Yeah right ! ( might have scraped 8000 ) There was surprise at the announcement of the attendance v Plymouth ( 10,260 ) Today, as in our last home game, the stadium announcer stated that the 'official' attendance was 10,097. I am sure that there is a hidden message in the use of the word 'official.' I said earlier today that I had heard that we've given away more tickets. I'm no accountant but my cynical head thinks that maybe we are telling the tax man that ( versus Plymouth ) the first 5000 attendees are freebies, and in todays case, x number of freebies, then x kids for a £1. This would suggest that the total taxable income was 'not a lot'
Absolutely no way can I believe that attendance was 10,000+ today. Are they actually counting the numbers in the ground or the number of tickets sold or maybe given away.
When you attend something, e.g. a concert, or a meeting, the general implication is that you are actually there.... Obviously I wasn't there today, but it does seem to me from a distance that perhaps they are attempting to re-define the meaning of the word.
What do we reckon the Town End can hold? About 3k? I reckon it was not even a third full let alone what I was going to say half full! Then you had that section where the AS fans were situated in the GRS.
I remember reading a thread about this a few weeks back. Apparently there are two figures that can be given for attendances. 1) The total amount sold (or given away) including season tickets (when some people may not attend all games anyway). 2) The amount of people that actually go through the gate. Apparently some teams give both these figures in their published attendances (Bradford was mentioned). I imagine the figure given by the club for the Plymouth & Accy games is the total amount of tickets sold and given out, as opposed to how many people turned up. And it sounds as if a lot of the freebie tickets were not actually used. Both of the above figures have nothing to do with the taxman anyway. The figures supplied to them would be the income from the tickets, not the amount of tickets. ie when we have done entry for a tenner, the income would be considerably less even though the gate was a lot higher. So long as we are giving the correct income figures to them, it doesn't matter what the gate actually is. It is great that we are getting bigger crowds for the run-in. Regardless whether that is over 8k or over 10k.
So long as! Mr.Scally has had mud of this description thrown at him in the past. I wouldn't want the FA to have any reason to deduct league points. (I'm still not sure if the McCammon saga has not got that threat hanging over us.)
To be fair tho, you could read the forums of 91 other clubs and find them often wondering the same about their own chairmen and attendance figures. And this is not exactly new either. We Gills have pondered correct attendance figures for at least the last 40 years that I know of.
I'm really not sure where you're all going with this but I can assure you there is absolutely no benefit from an accounting basis to over-egg the official attendance numbers.
Can't help thinking the same crowd back in the championship days would have been announced as 8000 max
It does lead into another aspect tough and a question that has never been answered to my knowledge. Catering. I assume, that IF we have been paid for contractual terms in regards to Lindley, do we make any gain from additional match day sales? Quite an important question when establishing the benefits to the club of freebie tickets and other incentives and its knock on affects to the sales of future season tickets. As for the attendance I believe what should be quoted is what goes through the turnstiles or even give us both figures. It really is that simple! I'm 100% behind supporting the community but I do wish we could be privileged to a bit more transparency after all this is the future of our clubs financial stability when discussing building a new ground.
Not sure why all the puzzlement. Tickets sold/given away doesn't necessarily equate to the number at the game. I bought 4 Rainham End tickets for yesterday's game but in the end they were unused because when it got to Saturday morning, we decided we couldn't risk driving all the way from Notts in a blizzard. I'm sure all the tickets given away to schools etc are included in that 10,000-odd attendance - whether people were in the ground or not. As they were free tickets, it can hardly be a tax dodge!
EagerExile excluding the tax suggestions, surely it is ridiculous for any club/concert/event to base an attendance/occupancy on the number of tickets given away, regardless of whether they actually attended. So if something went wrong at an event, how many people do we actually account for, it appears strange to me where we have H&S regulations constantly rammed down our throats, that an attendance can be anything other than foot traffic through the entrance?
I do have one other question/thought for people though. Referring back to the tax implications. Where people suggest there is no gain from inflating figures. So I ask, if an attendance is quoted as 10,000+ - I assume H&S regulations would somewhere suggest that a certain headcount of safety personnel must be present (ratio per person), would I be right or wrong in thinking that? If I am right, the question would be is there a financial relief for such a situation?
the attendance must include all the tickets that was given away. the reason why they are using this new figure is to show that we do have a bigger fan base so therefore show the council and other partys we need a bigger stadium.
OK Mr. Scally the joke has gone too far ! We now learn that you arranged to give all the Accrington fans free pies ( yes. I know it was only 28 ) - but... This is another kick in the teeth to season ticket holders ( who were probably the only group of people who were not given any incentive at the game. ) I have seen all but 2 games all season ( probably seen more than Mr.Scally ) - I did those three local derbies in 8 days - getting home at 4.45 after the Rochdale game. What did you give the faithful Gills fans ?...... Well I'll tell them - you offered a discounted fare to the rearranged match at York when the coach was turned around on the M25. It was a waste of many hours on the day for the faithful few. It wouldn't have hurt to have waived the fare - I thought charity started at home ! Am I the only Season Ticket holder who is getting a bit peeved with being taken for granted ?
Have to be honest and say that 'alwaysright' is the most loyal and consistent travelling supporter I personally know. Mr Scally needs to heed his words greatly. Maybe a free wine and dine would be in order for him and his FRIENDS
Ok always. On behalf of the chairman can we do a deal? 10 pies (balti) They will be left at the cricketers next home game. Just give the code Codeword: northernerslovefreepies
BelfastBlue My real concern is that many people who are not season ticket holders will have worked out, from the many deals that have been offered this season, that it was not worth their while to purchase a season ticket - up front - last April. - so they will continue to wait for the next deal ! I appreciate that most of the deals related to youngsters, and that we need to attract young fans for the sake of the future of our club - but here I would have thought would be a great opportunity to reward fans who commit their cash to the purchase of a season ticket. I am thinking along the lines of one adult ticket entitles you to buy a season ticket for a youngster @ £2 or £3 a game. I am certain that there would be a reasonable uptake of such an offer. I am also certain that this would lead to increased revenue in the catering and merchandising departments - to offset any 'loss' of revenue from the reduced admission price. It might actually encourage some adults to go to more matches - being able to afford to bring their child - rather than not bothering at all because finances didn't permit both of them. I am concerned that ( as previously stated ) if we cannot attract fans to come to watch Gills in a 'successful' season - what chance have we when things are not going quite as well ? edit .. my suggested incentive wont affect me - I pay for 2 adult season tickets - and the exorbitant adult matchday price when my second son is able to attend.
Actually I agree. I think you have a point. I think the club could be more creative in terms of rewarding and incentivising season ticket holders.
