Darlington's new ground!

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Freddie Goodwin.

Well-known member
Mar 31, 2007
7,186
Brighton
The thing is, darlo have never had a history of the type of crowds to fill at 25,000 stadium. They should have built for 10-15k.

We, on the other hand, do have a history of big crowds, if the team is right.

build it and they will come...!
 










The Grockle

Formally Croydon Seagull
Sep 26, 2008
5,766
Dorset


Jul 5, 2003
23,777
Polegate
That does scare me about Falmer - would we have been better off with a Shrewsbury type ground that can be expanded rather than 15,000 empty seats?
 




Lord Large

Keeping the faith
Aug 6, 2008
793
Out on the floor
I don't think we have average more than 10,000 per game over a season since the early 1980s.

We also have only ever had 21 games with a gate of 30,000 or higher - and none since 1979.
 


Strike

Sussex Border Front
Mar 12, 2004
5,051
Three Bridges, Crawley
Last 25 years at the Goldstone attendances

1997 5.878 (last goldstone season)
1996 5.593(relegated)
1995 7.560
1994 7.728
1993 6.702
1992 7.991 (relegated)
1991 8.422
1990 8.535
1989 9.059
1988 8.934 (promoted)
1987 8.282(relegation)
1986 9.722
1985 11.789 (last over 10k)
1984 12.286
1983 14.662(last in top flight)
1982 18.244
1981 18.984
1980 24.745(first season in top flight)
1979 22.074 (promoted)
1978 25.264
1977 20.183 (promoted)
1976 15.317
1975 11.755
1974 10.848
1973 14.188
1972 17.679
 


The Grockle

Formally Croydon Seagull
Sep 26, 2008
5,766
Dorset
That does scare me about Falmer - would we have been better off with a Shrewsbury type ground that can be expanded rather than 15,000 empty seats?

I feel if we built a Shrewsbury or Colchester style ground it would look dated and run down in around a decade.
As for the empty seats, it worries me a little but i honestly believe that with all the hype of a new stadium and the fact away fans will want to come to a new ground our attendace in League one would avergae around 10,000. You could perhaps add several thousand more if we were playing in championship.
 




Jimmy Grimble

Well-known member
Nov 10, 2007
10,103
Starting a revolution from my bed
Last 25 years at the Goldstone attendances

1997 5.878 (last goldstone season)
1996 5.593(relegated)
1995 7.560
1994 7.728
1993 6.702
1992 7.991 (relegated)
1991 8.422
1990 8.535
1989 9.059
1988 8.934 (promoted)
1987 8.282(relegation)
1986 9.722
1985 11.789 (last over 10k)
1984 12.286
1983 14.662(last in top flight)
1982 18.244
1981 18.984
1980 24.745(first season in top flight)
1979 22.074 (promoted)
1978 25.264
1977 20.183 (promoted)
1976 15.317
1975 11.755
1974 10.848
1973 14.188
1972 17.679


The strange thing is if you look at the attendances in the late seventies/early eighties you'll find that they vary greatly from game to game. One week we had 32,000, then next just over 10,000. I suppose back then a lot of people worked on the pay on the day basis rather than on a season ticket. It will be vital for the board to secure a solid foundation of season ticket holders at Falmer I reckon.
 


The Grockle

Formally Croydon Seagull
Sep 26, 2008
5,766
Dorset
The strange thing is if you look at the attendances in the late seventies/early eighties you'll find that they vary greatly from game to game. One week we had 32,000, then next just over 10,000. I suppose back then a lot of people worked on the pay on the day basis rather than on a season ticket. It will be vital for the board to secure a solid foundation of season ticket holders at Falmer I reckon.

I reckon this could be the case for the first few years at falmer (without the 32000) for example we couldn't expect any more than 9000 against the likes of Hereford but against the big boys it could easily be as high as 15,000 (based on us playing in the third tier that is).
 
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Lord Large

Keeping the faith
Aug 6, 2008
793
Out on the floor
Conboy is right. The club need to get the maximum number of season tickets sold as possible.

I can see the first few games being close to full. Although I do not expect anyone who wants to go having trouble getting tickets.

Anyone who seriously thinks though that, at present or increased prices and same tier of football, we will be getting more than 10,000regularly is living in a dream land.
 






The Grockle

Formally Croydon Seagull
Sep 26, 2008
5,766
Dorset
Looking at all this, why on earth are we building a 22000 seater stadium?!

Allowing for potential growth I think. Anyway i don't really care if we rarely fill it in the league, draw Manure in the cup and it will be full.
 


Strike

Sussex Border Front
Mar 12, 2004
5,051
Three Bridges, Crawley
Pompeys crowds from same period pretty similar to us.

1997 8.854
1996 9.407
1995 8.269
1994 11.662
1993 13.695
1992 11.745
1991 9.690
1990 8.861
1989 10.215
1988 15.923 (top flight)
1987 13.404 (promoted)
1986 13.614
1985 15.185
1984 13.196
1983 14.095
1982 8.544
1981 13.514
1980 15.850
1979 10.123
1978 9.678
1977 11.564
1976 10.472
1975 12.474
1974 13.675
1973 9.477
1972 11.918

EFS English Clubs
 


Jimmy Grimble

Well-known member
Nov 10, 2007
10,103
Starting a revolution from my bed
Times change Snoobs, with football being more commercialised and friendly for all walks of life it's easier to attract bigger gates; providing of course the clubs marketing department work to their maximum capacity, we get good press on the TV, and most importantly, we're in a high division competing at the top end.
 




Taybha

Whalewhine
Oct 8, 2008
27,681
Uwantsumorwat
i would imagine the reason we average whatever , whenever ,in the past is because even at its best the goldstone was to say the least run down and shabby,we as a club have not had the luxury of a comfortable family orientated stadium that creates atmosphere,i think we should have built a 18,000 seater with permission to expand later if need be,but lets not complain about something we as a club has never had ,before its even built .
 


Strike

Sussex Border Front
Mar 12, 2004
5,051
Three Bridges, Crawley
Times change Snoobs, with football being more commercialised and friendly for all walks of life it's easier to attract bigger gates; providing of course the clubs marketing department work to their maximum capacity, we get good press on the TV, and most importantly, we're in a high division competing at the top end.

Have to agree with that. Reading were only averaging about 5,000 at Elm Park in the final years until the move to Madejski, but ended up averaging over 10,000 with no league club near them for about 30 miles as well.
 


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