Attendances

[SydneyTiger14]

While obviously we're all very passionate about City, we would represent perhaps the 10% (or 1%?) of fans who are this devoted. There would be countless people who are happy to check sports scores occasionally and consider themselves a supporter of one side over another even if they rarely ever watch them play because their life doesn't revolve around sport. I can't fathom it myself, but some people do just have other interests. Even my wife who I would say is reasonably sports nutty as far people go, will watch games or go to matches if I'm going but if I didn't mention current events for our local team to her, half the time she wouldn't realise such and such player is injured, or got dropped, etc. And at the end of the day some people are content with only watching/following a team loosely.

 

[HCAFC (Airlie Tiger)]

I think sometimes you need to take a step back and have some perspective. I was born in the 80’s and grew up in the 90’s, when I first went City with my old man we were averaging less than 4K.

If you told me just a few years later we’d be playing in a modern stadium, in front of 20K fans, in the top half of the Championship it would have seemed like a dream.

I’m grateful for the club and fanbase we do have, I’m not envious of what we don’t have. We’re not the best fans in the world, we don’t travel in the biggest numbers and we don’t sell out every week, but does it really matter?

We have a culture and identity at City that not many clubs have.

If you’re from Hull and support Arsenal it means nothing, you have no connection to that team, it says nothing about who you are and realistically you know nothing about what it means to be a football supporter. I actually feel sorry for those people, they don’t get to experience what we do, a last minute winner against Oxford means more to us than winning the Champions League will mean to them.

 

[HCAFC (Airlie Tiger)]

Something people neglect to mention is how **** it is if your club sell out every week and you can’t get a ticket.

Leeds have a huge waiting list for season tickets and normal match day tickets go into a ballot that’s massively over subscribed. Most people have to pay £300+ for hospitality to get a chance to go.

On top of that their prices go up 15% a year, just because they can, you either pay it or lose your seat.

If we were in that situation we wouldn’t be moaning about attendances, we’d be moaning about the price and not being able to get a ticket, bottom line is we’d still be moaning!

 

[Trumpton Tiger.]

Something people neglect to mention is how **** it is if your club sell out every week and you can’t get a ticket.

Leeds have a huge waiting list for season tickets and normal match day tickets go into a ballot that’s massively over subscribed. Most people have to pay £300+ for hospitality to get a chance to go.

On top of that their prices go up 15% a year, just because they can, you either pay it or lose your seat.

If we were in that situation we wouldn’t be moaning about attendances, we’d be moaning about the price and not being able to get a ticket, bottom line is we’d still be moaning!

Above is true.
Our first ever season in the Premier League brought it home to me. I'd followed City all my life and often been ridiculed for it. Been to away games, like a lot of us, when our support was two coaches on a good day, Then all of sudden we had to join a lottery to get tickets for away games, thanks to Paul Duffen's ridiculous idea, loyalty no longer meant anything.
Liverpool away, first season in the Prem was the first tester. I was turned down for a ticket. I managed to get one eventually by begging. Dave Burns actually put an appeal on out on the radio for me and someone offered me their ticket. Someone I knew,
Got to Anfield and the away concourse was full of strangers. I saw my own brother who was a Liverpool 'fan' although had never been to Anfield until that day stood there grinning with his mate, a bloke from Hull who 'supported' Manchester United. Both used to laugh at me for supporting Hull City. Other life long City fans I knew personally were sat at home unable to get tickets.
Sat behind me in the East Stand were different Premier League tourists every week, people from Hull there to watch the opposition, cheer for them when they scored and sit in silence when we did.
Not a great experience.
But that is the essence of modern football I'm afraid and it will happen again if ever we do manage to get promoted again.
.

 

[originallambrettaman]

Highest EFL attendances last weekend...

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[Christophalophados]

Highest Championship attendances last weekend...

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I guess it's EFL rather than Championship, given Bolton are on there

 

[originallambrettaman]

I guess it's EFL rather than Championship, given Bolton are on there

Amended

 

[Cortez91]

Above is true.
Our first ever season in the Premier League brought it home to me. I'd followed City all my life and often been ridiculed for it. Been to away games, like a lot of us, when our support was two coaches on a good day, Then all of sudden we had to join a lottery to get tickets for away games, thanks to Paul Duffen's ridiculous idea, loyalty no longer meant anything.
Liverpool away, first season in the Prem was the first tester. I was turned down for a ticket. I managed to get one eventually by begging. Dave Burns actually put an appeal on out on the radio for me and someone offered my their ticket. Someone I knew,
Got to Anfield and the away concourse was full of strangers. I saw my own brother who was a Liverpool 'fan' although had never been to Anfield until that day stood there grinning with his mate, a bloke from Hull who 'supported' Manchester United. Both used to laugh at me for supporting Hull City. Other life long City fans I knew personally were sat at home unable to get tickets.
Sat behind me in the East Stand were different Premier League tourists every week, people from Hull there to watch the opposition, cheer for them when they scored and sit in silence when we did.
Not a great experience.
But that is the essence of modern football I'm afraid and it will happen again if ever we do managed to get promoted again.
.

