Our Future? Stadium Expansion Proposal on Season Ticket DVD

[up and away]

The reason fans spend so much attending games is twofold. The atmosphere, experience and the group event of being a fan and the quality experience not evident on TV. This quality factor in the Premier is what brings in the post sitters and JCL's, thousands of them. I clearly remember the breath taking effect of a Henry Arsenal side putting us to the sword at St Mary's. Deflated on the walk home but just could not shake off the skill I had witnessed to still bring a buzz about the whole weekend. Elevated to seventh heaven when we actually get a result against these teams and the communal fan experience sets you above all.

 

The quality of the Premier league experience live compared to TV is such it will draw in many thousand of additional ticket sales, the product differential is that good. It's one thing seeing something special on TV but totally another when you are shaking your head asking those next to you what happened there! The larger the catchment area you have the greater the opportunity to pick up casual or hardcore fans. Once you have the product it's getting them along for the first time which will give repeat customers.

[colehillsaint]

Two points. Ten games into the season I expect ten sell outs. Everyone does. Won't mean a great deal unless we have, prior to that, smashed our season ticket record.

 

And this stuff about "my neighbour in dorset" is just irrelevent. Any club of similar size can easily say the same thing. I know someone from Oakham in Leicestershire: Villa ST holder. Long old trip. So what. All clubs have fans in a wider vicinity. What it isn't is a great unlocker for significant growth.

 

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

 

I agree but what I mean about the 10 games in is that unless it is really hard for lots of people to get a ticket, it would be silly to have any urgent expansion plans. Of course the season tickets will reveal a lot, but 10 games might or might not draw out some more casual support.

 

The thing about my neighbours is pointing out that it does effect your perspective on the debate. Although if someone promises another tier on the Chapel, we may consider forcing the old lady at No 2 to come.

 

God help me if I get dragged further into this with 100 posts in 7 years. ;-)

[AussieDog]

I haven't read all 600 odd posts so apologies if this has been mentioned - but if we are going to expand the ground wouldn't we just do one stand at a time and spread the cost/ ground increase over a number of years, depending on whether or not we fill the increased capacity?

[Frank's cousin]

18,000 or so avg attendance in our champ relegation season, so your hardcore is a bit off.

 

Didn't read the rest. Unquestionably tedious rambling around sixteen points of the debate with no actual point made. Am I right?

 

Of course you must be right... you always are in your small ignorant mind - you really are a prize arrogant patronising tosser. I just laugh at your stupidity in bothering to waste your precious time responding without even bothering to read a post - suggesting you have a rather unhealthy (probably you see as humerous in your sad pathetic little life) obsession with trying to belittle others opinions, rather than joining a debate in a constructive fashion... laughable.

[View From The Top]

18,000 or so avg attendance in our champ relegation season, so your hardcore is a bit off.

 

Not really representative IMHO due to the Lowe issue.

 

22k hardcore I'd suggest is a pretty good estimate.

[CB Fry]

Not really representative IMHO due to the Lowe issue.

 

22k hardcore I'd suggest is a pretty good estimate.

 

 

 

Disagree. Next time we're on hard times they'll be someone to blame be it chairman or manager. Its what happens when you're rubbish. People find a reason not to go.

 

18k hardcore. I'm not one of them by the way so no posturing here.

[View From The Top]

Disagree. Next time we're on hard times they'll be someone to blame be it chairman or manager. Its what happens when you're rubbish. People find a reason not to go.

 

18k hardcore. I'm not one of them by the way so no posturing here.

 

It's not a case of blaming anyone, it's a simple fact. Average gates went up as soon as he went, even though we were going down!

 

Plenty stayed away, including myself and the other 6 season tickets holders I go with.

 

Even when we started in L1 on -10 our gates were up on the pre-Lowe departure average.

 

The recent success & sensible has brought in a new generation of fans which will help us grow. It is certainly noticeable at away games.

[Half Full]

Build it and they will come..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The team, that is!

[Turkish]

I love the way people use out 50k or so at the JPT final as some sort of bench mark to our massiveness. Millwall and Luton have also both taken similar sized numbers to wembley in recent years. Don't see their fans demanding bigger stadiums and champions league football.

