ten. And there's a meltdown.
I'll do it. We have a lot of deluded fans. We have a lot of entitled fans. We even have a lot of deluded entitled fans.
I've bought a ticket, and shall go along with 28k or 29k others of which, unfortunately, too many will be Chelsea fans.

Is that comparison very imperfect?

You just know that Peter Hook, Robert Smith/Simon Gallup or West End stars will turn up, giving 2 hours of pure pleasure. In the dry and warm.

Whereas 4 or 5 hours out of your day at the Amex in the PL era can and very often delivers a turd. Compounded by cheating/gamesmanship from the opposition, completely ignored by a doormat of a ref.

Non-uber fan alert! Jan 15 to Apr 17, Apr 22 to Sept 23 being glorious exceptions.

 

[Weststander]

Although I stand to be corrected the gates for the promotion season 78/79 were slightly down on the near miss season before.

If it was, it was due to a Goldstone alteration / safety legislation.

 

[Machiavelli]

Is that comparison very imperfect?

You just know that Peter Hook, Robert Smith/Simon Gallup or West End stars will turn up, giving 2 hours of pure pleasure. In the dry and warm.

Whereas 4 or 5 hours out of your day at the Amex in the PL era can and very often delivers a turd. Compounded by cheating/gamesmanship from the opposition, completely ignored by a doormat of a ref.

Non-uber fan alert! Jan 15 to Apr 17, Apr 22 to Sept 23 being glorious exceptions.

It wasn't a direct comparison, it was merely a point about the cost of going to watch us play at The Amex (not necessarily PL football or even FA Cup football between PL teams -- just look at other threads for what that costs) versus other forms of live entertainment.
And you're factoring the travel to the Amex but not to see a gig. And you're invoking The Cure who'd cost probably 3x as much at some mega-venue in the middle of nowhere. And you and I know that Robert Smith is a bit of an anomaly in that he doesn't want to rip fans off and will try and keep ticket prices as low as possible -- not unlike a PL Chairman and CEO that we also know.

 

[Wozza]

As an ESTC member, my home end tickets for March's World Cup qualifers at Wembley against Albania and Latvia are £25 and £20 (plus £1.50 booking fees).

I'll happily criticize The FA for many things, but not this. Tremendous VFM with the whole Wembley prematch experience and watching the national team.

I'd recommend this to anyone on NSC who has ever felt that their loyalty as a football fan has been exploited.

But yes, I completely agree with you that Albion v Chelsea isn't overpriced at £25 for a Cup game between two Tier 1 sides.

It's quite reasonable IMHO.

Genuine LOL.

Albania and Latvia.... Friday and Monday nights.... "prematch experience"

It will be like a ruddy morgue!

 

[hart's shirt]

Genuine LOL.

Albania and Latvia.... Friday and Monday nights.... "prematch experience"

It will be like a ruddy morgue!

I enjoyed all the Nations League games there a few months ago. Attendances - 70K against Finland, 79K against Greece, 80K against Ireland.

Yes, there'll be some gaps on Monday, but Friday night will be busier with no school/work the next day. Plenty of kids on the 2246 from London Victoria.

In tough times, there's lots to like for families and kids attending. It's an affordable evening out - through ESTC, a family of 4 can attend for £75.

The pre-match entertainment does its job. I can take or leave the DJ, but the light show and flags are always impressive. No time for cynics here.

 

[Wozza]

I can take or leave the DJ, but the light show and flags are always impressive.

Ah yes, the pretend DJing at half-time. Thought/hoped it was a one-off but, no, she's there every match.

It's basically a war crime.

 

[bhafc99]

Actual Superfan here.

Taking two kids, and two of their friends.

And bought tickets for another friend and his family.

That's roughly 6% of the Albion 'end'!

Thanks @Wozza

And one of those tickets is my son bringing a friend to his first ever Albion game, so we’re also gaining some new fans too.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I’m bringing Jr to his first night match, bit of a cock up on my behalf as he has a 10am kick off the following morning and this kid, despite being 6, average about 11 hours kip a night. He’s going to be very grumpy