An interesting read in the attendances for leeds united this season. They are massively low, i realise the price is high but having less than last year is disturbing. I also realise that most people are going to say its because of people dont want to support Ken Bates. I still think it shows a lack of loyal support to the club, ya know ups and downs and everything. Leeds who are renowned for having such a loyal support.... Anyway the link is here: http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/10/the-feeling-of-the-five-thousand/?
Money is tight, prices have gone up and many fans still feel we have a weaker squad than last season. Also remember our first season back in the Championship is always going to drag a few extra bottoms out onto seats.
Lack of loyal support because people have other more pressing matters to spend their hard earned cash on? If I didn’t have a ST, I’d be attending much less games this season. We are getting priced out. I don’t know many who have such an expendable income. People have mortgages, debts, familys etc. As you are such a SUPER fan, why don’t you just tell us all what we should be doing and lecture us on how we should be acting.
Can't be a surprise to anyone, these times are the toughest many families have ever had to deal with and I would be shocked if there was more people or even the same level of support at home games, as I just can't see where people get the extra income to spend on a football game. Remember one thing, Leeds United is a football club, that is all, it is not your job, your family or even important when it comes to priorities (I accept there are a few people who think they are the most important thing to life), therefore people are quite right to make sure there is food on the table, money in the bank for bills, money available for travel etc, rather than the regular £50 for a few beers and a game of football at ER. I work in a business that has seen the impact of this recession on people and it's not pleasant. Sadly many people now appear to survive on these pay day loan companies, whilst paying an average of 1500% on any loan. I have been lucky in that I managed to save some money through the years and have used this to keep my family and business running, that said I would never pay Leeds United up to £60 to take my son to ER every home game, as it simply isn't a priority. The occasional 'luxury' visit, will take place and we will enjoy it all the more for it being a 'luxury'. I don't spoil my kids in any way, but I will always make sure they eat well, have money for school trips, have the correct shoes for the time of year and many other things for their own personal development, but items such as yet another Leeds strip is not on the cards and I'm sure I am not alone in this decision. I'll end with this, it will not get any better, even if we get back to the EPL. Yes the stadium will have more people in it, many of them being Leeds fans, but the level of income people have to spend will reduce whilst items such as food, petrol, gas and electricity will get more expensive to the point where the average person can't afford to run their own home, it's scary and I really hope people have realised what is happening and how it might affect them. Edit: I should also point out that I live in central Scotland and to go to a home game with my son, it costs me the following: Diesel: £50 Hotel: £65 Food/Drink: £50 Tickets: £60 Travel: £7 Other: £10 Total: £242. I think this explains everything.....
The attendance figures are down throughout the country not just Leeds to overcome this people need incentives Bradford seem to have their finger on the pulse charging £5 on Saturday
Bates doesn't care about future generations of Leeds supporters coming through, because he isn't going to be here to take their money. So it's maximum profit now and damn tomorrow.
It's not even about pricing people out of coming. The prices are hardly different to last season, simply adjusted for inflation and increased taxes as far as I'm concerned. People are happy to pay the prices to watch Leeds, so long as their money is being put to good use. A museum in the East Stand of a ground we don't even own, plus a load of corporate facilities that the majority of us will never see or even have any desire to see, is not putting our money to good use. Especially considering said museum will cost to get in. As far as I'm concerned, regardless of how much money is involved in football these days, a football club is a team first, a business second. Bates seems to see it as nothing more than a business.
Pags, i didnt mean for it to sound like a lecture, just thought i'd share the link for the article. Regardless of why or whether it is forced upon or whatever the circumstances, its still sad to see a club like leeds lose so many ticket sales seeings we are generally seen as a very loyal fanbase. I was more pointing to the fact that people are not going because of bates....
Sorry Josh but thats what it seemed like in the tone of your thread which pissed me off. People arent going cos of Bates, we know this, whilst it maybe detrimental to the club for now, maybe int he long run it may force him out? who knows, but people don't like the way the club is being run and the man in charge and I think they are actually being brave to do it because its hurting people not to see their club.
Unless people were boycotting Bates, why would the scum game have got such a low attendance? Petrol prices don't explain it because there are at least 50,000 based in Leeds alone who'd have been all over that fixture if it had been sensibly priced and we were run by an ambitious/likeable figure. The attendance for that game makes me think the league games are so poorly attended for the same reasons.
it must be the reason, even with everything going up its still hard to understand why their is over 5000 people difference to our attendances this year
A lack of loyal support? Who are you to judge people´s support of the club? Season ticket prices are the 5th highest in England, the economy has gone to **** and people can´t afford it. Does it not sound absolutely insane to you that we charge more for a season ticket than Man Utd? They´ve been Champions the last 2 seasons, whereas we have been in League One. It´s stupid and disrespectful to claim people aren´t going because of a lack of loyalty. It´s because it costs too much.
well again best fans that wasnt my point, but think about it. Its the same price more or less as last year, therefore i can understand a smallish difference in the attendance size, there is a 9000 fan difference between the pompey game last year and the pompey game this year. When i said 'lack of loyal support'. I was referring to people giving up on bates.... The reason isnt because of prices
Josh, I am not in England so cannot claim to have my finger on the pulse in a literal way but if one were to look at most teams' attendances, they are down significantly from last season. At Leeds, economy, prices and dissatisfaction with Bates & Mates likely are the primary reasons, in that order.
The city of Leeds is surviving the economic situation quite well. Perhaps the petrol costs are affecting out of town fans more if indeed the economy is to blame for our decreasing attendances. Personally, I think it's just Bates and the special way he has of alienating committed supporters wherever he goes.
The city might be, but I have to believe that just about every football fan is feeling the pinch in one way or another. Also, as a whole, people are not spending as they used to due to uncertainty - "will I still have a job next month/quarter/year" - in the US and I am confident in the UK too.
The main reason I think, isn´t Bates as such, more the lack of direction for the club. The ticket prices are top 6 Premier League prices, but the club have only stated that they ´hope to be up there in the promotion mix´. If we´d signed some quality players and shown some proper intent and said we want to finish top 2, but they haven´t. We sold our best player, signed some last minute free transfers and yet the prices are the highest in the League. Look at QPR, their tickets were ridiculous, and the attendance for the first game of this season was less than last season in the Championship. If you price the tickets correctly, more people will go.
Thing is, the prices are much more than they were last year... as a new season ticket holder last seaon I paid £520 for the honour, this year for the earliest renewal price I paid £516...saving £4. My partner paid £450 for his ST last season and had to pay an extra £66 this season for the same deal. To say they havent increased by that much is ridiculous. A new ST holder in the Kop this season paid £615. Thats not cheap by any means.
jugster --u are another truthful member ---not a silly excuse maker---i totaly agree with you but let the others keep feeding who ever owns leeds---(bates )