[aintforever]

Internet Troll - Definition

 

Troll-

 

Internet poster who takes oppositional views to any advocacy site, regardless of the actual strength of his chosen position, for the pure purpose of stirring up debates, generating anonymously, and triggering hatred.

 

Goal of Trolling- The feelings of superiority and laughs that come from generating hatred, bad feeling, or confusion on the target of trolling, and attention generated from getting targets to respond.

 

Tools of Trolling-

 

1. Ad hominem insults of posters mental status, looks, intellect, or typing skills.

 

2. Disregard of any fact that does not back the troll's advocacy position, and excessive focus of any debunker information, regardless of the motives of the debunker.

 

3. Endless verbosity when arguing any position, regardless of logic or reasoning or actual facts, but a lot of use of "facts" discussed generally, but never quoted or sourced. Example- Thousands of scientists say I am right.

 

Payoff of trolling-

 

1. Making other people feel bad, without the risk of getting one's face punched in, for being rude, cruel, or socially uncaring.

 

2. Bullying without the mess and fuss and muss of actually answering for bad behavior.

[stev2001]

Internet Troll - Definition

 

Troll-

 

Internet poster who takes oppositional views to any advocacy site, regardless of the actual strength of his chosen position, for the pure purpose of stirring up debates, generating anonymously, and triggering hatred.

 

Goal of Trolling- The feelings of superiority and laughs that come from generating hatred, bad feeling, or confusion on the target of trolling, and attention generated from getting targets to respond.

 

Tools of Trolling-

 

1. Ad hominem insults of posters mental status, looks, intellect, or typing skills.

 

2. Disregard of any fact that does not back the troll's advocacy position, and excessive focus of any debunker information, regardless of the motives of the debunker.

 

3. Endless verbosity when arguing any position, regardless of logic or reasoning or actual facts, but a lot of use of "facts" discussed generally, but never quoted or sourced. Example- Thousands of scientists say I am right.

 

Payoff of trolling-

 

1. Making other people feel bad, without the risk of getting one's face punched in, for being rude, cruel, or socially uncaring.

 

2. Bullying without the mess and fuss and muss of actually answering for bad behavior.

 

You got that definition totally wrong you idiot.

[VectisSaint]

I love the way people use out 50k or so at the JPT final as some sort of bench mark to our massiveness. Millwall and Luton have also both taken similar sized numbers to wembley in recent years. Don't see their fans demanding bigger stadiums and champions league football.

Millwall 40k, Luton 30k. Difference is we could have taken many many more but were not allowed.

[IFHP]

I love the way people use out 50k or so at the JPT final as some sort of bench mark to our massiveness. Millwall and Luton have also both taken similar sized numbers to wembley in recent years. Don't see their fans demanding bigger stadiums and champions league football.

 

It makes me laugh when some go o about taking 50,000 to the paint pot. I know of a Palace (and he goes to see them 10/15 times a season) and a QPR fan who both went just for the crack. And then there were the 4 teenage “fans” sat in front who were on their mobile phones the whole game.

[stev2001]

It makes me laugh when some go o about taking 50,000 to the paint pot. I know of a Palace (and he goes to see them 10/15 times a season) and a QPR fan who both went just for the crack. And then there were the 4 teenage “fans” sat in front who were on their mobile phones the whole game.

And I know a load of people who couldn't go because they couldn't get tickets?

[Torrent Of Abuse]

It makes me laugh when some go o about taking 50,000 to the paint pot. I know of a Palace (and he goes to see them 10/15 times a season) and a QPR fan who both went just for the crack. And then there were the 4 teenage “fans” sat in front who were on their mobile phones the whole game.

Can't have happened. CB Fry has told us that the number of impartial people go just turn up to watch a game of football is minimal. That was the paint pot cup. If CB Fry tells us that people won't turn up in numbers to see a Premier League game then they wouldn't turn up for a Paint Pot trophy game. Case Closed.

[Torrent Of Abuse]

I love the way people use out 50k or so at the JPT final as some sort of bench mark to our massiveness. Millwall and Luton have also both taken similar sized numbers to wembley in recent years. Don't see their fans demanding bigger stadiums and champions league football.

