Will the fans turn up at Falmer?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Historically we are a fair bit bigger than the readings etc etc yet people blab on as if we seriously struggle to get 12-13k etc:US:

In 'Sussex' we are drawing on a 1.3m catchment area and even if you wipe out half of that as being non-football fans and another half of that half being Premiershit glory hunting wankers we're still drawing on a pool of 300,000+ people. There are VERY few clubs in this country who can make that claim. sir albion we salute you. In the Premiership currently we have the potential to wipe the floor with the Hulls, Burnleys, Wigans, Boltons, not to mention the Readings, Norwichs, Ipswichs etc. You've also got to factor in the fact that the higher you go up the leagues the more away fans you will get, both in the away area and in the home stands if the away is sold out.

As Brovian says (or almost says!) there will be 22,500 threads on this by the time we get to Flamer.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

That's a lot of things to get right, but not impossible. However, history doesn't really support crowds of that size. Our best average attendance in the last 25 years was 1983/84, 12,286 and that was the first year after the FA cup final and our return to the old 2nd division. After promotion from the 3rd division in in 1988, the average home attendance back in the 2nd division was just 9,039 for 1988/89! For the play off final year of 90/91, the average was just 8,386!

It's all 'relative' though, hooliganism in the 1980s and general apathy with football put people off - you look at Arsenal's attendances, they had 18,000 (18,000!!) for some home top division games at Highbury at that time. Football is a different animal these days and I don't think you can make comparisons with 20/25/30 years ago. Get the branding right (something I don't think the club do very well at all) and get the youngsters in etc. etc. and we'll be rolling. Have faith.

 

[Simster]

I'm with, sir albion. The only thing that will prevent this club from averaging over 20k for a team in the top two divisions is crass incompetence behind the scenes. And to be honest, Albion don't do crass incompetence these days.

OK, I'm not impressed with the marketing department at times (and our gates are mediocre) but I don't think the tools they have to work with are very good.

 

[Simster]

It's all 'relative' though, hooliganism in the 1980s and general apathy with football put people off - you look at Arsenal's attendances, they had 18,000 (18,000!!) for some home top division games at Highbury at that time. Football is a different animal these days and I don't think you can make comparisons with 20/25/30 years ago. Get the branding right (something I don't think the club do very well at all) and get the youngsters in etc. etc. and we'll be rolling. Have faith.

Spot on. I remember there was one week in the 1980s where Arsenal got 17,000, then Tottingham Hotsbridge got just 13,000!!

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

In 'Sussex' we are drawing on a 1.3m catchment area and even if you wipe out half of that as being non-football fans and another half of that half being Premiershit glory hunting wankers we're still drawing on a pool of 300,000+ people. There are VERY few clubs in this country who can make that claim. sir albion we salute you. In the Premiership currently we have the potential to wipe the floor with the Hulls, Burnleys, Wigans, Boltons, not to mention the Readings, Norwichs, Ipswichs etc. You've also got to factor in the fact that the higher you go up the leagues the more away fans you will get, both in the away area and in the home stands if the away is sold out.

As Brovian says (or almost says!) there will be 22,500 threads on this by the time we get to Flamer.

True, but I wonder how many of those 300,000 have league clubs closer to them than Brighton.

Brighton has one huge problem when it comes to fans, half of its catchment area is in the sea.

Thats one of the reasosns why I think even if you were playing the same level of football I think Reading would get more support. They are based in one of the densest population areas whereas Brighton isn't.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

And while I'm here, a stat that shocked me

2009/10 average attendance (soccernet)

Luton Town 6838
Brighton 6267

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Brighton has one huge problem when it comes to fans, half of its catchment area is in the sea.

Thats one of the reasosns why I think even if you were playing the same level of football I think Reading would get more support. They are based in one of the densest population areas whereas Brighton isn't.

One thing the club has got right with Falmer is special discounted seating and transport to the from the sea for starfish, cuttlefish, mackerel, cod (if there are any left in the English Channel) and jelly fish, although any away creatures found in the home stands will be served up at half time.

