Falmer(Amex)

[Gerbil]

Our fans are horribly fickle.

Falmer will sell out most of next season (even if we're in L1, IMO), because we'll have a new stadium and a decent side.

If we sustain success, our support won't tail off by much, but if the playing side turns to shit, we'll be down to 12-15k in a matter of 4 or 5 years. But this is all ifs and buts.

I just can't see the Albion averaging less than 18,000 next season.

Spot on

 

[Billy the Fish]

Our fans are horribly fickle.

Falmer will sell out most of next season (even if we're in L1, IMO), because we'll have a new stadium and a decent side.

If we sustain success, our support won't tail off by much, but if the playing side turns to shit, we'll be down to 12-15k in a matter of 4 or 5 years. But this is all ifs and buts.

I just can't see the Albion averaging less than 18,000 next season.

What he said.

It's been said over and over on these threads, but historically if the team is good we've pulled in big croweds regardless or the division. If the team is doing badly people leave in droves regardless of the division.

 

[Scoffers]

Nobody really knows, we can make some calculated guesses by looking at our historical attendances, and by comparing how other clubs have fared by moving to a shiny new stadium, however in our case, there are several other variances that will effect attendances.

A lot of people have got out of the habit of watching us, particularly at home, and many of those fans will presumably start going to Falmer, at least in the short-term. Whether they come back on a regular basis will depend on results, of course. At the end of the day if we are the right half of the Championship table, I think we'll get a consistent attendance in the high teens of thousands.

 

[Marshy]

Chill. Its going to be packed to capacity i tell you

 

[Iggle Piggle]

From the most reliable of sources, the Oldham evening cronicle. This is the increase in attendences from old to new grounds.

Average attendances, old and new

Cardiff City — Ninian Park, 2008-09 (Championship): 18,044; Cardiff City Stadium, 2009-10 so far (Championship): 21,056.

Relocation distance: 0.6 miles

Increase: 16.7-per-cent

Colchester United — Layer Road, 2007-08 (Championship): 5,509; Weston Homes Community Stadium, 2008-09 (League One): 5,084.

Relocation distance: 6.7 miles

Fall: 7.7-per-cent



Coventry City — Highfield Road, 2004-05 (Championship): 16,048; Ricoh Arena, 2005-06 (Championship): 21,302.

Relocation distance: 3 miles

Increase: 31.1-per-cent

Darlington — Feethams, 2002-03 (League Two): 3,312; Darlington Arena, 2003-04 (League Two): 5,023.

Relocation distance: 1.1 miles

Increase: 51.7-per-cent



Doncaster Rovers * — Belle Vue, 2005-06 (League One): 6,139; Keepmoat Stadium, 2006-07 (League One): 7,746.

Relocation distance: 2.9 miles

Increase: 26.2-per-cent

Hull City ** — Boothferry Park, 2002-03 (League Two): 12,843; KC Stadium, 2003-04 (League Two): 16,847.

Relocation distance: 2 miles

Increase: 31.2-per-cent



Leicester City *** — Filbert Street, 2001-02 (Premier League): 19,835; Walkers Stadium, 2002-03 (Championship): 29,219.

Relocation distance: 0.1 miles

Increase: 47.3-per-cent



Shrewsbury Town — Gay Meadow, 2006-07 (League Two): 4,730; Prostar Stadium, 2007-08 (League Two): 5,659.

Relocation distance: 1.8 miles

Increase: 19.6-per-cent



Swansea City — Vetch Field, 2004-05 (League Two): 8,458; Liberty Stadium, 2005-06 (League One): 14,112.

Relocation distance: 3.1 miles

Increase: 66.8-per-cent


* Doncaster moved to the Keepmoat in the latter half of the 2006-07 season.

** Hull City moved to the KC Stadium halfway through the 2002-03 season.

*** Leicester played their first game of the 2002-03 season at Filbert Street.


MK DONS are counted as a new club and therefore not included in the comparison.

Current League One club Southampton opened their new St Mary's stadium in the Premier League and are also therefore left out, while Burton Albion did so while in the Conference and are also excluded.

 

[Curious Orange]

The point that keeps coming up is "when the novelty wears off"

I don't really get this, how can going to football in a fantastic stadium with all the facilities be a novelty.

I can't see it ever wearing off for me

The "novelty" of watching football in the pissing rain wore of years ago, yet I still go to Withdean!!

 

[Steve Foster]

As Iggle Piggle has shown, moving to a new ground will not double or treble our support.
As I have said previously 8/9000 gates at the Amex when playing non fashionable clubs in league 1 in 2 years time if we are still in this league.

 

[Albion Dan]

There are at least 7 of us getting Season Tickets and all of us have given up on Withdean (although did go Saturday for the 1st time in a year), load of people who have Brighton as a second team in sussex will go who wouldnt dream of it at the moment.

People stay away from Withdean because the facilites are appaling. I think that we will sell out most of the first season easy, and the football quality will dictate where it goes from there.

Reading used to get 5-10k at Elm park and now get 15k+ because the ground is decent and people like spending a saturday afternoon there. Likewise Hull, Cardiff, Swansea, Charlton, etc.

 

[Addiseagull]

There are at least 7 of us getting Season Tickets and all of us have given up on Withdean (although did go Saturday for the 1st time in a year), load of people who have Brighton as a second team in sussex will go who wouldnt dream of it at the moment.

