NOT REALLY A "TOLD YOU SO" but preseason a number of peeps were "humming" with regular crowds of 22,000 plus? ! I could not really see that happening as so called "sold out" crowds last season albeit in a greatly reduced capacity, less than 16000, were usually some where in the 15,200 + range. it was expected that the first few games with the novelty of the new stand and the 2 of 3 relegated prem teams making an appearance it would be "excessively" higher Pre season I was expecting crowds of up to 17,500 to be nearer the mark as the season settled down even with an improved squad, to get to 200,000 OF season total 350,000 spectators the gates with the following 10 - 12/13 teams Newcastle .............22,512 ..... EXPECTED but restrictions Villa ..........................21,099 ..... Expected at least 1000 more Norwich ................... Derby ........................19, 451 .... ... poor expected over 20,000 Brighton Wolves Birmingham Sheff Leeds ..............................next up, mid week expecting 17,500 Cardiff .... .....Reading Notts F ............................ sat after LEEDS expecting 19,000 Fulham IMO if the results drop off so will the crowds anyway, but above average results better than WDLWDLWDL like WDLWWDLWD and crowds drop my worst fears as predicted up to 17,500 is what in this division we can expect
It all depends on our league position, and our playing style. If we can put a string of good results together starting Saturday, the interest will pick up. The alternative could be a little embarrassing tbh
From what I understand, the ground safety situation didn't really allow for much bigger attendances against Newcastle and Aston Villa and we've kicked off the new season right in the middle of the holiday time too with the biggest crowd draws at the same time. After chucking 5 points away against Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday, a smaller crowd against Derby was almost inevitable. People always vote with their feet. Had we got 6 points from those games I would have expected 22,000 or more against Derby as we'd have been 3rd in the league going into that game. If we up our game and climb the league a little, I'd expect us to average around 20,000 hopefully.
We were getting crowds of 18,000 + back in the other Johnson era so where, other than a smarter looking joined up stadium, was the upgrade spent. I know I'll get stick but I was expecting a regular attendance in the low to mid twenties tbh, but that's what happens to we mere minions living in the dominions who rely on our 606 lot to deliver the real facts. Undoubtedly we have a nicely updated and shining new stadium, along with the other upgrades, that are supposed to enhance the experience, and yet I wanted so much to see larger crowds to generate the extra revenue to move the club forward and have been disappointed the attendances. Are there still issues with the development permits and sign-off, or is what we see what we get for the future? Quite sadly there is a chance that I may never get the opportunity to see the revised Ashton Gate in person any time soon but yet my Bristol City heart still beats to only one tune and I was so hoping to see regular crowds of 23,500 to boost my pulse but it doesn't look like that will happen. Is this rusting hulk out on the west coast of Canada losing his mind or was there mention in the not too distant past of attendances in the mid twenties for this season or was a figment of my imagination? Anyway there must be more important fish to fry than that for those closer to the plot line.
We regularly got gates of 27,000 or so in the old 1st Division, and a successful Bristol City in the Championship ought to be capable of drawing crowds of 24,000 plus.
I totally agree, and although form is a factor in the attendances, we need the boost that large crowds bring with them
They are at least trying things.. I cant see Lansdown getting punters in a head lock and dragging them in though. You have to get kids and and make it habit forming for them. http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/city-open-top-tier-for-blackburn-offer-3318382.aspx
The time for building our future is now and the revamped stadium must surely be considered a key factor in the process. Extra revenue from the gate is supposed to be a major component in the rebuild of Bristol City.
So annoying that attendances only go up when teams (any not just us) do well. I and many of you are there every home game regardless of the result. Started 47 years ago, so its not going to change now- Like to think we do our bit. Guess its a bit like Wembley, when we got 38,000.Wonder how many have been since?
Sorry but I said on another thread years ago that we should outgrow a stadium rather than grow into one. It's like buying a skyscraper office tower and then try to grow your small business into it. SL and Bristol Sport certainly have a plan, but I would have invested those millions in the squad and worried about the capacity of the stadium when I had a waiting list.