I like the way you only like to take the most outlandish part of an discussion and argue that. No-one on this thread is demanding anything let alone Champions League football. Try arguing one of the more reasonable points or find another thread but don't argue with points no-one on the thread has made.

 

Do you think we will ever need a larger ground? If so, when roughly? How much bigger? I guess you're not opposed to the idea of the club growing as such just when. Or maybe you don't think we can grow? Surely if the club does not grow with its current owners, it never will? It's really easy to fling hyperbole around but how about you stun us by staying on topic and giving us an idea of what you DO believe instead of banging on about what you don't?

[stev2001]

I like the way you only like to take the most outlandish part of an discussion and argue that. No-one on this thread is demanding anything let alone Champions League football. Try arguing one of the more reasonable points or find another thread but don't argue with points no-one on the thread has made.

 

Do you think we will ever need a larger ground? If so, when roughly? How much bigger? I guess you're not opposed to the idea of the club growing as such just when. Or maybe you don't think we can grow? Surely if the club does not grow with its current owners, it never will? It's really easy to fling hyperbole around but how about you stun us by staying on topic and giving us an idea of what you DO believe instead of banging on about what you don't?

 

Well said.

[CB Fry]

Can't have happened. CB Fry has told us that the number of impartial people go just turn up to watch a game of football is minimal. That was the paint pot cup. If CB Fry tells us that people won't turn up in numbers to see a Premier League game then they wouldn't turn up for a Paint Pot trophy game. Case Closed.

 

 

 

What are you grizzling about?

 

I know at least four people who went to Wembley who had never been to, and will never go again, to a Saints match.

 

Also, all I said earlier was that your sprawling list of people that used to go to SMS and then didnt but now might do again will be accounted for in our move from 25/6/7k gates to 32k gates. Those people are not a reason to spend millions on new seating.

 

Saints v West Brom at 3pm in November 2015 is not a jolly day out in Wembley in the sun. You do understand don't you? Yes?

[Saint86]

Trying to argue with the fingers in ears few on here is pointless. Saints will be near capacity for their attendance this season, the fact that their are plans afoot for expansion from a guy who knows what he is doing (sorry turkish thats not you, that is Nicola x) ends the debate in my view. The club is going places, they have more fans than those living in the past will credit, and spouting facts at you which back this up draws nothing but dismissive responses with no factual evidence. Frankly i disagree with the negative few of you, but thats fine, free speech and all that. Put simply, I am right, Turkish is wrong Happy days! Catchment area > 1.6million xxx

[Wes Tender]

It's not a case of blaming anyone, it's a simple fact. Average gates went up as soon as he went, even though we were going down!

 

Plenty stayed away, including myself and the other 6 season tickets holders I go with.

 

Even when we started in L1 on -10 our gates were up on the pre-Lowe departure average.

 

The recent success & sensible has brought in a new generation of fans which will help us grow. It is certainly noticeable at away games.

 

I also stayed away because of Lowe that last season. But it doesn't matter how much anecdotal evidence one is able to produce to disparage CB Fry's views. I see it like this:-

 

Rule 1:- CB Fry is always right.

 

Rule 2:- If it appears that CB Fry is not right, refer to rule 1.

[CB Fry]

I also stayed away because of Lowe that last season. But it doesn't matter how much anecdotal evidence one is able to produce to disparage CB Fry's views. I see it like this:-

 

Rule 1:- CB Fry is always right.

 

Rule 2:- If it appears that CB Fry is not right, refer to rule 1.

 

 

 

Oh shut up you dopey old tart.

 

VFTT is a good sensible balanced poster whose opinions I read with interest.

 

Happy to differ on definition of hardcore (I'd say it was go to matches come what may: 16-18,000 did precisely that after all) but really neither here or there.

 

It's nothing like trying to educate a total spanner like you.

[Turkish]

Millwall 40k, Luton 30k. Difference is we could have taken many many more but were not allowed.

 

I think you'll find Millwall took 49,000. Maybe they could have taken more, who knows?

