[Albion] Todays women’s game

[Uter]

As for the rivalry, thousands of additional spectators aren't likely to be flooding in from Croydon any time soon if they only get 502 at home. Family-friendly, different feel and all that. Until the purpose-built stadium is complete, Crawley and Palace are probably a match made in heaven for plenty of reasons.

If you're not going to move the match against your biggest rivals then why bother moving any? I see it as a potential draw to attract new Albion fans. I was not thinking Palace would bring a massive following. I guess we are going to have to disagree on the merits of playing the fixture at the Amex. As you can imagine, I think it would be a big missed opportunity to play it at Crawley.

 

[Commander]

So here is a serious question regarding the Brighton Ladies. Does it make money?
Crowd today of what, 5K to 8K paying an average of £10, if that. Crawley attendance is a lot lot less.
A little TV money, but not the £millions of the EPL.
Wages may be a lot less than Dunk and others, but they still get a wage.
Presuming TB pays for it, are any losses written off any mens profits?
And yes, I have been to the games. Crawley is £5 with free parking so a no brainer. Amex is different.

I imagine no, it must be a loss leader. I can’t imagine Bloom thinks it will be forever though, otherwise he wouldn’t do it. Have to say that personally I can’t really see how that is going to change in the future, but he’s a far better businessman than I am.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I imagine no, it must be a loss leader. I can’t imagine Bloom thinks it will be forever though, otherwise he wouldn’t do it. Have to say that personally I can’t really see how that is going to change in the future, but he’s a far better businessman than I am.

That's very unassuming of you to admit.

 

[hart's shirt]

If you're not going to move the match against your biggest rivals then why bother moving any? I see it as a potential draw to attract new Albion fans. I was not thinking Palace would bring a massive following. I guess we are going to have to disagree on the merits of playing the fixture at the Amex. As you can imagine, I think it would be a big missed opportunity to play it at Crawley.

That would be biggest rivals in the men's game. With the WSL in its comparative infancy and Palace in their first season in it, there's isn't one...yet.

Now I'll happily concede that there might be one in the future, but these things can take a bit of time and aren't immediately manufactured. I appreciate the counter to that might be 'well, let's start now', but with 502 fans at home, there aren't actually that many of Palace to authentically generate a rivalry with at the moment. But that's their problem, not ours.

As for why bother moving any matches, I'd imagine on financial terms alone, the ones to move would be ideally ones which would generate the biggest attendances due to well-known international players in the opposition, and secondly a decent away following. Arsenal, Man City, Man United and Chelsea would fall into those categories on Lionesses alone. Would thousands of new Albion supporting families turn up on the basis that it was Crystal Palace despite them not having any famous faces to watch / ask for a shirt / have a selfie with? Hmmm.

As you say, we may have to agree to disagree for now at least on the location, but let's hope that a potential rivalry develops if Palace can stay up despite having the WSL's worst GD. As someone who instinctively wants any Palace team relegated regardless, part of me hopes it might take a bit longer than expected!

 

[Uter]

I imagine no, it must be a loss leader. I can’t imagine Bloom thinks it will be forever though, otherwise he wouldn’t do it. Have to say that personally I can’t really see how that is going to change in the future, but he’s a far better businessman than I am.

It is possible to imagine a scenario where the match day income side of things will always be a loss leader, or maybe just turn a small profit, but the women's game as a whole becomes very lucrative, too.

The real money IMO will be in media rights, sponsorship and other commercial deals. If you can fill your purpose built stadium, then your club becomes a whole lot more attractive to players, broadcasters and sponsors, etc.

The women's game could become imbalanced in the relative shares of the three main revenue streams to a greater extent than we currently see in the men's game.

I think Tony is seeing the big picture and has a clear plan on how best to use this to our advantage.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Another women's game at The Amex where the crowd was less than this years Sussex Senior Cup Final between Horsham and Hastings United. #justsaying

 

[ozzygull]

Another women's game at The Amex where the crowd was less than this years Sussex Senior Cup Final between Horsham and Hastings United. #justsayin

The women’s game is still in it infancy and TB wants to invest in it. The women’s game against Arsenal at the Amex had a crowed that was bigger then some league two sides and bigger then some of the men’s cup games at Withdean. #justsayin

 

[nsclurker]

Albion Women's attendances at the Amex (as documented on Wiki and BBC Sport):

8,369 - Man United (season 2024-25)
6,951 - Tottenham (season 2023-24)
5,265 - Arsenal (season 2018-19)
5,220 - Reading (season 2022-23)
4,967 - Everton (season 2023-24)
4,638 - West Ham (season 2024-25)
4,130 - Birmingham (season 2019-20)
3,566 - Leicester (season 2021-22)
2,264 - West Ham (season 2021-22)

Granted, when compared with Crawley attendances around 2,000, any attendance that's 4,000+ is going to look good.
But when compared with other games held at the Amex, today's attendance was only the 6th highest. Reading and Everton weren't bigger sides.
And this is after some momentum building post Euros.
With the previous gates in mind and targets, today's attendance is probably less than they'd have hoped for. A reasonable conclusion to draw IMHO.