Hatter, you post some good stuff on here, but I couldn't disagree more about your Reading post. How many are they getting at home since they dropped out of the Premiership? They used to draw under 5k to Elm Park.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

One thing the club has got right with Falmer is special discounted seating and transport to the from the sea for starfish, cuttlefish, mackerel, cod (if there are any left in the English Channel) and jelly fish, although any away creatures found in the home stands will be served up at half time.

Hatter, you post some good stuff on here, but I couldn't disagree more about your Reading post. How many are they getting at home since they dropped out of the Premiership? They used to draw under 5k to Elm Park.

17,211

The thing is though that they've changed as a club. A long period of sustained investment and lots more interest from families and other in their areas.

Not saying that Brighton can't have that sort of change but you are always going to have a problem with half your catchment in the english channel.

 

[pork pie]

17,211

The thing is though that they've changed as a club. A long period of sustained investment and lots more interest from families and other in their areas.

Not saying that Brighton can't have that sort of change but you are always going to have a problem with half your catchment in the english channel.

Yes, but at least most of those in our catchment area are English and interested in football - well, maybe not the fish?

 

[Hunting 784561]

17,211

The thing is though that they've changed as a club. A long period of sustained investment and lots more interest from families and other in their areas.

Not saying that Brighton can't have that sort of change but you are always going to have a problem with half your catchment in the english channel.

What a load of crap - no offence.

Using that argument how do Liverpool do so well if half of their catchment area is under the Irish Sea ?

Its about a) population, and b) What % of that population are interested in going to football matches.

Brighton was always a bigger club than Reading, until the Madjeski was built, and we will be once again when the new stadium is up and running.

 

[Garage_Doors]

And once again I predict that not having pay on the gate will have a hugely negative affect on the attendances -it's ridiculous...

You do realise that the club has no control over this issue and is not one taken by them ?

Is was made as a condition for the stadium being built, in fact applies to all new stadia.

 

[teaboy]

Falmer WILL NOT BE FULL EVERY WEEK. We'll get good crowds(15k-18k), but there should always be a few empty seats for League games that will sell out for 'big' matches. If the club thought they'd sell 22k EVERY game, they'd build a stadium to hold 30k.

 

[Notters]

Falmer WILL NOT BE FULL EVERY WEEK. We'll get good crowds(15k-18k), but there should always be a few empty seats for League games that will sell out for 'big' matches. If the club thought they'd sell 22k EVERY game, they'd build a stadium to hold 30k.

Has anyone said it will be?

 

[Sheebo]

The only thing that would stop you going to Falmer is your dog's diet.

I mean, you made it to Villa didn't you?

Yes and had the mis-frtune of seeng you

No mate u miss my point - i dont mean me - i will of course attend as much as pos - i mean for example if my football on sat is called off and albion are at home at falmer it is more awkward to pre-buy tickets, do it o someones card or whatever and then sortthe money out - ould be uch easier to payon gae - ie- people wh make a ast min decision..

 

[Sheebo]

You do realise that the club has no control over this issue and is not one taken by them ?

Is was made as a condition for the stadium being built, in fact applies to all new stadia.

No didn't realise bud - fair point

 

[beorhthelm]

And once again I predict that not having pay on the gate will have a hugely negative affect on the attendances -it's ridiculous...

and once again, it depends on how the alternative is deployed. the majority of people in the the Brighton and Hove, and wider catchment area, are going to travel in via Brighton Station and 100% will have mobile phones. if tickets are available on the day at the shop, at the station or by texting to charge up some smart card, it will work out just fine.

 

[algie]

True, but I wonder how many of those 300,000 have league clubs closer to them than Brighton.

Brighton has one huge problem when it comes to fans, half of its catchment area is in the sea.

Thats one of the reasosns why I think even if you were playing the same level of football I think Reading would get more support. They are based in one of the densest population areas whereas Brighton isn't.

