Looks like its going to be our second highest average attendance season ever!

[Roger]

Currently 30623. Would expect the rest to sell out making it around 31k. Second highest since 03-04, when it was a staggering 31699 average. We are certainly growing again.

[RonManager]

Perhaps it's time to think about enlarging the sta...................................................

[The Kraken]

Currently 30623. Would expect the rest to sell out making it around 31k. Second highest since 03-04, when it was a staggering 31699 average. We are certainly growing again.

 

Don't think it'll get that high; we'd have to sell 32,000 tickets for each remaining game just to get to an average of nearly 30,900, and we've very rarely got above 32,000 all season. Probably will end up around where we are now, maybe a little higher, around 30,700. Still a decent effort.

[Appy]

Especailly if they keep making up that we have broken the Premier League record at St Marys.

[sotonjoe]

Surely we could sell out a 45k seater then?

[Roger]

I know saints vs arsenal in premier league was 32,151. West ham was 32,152 in chamionships and Coventry was 32,363

[Brussels Saint]

Just out of interest, what was it last year? Would be interesting to see the difference the PL makes simply on numbers through the gate despite the hike in prices.

[The Kraken]

Just out of interest, what was it last year? Would be interesting to see the difference the PL makes simply on numbers through the gate despite the hike in prices.

 

26,419.

[Brussels Saint]

26,419.

 

Ok so 4000+ for the PL. Have to admit I'm quite surprised its that high. Not a bad effort all told.

[Wiggles31]

Pretty decent in this current climate of expensive tickets, tv games and streams etc.

 

What is our average away attendance and what was it in 03/04? Would be interesting to note.

[View From The Top]

Pretty decent in this current climate of expensive tickets, tv games and streams etc.

 

What is our average away attendance and what was it in 03/04? Would be interesting to note.

 

Quite a few of us who were doing away days back then will tell you our away support anywhere north of the M4 was gash. I've been gob smacked at our away following over the last 3 years!

[Wiggles31]

I think our success in the lower leagues can take a lot of credit for that. As well as various football league grounds many had not been to. Orient away always stands out for me. Totally took over their ground.

[Berkshire Saint]

Ok so 4000+ for the PL. Have to admit I'm quite surprised its that high. Not a bad effort all told.

 

More away fans (nearly every side seems to bring near enough the full 3k allocation) and more corporates would make up a large percentage of that as well I imagine.

[The Kraken]

More away fans (nearly every side seems to bring near enough the full 3k allocation) and more corporates would make up a large percentage of that as well I imagine.

 

You'd actually be surprised how many sides haven't sold their allocation this season. Even traditional decent travellers Sunderland and Newcastle haven't sold a full away section and returned tickets to us. Reading came up 700 short for one of their closest games of the season (they brought less than they did for the corresponding fixture last season in the Championship).

 

Its really only the traditional biggest 8 or so clubs that have taken the full away allocation and filled it.

[Sour Mash]

Especailly if they keep making up that we have broken the Premier League record at St Marys.

What were those announcements at the end of yesterday's game all about?

[Tony F]

Apparently a new record for Saints at home in a prem fixture.

 

Certainly all exec boxes were full and it was hard to spot many empty seats except those in the separation zone

[The Kraken]

Apparently a new record for Saints at home in a prem fixture.

 

Certainly all exec boxes were full and it was hard to spot many empty seats except those in the separation zone

 

Nope. Our highest is 32,151 from our previous spell in the PL. we've had a number of games higher than yesterday's 32,070.

Edited 17 March, 2013 by The Kraken

[krissyboy31]

Nope. Our highest is 32,151 from our previous spell in the PL. we've had a number of games higher than yesterday's 32,070.

 

I agree with you but that is what they announced yesterday! #confused

[CB Fry]

Didn't we "break the record" last season against WHU? Or soneone else. Remember something being announced and it being quite odd. Yesterday's announcement equally strange and implausible.

[The Kraken]

Didn't we "break the record" last season against WHU? Or soneone else. Remember something being announced and it being quite odd. Yesterday's announcement equally strange and implausible.

 

There was a game where the announcer said we'd broken the record, and gave the attendance figure which was actually 1 lower than the record. 5 minutes later they announced the attendance figure as 2 higher than previously announced!

[The9]

Especailly if they keep making up that we have broken the Premier League record at St Marys.

 

That made me laugh yesterday. That's twice they've blatantly made up figures about attendance records now, even the West Ham one last season wasn't the figure they originally claimed, until they realised the one they announced wasn't a record.

