Attendence of 4,395 ? It was actually LOWER

[Easy 10]

I've always been under the misapprehension that the attendence figures are calculated by the number of mugs (sorry, FANS) actually passing through the turnstile on the day. The little counter on the turnstile made me assume this. However, it has been brought to my attention today that attendences at games are actually calculated based on tickets SOLD for the game, and always assume full 100% attendence from every season ticket holder.

So the fact I bought my ticket for last nights game in March of last year (with my season ticket renewal) means that I would have been counted as one of the 4,395 in the crowd last night, whether I'd gone to the game (as I did), or stayed at home in front of the telly to get bored off my tits by Liverpool.

I dunno whether everyone already knew this, but I have to say, its something of a revelation to me. And it leaves me wondering what the ACTUAL attendence of last nights game was.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Easy that was news to me, I thought it was bodies through the clicking machine. We have by all accounts 3100 sth's and I reckon 2800 turned up so I reckon the crowd was nearer 4095.

 

[BensGrandad]

My estimate on another thread was 4350 so I may be exactly right. Do I win an orange?

 

[The Wookiee]

There was under 4000 there last night

 

[crodonilson]

I heard a few years ago now that when they calculate how many turn up, on average 8% of STH's will miss any one game, now with it being a midweek game, cold, poor form and football on T.V I'd expect that figure to have been doubled.

If we have 3100 STH's, 8% is approx 250. If you say 15% may have failed to show up that would be just under 500, which means there is an outside chance there were less than 4,000 people actually in the ground last night.

 

[Easy 10]

What an idiotic way of doing things though (and I'm not having a pop at the Albion here, as according to the Football League this is standard common practice). Whats the POINT of having counters on the turnstiles if you're just going to take ticket sales as being the actual "attendence" figure ? Its not really an attendence figure at all, is it.

 

[Spiros]

According to Insider it is the number who turn up that are counted NOT the number of tickets sold

Attendance Figures. - North Stand Chat

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We have by all accounts 3100 sth's and I reckon 2800 turned up

I also counted them during some of the less rivetting periods of the first half Uncle, and made the total 2915.

 

[saltash seagull]

im sure the amount is calculated on how many pass through the gate rather than tickets sold which is why when most of the ground was sth the attendence was never capacity

 

[Easy 10]

According to Insider it is the number who turn up that are counted NOT the number of tickets sold

Attendance Figures. - North Stand Chat

Hi,

I would be most grateful for your assistance with a query I have concerning how league attendances are calculated.

My understanding is that season tickets holders are counted as being in attendance and that people whom pay on the turnstiles on added on.

Is this correct?

Many thanks.

Regards.

Jon

reply

Dear Jon

We are in receipt of your email and would advise that all ticket holders are counted as being in attendance.

Thank you for contacting The Football League.

Patricia Brown
Customer Services
The Football League
Home | The Football League


*shrugs*

 

[BensGrandad]

When paying input VAT, assuming admission tickets are subject to VAT, which I am not sure, all tickets sold would be liable for the payment of this VAT irrespective of whether a STH goes to the game or not because they have paid for their ticket. The only other possibility,which again I am not sure of is, that this input VAT is paid when the money is actually received for the tickets in either March, April or May.

 

[Spiros]

Hi,

I would be most grateful for your assistance with a query I have concerning how league attendances are calculated.

My understanding is that season tickets holders are counted as being in attendance and that people whom pay on the turnstiles on added on.

Is this correct?

Many thanks.

Regards.

Jon

reply

Dear Jon

We are in receipt of your email and would advise that all ticket holders are counted as being in attendance.

Thank you for contacting The Football League.

Patricia Brown
Customer Services
The Football League
Home | The Football League


*shrugs*

So ultimately it comes down to who you believe - the Football League, who have a vested interest in telling everyone that attendances are higher than they really are, or the Albion who (some say) may have a vested interest in telling certain people (such as the taxman) that attendances are lower than they really are.

 

[Stinkers Bridge]

If a game is considered a sell out, the official attendance figure is always given out as the ground's capacity. However, I have always thought that this was probably inaccurate as there will always be a certain number of people who have a ST or a ticket for the game but are unable to make it.

 

[Kukev31]

If a game is considered a sell out, the official attendance figure is always given out as the ground's capacity. However, I have always thought that this was probably inaccurate as there will always be a certain number of people who have a ST or a ticket for the game but are unable to make it.

I don't think it is because look at someone like Man Utd, they don't get given the exact same attendance for all sell-outs.

 

[Gritt23]

So ultimately it comes down to who you believe - the Football League, who have a vested interest in telling everyone that attendances are higher than they really are, or the Albion who (some say) may have a vested interest in telling certain people (such as the taxman) that attendances are lower than they really are.

It would have been more of an issue for Mr Taxman back in the old days when you paid cash on the turnstile and no ticket / receipt was issued.

These days all income from ticket sales will go through the till at the club, so that would be the audit check, not a clicker on a turnstile.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

mugs the lot of them, i have saved myself so much money by staying away and i feel my weekends are far more rewarding

 

[Stinkers Bridge]

I don't think it is because look at someone like Man Utd, they don't get given the exact same attendance for all sell-outs.

There are certainly some clubs that give out exactly the same attendance figures for sell out games.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's round about now that the ol' VAT fiddle insinuations usually start surfacing

 

[BensGrandad]

There was a director at Gillingham who went to prison in the days when Brian Moore (ITV football commentator) was a director, for understating the crowd and if my memory serves me well BM resigned over the issue so as to not be tainted with the same brush and thus hinder his work on TV.

 

[Easy 10]

mugs the lot of them, i have saved myself so much money by staying away and i feel my weekends are far more rewarding

As are ours for your absence, if your posts are anything to go by.