Sadly remember this all too well too.

 

[originalminority]

Above is true.
Our first ever season in the Premier League brought it home to me. I'd followed City all my life and often been ridiculed for it. Been to away games, like a lot of us, when our support was two coaches on a good day, Then all of sudden we had to join a lottery to get tickets for away games, thanks to Paul Duffen's ridiculous idea, loyalty no longer meant anything.
Liverpool away, first season in the Prem was the first tester. I was turned down for a ticket. I managed to get one eventually by begging. Dave Burns actually put an appeal on out on the radio for me and someone offered my their ticket. Someone I knew,
Got to Anfield and the away concourse was full of strangers. I saw my own brother who was a Liverpool 'fan' although had never been to Anfield until that day stood there grinning with his mate, a bloke from Hull who 'supported' Manchester United. Both used to laugh at me for supporting Hull City. Other life long City fans I knew personally were sat at home unable to get tickets.
Sat behind me in the East Stand were different Premier League tourists every week, people from Hull there to watch the opposition, cheer for them when they scored and sit in silence when we did.
Not a great experience.
But that is the essence of modern football I'm afraid and it will happen again if ever we do managed to get promoted again.
.

Got to go to Anfield with City a game after that, Hull bloke next to me constantly telling me all about the fabulous Liverpool team, a lass in front in a home made half & half shirt!
After the obvious highs of that era I count beating Liverpool 3 times in a row at home in my top ten because of the joy in getting one over these local plastics.

 

[Evington]

This may support or negate one or other side of the discussion

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly137089yyo

Top of the league?

Middlesborough

 

[Muffinthegoat]

My son in law is from London and supports Arsenal. He’s seen them play in Europe, and in several cup finals. I’ve seen City play at 130 different grounds, he’s definitely jealous of me and my City experiences, whereas I couldn’t give a toss about his.

 

[Jim the Tiger]

Above is true.
Our first ever season in the Premier League brought it home to me. I'd followed City all my life and often been ridiculed for it. Been to away games, like a lot of us, when our support was two coaches on a good day, Then all of sudden we had to join a lottery to get tickets for away games, thanks to Paul Duffen's ridiculous idea, loyalty no longer meant anything.
Liverpool away, first season in the Prem was the first tester. I was turned down for a ticket. I managed to get one eventually by begging. Dave Burns actually put an appeal on out on the radio for me and someone offered my their ticket. Someone I knew,
Got to Anfield and the away concourse was full of strangers. I saw my own brother who was a Liverpool 'fan' although had never been to Anfield until that day stood there grinning with his mate, a bloke from Hull who 'supported' Manchester United. Both used to laugh at me for supporting Hull City. Other life long City fans I knew personally were sat at home unable to get tickets.
Sat behind me in the East Stand were different Premier League tourists every week, people from Hull there to watch the opposition, cheer for them when they scored and sit in silence when we did.
Not a great experience.
But that is the essence of modern football I'm afraid and it will happen again if ever we do managed to get promoted again.
.

That is exactly how it feels at both Man City and Man Utd unless you go into the very hardcore fan areas. To quote an infamous phrase 'the game is gone'.

 

[HHH]

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Probably relevant to the discussion.

 

[djsowtz]

Got to go to Anfield with City a game after that, Hull bloke next to me constantly telling me all about the fabulous Liverpool team, a lass in front in a home made half & half shirt!
After the obvious highs of that era I count beating Liverpool 3 times in a row at home in my top ten because of the joy in getting one over these local plastics.

The day we beat Liverpool when Niasse scored, I was there with my family. Now my Dad is stiff upper lip “”Yorkshire”, doesn’t like it when I get stuck in. So I told them to go in and I stayed out waiting for the Liverpool team. There was a barrier and crowd gathered and there’s me expecting everyone to give them a bit of gyp. Did they ****, everyone starts clapping them off. I’m screaming at them, not too abusively I’m not a Neanderthal, but enough to give them a bit of ****e, then I’m shouting at our fans, why are you not giving them ****e and everyone is standing there looking at me as if I was a ****ing idiot. 2 police guys looking up at me laughing.

