Living in NW Kent as I do.....I notice that Charlton Athletic don't miss a trick in bringing in those extra fans. Regular advertising in local papers and special input to schools help keep the turnstiles turning........generally 15000 plus each home game......OK they are top of the league........but even without that they keep that sought of number flowing through the gates..........good friendly club and good atmosphere. A tip for Argyle to consider..........My son phoned me the other night, saying that he was taking his nearly 7yrs old son along to the Stevenage match soon, and he had already phoned my son-in-law and his 9yr old son to check if they were interested.......they had all gone at various times in the past because of school offers from Charlton...........the end result is that they are all going and my son was checking me out to see if I want to tag along.......so five of us going at £5 a head.......adult or child......£25 for all of us. OK Stevenage are not one of the more glamorous clubs but aren't they doing well, during the last few seasons. My son until family commitments had to take preferance was a season ticket holder (I'm sorry I did try and bring him up right) he is keen on football.......my son-in-law,has no sporting interested at all, my two grandsons are interested but not really playing. They are being introduced to football,big crowds,floodlighting the atmosphere of a successful club......my son-in-laws son would not have experienced that.....with a non-sporting father in normal circumstances. Of course I'm only going to see how sick-note Bradley's getting on .....something like 35 goals after leaving Plymouth for peanuts........I think Reading definately miss out there....worrying about his dodgy knee. So I hope you will forgive me for going.........a male bonding time of course is how I see It........and of course seeing old sick-note trying to score more goals. Five pounds each whether your Senior,child or adult...........Twenty Five pounds they wouldn't of got under normal circumstances.......must be good business and introducing young people to professional football, future regulars who knows ?
Given the location of Charlton wouldn't you say with the other sporting attractions in the near vicinity they HAVE to be inventive rather than wanting to be? There is no evidence to support the theory that Argyle would get anymore than a few hundred if the prices were a lot less. This would mean losing money rather than gaining any and they haven't got other attractions around have they. All credit to Charlton for what they are doing but it would not work everywhere. We are not in any financial position to be looking to the future supporters even if it would be nice to be able to.
Hi sensible.......empty seats is losing money.......sit a bum on it at a fiver a time......who's missing out ? Yes I agree there are alternatives in South London for football........although Charlton is recognized as NW Kent's obvious club.......Gillingham too far for those on the fringes of London. C Palace more Surrey direction for Fans although I know some around here....only 30 mins away. Millwall is like chalk and cheese compared to Charlton not a nice afternoon out......fans more S London, New Cross,Deptford,Lewisham, and Camberwell. Any further in and it's hard to park a car.....Fulham.QPR,and Chelsea hard to get tickets. You've got to get them young or there elsewhere.......generally loitering in the big shopping Malls looking totally bored.
But my point is plymborn that if you only put a few extra bums on seats then it is a loss maker rather than a gain and Argyle have to budget for today sadly rather than build the future just yet. There will come a time when they can but it just isn't now.
I think if it's targeted at otherwise unattractive games (e.g. perhaps Barnet on a February Tuesday night), then it could be a good idea. The ones that would complain of course are season ticket holders whose purchase is devalued..... I got onto MK Dons mailing list when I bought tickets for Argyle's away game there last year (?). I have mentioned it before, but they are actually even more sophisticated: as far as I can tell they make special offers not only for specific games but also to specific post codes. This means that Argyle could offer promotional prices to the further reaches of North & West Cornwall, North Devon etc where travel costs are a disincentive to attend.
This is one season ticket holder who would not moan. But some would I agree. Like the post code idea and at say £10 a ticket then an extra 200 to 500 with luck would be better than empty seats and nothing in those circumstances because those people would not normally come at all anyway.