 

Puts the claims about the "best selling Saints shirt of all time" into a bit of perspective.

[The9]

There was a game where the announcer said we'd broken the record, and gave the attendance figure which was actually 1 lower than the record. 5 minutes later they announced the attendance figure as 2 higher than previously announced!

 

Yup, that was West Ham.

[eelpie]

Currently 30623. Would expect the rest to sell out making it around 31k. Second highest since 03-04, when it was a staggering 31699 average. We are certainly growing again.

 

I was amazed to hear a while back that Saints were sometimes getting attendances of around 30,000 back at The Dell (in standing days). Unlikely to top this but I wonder what the record there was then?

[The9]

I was amazed to hear a while back that Saints were sometimes getting attendances of around 30,000 back at The Dell (in standing days). Unlikely to top this but I wonder what the record there was then?

 

Wiki says : The attendance record was broken on 8 October 1969, when 31,044 watched Southampton lose 3–0 to a Manchester United team which included George Best and Bobby Charlton

[The Kraken]

I was amazed to hear a while back that Saints were sometimes getting attendances of around 30,000 back at The Dell (in standing days). Unlikely to top this but I wonder what the record there was then?

 

31,044, against Man United in 1969.

[Saint Garrett]

Coventry was the highest ever wasn't it as they got rid of segregation to get more fans in?

 

However when I heard the announcement I did think just in the Prem. But had a thought that we got 32k+ a few times in the prem before.

[The9]

For the record, our St Mary's Prem averages are :

 

2005 30610

2004 31699

2003 30680

2002 30633

 

So we're right on course for exactly what we always get when we're not in the top half and Europe...

[sandwichsaint]

31,044, against Man United in 1969.

 

Mick Channon testomonial, 32-33k in the Dell that night, including me, 1000's locked out including my dad.

[The Kraken]

Mick Channon testomonial, 32-33k in the Dell that night, including me, 1000's locked out including my dad.

 

The official figure for that was actually 29,508. But if you speak to anyone who was there (which seems to be half the city) they'll tell you that there were many more than that inside, and your figure is more accurate.

 

[Appy]

http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2471&team2_id=142&teamTabs=h2h

 

Go down to the 29th December 2003.

 

That was our highest attendance ever until West Ham and then Coventry.

[The Kraken]

Even today's Echo is running with the "record Premier League attendance" line for the 32,070 that came through the St. Mary's gates. I guess these games never happened:

 

18th Jan 2003, Liverpool, 32,104.

1st Feb 2003, Man Utd, 32,085.

22nd Nov 2003, Chelsea, 32,149.

29th Dec 2003, Arsenal, 32,151.

[Junction 9]

Is that advert banner that looks like the away segregation strip, always in the middle of the away support? I've never noticed it before, but must have been taking up at least 50 or so seats.

[Red]

Mick Channon testomonial, 32-33k in the Dell that night, including me, 1000's locked out including my dad.

 

Remember it well - we were told it was sold out at the gates well before kick off, and managed to climb over the wall with thousands of others, so I am sure the real attendance was nearer 45 to 50K - people were standing just outside the pitch etc! Put £20 in the charity bucket in lieu of not paying for the ticket!

[Kingsland Codger]

Even today's Echo is running with the "record Premier League attendance" line for the 32,070 that came through the St. Mary's gates. I guess these games never happened:

 

18th Jan 2003, Liverpool, 32,104.

1st Feb 2003, Man Utd, 32,085.

22nd Nov 2003, Chelsea, 32,149.

29th Dec 2003, Arsenal, 32,151.

 

Could it be because the old Southampton FC went belly-up and under the new ML (RIP) management we are a different club?

[CB Fry]

Could it be because the old Southampton FC went belly-up and under the new ML (RIP) management we are a different club?

 

...which would explain the "fastest selling kit EVER EVER!" bullsh it as well.

[Sour Mash]

Could it be because the old Southampton FC went belly-up and under the new ML (RIP) management we are a different club?

ON that basis we'd couldn't say we've won the FA Cup in '76?

[melmacian_saint]

Maybe they meant home crowd?

 

Arsenal in '03 is clearly the record PL crowd, but they probably sold out their full allocation, while I'm not sure Liverpool did that on Saturday. Maybe it was a record for Saints supporters at home in the Prem?

[The Kraken]

Maybe they meant home crowd?