As for Palace, I'm not suggesting that the game should be moved because of policing reasons (hence the 'highly unlikely' bit). Palace Women clearly don't have enough support home or away to necessitate a stadium switch to the Amex. I agree with you that there's not likely to be any trouble at the event other than probably some expected chants, etc. As for the rivalry, thousands of additional spectators aren't likely to be flooding in from Croydon any time soon if they only get 502 at home. Family-friendly, different feel and all that. Until the purpose-built stadium is complete, Crawley and Palace are probably a match made in heaven for plenty of reasons!

There's at least one missing from that, as we played Charlton a few years ago after the Young Seagulls Christmas Party and there were 3000+ IIRC.

 

[Uter]

Would thousands of new Albion supporting families turn up on the basis that it was Crystal Palace despite them not having any famous faces to watch / ask for a shirt / have a selfie with?

Don't know until you try, do you. Seems a bit defeatist not to.

 

[hart's shirt]

There's at least one missing from that, as we played Charlton a few years ago after the Young Seagulls Christmas Party and there were 3000+ IIRC.

Just looking up the fixtures - there's the 2-0 at the Amex back in December 2015. Can't see the attendance.

 

[Uter]

I thought Čanković looked very good when she came on. Agyemang too.

 

[hart's shirt]

Don't know until you try, do you. Seems a bit defeatist not to.

Doubtless there are financial reasons why they've chosen this.

I'm quite sure that Tony's considered all of the above and worked out the numbers.

 

[nsclurker]

Just looking up the fixtures - there's the 2-0 at the Amex back in December 2015. Can't see the attendance.

c.3.5K, from memory, helped by all attendees at the YS party getting free entrance to the game.

 

[Uter]

Doubtless there are financial reasons why they've chosen this.

Sorry, chosen what?

 

[hart's shirt]

Sorry, chosen what?

Chosen Crawley for the location of the Palace game.

 

[Justice]

Chosen Crawley for the location of the Palace game.

It needs organising in Germany the Ultras rock up at the women’s game with their rivals. Could be a fun afternoon out if both sets arranged it properly.

 

[Machiavelli]

I guess the question is how to encourage some of those into the ground to support the girls.

Part of it is about giving it just one chance. The last one I went to was that Charlton game which was heavily promoted. I'm keen to go again but, as I live in Brighton, the Crawley expedition might put me off. I will give it a go though.
What I'm basically trying to say, is give them a chance. In doing so, a decent proportion will get the bug.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

If you don't think BHA players Fran Kirby or Nikita Parris are 'famous faces' @hart's shirt then you're showing your ignorance of the women's game imho.

 

[hart's shirt]

If you don't think BHA players Fran Kirby or Nikita Parris are 'famous faces' @hart's shirt then you're showing your ignorance of the women's game imho.

I was talking about the lack of famous faces / names in the Palace Women's team that would attract fans, not Albion Women.

Of course Albion have some well known players in Parris and Kirby, as do Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City/Utd. Palace don't, so there's no draw there.

(But I've reread what I wrote last night and can see where the misunderstanding could've come from. That's on me, so apologies for the poor phrasing.)

"Would thousands of new Albion supporting families turn up on the basis that it was Crystal Palace despite them not having any famous faces to watch / ask for a shirt / have a selfie with?"

 

[Seaview Seagull]

That would be biggest rivals in the men's game. With the WSL in its comparative infancy and Palace in their first season in it, there's isn't one...yet.

Now I'll happily concede that there might be one in the future, but these things can take a bit of time and aren't immediately manufactured. I appreciate the counter to that might be 'well, let's start now', but with 502 fans at home, there aren't actually that many of Palace to authentically generate a rivalry with at the moment. But that's their problem, not ours.

As for why bother moving any matches, I'd imagine on financial terms alone, the ones to move would be ideally ones which would generate the biggest attendances due to well-known international players in the opposition, and secondly a decent away following. Arsenal, Man City, Man United and Chelsea would fall into those categories on Lionesses alone. Would thousands of new Albion supporting families turn up on the basis that it was Crystal Palace despite them not having any famous faces to watch / ask for a shirt / have a selfie with? Hmmm.

As you say, we may have to agree to disagree for now at least on the location, but let's hope that a potential rivalry develops if Palace can stay up despite having the WSL's worst GD. As someone who instinctively wants any Palace team relegated regardless, part of me hopes it might take a bit longer than expected!

You can't simplify manufacture a rivalry that isn't there. Just because we see CP as main rivals in men's game it doesn't follow that this will translate to the women's game where the culture is quite different. The women's game should not and does not need to be some kind of pale imitation of the men's game either on or off the pitch.