Different era back then, the only way you got to see live football in those days was to go, there was no Sky and only MOTD highlights. The risk was always that we wouldn't get the crowds which the main reason I was against the move to a new stadium, no point having a half empty soulless bowl, ask Cov or Donny. The AG revamp was always as much about off field revenue as on field. Give it time.
Mr Lansdown would not have been able to increase his spending (he is already) on the squad without the stadium redevelopment. The redevelopment was not about increasing capacity, its focus was primarily about creating a base to increase revenue much of it away from football. As for City gates a 15% increase will be nothing to be sniffed at. City only averaged 16000 or so in 1976. Football is a hard sell with a small club in a City with a history of ignoring both City and the Gas.
True but the citys population and surrounding areas has also grown a lot in the meantime. The punters are there, the club just need the attractive package on the field and they'll fly in. We got 37,000 against Leeds in the '74 FA Cup 5th round and 38,000 against Liverpool in round 6. I'd like to think that should we reach the Prem and be able to redevelop the Atyeo, then we might see figures like that again one day.
But who can forget Jimmy Hill's assessment of Gerry Gow who made player of the week, and Keith Fear's goal against mighty Leeds ? There was no Sky of course (in the TV sense) but MOTD was well and truly in full flow. But much as Top of the Pops inspired the kids to go out and buy vinyl. MOTD inspired the kids to want to emulate their heroes in the park on Sunday. I don't really blame TV for the demise of crowds at football matches, so much as the greed of directors in charging too much at the turnstiles (often driven by the need to balance the books when faced with the rising cost of competing for quality players), and the advent of computer entertainments. Oh, and shopping.
Our average attendance is currently showing us 9th in the Division and up 33% on last year. That's not too shabby for a mid table team who was flirting with relegation last season
Last saturday I parked in the industrial estate Avonline car park. We were back in the car before 5 and got out on to Winterstoke road at 5-30pm, it took another 30 minutes to get past Parson street. In 1977 with 38,000 in the ground I was home 15 miles away in less than 40 minutes. Bas**rd traffic !
It's certainly got a lot worse over the years, not helped by the stupid amount of unnecessary traffic lights that stop you on a main road at 05.00 for no reason. Lets heat up the planet, and cause wear and tear on peoples cars for no reason shall we ? A-holes I'm working from 11.00 - 19.30 this week at Aztec West, and the M4, M32 and A37 are still really busy on my way home
How lucky I am to live in a place where traffic is never a problem but I can't see my beloved team every week. Win some lose some I guess.
INSTANCE OF GREED ... 36,000 PAYING £27 PER ANNUM .. there was a need to do some major building repair work 0f £250,000 the £27 just about covered normal running expenses and a little bit over, about £50k in the kitty .. so annual sub was hiked up to £33 with the provisio it would drop back a "few quid" next year, and year after then be fixed for up to 3 years after year 1 ... 36,000 x 27 = £972,000 in first year of renewals 35,500 @ 33 = £1,171, 500 gain of £199,500 building work was done minimum bank charges and almost zero in kitty! year 2 (payment was made annually on date member joined so income was spread ..) 33,000 only paid the £33 = an increase of £117,000 however running costs had risen and 2 salaries were increased net result was £67,000 in the bank year 3 after a large number of meetings with concern over the payment being maintained and not reduced and annual bills running costs estimated at £1m it stayed result = 28500 x 33 = 940,500 it was a break even as less members = less running cost year 4 just over 25,000 paid in, subs upped by £2 , greedy git at top was sacked ex members were "bribed with cheap membership" .......... moral 33,000 paying £ 30 = would have been good ..and today who knows could be 40,000 paying the current fee or a pound or 2 less! it is easier to get 25,000 paying the same as 20,000 and when it goes up easier to spread over 25,00 than 20,000 if just 10% got to take 1 friend to 1 game work it yourself blame it on red trousers . he set the bench mark which is still currently being done screwing up the traffic flows in Bristol
I had a rush job to Lancaster given me, I was in Stockwood at 435pm, pick up by 1800! at Filton! I was at Filton at 1709 ... a4 m32 UP past UWE / ABBEY WOOD filton /a38...was I amazed! Job to Swindon today up by the pig on the hill .. station approach arnos court 1330 back there by 1520 ... top speed was 7o and a bit of 60 on the M4! .. 2 lucky days
