Attendance down on this time last year

[mikee]

There is definitely an increase in those going to watch streams in pubs but of course TV viewers want full stadiums and a great atmosphere.

 

Therefore the prices will naturally start to fall over the next few years:

 

1. because PL clubs can afford to do it

2. TV companies will not pay top dollar to show half empty stadiums

3. The fans should pay less to reflect the fact they are part of the "entertainment" - at least the ones that sing!

 

The trick is getting the price right where you can maximise income without sacrificing crowd numbers - it will no doubt take a bit of trial and error to get this right.

[ART]

Don't see anyone taking into account the thousands of Jason Puncheon fan club members. I too would be pi ss ed off not be able to sing the crowd rousing ditty created in his honour. What are they going to do with all the bog rolls they purchased to throw at him!!!

[VectisSaint]

The Wigan game last season probably had a higher attendance than would have been expected because (a) it was our first home game back in the PL and (b) more crucially gave priority for ManU tickets. If we had played Wigan in say November gate would probably have been a couple of thousand down. In general though attendances across the board are down on last year. Think Saints sales are holding up well in the circumstances.

[Saint137]

Pubs/Streaming/Al Jazeera

 

And also the slow start to the season with the international break and only a couple of games at home means there's no momentum yet. We're not playing particularly exciting football and need a big win under our belt to get a few more in the door.

 

Attendances are always lower at the start of the season than after Christmas when games always seem to come thick and fast (particularly with a decent Cup run).

[Patrick Bateman]

First time I've had a chance to go this season ... having just paid £66 for two tickets (only three days before the match), I'm not surprised it's not filling up this season ...

[Griffo]

It's partly price and partly results - I spoke to two people who went to the West ham match and hadn't been for years beforehand - they were pretty negative about Saints' inability to score against WHU and said they wouldn't be back any time soon. I think we will see sell outs or near sell outs if we are doing well. A win against palace would be a good start.

 

Good. Hope they don't come back.

[spyinthesky]

If you are a 'non committed' football fan in this area and, as an adult, you wanted to take two teenagers to St Mary's it would cost around £114

 

In comparison, at Fratton park, it would be approx. £48.

 

Plenty of difference in playing standard, quality of stadium etc etc but quite a marked difference

[Charlie Wayman]

Wigan: 29,604

Man U: 31,609

Villa: 30,713

 

This season:

 

Sunderland: 29, 596

West Ham: 28,794

Palace: Look like being around the 30-31k mark.

 

Yes we got more for Man United than West Ham but the other two are worrying. Sunderland brought more fans than Wigan did so there were around 1,000 less Saints fans in the ground. Despite being 7th Crystal Palace is looking far from a sell out.

 

Holiday time is over. Are there still lots of surprise birthday parties for great aunties in September? Depsite spending another £35m and having a team packed full of internationals apathy seems to be reigning supreme on the south coast.

 

Second season syndrome. Having survived the drop everyone now knows that most of the league is dross and no better than us so who cares enough about Palace to splash nigh on £50 just to watch Holloway playing the fool to the cameras, we'd have as much fun watching Bury or Crewe. Even ManUre without that miserable old Scottish git in charge may not seem so attractive anymore.

[LGTL]

Second season syndrome. Having survived the drop everyone now knows that most of the league is dross and no better than us so who cares enough about Palace to splash nigh on £50 just to watch Holloway playing the fool to the cameras, we'd have as much fun watching Bury or Crewe. Even ManUre without that miserable old Scottish git in charge may not seem so attractive anymore.

 

There was me thinking we all go to watch Saints, not the opposition?

[Norm]

Time for politics to raise its ugly head I'm afraid.

 

I suspect it may want to, but Football can no longer exist in a vacuum separated from the rest of the economy. The leader of the opposition made a big play yesterday about how living standards in the UK are now falling significantly as years of wage stagnation takes effect - and he's right.

 

It's no bloody good clubs putting up their prices every season and expecting fans to find the money from this years pay rise as they used to, the fact is many of us just don't get a annual pay rise anymore. Clubs can either choose to adapt to this grim new reality or carry on as per normal every summer - and watch attendances shrink even further.

 

I agree with CEC. Football seems to think it's above reality with what is going on in society. As for me, I will go to perhaps 5 games this season, if that. I'm just not prepared to pay over £50 for my grandson and me.

[The Kraken]

There was me thinking we all go to watch Saints, not the opposition?

Charlie usually watches the Gunners, so its an easy mistake to make.

[jam]

Charlie usually watches the Gunners, so its an easy mistake to make.

