Lowest ever attendance SMS

[SaintDan]

Simples solution, give all season ticket holders R1 Carling Cup for free. For what they would sell in Merchandise, programmes, beverages etc they would make up for in loss of ticket sales. I know it would cost more in staffing/policing etc but building a little bit of goodwill/PR with the fans would encourage potentially more season ticket sales ie buy a season ticket and get 24 games. Plus it would encourage more fans to buy tickets for Round 2 therefore giving us a better chance to progress further in the competition.

 

I know people regard the Carling Cup as a lessor cup but could we really say that anyone didnt enjoy their day out at Wembley March 2010. Thats not me saying we would get to Wembley but a good cup run boosts morale and last night's result has meant we are now on a winning streak of 8 games!

[saintjay77]

With the utmost respect to you and your family members, anyone who decided not to go to Southampton v Torquay becasue they were worried about riots is an absolute cretin, it's not f****g Hackney.

 

Depending on the circumstances I think its a valid reason not to go. In my case My old man is in his 60's and would of been in charge of 3 kids who are a boy who is 8 and 2 girls who are 10 and 13. Going on what he had heard he made a decission that he thought was best for the kids. It wasnt a big game or anything so it wasnt a difficult decission and the rumours just about tipped the decission. Had the kids not been there I am pretty sure he wouldnt of gone anyway as he tends to stay away from early rounds of cup matches.

 

Had it been a later round and the kids not there and these rumours were about and with the problems in other city's I am sure he would of gone anyway. Just in this case there were too many variables that added up to it not being worth it.

 

I wonder how many people would of half thought about going but were on the fence due to price, oposition and so on? Only to start hearing rumours about trouble when they were un-sure already. I doubt there are many if any at all that were dead cert to go but changed there minds in case of trouble. If there are any in that bracket then I agree with your discription of them.

[The9]

What ticket tax is that?

 

Paid when I got there and and it was £14 like it said on the tin. £14 to watch 4 saints goals, decent price to me.

 

Yes, I heard there was no tax yesterday as well. I'm shocked, does this signal a u-turn from Cortese ? No, of course it doesn't. They just knew £14 was putting people off already.

 

I didn't go, first Saints home game I've been able to attend that I haven't bothered with since about 2004. I should point out that I've already seen our reserves play a couple of times in pre-season and Torquay at St Mary's in a poxy cup in the last 2 years. The extreme unlikelihood of any rioting from some bellends had absolutely no bearing on my decision whatsoever. Plus I had a match of my own to play in. Scored a screamer too.

[The9]

Simples solution, give all season ticket holders R1 Carling Cup for free. For what they would sell in Merchandise, programmes, beverages etc they would make up for in loss of ticket sales. I know it would cost more in staffing/policing etc but building a little bit of goodwill/PR with the fans would encourage potentially more season ticket sales ie buy a season ticket and get 24 games. Plus it would encourage more fans to buy tickets for Round 2 therefore giving us a better chance to progress further in the competition.

 

I know people regard the Carling Cup as a lessor cup but could we really say that anyone didnt enjoy their day out at Wembley March 2010. Thats not me saying we would get to Wembley but a good cup run boosts morale and last night's result has meant we are now on a winning streak of 8 games!

 

Doesn't really work if we get drawn away (though that is a remarkably remote possibility based on our last 14 cup draws).

[beatlesaint]

Simples solution, give all season ticket holders R1 Carling Cup for free. For what they would sell in Merchandise, programmes, beverages etc they would make up for in loss of ticket sales. I know it would cost more in staffing/policing etc but building a little bit of goodwill/PR with the fans would encourage potentially more season ticket sales ie buy a season ticket and get 24 games. Plus it would encourage more fans to buy tickets for Round 2 therefore giving us a better chance to progress further in the competition.

 

Its a good thought but the away team has a say in ticket prices for these games. Saints may well have wanted to pitch the prices lower but Torquay probably didnt. I dont think they would have been very pleased to have seen say 18000 in the ground and only taken home £75 in gate receipts

[Jez]

Honest question: haven't they got a youth setup they could use to boost the squad in a situation like this? If so, then Cotterill's moaning is just ridiculous...

 

They certainly did last season, as I live in Portsmouth (sadface) and use Fitness First in Fratton. Literally opposite the stadium. On the odd days off I had midweek, or sometimes weekends (I think) I used to see around a dozen or so of the youth team working out in the gym, all in Pompey training gear. Presume they still "exist" as a youth team this season too, but they did look very young, and not sure I'd want them filling up my bench if I was a Championship manager. Still, needs must and all that.

 

I'm still laughing too by the way. 6 million. Blimey.