People stay away from Withdean because the facilites are appaling. I think that we will sell out most of the first season easy, and the football quality will dictate where it goes from there.

Reading used to get 5-10k at Elm park and now get 15k+ because the ground is decent and people like spending a saturday afternoon there. Likewise Hull, Cardiff, Swansea, Charlton, etc.

Is correct. Steve Foster, you are wrong.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

As Iggle Piggle has shown, moving to a new ground will not double or treble our support.
As I have said previously 8/9000 gates at the Amex when playing non fashionable clubs in league 1 in 2 years time if we are still in this league.

I really can't believe that you are a financial advisor given your complete lack of common sense about anything. For starters, the 1901 club will have 2000 seats. The club are on record saying that 30% of these are current season ticket holders. Meaning 1400 are not so the majority are obviously new supporters. Add this to the current Withdean average and you have nearly 8000 already. Add in the average increase seen by other clubs of around 40% and you get to 11000 odd.

Then all you have to remember is that none of the other clubs had been playing in a dilapidated athletics track for the last 12 years but were actually playing in fully functional stadia with a roof and everything.

But then you knew all of that didn't you and it was just a continuation of your oh-so-hilarious moaning persona.

 

[Napper]

slightly off topic but when we get 22k for the first game, how long will it of been since we last got this .

I'm thinking 1986 v Southampton in FA Cup ?

 

[The Large One]

slightly off topic but when we get 22k for the first game, how long will it of been since we last got this .

I'm thinking 1986 v Southampton in FA Cup ?

1988 against Arsenal in the Cup?

 

[Napper]

1988 against Arsenal in the Cup?

Yeah , thats it I think

 

[beorhthelm]

As Iggle Piggle has shown, moving to a new ground will not double or treble our support.
As I have said previously 8/9000 gates at the Amex when playing non fashionable clubs in league 1 in 2 years time if we are still in this league.

but its hard to say what our support is because its capped at 7k. if we get a 50% increase we'll see over 10k. Withdean has to be the utterly worst ground in the League, even some no-league gorunds have more cover, then theres the racing track and the inability to pay on the gate. granted the last one wont completly change, but with a senisble system it should be as near as (top up at the station on your way). The likes of Swansea are what we would expect to emulate, they got a 5k increase which would be fine for us.

 

[Sheebo]

Our fans are horribly fickle.

Disagree - Our away support is brilliant in numbers and I feel a lot of people just can't stand Withers for £25 - I wouldn't call it fickle necesarily - maybe just fed up... Wouldn't say as home fans we're any different from other clubs - higher attendances when doing well etc...

 

[Sheebo]

It may sound stupid, but i've been thinking lately where another 10,000 fans are going to come from each week to even half fill our ground. I'm worried we will only average something like 10,000 a game. I hope i'm wrong though.

Another 10k would push attendances to 16.5k which isn't half full it's over two thirds full. Let alone away fans - Even the franchise would surely double what they took Sat at Falmer. We're only responsible for 20k fans at Falmer if the away end sells out. Less 2000 1901 seats already sold etc = 18k from your average fan...

 

[Gav1901]

I take it your about 18?

Why would i be 18 for asking a question ?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Why would i be 18 for asking a question ?

Because it shows a lack of knowledge of (1) the Albion's history and (2) football crowds in general, hence he thought you were probably fairly young.

Even if we did only make 10,000 per game: that's still a good three to four thousand more than we're currently getting, at (say) £25 per head = a lot of money.

I think the first few games will more or less sell out, then it depends on how the team are doing. If we averaged 15,000 to 16,000 that season I for one would be chuffed to bits. It's been years since we had crowds like that, for a number of factors.

 

[Simster]

Disagree - Our away support is brilliant in numbers and I feel a lot of people just can't stand Withers for £25 - I wouldn't call it fickle necesarily - maybe just fed up... Wouldn't say as home fans we're any different from other clubs - higher attendances when doing well etc...

Our gates have been unexpectedly good at times (early 70s before the glory years) and unexpectedly bad at times (the crowds in 1990/1 were APPALLING).

So certainly there has been a lot of variance in our attendances, but maybe fickle isn't the right word to explain this.

 

[Steve Foster]

but its hard to say what our support is because its capped at 7k. if we get a 50% increase we'll see over 10k. Withdean has to be the utterly worst ground in the League, even some no-league gorunds have more cover, then theres the racing track and the inability to pay on the gate. granted the last one wont completly change, but with a senisble system it should be as near as (top up at the station on your way). The likes of Swansea are what we would expect to emulate, they got a 5k increase which would be fine for us.

The 7000 figure is not correct. Capacity is close to 9000 at Withdean & just over 8000 home fans.

Football fans every where are generally over optimistic. For instance on polls for NSC at the start of the season, most folk expect the Albion to finish higher up the league than they do. Polls as to how many points we will get in the next week/month etc are over optimistic by most in the points tally & the game by game predictor poll always have more votes for an Albion win than a defeat. The heart over ruling the head.

Our supporters are no different to any others. Otherwise we would all support one of the big 4 clubs.

As for the Albions crowd against Hartlepool on a wet & windy Tuesday evening in November in three years from now, if we are still in league 1 - I stand by the sub 9,000 crowd.