 

He must be over the moon now that we've swapped our Liverpool tribute kit for something that looks too much like an Arsenal version for my taste.

[NickG]

Wigan: 29,604

Man U: 31,609

Villa: 30,713

 

This season:

 

Sunderland: 29, 596

West Ham: 28,794

Palace: Look like being around the 30-31k mark.

 

Yes we got more for Man United than West Ham but the other two are worrying. Sunderland brought more fans than Wigan did so there were around 1,000 less Saints fans in the ground. Despite being 7th Crystal Palace is looking far from a sell out.

 

Holiday time is over. Are there still lots of surprise birthday parties for great aunties in September? Depsite spending another £35m and having a team packed full of internationals apathy seems to be reigning supreme on the south coast.

 

So first game attendance down by 8 people?!

 

Second game down by 2815 - but last season's second game was Man U, most sought after game of season, our first big game back in prem. This year's second game West Ham, probably least appealing side to watch in prem.

 

If this causes worry try meditation

[Chez]

ticket prices went up yet again, access to live games on illegal streams increased, access to games on BT Sports...

[Turkish]

So first game attendance down by 8 people?!

 

Second game down by 2815 - but last season's second game was Man U, most sought after game of season, our first big game back in prem. This year's second game West Ham, probably least appealing side to watch in prem.

 

If this causes worry try meditation

 

8 people down but 1300 saints fans. Wigan brought around 700 and Sunderland borough around 2000.

 

As for west ham being so unattractive there was me thinking people go to watch saints and not the opponents. It didn't stop them being attractive opposition on a Wednesday night in a Lower league 2 season ago where a record crowd saw us play them.

 

£35m spent and 7th in the league and we can't sell out.

Edited 26 September, 2013 by Turkish

[Turkish]

the only reason i can think of is - who knows whats around the corner? we could find ourselves back in league one with half filled ground begging fans to come back, but the ones who had been going for years before being priced out would have moved on.

 

i don't think we should take loyalty for granted

 

Not saying I agree with it mate but the club will look at it from that perspective. 90% full at £40 is better than 100% full at £30 financially.

 

You're right about loyalty and one day they might need the fans that can't afford it again, much like they might need to loyal local businesses that supported us on the way down that have been screwed over on our rise back up. Will either be willing to put their hand I their pocket when the club needs them then?

[SaintBobby]

How much does being on Sky reduce attendance?

 

Does two things - means a reschedule (I couldn't make the West Ham game once it switched to Sunday) and means staying at home and watching on the TV is a pretty good substitute.

 

Seems to me we've got the pricing about right for now. At least for the League.

 

The club deserved to only get a truly pathetic 8,500 for the Bristol City game. Mental pricing. Games like that are made to get casual fans in for bargain basement prices.

[John Boy Saint]

How much does being on Sky reduce attendance?

 

Does two things - means a reschedule (I couldn't make the West Ham game once it switched to Sunday) and means staying at home and watching on the TV is a pretty good substitute.

 

Seems to me we've got the pricing about right for now. At least for the League.

 

The club deserved to only get a truly pathetic 8,500 for the Bristol City game. Mental pricing. Games like that are made to get casual fans in for bargain basement prices.

Don't the visiting team have to be consulted on pricing for these cup games by the host club Saints could have said £12 tickets and kids a Quid to fill the ground, but Bristol City might have said no way. Wasn't it Shrewsbury a couple of seasons ago who had ideas of Grandeur and greed wanting us to charge normal prices but came to an agreement on Lower sensible pricing.

[Batman]

it can only be price.

going to football is generally expensive at southampton

 

two of us are going to the swansea game. £32 a ticket (plus booking fee) to sit in the chapel/itchen corner

throw in petrol, parking and a drink maybe.

for me, every home game is an away game due to the near on 400 mile round trip

[View From The Top]

People will pick and chose increasingly as prices rise and it's no surprise that they pick the "big" games.

[iansums]

Holidays. August for school holidays and September for those without kids. Our place has only half the workforce in at the moment, they are all on holiday.

[aintforever]

The cost of a ticket is a rip off considering you can watch any game for nothing in the comfort of the pub where you can get a decent pint and eat something other than a rancid burger made of ground up horse gonads.

[solentstars]

The cost of a ticket is a rip off considering you can watch any game for nothing in the comfort of the pub where you can get a decent pint and eat something other than a rancid burger made of ground up horse gonads.

 

Football is a business in the premier league and a very greedy one. Family's are priced out and I fear for its future has kids choose other things to do .

