Planning to increase the capacity already?

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Don't forget all the newbies that have come on board,this is bound to increase if we are successful on the pitch.We are already losing money the fact that Doncaster is sold out.Most home games will be sold out for Albion fans which means we are LOSING money every time.

 

[crodonilson]

Once the initial surge in demand as a novelty factor recedes I think we'll be down to about 15,000 average attendances. Do we really want to be knocking about in a half full stadium every week and selling out our stadium once every couple of seasons??

If you look at all clubs who move into new stadiums there is an initial surge in attendances and then they settle back down.

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Once the initial surge in demand as a novelty factor recedes I think we'll be down to about 15,000 average attendances. Do we really want to be knocking about in a half full stadium every week and selling out our stadium once every couple of seasons??

If you look at all clubs who move into new stadiums there is an initial surge in attendances and then they settle back down.

So that means we will only shift 10,000 odd season tickets next season then?

 

[crodonilson]

So that means we will only shift 10,000 odd season tickets next season then?

Over a few years, yes I think we'll end up with a steady 10-12,000 season ticket holders at this level. Next year the number of season ticket holders will almost certainly fall unless we win or get very close to promotion. I am all for maximising the revenue and potential of the club but lets match that with a dose of realism.

Personally I'd hold fire for a couple of seasons and see what we are avweraging once the novelty wears off, if the demand is still there and we're averaging around 20,000 then go for it then.

 

[Titanic]

This situation reminds me a bit of our first season in the old First Division, back in 1980 or whenever it was. The word on the street ahead of that, was that if you didnt get a season ticket you would never get in to see the top games. It turned out that we had healthy crowds, but rarely, if ever sold out (I think the capacity was around 25,000 at that time). I'm not intending to be in any way negative, but I think there has been a similar furore this season, and we may see a substantial reduction in ST sales for next season, assuming we are still in the Championship. The planning application demonstrates the ambition though - it is focussed on the Premier league.

I would be inclined to agree with you if my season ticket wasn't such a good deal... £20 a match, spread over 12 monthly payments (£38)... against a match day ticket price of £28 and booking fees. If I went to 15 games it would cost me more than my STH.

 

[Husty]

You are not understanding the whole process, are you? Put planning permission in and then we can phase the expansion.

Well if you go and read the f***ing thread, you'll see that I said that on the last page.

 

[Husty]

Why are you being so negative, there is no reason for it.

The quicker the stadium is finished the better, in particular the East Stand!

More empty seats (I don't believe there is the demand) isn't a plus. Besides, a LOT of people bought season tickets on the presumption it would be the ONLY way to guarentee home tickets, that will no longer be the case and we could see attendances drop match to match

 

[Husty]

You really do talk bollocks

Gillingham in the Carling Cup - have you not noticed that this competition is viewed as, quite frankly, a waste of time? It was never gonna sell out, 22,000 or 30,000 it doesn't matter

The Spurs game - a 'FRIENDLY' match. The opening of the new stadium maybe, I'm not going, I'm saving it for Donny as are a LOT of others. If we were playing Spurs in the FA cup or in a league game, are you trying to tell me it wouldn't sell out?

Doncaster tickets - did they ever actually make it to 'general sale' or were they snapped up by people who had attended games in the past - as explained on the clubs website? Was Joe Bloggs ever actually able to buy one

How many people were saying games like Gillingham WOULD sell out? A lot of people were, people have seriously over estimated the demand for tickets at this stage, and you still havn't explained the 7000 attendance for the first EVER game at the stadium? How could any real fan not want to go to that?

 

[Husty]

I’m not sure if your fishing but the interest in tickets at the Amex has been phenomenal and there’s plenty of evidence to suggest we could have sold a fair few more season tickets had there been more seats available.

Personally I think it makes sense to at least put a second tier on the east stand and make this available for casual fans, if we have a slump in attendances we can simply close it off.

If we ever do make it to the premier league, which I believe we will in the next 10 years-we’ll be glad for the extra 8000 seats.

Why the f*** are we fishing, you can already take your pick of games at the very opening of the stadium as a casual fan, and why would we add 8000 seats NOW when we do it only when it's needed, and potentionally save ourselves a white elephant if say we don't go up and Poyet leaves.

 

[Max Paper]

How many people were saying games like Gillingham WOULD sell out? A lot of people were, people have seriously over estimated the demand for tickets at this stage, and you still havn't explained the 7000 attendance for the first EVER game at the stadium? How could any real fan not want to go to that?