[Turkish]

Trying to argue with the fingers in ears few on here is pointless. Saints will be near capacity for their attendance this season, the fact that their are plans afoot for expansion from a guy who knows what he is doing (sorry turkish thats not you, that is Nicola x) ends the debate in my view. The club is going places, they have more fans than those living in the past will credit, and spouting facts at you which back this up draws nothing but dismissive responses with no factual evidence. Frankly i disagree with the negative few of you, but thats fine, free speech and all that. Put simply, I am right, Turkish is wrong Happy days! Catchment area > 1.6million xxx

 

 

I love it when people Start going on about factual evidence.

 

There is factual evidence we've never sold new than 32,400 ticket for a home game

There is factual evidence that we've average at least 6,000 below capacity for the last 7 years

There is factual evidence that even on our most successful period in the early 80s we rarely sold out and out highest crowd was well below capacity.

So where is th factual evidence need to expand? Where is the factual evidence that train loads of Pompey fans will be heading was to SMS this season? Where is th factual evidence that causal fans in Basingstoke, Weymouth, Cirencester and Ilfracombe will come to southampton to see premier league football?

[stev2001]

I love it when people Start going on about factual evidence.

 

There is factual evidence we've never sold new than 32,400 ticket for a home game

There is factual evidence that we've average at least 6,000 below capacity for the last 7 years

There is factual evidence that even on our most successful period in the early 80s we rarely sold out and out highest crowd was well below capacity.

So where is th factual evidence need to expand? Where is the factual evidence that train loads of Pompey fans will be heading was to SMS this season? Where is th factual evidence that causal fans in Basingstoke, Weymouth, Cirencester and Ilfracombe will come to southampton to see premier league football?

 

Hence why we are not expanding today.

Come the end of the season if we are still in the Prem and we've sold out most games who knows.

The evidence is the club is now showing ambition to expand by releasing pics of a possible future. I can't recall them doing that before?

[aintforever]

I don't think Leibherr would have brought the club unless he thought it could be developed, and judging by what Cortese has been saying that's what the plans are. Someone of Cortese's calibre wouldn't mess around with pipe dreams.

 

Cortese has spent his career working in the sports departments of swiss banks, there is probably no one better positioned to spot potential business opportunities in football. It's not a case of "build it and they will come", he will look at the stats, the data base, the number of unique visitors to the website etc and he will be able to put those in context of other football/sporting businesses he has worked with.

 

A friend from London gave me a tender document from 2007 that was aimed at flogging the club:

 

SFC then had a database of 'active' supporters of over 140,000 people. 12,800 Season Ticket holders, 13,000 corporate contacts, 9,000 community contacts and over 120,000 general supporters.

 

74% ABC1 with 48% on over 30K pa - PL average 39%

 

10.3 million people within 90 mins drive

 

The proof is always in the pudding - any expansion will obviously depend on demand this season and next. I wouldn't be surprised if Cortese already had a pretty good idea but if we get dicked next season and go straight back down any plans will have to be re-thought out. It doesn't matter how big the potential is if we are not in the Prem.

[Saint J 77]

I love the way people use out 50k or so at the JPT final as some sort of bench mark to our massiveness. Millwall and Luton have also both taken similar sized numbers to wembley in recent years. Don't see their fans demanding bigger stadiums and champions league football.

 

But apparently ours was an attendance record for a single club at New Wembley (Taken from the DVD video ). I know it means nothing for our average attendances at home each season but still pretty impressive. I think if we could become established in the premier league again then I see no reason why would couldn't fill a stadium of about 35 to 37 thousand each home game. We could probably fill 40 thousand against the top teams. I reckon 40 thousand stadium is a pretty realistic aim.

[The Kraken]

The problem is Kraken and Turkish you both think it's all about the hardcore support but it's not.

No. I don't think that at all. I've never said that. I think the opposite. Where have you got that ill-conceived view from?

 

I think you are being facetious, Turkish, when you claim that Pompey fans will not cross the divide. We all know that the hardcore definitely won't but there are plenty of fair weather fans who would. Come on, have you never worked alongside fans of other clubs who when pushed don't actually know much about their sides? They support Chelsea. They used to support Arsenal. They are thinking about Man City. Etc etc. Building a big ground will invite these people in but of course we don't expect them to stay fans - but maybe their kids will be. Hands up who knows fans who came from well outside the city boundaries but started supporting the club after their parents took them to a Saints game. I have a mate from Weymouth who first came to see Premier League football. Now he's a fan (even in the lower leagues). Another was a Bournemouth fan. Now he's a fan - but mostly because his kids are.