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[saint1977]

it can only be price.

going to football is generally expensive at southampton

 

two of us are going to the swansea game. £32 a ticket (plus booking fee) to sit in the chapel/itchen corner

throw in petrol, parking and a drink maybe.

for me, every home game is an away game due to the near on 400 mile round trip

 

It's expensive everywhere TDD, Exeter want £24 to sit in their dump and Torquay is £20 and that's League 2. I'm going to the Palace game tomorrow with my wife and like you travelling from Devon I probably burn £50 or so in fuel, then there's parking and food. I'll be doing well if I don't spend £150 all in with £70-odd quid on tickets. I love Saints and want to repay the club for putting the investment in that it has over the last 4 seasons but even earning a reasonable, I still can't go as often as I'd like especially if I'm going to go to my usual quota of away games as well.

 

On MOTD most evenings, I'm seeing more empty seats at most grounds than SMS so I don't think we are the worst offenders but the OP does raise a point about pricing that is valid. I hope that the Premier League will listen to the voices about falling standards of living and see the empty seats, which aren't attractive commercially, and lean on clubs, players and agents to help the supporter by spreading the broadcasting benefits a little. Only a little but it will be good for the game's long term health.

[Chez]

The cost of a ticket is a rip off considering you can watch any game for nothing in the comfort of the pub

or at home on the interweb. Also, with the atmosphere at games almost completely sucked out of the English game, watching it live is far less appealing than it used to be.

 

My argument always used to be that the atmosphere of a live game is everything, but with all-seating and so many rules and regulations sanitising the whole affair and ridiculous ticket prices, it has had a major impact on the number of `blokes' going to games, who, let's be honest, tend to have a few beers and then help create much of the atmosphere at games. The middle class family fans may fill seats, but they haven't filled the atmosphere void. With no atmosphere, all that is left is the actual football game, which as we all know is often crap. Too many of those crap games and the £40-50 a pop ticket price starts to look steep and people will stop coming.

 

I'd argue that many already have, although the stats say otherwise. I struggle to get my head round the `growing attendance figures', but then again the counting of season ticket holders whether they turn up or not suggests the figures are worthless. Personally I wonder how football is going to survive as a spectator sport in England long term if the prices continue to increase.

 

We seriously need to take a leaf out of Germany's book on ticket prices and safe standing to bring back the atmosphere at games otherwise grounds are going to be half empty almost everywhere. Pretty soon the Premierships `best league in the world' tag is going to be questioned. Empty grounds look bad.

[70's Mike]

attendances will continue to drop as prices rise unless team is challenging for honours.

the cost for a family of the whole experience is just to high,

[JRM]

i had a look on the official website a couple of hours ago and there were 785 seats left for tomorrow's game , mostly in block 3 (95) block 18 (122 behind goal) and other chapel / itchen corner blocks.

 

with a few more sold today and walk up tomorrow this could well be a "sell out"

[Patrick Bateman]

i had a look on the official website a couple of hours ago and there were 785 seats left for tomorrow's game , mostly in block 3 (95) block 18 (122 behind goal) and other chapel / itchen corner blocks.

 

with a few more sold today and walk up tomorrow this could well be a "sell out"

 

Yep, I only got mine on Wednesday and the bottom 6 rows in block 3 were available then.

[The Kraken]

Anything above 31k for this game would be a decent turnout. Looks like we might just get it, too.

[Brussels Saint]

The PL as a business continues to generate huge interest and the number of fans continue to grow. This is the simple reason why the TV generates so much revenue. However I agree, the cost is impacting gates. I actually think we are in an interim period, where shortly the TV money will be so huge it will dwarf matchday revenue and clubs will then start to see the benefit of having full stadiums at much reduced pricing. 90% of tickets will be priced for the working man/woman with the remaining 10% for the TV fan who wants a premium matchday experience twice a year.

Those pampered middle of the road fans will expect a full stadium full of rowdy tykes, singing aggressive songs or it wont be the real thing.

[Turkish]

Anything above 31k for this game would be a decent turnout. Looks like we might just get it, too.

 

Really? We're 7th in the league and we were told several times in no uncertain terms by certain posters the higher up the league we are the better our crowds would be. Coupled with Palace being relatively local and bringing a decent following you'd have to say anything less than a sell out would be disappointing

[Turkish]

The PL as a business continues to generate huge interest and the number of fans continue to grow. This is the simple reason why the TV generates so much revenue. However I agree, the cost is impacting gates. I actually think we are in an interim period, where shortly the TV money will be so huge it will dwarf matchday revenue and clubs will then start to see the benefit of having full stadiums at much reduced pricing. 90% of tickets will be priced for the working man/woman with the remaining 10% for the TV fan who wants a premium matchday experience twice a year.