Your contribution to this thread is nothing but dog shit.First of all Brighton does have a huge fan base and that is a fact.Secondly it has nothing to do with density in our case.Our fan base is spread right out across the whole of sussex and for a league 1 club we also have huge support from outside of the sussex area.If we had the same sort of sucess as what Reading has had recently we would piss over there gates with ease.If Falmer held 35000 and we were playing the Chelsea's,Spurs,the Liverpool's etc the ground would sell out with ease.
As for Luton there fan base will never chanage due to the area.You will always have a small fan base even with population growth.Your club doesn't have any potential growth due to catchment area.
Our shit home gates has no bearing on the size of our club.Infact with the Jonny come lately fans as well we could knock on the 40k mark for a top premiership clash.I have no doubts about that.

 

[Austrian Gull]

In 'Sussex' we are drawing on a 1.3m catchment area and even if you wipe out half of that as being non-football fans and another half of that half being Premiershit glory hunting wankers we're still drawing on a pool of 300,000+ people. There are VERY few clubs in this country who can make that claim. sir albion we salute you. In the Premiership currently we have the potential to wipe the floor with the Hulls, Burnleys, Wigans, Boltons, not to mention the Readings, Norwichs, Ipswichs etc. You've also got to factor in the fact that the higher you go up the leagues the more away fans you will get, both in the away area and in the home stands if the away is sold out.

As Brovian says (or almost says!) there will be 22,500 threads on this by the time we get to Flamer.

I agree with most of this post but I think you're underestimating the size of the support of Ipswich and Norwich - in spite of recent bad times, both these clubs continue to attract excellent crowds.

I would say if Albion can keep up with those two re attendances at Falmer, we'll be doing well.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Your contribution to this thread is nothing but dog shit.First of all Brighton does have a huge fan base and that is a fact.Secondly it has nothing to do with density in our case.Our fan base is spread right out across the whole of sussex and for a league 1 club we also have huge support from outside of the sussex area.If we had the same sort of sucess as what Reading has had recently we would piss over there gates with ease.If Falmer held 35000 and we were playing the Chelsea's,Spurs,the Liverpool's etc the ground would sell out with ease.
As for Luton there fan base will never chanage due to the area.You will always have a small fan base even with population growth.Your club doesn't have any potential growth due to catchment area.
Our shit home gates has no bearing on the size of our club.Infact with the Jonny come lately fans as well we could knock on the 40k mark for a top premiership clash.I have no doubts about that.

LOL But we're a bigger club than you! Major trophies? Seasons in the top flight? We even get bigger attendances than you despite being in the conference, in a worse stadium than Withdean.

But you're right, we might well be in trouble unless we can get back in the league quickly and get a decent stadium. We're probably losing potential fans to MK Dons and the more years they are above us the better than chace that we won't be able to get them back.

Anyway all this bigger club nonsense is silly. Apart maybe from about 10 clubs all of them have periods where they are doing shit (weren't Man City in league two about 7 years ago?) and then periods when they are doing better. Inevitably though, lots of fans will consider that the clubs rightful place is far closer to the top of that achievement rather than the bottom.

 

[algie]

LOL But we're a bigger club than you! Major trophies? Seasons in the top flight? We even get bigger attendances than you despite being in the conference, in a worse stadium than Withdean.

But you're right, we might well be in trouble unless we can get back in the league quickly and get a decent stadium. We're probably losing potential fans to MK Dons and the more years they are above us the better than chace that we won't be able to get them back.

Anyway all this bigger club nonsense is silly. Apart maybe from about 10 clubs all of them have periods where they are doing shit (weren't Man City in league two about 7 years ago?) and then periods when they are doing better. Inevitably though, lots of fans will consider that the clubs rightful place is far closer to the top of that achievement rather than the bottom.

You don't get it do you? Have i once mentioned success on the field? I'm talking about fan base please read my post more carefully.As for you saying you have a worse ground then us LOL.Why do i bother?
We have a bigger fan base then you regardless of the current situation.Matter closed.