 

There may be some numbers who might do that. They will be small in comparison to the 180,000 customers we already have on the database. Most of whom don't live as far away as Weymouth, Or even Portsmouth, perhaps.

 

Perfectly ready for you both to roll your eyes in amazement at such a stupid opinion. Feel free to start talking about owning all the fans from Birmingham southwards. Or throw your toys out the pram, storm off and come back again in half an hour. Whatever works for you.

It seems like you're the one stamping your feet. We are in the Premier League. Our fan base will grow. We will become a bigger club. We may well soon need a bigger stadium. That has never been in doubt. Why are you getting angry and making a number of points that don't actually go anywhere apart from stating the obvious?

[LiamSFC]

Why is this forum so infested with ****s?

[Torrent Of Abuse]

No. I don't think that at all. I've never said that. I think the opposite. Where have you got that ill-conceived view from?

From listening to you and Turkish throw your arms up in ever-increasing despair at every poster on here despite the fact that everyone on here seems to be taking the whole thing very calmly. No-one is discussing Champions League football (except Turkish who seems to be arguing against an opinion which no-one else is posing). No-one is even discussing building it soon. It's just nice to see the club having some concept of there being a future. No-one on this thread seems to be getting carried away with things like the fish-f**kers did when the bedpan stadium was proposed (although their board did at least trumpet it as being definitely in the pipeline, I guess).

 

There may be some numbers who might do that. They will be small in comparison to the 180,000 customers we already have on the database. Most of whom don't live as far away as Weymouth, Or even Portsmouth, perhaps.

As posters like you and Turkish are fond of provoking, how do you come by your numbers? How do you know the composition of the numbers on the database? No-one outside of the club would know those numbers. I think posters are perfectly entitled to speculate that there are plenty of people from outside the region who would come to see a Premier League game. Sure you can disagree but you seem to just think these people are fools. Considering that people bang on about 7,000 fans disappearing since we left the Premiership, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that these people just didn't want to see Championship football? If they were Saints fans who were just tired of seeing us not doing well then they would have come back last season. As it is, surely a large slice of them are people who want to be able to say they watched Rooney and Balotelli but aren't that fussed about seeing Snodgrass and Vaz Te?

It seems like you're the one stamping your feet. We are in the Premier League. Our fan base will grow. We will become a bigger club. We may well soon need a bigger stadium. That has never been in doubt. Why are you getting angry and making a number of points that don't actually go anywhere apart from stating the obvious?

Probably best to save the talk about stamping feet when you've already stormed off this thread in disgust once, mate. We will become a bigger club. It will take time. I can't see anyone on this thread denying that. All this talk of 'catchment area' just means we have the potential. If we were sandwiched in amongst other clubs of similar size (as in the midlands), it wouldn't be the same opportunity. If we were content to just pick up a cheque (as Pompey did) instead of investing in the future it wouldn't be the same. If we had owners who had no money to spend or inclination to do so (as we had before) it wouldn't be the same. Luckily we have people who are willing to at least invest. No-one is really getting too carried away on this thread at least. Somehow you, Turkish and CB Fry are content on picking a fight with other posters though - no matter what they're saying.

[stev2001]

From listening to you and Turkish throw your arms up in ever-increasing despair at every poster on here despite the fact that everyone on here seems to be taking the whole thing very calmly. No-one is discussing Champions League football (except Turkish who seems to be arguing against an opinion which no-one else is posing). No-one is even discussing building it soon. It's just nice to see the club having some concept of there being a future. No-one on this thread seems to be getting carried away with things like the fish-f**kers did when the bedpan stadium was proposed (although their board did at least trumpet it as being definitely in the pipeline, I guess).

 

As posters like you and Turkish are fond of provoking, how do you come by your numbers? How do you know the composition of the numbers on the database? No-one outside of the club would know those numbers. I think posters are perfectly entitled to speculate that there are plenty of people from outside the region who would come to see a Premier League game. Sure you can disagree but you seem to just think these people are fools. Considering that people bang on about 7,000 fans disappearing since we left the Premiership, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that these people just didn't want to see Championship football? If they were Saints fans who were just tired of seeing us not doing well then they would have come back last season. As it is, surely a large slice of them are people who want to be able to say they watched Rooney and Balotelli but aren't that fussed about seeing Snodgrass and Vaz Te?

