Article: Attendances | Football, Norwich

To be honest, I think its a Norfolk thing, we are a passionate bunch.

Take my local team, Kings Lynn, who have attendances of 800+ despite playing almost at the bottom of the pyramid.

 

Well, 24,998. I believe there were 2 ex-season ticket holders missing lol

We can't get more than we do. Carrow Road has no more space. When you take into account that not everybody likes football and that a big chunk of people are from elsewhere in the country and so support other teams and then there are those that simply cannot afford to attend games, those that work on matchdays, those who are sick or to old to go, Need I go on? I think 25,000 out of that number is pretty decent and when the ground is bigger the number will go up.

 

no, i know! hopefully we can stay up for a couple of years and invest in carrow road a bit - it does need a new city stand... desperately!!

 

Last I heard the plan was ultimately to demolish the city stand in favour of a new one. Because of space limitations it would have to be a multi tier stand. I did hear rumours at one stage that the top tier would be allowed to overhang Carrow road (as it is no longer part of the ring-road and is just for access).

Not sure what the plans are now. I think after survival is confirmed in March we might see some movement on this subject.

 

i heard similar too kenny, though that was maybe 10, 12 years ago! there would be no need for the overhang/tunnel anymore as carrow road is not used and could be built on. the jarrold stand was designed so that it could take a third tier if needed so i imagine the city stand would be similar in design.

 

In all honesty budgies, and i don't give you lot much credit, BUT your board has done wonders for your attendences and are doing a fantastic job encouraging the younger fans. Something which our board hopefully will lool at closer.

 

guru, i don't know what the matter is with your owner! you just played a friendly and got 5,000 ffs! why not price your tickets more sensibly even for friendlies? its a good way of getting people who don't often attend to take an interest and pop along. they too could get hooked. bizarre.

 

Carrow road cannot be built on as it is a public right of way owned by Norwich city Council and not the Football Club. Unless some kind of special dispensation allowed the council to sell the land to the club but I find this unlikely.

Also, how could the stadium still be called Carrow Road if Carrow road itself no longer existed?

The only instance I have seen of public land being built on (other than council housing) was Wessex Street. Bignold school had extra clasroms built on their playgroun and the new playground was built on Wessex Street. This was different as it was a public building built on public land. Not sure the club would be allowed to.

 

Tell us about it, get the kids in cheap get them hooked so when they get older its in their blood and saturday doesn't mean anything unless they are going to a match. for a business man ME has missed a massive trick.

 

people don't change their habbits unless there is an incentive to do so. People who don't go to games are unlikely to do so unless either the standard of football increases or the prices drop. If you can get people in for a few games with cheaper tickets then slowly increase the prices again you will find more than not carry on going. There does have to be a decent standard of football to keep them interested. Maybe that is where our suffolk friends are going wrong?

 

aah, well maybe they could move it?! maybe they will still have to use the overhang then - but i was under the impression that koblenz road meant that carrow road could then be designated to the football club. i don't know the ins and outs or how it works!

 

well guru, i would normally get shot down for this by you lot but your owner doesn't have any interest in football i'm afraid. to him, its about making money. this is why this year could be massive for you. his patience will run out eventually and if he sees no immediate return on his investment he will leave you in a mess. the club still has the debt remember - something yorkie thinks is untrue. he just took control of the debt rather than you owe a bank. he is, as i understand it, claiming interest on this debt, so if and when he packs up, you will be left in dire straits. bit off topic in a way, but this is why he is charging so much for tickets - its not a long term plan - it is short term to get you premier league football. if it fails, he will go and will just cut his losses. you, the fans, will be left to pick up the pieces.

 

I don't think the council have the right to just give public land away to business and nor should they.

Ultimately, although it is a very community based business, Norwich city is still a business.

However, it may be that the council have the right to sell public land to organisations if it is in the best interest of the community which this would undoubtably be. Still think the footprint of the ground on that side will have to remain though.

Whatever they do, lets hope they cn do it quickly in the close-season. Imagine trying to get in if the capacity was reduced to 19 or 20,000 for mos of a season!!!!

I remember when the Barclay stand was built. they were able to open the bottom tier for the start of that season which really helped to minimise the impact. maybe similar could happen on that side.

 

unfortunately, they said it would be an 18 month rebuilding plan!!

 

Ipswich are not the only ones in this position though. What will happen to leicester if they fail to go up in the next 2 or 3 years, or Cardiff?

 

true, many, many clubs are in this precarious position. its an all-or-nothing situation for most, and unfortunately, there are only ever three promotion places available, so they can't all make it. it does make you wonder how the local businesses would react if it happened to ipswich for a second time in a decade though... they aren't too enamoured with them as it stands, seeing as so many lost their money!

 

I would like to say that 25,000 from 500,000 is still 5% of the population - not a bad statistic considering the geography of the county and the demographics. I wonder how other clubs fair.

 

Councils can sell land off if they so desire it'll involve committees etc and take an age etc BUT it can be done but only if it's in the public interest, example being old infant schools no longer in use. Norfolk County Council undertook an internal review on what services could be put in them and when it concluded that they didn't need the buildings they can then dispose of them getting the public best value.

In short it can be done

 

Thanks for clarifying Rich.

I do still doubtit will be done though. Closing that road in a match day means theat in effect there is a quite wide concourse there to enable safe access to the stadium for supporters. Bearing in mind that a new stand would mean more supporters I think it makes this area even more important. The Police would be very reluctant to close Koblenz Ave.