Those pampered middle of the road fans will expect a full stadium full of rowdy tykes, singing aggressive songs or it wont be the real thing.

 

To date Cortese has shown no interest at all in reducing prices. In the championship when we averaged 26,000 I don't doubt we would have sold plenty more tickets if they had been made cheaper or done deals. I'm not quite sure why he'd now reduce prices when we are regularly selling 90% of tickets.

[The Kraken]

Really? We're 7th in the league and we were told several times in no uncertain terms by certain posters the higher up the league we are the better our crowds would be. Coupled with Palace being relatively local and bringing a decent following you'd have to say anything less than a sell out would be disappointing

This thread was a doozy.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?37346-St-Mary-s-What-we-might-expect-to-see-happen-(and-possibly-announced-soon)#.UkX2b4asjlU

[Turkish]

This thread was a doozy.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?37346-St-Mary-s-What-we-might-expect-to-see-happen-(and-possibly-announced-soon)#.UkX2b4asjlU

 

18 months on from that thread and no closer to the announcement that we were expecting soon.

[The Kraken]

18 months on from that thread and no closer to the announcement that we were expecting soon.

Ah, but as MLG told us, "relatively soon" could be many years from now. Bless him.

[Turkish]

Ah, but as MLG told us, "relatively soon" could be many years from now. Bless him.

 

Hilariously a lot of people used the region being an affluent area as one of the reasons why we need to expand, yet now we are being told that the price of tickets is the reason why we aren't selling out the capacity we have.

[Turkish]

This thread was a doozy.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?37346-St-Mary-s-What-we-might-expect-to-see-happen-(and-possibly-announced-soon)#.UkX2b4asjlU

 

Having read that thread again it really is comedy gold. The references to Dragons Den, Easyjet, Apple and Steve Jobs, all to justify why we need to expand a stadium we aren't selling out. Fabulous mboarding.

[The Kraken]

Having read that thread again it really is comedy gold. The references to Dragons Den, Easyjet, Apple and Steve Jobs, all to justify why we need to expand a stadium we aren't selling out. Fabulous mboarding.

The rush to expand was what got me. It was truly as if the notion of "wait and see for a year or two" was an utterly outrageous suggestion to a few people. Some of the justifications for building quickly and reducing ticket prices just as fast were equally foolish.

[Turkish]

The rush to expand was what got me. It was truly as if the notion of "wait and see for a year or two" was an utterly outrageous suggestion to a few people. Some of the justifications for building quickly and reducing ticket prices just as fast were equally foolish.

 

But look at Easy Jet! They sell tickets they can't sell cheaply! Steve Jobs never followed market trends and look at Apple! And don't forget how they do it in Germany!

[david in sweden]

Wigan: 29,604

Man U: 31,609

Villa: 30,713

 

This season:

 

Sunderland: 29, 596

West Ham: 28,794

Palace: Look like being around the 30-31k mark.

 

Yes we got more for Man United than West Ham but the other two are worrying. Sunderland brought more fans than Wigan did so there were around 1,000 less Saints fans in the ground. Despite being 7th Crystal Palace is looking far from a sell out.

 

Holiday time is over. Are there still lots of surprise birthday parties for great aunties in September? Depsite spending another £35m and having a team packed full of internationals apathy seems to be reigning supreme on the south coast.

 

perahps a little difficult to judge so early-season.

last year was our first season back up and attracted extra interest. I don't know about Wigan's travelling fans, but Man U is always a big crowd, and of course televised games keep a thou-or so at home.

[Avenue Saint]

But look at Easy Jet! They sell tickets they can't sell cheaply! Steve Jobs never followed market trends and look at Apple! And don't forget how they do it in Germany!

 

How much of your life do you spend online?

 

Serious question.

[iansums]

How much of your life do you spend online?

 

Serious question.

 

I don't think you'll get a serious answer.

[Turkish]

How much of your life do you spend online?

 

Serious question.

 

Well as its my job pretty much all of the working day, I posted a few times last night when the missus was watching some crap on tellyand a few this morning, although before last night I hadn't posted anything since a couple on Wednesday, so hardly been on here this week glad you missed me. It's all about perception I guess, as the greatest pound for pound poster of all time, my posts stand out. Thanks for your interest in Turkish and be sure to buy the book 'the secret mongboarder'

[Manuel]

If they're not filling the ground I am always in favour of the "bring a kid for a pound" promotions.

[70's Mike]

Noticed today that around 50 seats have been turned into additional press space either side of TV gantry