Probably best to save the talk about stamping feet when you've already stormed off this thread in disgust once, mate. We will become a bigger club. It will take time. I can't see anyone on this thread denying that. All this talk of 'catchment area' just means we have the potential. If we were sandwiched in amongst other clubs of similar size (as in the midlands), it wouldn't be the same opportunity. If we were content to just pick up a cheque (as Pompey did) instead of investing in the future it wouldn't be the same. If we had owners who had no money to spend or inclination to do so (as we had before) it wouldn't be the same. Luckily we have people who are willing to at least invest. No-one is really getting too carried away on this thread at least. Somehow you, Turkish and CB Fry are content on picking a fight with other posters though - no matter what they're saying.

You are so much better making the points I was trying to make and have summed up a lot of what others are saying too.

Good post.

[CB Fry]

 

. All this talk of 'catchment area' just means we have the potential. If we were sandwiched in amongst other clubs of similar size (as in the midlands), it wouldn't be the same opportunity. .

 

 

Hmmmm. Thanks for saying that. Hope your clueless chum Wes Tender is reading.

 

It is of course bo ll ocks.

 

We've had this apparent gigantic catchment for decades. All these "crammed together" clubs in the midlands though get perfectly comparable gates to us, often bigger.

 

Our potential to grow gates is no bigger than Forest, Derby or Leicester, or Sheff Weds or whoever.

 

The catchment area is just thickos scrawling red lines on a map of the south of England. Total, utter myth.

Edited 24 June, 2012 by CB Fry

[Turkish]

I like the way you only like to take the most outlandish part of an discussion and argue that. No-one on this thread is demanding anything let alone Champions League football. Try arguing one of the more reasonable points or find another thread but don't argue with points no-one on the thread has made.

 

Do you think we will ever need a larger ground? If so, when roughly? How much bigger? I guess you're not opposed to the idea of the club growing as such just when. Or maybe you don't think we can grow? Surely if the club does not grow with its current owners, it never will? It's really easy to fling hyperbole around but how about you stun us by staying on topic and giving us an idea of what you DO believe instead of banging on about what you don't?

 

As I've said numerous times, I think we could potentially fill a 40k stadium, maybe a bit more for the big games. I think it would be sensible to give it a season or two in the premier league first though to see if we sell out ever week and that the demand is there. You know, factual evidence that the demand is there, like 19 sell outs, like turning people away. Like thousands of fans sitting in pubs or going shopping with their birds on a Saturday gutted they can't be at the football. waiting lists for season tickets and ballots for tickets for big games. You know, a waiting list, like Spurs have of 15,000 and ballots for games, solid proof their ground isn't big enough for them, something we've never ever had, despite our MASSIVE catchment area. I'd rather we have this sort of factual evidence rather than chucking 12,000 seats on now at a cost of £20m or so and then hoping that train loads of Pompey fans decide to convert and come across every Saturday and coach loads of premier league football fans are jamming up the M3, A34 and M27 every Saturday as they come from Chobham, Warwick, Weymouth, Yeovil, Hastings, Gravesend and Truro to get their fix of live premier league football. Or better still and I'm amazed anyone with half an ounce of common sense takes this seriously, Spend £20m expanding and then slash all the prices so we can fill the stadium. I really don't understand how anyone can see that this idea is anything less than idiotic.

Edited 24 June, 2012 by Turkish

[Wes Tender]

From listening to you and Turkish throw your arms up in ever-increasing despair at every poster on here despite the fact that everyone on here seems to be taking the whole thing very calmly. No-one is discussing Champions League football (except Turkish who seems to be arguing against an opinion which no-one else is posing). No-one is even discussing building it soon. It's just nice to see the club having some concept of there being a future. No-one on this thread seems to be getting carried away with things like the fish-f**kers did when the bedpan stadium was proposed (although their board did at least trumpet it as being definitely in the pipeline, I guess).