[Sour Mash]

Its a good thought but the away team has a say in ticket prices for these games. Saints may well have wanted to pitch the prices lower but Torquay probably didnt. I dont think they would have been very pleased to have seen say 18000 in the ground and only taken home £75 in gate receipts

 

That makes no difference. A lot of the big Prem teams (pretty sure Spurs and Arsenal) include first couple of cup games in the price of their season ticket, so away fans have no say. Not saying I'd agree with doing it though, I want my season ticket to just be for league games and I'll make my own decision on the early cup rounds, they should have probably knocked a couple of quid off the £14 and they would have got a few more in, but it's not that bad a crowd and a good reminder to the our board and others around the country that fans only have a finite amount to spend on football and it isn't a never ending cash cow.

Edited 10 August, 2011 by Sour Mash

[The9]

fans only have an infinite amount to spend on football

 

Typo, we wish !

[Mattio]

That makes no difference. A lot of the big Prem teams (pretty sure Spurs and Arsenal) include first couple of cup games in the price of their season ticket, so away fans have no say. Not saying I'd agree with doing it though, I want my season ticket to just be for league games and I'll make my own decision on the early cup rounds, they should have probably knocked a couple of quid off the £14 and they would have got a few more in, but it's not that bad a crowd and a good reminder to the our board and others around the country that fans only have an infinite amount to spend on football and isn't a never ending cash cow.

*finite

[dune]

So you're expecting riots in Southampton? The main reason for the low attendance is money.

 

This. The lower the attendances the better IMHO. Football is too expensive (especially with booking taxes/stadium taxes/parking taxes added on) and low demand is the only way we're going to see a re-adjustment.

[saintjay77]

This. The lower the attendances the better IMHO. Football is too expensive (especially with booking taxes/stadium taxes/parking taxes added on) and low demand is the only way we're going to see a re-adjustment.

 

Christ on a bike I have agreed with Turkish today and now find myself ageeing with you!!!! You 2 had you back doors smashed in by the london rioters and now chosen an outlook that is more agreable or something?

[PhilippineSaint]

Christ on a bike I have agreed with Turkish today and now find myself ageeing with you!!!! You 2 had you back doors smashed in by the london rioters and now chosen an outlook that is more agreable or something?

 

It appears that the saints forum main members are approaching maturity or middle age whichever came first maybe this might bring some sensibility to the place for a season or two but dont count on it.

[The Kraken]

That makes no difference. A lot of the big Prem teams (pretty sure Spurs and Arsenal) include first couple of cup games in the price of their season ticket, so away fans have no say.

 

You sure about that? So how does that work if Arsenal/Spurs get drawn away in the cup and only get an allocation of 3,000? They can't give every ST holder a ticket.

[This Charming Man]

You sure about that? So how does that work if Arsenal/Spurs get drawn away in the cup and only get an allocation of 3,000? They can't give every ST holder a ticket.

 

Obviously that only applies if they get drawn at home.

 

Though they say the games are free, but the cost would've been incorporated in the price of the ST already. There is no way Levy would give something back to the Spurs fans. This is after all the club that is charging £550 for it's official train/coach package to Edinburgh for the Hearts game.

[The Kraken]

Obviously that only applies if they get drawn at home.

 

Though they say the games are free, but the cost would've been incorporated in the price of the ST already. There is no way Levy would give something back to the Spurs fans. This is after all the club that is charging £550 for it's official train/coach package to Edinburgh for the Hearts game.

 

If that's the case, I'd definitely rather not have that "incentive". You're effectively paying for a ticket (if you want to or not) for a game that may or may not actually take place.

 

I'm still sure the away team must have input into the pricing; I remember either last year or the year before where the club wanted to cut prices but couldn't because of away team input. In fact, didn't SFC p!ss of someone like Shrewsbury through such an arrangement and then we slagged them off about it on the OS?

 

EDIT: Here's the link to the article:

 

http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2010/10/28/fa-steps-in-over-shrewsbury-v-southampton-ticket-prices/

 

SFC wanted to charge £10, away team wanted to charge full price, FA mediated a compromise.

Edited 10 August, 2011 by The Kraken

[Whitey Grandad]

You sure about that? So how does that work if Arsenal/Spurs get drawn away in the cup and only get an allocation of 3,000? They can't give every ST holder a ticket.

 

It does happen, apparently:

http://www.cpfc.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-220246.html

 

I think some (Arsenal, Tottenham? )include a certain number of games, Man Utd will charge you for the game whether or not you actually go to it, I saw one reference to the effect that Arsenal include Champion's League games in their ticket price (not that they always qualify for it).

 

I know that the FA Cup regulations about sharingthe gate money take into account the situation where a cup game has been included in the cost of a season ticket.

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Season-ticket-price-outrage-Premier-League-fans-in-revolt-over-massive-hikes-article738885.html

[ericofarabia]

.