What the f***? I've never seen anyone say a first round carling cup game against Gillingham would sell out? Where is this information?
Regarding the 7000, Jesus, it wasn't even a proper Brighton game, it was a ramp up event to get a safety certificate?? I'm a real fan and I didn't want to go. I know about 20-30 people who ALL are waiting for the Donny game, for various reasons, including myself. This is the first game, The big one, IN MY OPINION

 

[Max Paper]

Why the f*** are we fishing, you can already take your pick of games at the very opening of the stadium as a casual fan, and why would we add 8000 seats NOW when we do it only when it's needed, and potentionally save ourselves a white elephant if say we don't go up and Poyet leaves.

NO YOU CAN NOT - fucks sake man did you miss the comments about TICKETS ON SALE TO THOSE WITH A PURCHASE HISTORY FROM THE CLUB?? ?? ??

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

How many people were saying games like Gillingham WOULD sell out? A lot of people were, people have seriously over estimated the demand for tickets at this stage, and you still havn't explained the 7000 attendance for the first EVER game at the stadium? How could any real fan not want to go to that?

'Real' fan. Now what it's that I wonder. Personally I couldn't resist going to experience our wonderful stadium for the first time. For others Spurs will be their first taste of the Amex. Some are saving themselves for the Doncaster game. Which ones are ' real'? That is an arbitrary statement and one which could only be judged in an inobjective manner and it's therefore unfair.

 

[crodonilson]

NO YOU CAN NOT - fucks sake man did you miss the comments about TICKETS ON SALE TO THOSE WITH A PURCHASE HISTORY FROM THE CLUB?? ?? ??

To be fair though 95% of casual fans would have purchased a ticket at some point in the last half dozen years.

 

[Commander]

Why the f*** are we fishing, you can already take your pick of games at the very opening of the stadium as a casual fan, and why would we add 8000 seats NOW when we do it only when it's needed, and potentionally save ourselves a white elephant if say we don't go up and Poyet leaves.

I agree.

We simply don't have enough fans for it for the long run, despite what people think. I would much rather playing a full 22,000 stadium than a half full 30,000 one. If we hang around in the Championship for a few years I reckon we'll be getting an average of about 15,000. Nothing wrong with that though, I think that's about our level.

 

[The Grockle]

Why the f*** are we fishing, you can already take your pick of games at the very opening of the stadium as a casual fan, and why would we add 8000 seats NOW when we do it only when it's needed, and potentionally save ourselves a white elephant if say we don't go up and Poyet leaves.

I never directed that post at anyone else but you so I’m not sure where the ‘we’ came from?? It just seems that when you make a point you are either moaning or raising a subject that will inevitably cause a stir… call it what you like fishing, trolling or attention seeking.

 

[moggy]

Go look at the thousands of gillingham seats left, or the spurs seats you can still buy, or the 7000 attendance for the first ever match, or the 2 days it took to sell just 1000 seats for the first ever league match...

There is hardly a high demand on tickets.

Another thing worth mentioning here is the first few games are at the height of the holiday season, lots of people will be away.
Myself included, as I'll miss spurs, donny and the gills game.
The few tickets that go on public sale will sell out much quicker come the autumn!

 

[gazingdown]

Also worth noting that empty seats look FAR better than the "unfinished" look of the corners/ESUpper.

As said, if attendances goes down (there will be more bad years as well as good ones) then they can cover the corners (with ad banners as they are now) and certainly cover/block the ES Upper (a bit like what Leeds have done). That way, most the "visible" seats will still be occupied.

Do it now (well next summer) whilst we can, whilst we have the money to do so etc.

 

[Brighton till i die]

you still havn't explained the 7000 attendance for the first EVER game at the stadium? How could any real fan not want to go to that?

Its not a proper game, end of.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Why the f*** are we fishing, you can already take your pick of games at the very opening of the stadium as a casual fan, and why would we add 8000 seats NOW when we do it only when it's needed, and potentionally save ourselves a white elephant if say we don't go up and Poyet leaves.

I agree.

We simply don't have enough fans for it for the long run, despite what people think. I would much rather playing a full 22,000 stadium than a half full 30,000 one. If we hang around in the Championship for a few years I reckon we'll be getting an average of about 15,000. Nothing wrong with that though, I think that's about our level.

I guarantee we would fill the ground regularly if we got promoted.

I am sure the club could still use a tarpaulin over the corner seats if we don't sell out in this league. No harm in having extra seats as and when needed.

 

[Seagull1967]

I agree.

We simply don't have enough fans for it for the long run, despite what people think. I would much rather playing a full 22,000 stadium than a half full 30,000 one. If we hang around in the Championship for a few years I reckon we'll be getting an average of about 15,000. Nothing wrong with that though, I think that's about our level.

Do we really know what our level is? So much has changed so lets wait and see.