 

As posters like you and Turkish are fond of provoking, how do you come by your numbers? How do you know the composition of the numbers on the database? No-one outside of the club would know those numbers. I think posters are perfectly entitled to speculate that there are plenty of people from outside the region who would come to see a Premier League game. Sure you can disagree but you seem to just think these people are fools. Considering that people bang on about 7,000 fans disappearing since we left the Premiership, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that these people just didn't want to see Championship football? If they were Saints fans who were just tired of seeing us not doing well then they would have come back last season. As it is, surely a large slice of them are people who want to be able to say they watched Rooney and Balotelli but aren't that fussed about seeing Snodgrass and Vaz Te?

Probably best to save the talk about stamping feet when you've already stormed off this thread in disgust once, mate. We will become a bigger club. It will take time. I can't see anyone on this thread denying that. All this talk of 'catchment area' just means we have the potential. If we were sandwiched in amongst other clubs of similar size (as in the midlands), it wouldn't be the same opportunity. If we were content to just pick up a cheque (as Pompey did) instead of investing in the future it wouldn't be the same. If we had owners who had no money to spend or inclination to do so (as we had before) it wouldn't be the same. Luckily we have people who are willing to at least invest. No-one is really getting too carried away on this thread at least. Somehow you, Turkish and CB Fry are content on picking a fight with other posters though - no matter what they're saying.

 

I don't have too much of a problem with Kraken, as at least he argues the points constructively, generally without the need for personal abuse. As to the other two, one can only speculate on the psychology that causes them to feel the need to feel either superior to everybody else, or to act like the classroom bully. Perhaps they were bullied at school. But it is clear that most on here have sussed them out for what they are, but like Peter and the wolf, nobody knows when to take them seriously. When they actually attempt to make an intelligent and reasonable contribution to the debate, their crebility is questionable, as either nobody knows when they are being serious, or their points are devalued by their snide remarks against whoever they are responding to.

 

But thankfully we are only talking about a handful of individuals who find themselves incapable of reasoned debate, so it is simple to ignore what they say. In any event, they shouldn't be taken seriously; they might be a nuisance, but the problems lie with them.

[Turkish]

Why is this forum so infested with ****s?

 

I know, it's odd isn't it. You'd think people would be mature enough and sensible enough to be able to discuss points on an Internet forum without getting all upset. It's sad isn't it.

[capitalsaint]

Or mature enough to try playing the ball and not the man.

[CB Fry]

...

[IFHP]

I wonder where our missing 10,000 or so fans went to watch premier football during our 7 years of lower league football? Or even football fans, not Saints fans, who live in Southampton where did /do they go to watch premier football.

 

wonder where the coaches left from in town?

[Turkish]

I wonder where our missing 10,000 or so fans went to watch premier football during our 7 years of lower league football? Or even football fans, not Saints fans, who live in Southampton where did /do they go to watch premier football.

 

wonder where the coaches left from in town?

 

I'm still waiting for people to name and shame all these Saints fans that became Pompey fans between 2005-2009 when the roles were reversed and if anyone spotted the trains full of Saints fans heading to Frattton Park from central every Saturday. Surely if Pompey fans are going to convert now we are in the Premeir League the exact same must have happened when things were the other way round.

[CB Fry]

I'm still waiting for people to name and shame all these Saints fans that became Pompey fans between 2005-2009 when the roles were reversed and if anyone spotted the trains full of Saints fans heading to Frattton Park from central every Saturday. Surely if Pompey fans are going to convert now we are in the Premeir League the exact same must have happened when things were the other way round.

 

 

 

...and our resident forum geniuses like to say that clubs in cities with other clubs close by don't have our potential because the fanbase is split.

 

But for Saints turns out this isn't a problem after all because Portsmouth is a potential hotbed of Saints fans.

 

Basically Saints are simply amazing and all the rules that the forum genuises apply to other clubs, other cities and other catchment areas don't apply to us.

[saint si]

It's pretty simple.

 

If people live around or near Southampton, and they want to watch a game of Premier League football, then more often than not, St Marys is where they will go. Arguably we have some competition with Reading for folks in Basingstoke or thereabouts.

 

Maybe they half follow Saints, maybe they don't. But if they want to see United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or even just to see "the Premier League", then people are going to turn up.

 

These same people are not going to be on season ticket waiting lists and will disappear in a blink of an eye if we are relegated.