 

Arsenal in '03 is clearly the record PL crowd, but they probably sold out their full allocation, while I'm not sure Liverpool did that on Saturday. Maybe it was a record for Saints supporters at home in the Prem?

 

Or maybe, like the previous "St. Mary's record" against West Ham, it was just incorrect propaganda bullsh*t.

[krissyboy31]

Maybe the announcement was correct in the fact it was record gate receipts as opposed to gate numbers? Used to be something you heard a lot once.

[Katalinic]

All I know is that it makes me cringe when its announced and makes us seem small time. It also got the West Ham fans going last season "here to see the West Ham". Stop announcing it during the game FFS.

[positivepete]

Maybe the announcement was correct in the fact it was record gate receipts as opposed to gate numbers? Used to be something you heard a lot once.

 

Probably a record for paying customers now we do not give away freebies

[The Kraken]

Probably a record for paying customers now we do not give away freebies

 

Yes. Except we do give away freebies; all the time. Not sure how this myth has developed such legs.

[Matthew Le God]

Yet another game has sold out 2 weeks before kickoff... (I thought people said things like this wouldn't happen?)

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/only-hospitality-left-for-west-ham-749445.aspx

 

The last 5 home games in a row sold out. Only two left after the West Ham game, Stoke on the last day of the season will sell out, the West Brom game perhaps won't, but you never know.

 

So that is 11 sellouts (possibly 12) from the 19 Premier League home games in a season of relegation battling. Imagine if we actually had a good season...?! 32k capacity is simply too small. Hence Cortese commissioning AFL for stadium development and expansion designs.

Edited 2 April, 2013 by Matthew Le God

[Sour Mash]

Yet another game has sold out 2 weeks before kickoff... (I thought people said things like this wouldn't happen?)

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/only-hospitality-left-for-west-ham-749445.aspx

 

The last 5 home games in a row sold out. Only two left after the West Ham game, Stoke on the last day of the season will sell out, the West Brom game perhaps won't, but you never know.

 

So that is 11 sellouts (possibly 12) from the 19 Premier League home games in a season of relegation battling. Imagine if we actually had a good season...?! 32k capacity is simply too small. Hence Cortese commissioning AFL for stadium development and expansion designs.

Do you think we're playing good, exciting, attacking football or not? Beating Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool at home, in a first season in the top flight for 7 years. Of course that will attract the crowds. Still at least a third of the games haven't sold out, so looks like our capacity isn't too far off being the right size for our support.

[Sour Mash]

Yes. Except we do give away freebies; all the time. Not sure how this myth has developed such legs.

Plenty of which don't seem to be used based on the empty seats in Block 3 for a lot of "sold out" games.

[Matthew Le God]

Do you think we're playing good, exciting, attacking football or not? Beating Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool at home, in a first season in the top flight for 7 years. Of course that will attract the crowds. Still at least a third of the games haven't sold out, so looks like our capacity isn't too far off being the right size for our support.

 

Every sellout is turning away potential customers, money and an opportunity to expand the fanbase in future years. A 32k capacity has limited Saints for 12 games in a relegation battle.

 

A better Saints team with higher quality international players and the team higher up the table would attract even more fans.

[Bearsy]

how many people do you reckon is being locked out MLG? Cos it's selling out so early i reckon we could easily sell another 20 or 30 thousand.

[Sour Mash]

Every sellout is turning away fans, money and an opportunity to expand the fanbase in future years.

 

A better Saints team with higher quality international players and the team higher up the table would attract even more fans.

Yes, so? Same for every club. I'd guess selling out for two-thirds of home games about average for the Prem? And maybe even below average for a newly promoted side that hadn't played in the top flight for a while? Edited 2 April, 2013 by Sour Mash

[CB Fry]

Every sellout is turning away potential customers, money and an opportunity to expand the fanbase in future years. A 32k capacity has limited Saints for 12 games in a relegation battle.

 

A better Saints team with higher quality international players and the team higher up the table would attract even more fans.

 

 

What I like about football stadium expansion is that it is just like bringing the patio chairs into the dining room for Christmas dinner. Almost indentical kind of thing really.

[ottery st mary]

Currently 30623. Would expect the rest to sell out making it around 31k. Second highest since 03-04, when it was a staggering 31699 average. We are certainly growing again.

 

In those days...many came for the catering and the in house radio show.

 

AND to get a glimpse of a luvvverly painting of a train:)

Edited 2 April, 2013 by ottery st mary