[Football] Ending Season Ticket Culture

[Giraffe]

They won't though, will they? Remember Palace going on about how all our new fans would disappear in the 2nd season at the Amex?

When I was a kid I was the only Brighton fan at my school. The only person I knew who owned a Brighton shirt. Go to any kids football coaching session anywhere in Sussex and the ratios of shirts go 30% big 6, 20% random other teams, 50% Brighton. The Amex is full of a new generation of young fans, who come accompanied by their parents, who have gradually started to get hooked. I know so many people like this. There is just no way on Earth they are all going to disappear if / when we get relegated. It's a complete nonsense idea. Yes, gates would drop- how many Championship teams get 30,000+ every week?

It's this demographic that swells the Amex attendances, and they are here to stay. The 'tourists' are people like the Japanese here to watch Mitoma, and the odd person or family who wants to watch a Premier League match for the first time. That is a tiny percentage of the Amex crowd.

So in fact, maybe the 'tourists' might vanish overnight if we were relegated, but it would make virtually no difference, and be completely within the normal parameters of a team getting relegated, and we'd still be in the top 2 or 3 supported clubs in the Championship.

I know it bothers some people,, but our 'legacy fans' (and yes I am one of them) aren't special. Sorry.

I'd argue that if we were top of the championship, scoring more goals, and winning regularly the actual attendance at games might be higher. Only drop off would be the away fan numbers probably won't be as high.

 

[Seagull on the Hill]

So am I, but giving mine up this season for health reasons. I hope to get to an occasional game next season as a member.

I am planning to keep my season ticket for 1 more season, then probably give it up.
Recently, going to the Amex has become more of a chore, and I have missed several games this season, although my seat has been occupied either by one of my sons, or someone who has bought the seat through the exchange.
I think I will be watching more non league football in future .

 

[chaileyjem]

It will when the tourists all vanish overnight with any future loss of EPL status

I'd argue that if we were top of the championship, scoring more goals, and winning regularly the actual attendance at games might be higher. Only drop off would be the away fan numbers probably won't be as high.

The idea, gleefully argued on here, that it will all go South (attendances fall off a cliff, young fans abandon club, goodbye "tourists" - whoever they are ) if club is relegated or "some time soon" has no evidence for it. Most clubs that suffer this in the PL routinely get re promoted (thats just how it works given ££) , and attendances as you say , stay high. The championship is an attractive league. (club does take a substantial financial hit obviously)
Anyway its not happening next season now for starters.

 

[Guinness Boy]

The point being that was 20 years ago; we’ve grown considerably since; we get 30k home fans every week…yet we don’t have 30k fans? ‘Come on’…

No we don’t.

After away fans and comps are knocked off we can fit in about 27.5k home fans and it’s never, ever full except for games like Wigan or the home Europa League games (when capacity was even lower).

 

[chaileyjem]

No we don’t.

After away fans and comps are knocked off we can fit in about 27.5k home fans and it’s never, ever full except for games like Wigan or the home Europa League games (when capacity was even lower).

True. But The point still stands. Club has way more than 30K fans . And loyal ones. Even if you just define it as ST holders + members who go a few times per season + 1901 - let alone fans who go intermittently for all manner of reasons.

 

[Guinness Boy]

True. But The point still stands. Club has way more than 30K fans . And loyal ones. Even if you just define it as ST holders + members who go a few times per season + 1901 - let alone fans who go intermittently for all manner of reasons.

And yet they don’t want to pay reduced admission for a 4th round Cup game against our new “rivals”? Circa 17000 Brighton there and that’s our hardcore support IMO.

 

[portlock seagull]

No we don’t.

After away fans and comps are knocked off we can fit in about 27.5k home fans and it’s never, ever full except for games like Wigan or the home Europa League games (when capacity was even lower).

more pedantry, we’re having a general discussion so was using round figures rather than exact including names and addresses.

 

[chaileyjem]

And yet they don’t want to pay reduced admission for a 4th round Cup game against our new “rivals”? Circa 17000 Brighton there and that’s our hardcore support IMO.

I know a fair few season ticket holders who swerved it - Yet go to every PL home game and at least half a dozen away games . Aren’t they “hardcore” ?

 

[portlock seagull]

And yet they don’t want to pay reduced admission for a 4th round Cup game against our new “rivals”? Circa 17000 Brighton there and that’s our hardcore support IMO.

Or maybe couldn’t, against a team play twice in a week, with all the many factors considered and previously cited on other threads. And Chelsea aren’t rivals btw.

 

[amexer]

Over 2.5k available tonight. In these circumstances still think it is a shame ticket cant be passed on to someone who genuinely just cant afford to attend and there are many in this position. Getting these people to the odd game means they are more likely to want a ST when there financial circumstaces change.

 

[Titanic]

Over 2.5k available tonight. In these circumstances still think it is a shame ticket cant be passed on to someone who genuinely just cant afford to attend and there are many in this position. Getting these people to the odd game means they are more likely to want a ST when there financial circumstaces change.

Apparently there are loads of disenfranchised people, rich enough to splash £50-60 notes a game.... I am surprised they haven't snapped them up

 

[chaileyjem]

Apparently there are loads of disenfranchised people, rich enough to splash £50-60 notes a game.... I am surprised they haven't snapped them up

All the match day tickets sold out , at those prices - over a week ago.
These tickets now are the people who have already bought a discounted ticket and have now decided they can't make it.

 

[Titanic]

All the match day tickets sold out , at those prices - over a week ago.
These tickets now are the people who have already bought a discounted ticket and have now decided they can't make it.

but nobody wants to snap then up? what an opportunity, CHELSEA at the Amex

 

[chaileyjem]

but nobody wants to snap then up? what an opportunity, CHELSEA at the Amex

The game is SOLD OUT. but yes i can understand - not sure why - that some on here are gleeful and giddy at idea that some tickets made available at full price a few days before hand haven't sold TWICE.

 

[Titanic]

The game is SOLD OUT. but yes i can understand - not sure why - that some on here are gleeful and giddy at idea that some tickets made available at full price a few days before hand haven't sold TWICE.

Perhaps because it pisses on this tedious fishing trip

 

[philgull25]

If that ever happens at our club then it will mean we will have completely lost our soul and forgotten our roots. It would be bad if the club turned their back on the supporters that helped keep the club going in our dark days.

I think that’s already begun to happen. And if the success of the Premier League sustains itself and we maintain our position within it, this is probably inevitable and justified as a means to an end.

 

[chaileyjem]

I think that’s already begun to happen. And if the success of the Premier League sustains itself and we maintain our position within it, this is probably inevitable and justified as a means to an end.

How ? We have more season ticket holders than ever before ?

 

[BN9 BHA]

I know a fair few season ticket holders who swerved it - Yet go to every PL home game and at least half a dozen away games . Aren’t they “hardcore” ?

No definitely not……like me anyone that didn’t go to the Chelsea cup match is also flakey fan

 

[chaileyjem]

No definitely not……like me anyone that didn’t go to the Chelsea cup match is also flakey fan

I mean - I went . But I’m not going to Newcastle (a) so that’s probably me off the list too.

 

[BN9 BHA]

I mean - I went . But I’m not going to Newcastle (a) so that’s probably me off the list too.

No you are not a member of the Flakey Fanbase Club, I know fans that have been to all the other home games and most of the aways but immediately became a “flakey fan” because they didn’t buy a Chelsea cup ticket.