 

This does not mean PFC diehards changing allegiances. Nobody is suggesting that. But casual fans with no strong ties either way may have gone to Fratton in the past for Premier League football, and next season might be at St Marys.

[CB Fry]

It's pretty simple.

 

If people live around or near Southampton, and they want to watch a game of Premier League football, then more often than not, St Marys is where they will go. Arguably we have some competition with Reading for folks in Basingstoke or thereabouts.

 

Maybe they half follow Saints, maybe they don't. But if they want to see United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or even just to see "the Premier League", then people are going to turn up.

 

These same people are not going to be on season ticket waiting lists and will disappear in a blink of an eye if we are relegated.

 

This does not mean PFC diehards changing allegiances. Nobody is suggesting that. But casual fans with no strong ties either way may have gone to Fratton in the past for Premier League football, and next season might be at St Marys.

 

Its also pretty simple. These people will be accounted for in our forthcoming leap in gates back up to 31-32k.

 

These people are not a reason for 8,9 or 10 thousand extra seats at significant cost.

[aintforever]

**** me, it's going round in circles again. Don't feed the trolls.

 

I think it's safe to say we're all pretty much agreed that there is potential for growth but nothing will happen until we are established in the Prem and there is obvious demand.

Edited 24 June, 2012 by aintforever

[Golden Balls]

I'm still waiting for people to name and shame all these Saints fans that became Pompey fans between 2005-2009 when the roles were reversed and if anyone spotted the trains full of Saints fans heading to Frattton Park from central every Saturday. Surely if Pompey fans are going to convert now we are in the Premeir League the exact same must have happened when things were the other way round.

 

Who said converting Pompey fans? I've seen plenty of posts saying the opposite. I've also seen posts about people who live in Portsmouth who aren't Pompey fans but just PL fans potentially coming to SMS. No one thinks Pompey fans will convert.

 

Well ignored though

[Sour Mash]

Who said converting Pompey fans? I've seen plenty of posts saying the opposite. I've also seen posts about people who live in Portsmouth who aren't Pompey fans but just PL fans potentially coming to SMS. No one thinks Pompey fans will convert.

 

Well ignored though

Think 'The9' did if you look back. Just so we know, how many Premier League fans can we expect from.the city of Portsmouth next season?

[Saint86]

As I've said numerous times, I think we could potentially fill a 40k stadium, maybe a bit more for the big games. I think it would be sensible to give it a season or two in the premier league first though to see if we sell out ever week and that the demand is there.

 

Ahhh, nothing like the sound of turkish admitting we were right guys

[Saint86]

Also Turkish, you are like a 12 year old, you contradict yourself massively and misquote people, if you weren't so entertaining I would have had you on ignore long ago. I suppose it goes in your favour that you demonstrate what a good education is actually worth

[Golden Balls]

Think 'The9' did if you look back. Just so we know, how many Premier League fans can we expect from.the city of Portsmouth next season?

 

So 1. But the rest that were saying it won't happen we're ignored. And suddenly the whole forum and fanbase expect Pompey fans to convert. Figures.

 

I expect 12,000. Dead on. Every week.

[Sour Mash]

So 1. But the rest that were saying it won't happen we're ignored. And suddenly the whole forum and fanbase expect Pompey fans to convert. Figures.

 

I expect 12,000. Dead on. Every week.

So you know that the City of Portsmouth is not a relevant source of any kind of significant support for Saints and won't be for at least 30 or 40 years. Glad we've finally got that clear.

[Golden Balls]

So you know that the City of Portsmouth is not a relevant source of any kind of significant support for Saints and won't be for at least 30 or 40 years. Glad we've finally got that clear.

 

I never said it was. I only argued the point that we could pick up support from there and not to completely rule it out. I even said that it wouldn't be thousands.

Glad we've finally got that clear.

[CB Fry]

Also Turkish, you are like a 12 year old, you contradict yourself massively and misquote people, if you weren't so entertaining I would have had you on ignore long ago. I suppose it goes in your favour that you demonstrate what a good education is actually worth

 

 

So, whats that about mis-quoting...

 

Ahhh, nothing like the sound of turkish admitting we were right guys

 

Jesus christ help us.