Encouraging Attendances

[Colinjb]

Just looking at the stats of our season and it's been extremely encouraging seeing the attendances we have been getting this season.

Taking the two most comparable seasons to this, 05/06 and 11/12. 

05/06. First attendance v Wolves. 24,600. Only once did the attendance go over 30,000. V Leeds United. Otherwise the peak was circa 27,000.

11/12. First attendance v Leeds. 25,800. The attendance did go above 30,000 for a few games. First v West Ham. (32k) Brighton (31k) Palace (32k, Boxing Day) Bristol City (30k) Doncaster (30k, Start of the run in) Then The Skates, Reading and Coventry. (Average circa 32k) But, the more typical number was around 24,000. Even going as low as 21,300 v Peterborough.

This season, off the back of our worst season in living memory, the attendances have been averaging well into the high 20 thousands. Lowest v Ipswich at 27,000. Highest v QPR at 30,400. 4 more games over 30,000. So, clearly, something is going in the right direction.

[LuckyNumber7]

It's weird how our 'sell-outs' are so low these days. I'm guessing it's a combination of segregation netting and maybe the corporate boxes not selling, but would be nice to get over 32,000 again.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

We must be one of the only stadiums that still has clearly visible seats despite games being billed as a 'sellout', and usually the same rows at the front of the Itchen.

I realise like yesterday you'll get no shows and despite being 'sold out' a number of days before many won't make it on a Boxing Day (family/travel) and the club hardly shouted about the Ticket Exchange being open. But it must be frustrating for fans that want to go but can't buy tickets and then seeing empty seats on TV.

We struggled to sell corporate in the PL so it must be a tough sell in the lower leagues and these are included in the total stadium capacity but it does seem to be the same rows/small blocks of seats left empty on match days.

I haven't looked but we must have had the biggest attendance outside of the PL yesterday...to go along with the biggest scoreline in the English top 4 leagues.

[Ted Bates Statue]

A few days ago I saw some interesting stats across the division on this. I can't find the original but this summarises it: 

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/championship/attendances/average-as-percentage

Got to hand it to most supporters, basically unless the club has really pissed off the fans (Venkys, Birmingham City etc) then the support is there. I guess the chance for most teams to be within touching distance of the playoffs helps greatly too.

The other factor is ticket pricing. When we went down in 2005, the ticket reduction was minimal, and we lost a good chunk of supporters right from the get-go. At least this time the tickets are priced for the division we're in.

[SotonianWill]

Wasn’t there yesterday but from pictures I like the look of the Northam standing with extra blocks. Looks lovely. 

[Turkish]

time to expand?

[Colinjb]

Just now, Turkish said:

time to expand?

Finally just right I would say.

[The Cat]

The only thing that's expanding at the moment is my waistline due to the heroic amount of food and drink I've consumed over the festive period.

Edited 27 December, 2023 by The Cat

[The Kraken]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

time to expand?

It’s expected soon.

[CSA96]

Also suggests that the Saints commercial folks got the pricing right in the summer when we were all waiting to see what they'd do with STs and general admission - fair play, having seen some of the prices around the league (looking at you, Sheffield Wednesday) I think ours are pretty fair.