 

[djsowtz]

This may support or negate one or other side of the discussion

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly137089yyo

Top of the league?

Middlesborough

Interesting read. I find, up here, having worked in the communities, that there is a large proportion of “the less fortunate” will spend their money on take aways, cigarettes, alcohol, and ****e like crisps and sweets, not to mention weed. Can you apply this to football too? Can’t afford a holiday, but go to the game to “get away from life for a few hours”.

 

[petersaxton]

Prices in the Championship seem very reasonable although I only go to matches around London and watch the rest on the stream
I live a very frugal life
We dont usually go for holidays abroad because we prefer to go places in the UK with our dogs.
We dont smoke or drink (my wife may have a rare glass)
I'm not into clothes
We might have meals out but nothing fancy
At least it means that if we need to spend money on the car, house or my business we can
I think 12.30 kick offs affect attendances more than prices
The lack of continuity doesnt help. When I started following City the matches were 3 pm Saturday kick-offs with the odd treat of a match under floodlights.
The prices in the Premier League are a lot more expensive.
A few months ago I had three relatives over from Poland and they wanted to go to football. I couldnt get them tickets for the Premier League and they had to settle for AFC Wimbledon and the tickets were more expensive than City's. I think I paid about £35 each. I didnt go with them because I watched City.

 

[Trumpton Tiger.]

Prices in the Championship seem very reasonable although I only go to matches around London and watch the rest on the stream
I live a very frugal life
We dont usually go for holidays abroad because we prefer to go places in the UK with our dogs.
We dont smoke or drink (my wife may have a rare glass)
I'm not into clothes
We might have meals out but nothing fancy
At least it means that if we need to spend money on the car, house or my business we can
I think 12.30 kick offs affect attendances more than prices
The lack of continuity doesnt help. When I started following City the matches were 3 pm Saturday kick-offs with the odd treat of a match under floodlights.
The prices in the Premier League are a lot more expensive.
A few months ago I had three relatives over from Poland and they wanted to go to football. I couldnt get them tickets for the Premier League and they had to settle for AFC Wimbledon and the tickets were more expensive than City's. I think I paid about £35 each. I didnt go with them because I watched City.

Agree 100% about the 12.30 ko's plus those games can be seen live on various screening channels/SKY etc. No need to mess about with getting to the ground, parking etc, and home again, no need to leave your armchair. Doesn't do for me but I know plenty who prefer it especially as they get older.

 

[Jim the Tiger]

Prices in the Championship seem very reasonable although I only go to matches around London and watch the rest on the stream
I live a very frugal life
We dont usually go for holidays abroad because we prefer to go places in the UK with our dogs.
We dont smoke or drink (my wife may have a rare glass)
I'm not into clothes
We might have meals out but nothing fancy
At least it means that if we need to spend money on the car, house or my business we can
I think 12.30 kick offs affect attendances more than prices
The lack of continuity doesnt help. When I started following City the matches were 3 pm Saturday kick-offs with the odd treat of a match under floodlights.
The prices in the Premier League are a lot more expensive.
A few months ago I had three relatives over from Poland and they wanted to go to football. I couldnt get them tickets for the Premier League and they had to settle for AFC Wimbledon and the tickets were more expensive than City's. I think I paid about £35 each. I didnt go with them because I watched City.

Did you enjoy it at Wimbledon? For a little club the atmosphere can be amazing. Their hard-core behind the goal make a ton of noise. I went in there with my mate for a change and it was mad. Kid stood with his back to the pitch for about 15 minutes banging on the wall of the stand!

 

[Jim the Tiger]

Agree 100% about the 12.30 ko's plus those games can be seen live on various screening channels/SKY etc. No need to mess about with getting to the ground, parking etc, and home again, no need to leave your armchair. Doesn't do for me but I know plenty who prefer it especially as they get older.

What incentive does a fan have to go to Norwich tomorrow? It's already a pig of a drive, trains no better really and it's on tv. They need to think through this 12:30 stuff as it's going to cripple clubs with attendances.

 

[djsowtz]

What incentive does a fan have to go to Norwich tomorrow? It's already a pig of a drive, trains no better really and it's on tv. They need to think through this 12:30 stuff as it's going to cripple clubs with attendances.

I wonder what the original idea behind it was? Maybe to spice things up a bit, so that you get early results, then looking for later results to see what your team does in terms of league position, go up the table, down the table.

Is it to see if more fans would go to the Championship games because they can then watch the EPL later on, or keep an eye on the results. Are they hoping more people will go earlier because then they can make the dinner table at 5pm or they have a night out so can get ready in time? I do wonder.