So we're (hoping to) get a new stadium....so the next question is how do we fill it....? The old saying of "build it and the people will come" works for the top 7 or so teams, but what about Wigan, botlon etc at home? this is how they (attempt to) do it out here.... 1. All public transport to the game is free for anyone with a ticket or saying they are going to the Suncorp. Thas buses and trains from all suburbs no matter how far away. 2. Hundreds of laser ticketing guys get you in the ground in next to no time. 3. Pre game outside, Goals put up for beat the keeper, 1 on 1 and hardest shot - target set by actual players..( i got 103 klms/ph!). 4. GOD KNOWS how many food and beer outlets... 5. Half time - in each corner 5 a-side goals put up (in seconds) and local kids teams play out a match. Home team has a team and local schools & cumminity groups get an invite. Also visiting team has 2 little teams playing. Boys and girls allowed. Definately draws a lot of intrest from away supporters. Would you go if your daughter could play away at bolton or the like? 6. Good crowd control, but over here we dont have the same passion (except origin nights) that is prevalent in England, europe...or anywhere outside Aus really !! 7. free transport home for the rest of night, so if you stop for a few beers somewhere, transport will still take you home, within reason! i supose the transport thing is a hark back to the days of the "football specials", on the train etc, Only they (notice i dint say we...yet) do it properly! Thats just the starters. You have to understand the average mentality of the fans i suppose. I think with some of those measures, tourists & other visitors to the Capital ( of whom we will rely on to some extent) will choose us over other teams. i honestly believe if we can get a 35k stadium in 3 years, we can and will fill it, consistently in a couple of years. remember when Man city built thier ground/ It was half empty for the first 2 seasons....Look at it now. TF and the board are smart cookies....its all going up, and if we have to sell out (just a little bit!) then so be it. Our supporters will always have the knowledge that we have a lot more dignity than some othe clubs who have been here.... GOD..I aam SO F-ING HAPPY RIGHT NOW !!! Thanks to all those that Kept the faith !! Flyer- thats my saying right? from our old board from 5 years ago? got it from "Blazin Saddles"...thanks Mel!!! gonna shut up now as i could go on for ever....any other ideas on filling it welcome?.........
The construction of any new ground is a 3 yr project probably. That gives time for Hughes to step up to the plate and carry out his end of the deal. Assemble a good side playing attractive football. Then........... win, continually, inc European games. It'll be easy then.
What? I applied for a platinum season ticket and got nothing. Told to go away. If that's any indication of demand we'll be fine.
lower the price of a ticket £20-£30 for wigan, norwich etc and maybe £30-£45 for the big teams. Sure TF has already thought of this though
All non GB resident supporters should get in free................. If I added up the price of flights and hotels and converted to match ticket prices, I, among others would in theory be season ticket holders after 3 games. what's the chance?
Just be patient I guess. Realistic ticket prices with some relative success and decent marketing and there's no reason why we can't get 30,000. Fulham were getting 5000 at home not a million years ago and get close to 30000 every week now (albeit 200 and a dog away from home). The Catch 22 is that it could hinder the atmosphere. If the Tarquins and tourists start turning up then it'll be increasingly tough to sustain the sort of atmosphere Loftus Road can, though a lot would depend on the design of any new stadium. A soulless Coventry/Leicester/Southampton design and I may just cry.
Success on the pitch will always be the key to filling the ground, a team doing well will always attract punters. Secondly, decent facilities, you don't want to queueing for 45 minutes in a dark smelly toilet to have a pee! I don't think transport is an issue, Tottenham isn't the easiest to get to by public transport, and they have no problems selling out. Warford_R, they want to retain the LR type atmosphere by having the crowd close to the pitch as it is now. They've obviously realised how much a difference this makes.
I think it's far easier said than done. If all P, Q and R block season ticket holders could be re-allocated to directly behind the goal of a new ground it would be a start.
Could that work for us a s well?!! i think i most own a small part of LR with the amount it costs us !! looking at the designs, previous stadiums built by these guys, i fear our proximity to the pitch may not be the same as LR. Maybe its time to move away from that design and progress....with a decent team we wont need that 12th man anyway!! Be a shame though IMHO
I think we have a natural fan base of 25,000 and new supporters will jump on the bandwagon when success comes. You can't really use Wigan as a comparison as they were non-league 35 years ago and are a Rugby League stronghold. The Fulham comparison is very apt and I would expect us to have 25,000 easily for the less attractive games and sellouts for the local derbies and big boys. The key is to establish as a top ten side...
The fans are always an important factor. It can be done, as some new grounds (mostly abroad) have shown. New grounds in this country are almost always **** due to lazy/cheap design.
totally agree mate, but not at the cost of a new stadium. The board will know that it makes a diffrence but wil have to put that against / with stadium design, team progression, plans for expansion etc...could well be we loose our proximity to the pitch, which is what we love, its what we are known for and its what other teams fear....but thats the price we may have to pay....mixed emotions from me so i guess you ST holders will be distraught?
My thoughts precisely, He gets the publicity, with his new plane in QPR colours, going into Heathrow. We get a serious buzz and more money for beer. Its a win win