 

I know people regard the Carling Cup as a lessor cup but could we really say that anyone didnt enjoy their day out at Wembley March 2010. Thats not me saying we would get to Wembley but a good cup run boosts morale and last night's result has meant we are now on a winning streak of 8 games!

 

It could be our next step towards a place in Europe FFS. Spanking Arsenal (inc Oxo) reserves 4 - 0 at wembley would be quite acceptable thank you very much!!

[Jonnyboy]

I "laughed out loud"

[bender]

who remembers those shrewsbury bell ends last season wanting to charge full price just so they get more cash.

[Mattio]

It was 6th biggest out of every game, not bad for a game Vs Torquay with stupid prices... (Brighton had a higher attendance but only because the new ground I assume)

 

Nottingham Forest 3-3 Notts County (Nottingham Forest win 4-3 on penalties)

Att: 21,605

 

Leeds United 3-2 Bradford City

Att: 17,667

Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 Gillingham

Att: 16,295

 

Ipswich Town 1-2 Northampton Town

Att: 9,401

 

Derby County 2-3 Shrewsbury Town

Att: 7,073

Southampton 4-1 Torquay United

Att: 6,541

 

Preston North End 3-2 Crewe Alexandra

Att: 5,401

 

Southend United 1-1 Leyton Orient (Leyton Orient win 4-3 on penalties)

Att: 4,847

 

Hull City 0-2 Macclesfield Town

Att: 4,826

 

Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Millwall

Att: 4,781

 

Portsmouth 0-1 Barnet

Att: 4,464

 

Doncaster Rovers 3-0 Tranmere Rovers

Att: 4,339

 

Barnsley 0-2 Morecambe

Att: 4,331

 

Burnley 6-3 Burton Albion (AET)

Att: 4,069

 

Exeter City 2-0 Yeovil Town

Att: 3,856

 

Rotherham United 1-4 Leicester City

Att: 3,717

 

Bournemouth 5-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Att: 3,681

 

Walsall 0-3 Middlesbrough

Att: 3,564

 

Port Vale 2-4 Huddersfield Town

Att: 3,014

 

Bury 3-1 Coventry City

Att: 2,997

 

Hartlepool United 1-1 Sheffield United (Sheffield United win 4-3 on penalties)

Att: 2,774

 

Stevenage Borough 3-4 Peterborough United (AET)

Att: 2,414

 

Oldham Athletica 1-1 Carlisle United (Carlisle United win 4-2 on penalties)

Att: 1,786

 

Hereford United 1-0 Brentford

Att: 1,767

 

Rochdale 3-2 Chesterfield (AET)

Att: 1,718

 

Cheltenham Town 1-4 Milton Keynes Dons

Att: 1,625

 

Wycombe Wanderers 3-3 Colchester United (Wycombe win 5-4 on penalties)

Att: 1,430

 

Accrington Stanley 0-2 S****horpe United

Att: 1,356

[SaintBobby]

The idea of starting the Carling Cup a few days before the league season is a really good one, IMHO.

 

I reckon attendance would have been much, much higher if the game had been played a week or ten days beforehand.

 

Just treat it as a pre-season friendly, with an actual competitive element.

 

I'm not prone to complaining about ticket prices, I think Saints get the pricing right most of the time. But £14 does seem on the high side. Wasn't the JPT game vs Torquay about a fiver or something?

 

One query: does anyone know how much the club makes (in profit) from the average supporter in terms of programme sales, merchandise, beer, pies etc? My guess would be about a couple of quid.

[ericofarabia]

The idea of starting the Carling Cup a few days before the league season is a really good one, IMHO.

 

I reckon attendance would have been much, much higher if the game had been played a week or ten days beforehand.

 

Just treat it as a pre-season friendly, with an actual competitive element.

I'm not prone to complaining about ticket prices, I think Saints get the pricing right most of the time. But £14 does seem on the high side. Wasn't the JPT game vs Torquay about a fiver or something?

 

One query: does anyone know how much the club makes (in profit) from the average supporter in terms of programme sales, merchandise, beer, pies etc? My guess would be about a couple of quid.

 

Which somewhat defeats the whole object of pre season build ups!!

 

Or should we start the pre season bulid up even earlier so that we are ready for a "competetive" match 10 days before the season actually starts?

 

A better idea would be to delay the 1st round till a couple of weeks into the season when, all the summer holidays are over and done, the new shirts & season ticket costs have been absorbed, and hopefully given a good start people will have more of an appetite for going to games again having shaken off the close sesaon malaise.

[Hedgehog]

These games would become part of the pre season build up, not instead of.

Lets face it even if the game against an unfashionable team was played 2 weeks in to the season, i still feel no more people would attend such a game at that price, as you would already be into playing games midweek and saturday as part of the more important league games. Then the next round once the so called bigger teams are included would probably attract more people.