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Post by m20hatter on May 13, 2021 7:21:46 GMT
Is that not just retained fans from that period though? I started going in the 90s not cos of the success, purely because of age and following in my family’s footsteps. But I know there was a lot of newly attracted fans in that period. I personally highly doubt we’ve attracted many “new” fans between now and then. I reckon most of it will be generational and will have also benefited from larger population/families. You're misunderstanding what I said. At the end of the 80s/very early 90s we were getting around 1800 home fans roughly by the late 90s that had ridden to 6000-7000. A rise of around 250-280%. This time round we're starting at a base rate of around 3k but two divisions lower. If we have a similar growth we'd be looking at 11,000-12,000 home fans. That's before you add in away fans, those on ticket initiatives, freebies, etc... On away fans, away fan numbers at the top end of League 1 and the Championship have risen massively in recent decades, remember playing teams in our Championship days like Forest who you'd expect to bring 2k-3k bringing less than 1k. I'd say for away fans you'd need a stand or space holding a minimum of 2k - and preferably 3 or 4 k. Add in kids ticket initiatives Which I like to think would be around 1k or more a match (let's keep the fanbase growing). Based on all that and the fact you don't want to reach a point where tickets are regularly hard/tricky to get as you still want the casual fan, then easy to see how a ground of 15k-20k may be needed. It'll take a lot of hard work, a buzz, marketing etc...on/off pitch, and some luck, and patience. But it's possible, and we have that potential to grow. I do get your point but I’m saying the fans we have now are because of that success in the 90s though and that has sustained because of new blood into those families that started coming in the 90s. So I don’t think you’d see the same % rise if we were to do it again, in my opinion. Also the more successful you get the less likely you are to become someone’s second club. For example a premier league club fan isn’t going to pick a Championship club as their second team. Especially if the game becomes effectively the same at that level with VAR etc. It would be the difference they crave. Having been a student in a second city. I can vouch for not wanting or being able to pay much to get in. I also can’t see HS2 making any difference whatsoever. Anyone willing to leave London will already be an armchair fan and will stay that way. The second club will be the fashionable non-league club, churning out craft ale and locally produced pies in the stands and charging sod all to get in. South Shields are a great example - capitalising on how bad Sunderland are is a big part of their success, unfortunately can’t see our local big boys heading that way. I’m happy to be proven wrong but I think a 15K capacity will always be more than enough. |
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Post by timberwolf on May 13, 2021 7:43:26 GMT
We missed a big chance in 97/98 with the pricing structure IMO. More sensible pricing at that point could possibly have seen us push towards the 10,000 mark on a regular basis, but from memory it was more a consistent 7,000 with the 10 for the bigger (City) games. spot on. you can also add the extra we had to pay for those cup games and the riverside fiasco. people have long memeries and the PR from the club in those days was shocking. |
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Post by timberwolf on May 13, 2021 7:54:25 GMT
on the other hand look at what we started with in the 90s and what we ended up with in the 90s. Our base supporter base is now 2 or 3 times that. Imagine if we grow at the same rate. but then we,d only get back to where we were in the GO GO GO days of the mid 60,s. nearly every club, especially outside the premier league will always for an average season get a minimum and maximum gate. when the team are really going well this will go up but only to a certain level. with the cost of football and the hype of the premier league 15,000 EP regulars will never happen even in my grandchildrens life unless the game changes so much in the future. County will never be for everyone even if you lived in hardcastle road. there will be people and families who have given it a go but found it wasn,t for them. same as when we moved from the north east. halifax, huddersfield and the 2 bradford clubs were not for me and my old man even though thousands were happy with em every saturday. |
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Post by tgttiw on May 13, 2021 7:59:54 GMT
OK I would ensure that kids tickets are affordable pocket money level. I started going in 95 as it was £3 for kids. My Sunday paper round paid that. £2 on the train and going to County was pocket money level for me. My dad and myself were Liverpool fans but not a regulars. I simply started going as I could rock up pay my £3 and get in. No planning like city or United just pay on the gate. That's got to be our usp compared to city and united. I'm not knocking the work the co op did in the pop side far from it, but if someone had a free ticket one week and saw it was pocket money level they might be back the next. Then after a couple of times you've got them. The way the ground is set up the upper ties tiers in the Cheadle get a good atmosphere. So what I'm saying is maintain a good entry level price like brendan did back in the 90s. I’m pretty sure a season ticket for a kid at the time was £23. I certainly remember it being something ridiculous like a £1 a game & also our dad blagging we were kids for a couple more seasons than we probably should have done. My kids are too young to go to the match so I have zero idea of costing. Sounds like County have been doing an excellent job on this front long may it continue. |
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Post by timberwolf on May 13, 2021 10:19:13 GMT
I’m pretty sure a season ticket for a kid at the time was £23. I certainly remember it being something ridiculous like a £1 a game & also our dad blagging we were kids for a couple more seasons than we probably should have done. My kids are too young to go to the match so I have zero idea of costing. Sounds like County have been doing an excellent job on this front long may it continue. thats one area we can never knock the club on. they must realize how difficult it could be to bring a kid to EP when all they hear from their mates will be united, city or another greedy league club. then they watch the box and it underlines all this big club propaganda. |
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Post by tgttiw on May 13, 2021 10:22:11 GMT
My kids are too young to go to the match so I have zero idea of costing. Sounds like County have been doing an excellent job on this front long may it continue. thats one area we can never knock the club on. they must realize how difficult it could be to bring a kid to EP when all they hear from their mates will be united, city or another greedy league club. then they watch the box and it underlines all this big club propaganda. True timber, however if either one of my 2 decides to support the Manc 2 then I shall have something to say! |
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Post by timberwolf on May 13, 2021 10:34:17 GMT
True timber, however if either one of my 2 decides to support the Manc 2 then I shall have something to say! cut em out of your will. holidays in barrow. meals of bread and water. and if that does not work bring in social services. |
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Post by tgttiw on May 13, 2021 11:44:55 GMT
True timber, however if either one of my 2 decides to support the Manc 2 then I shall have something to say! cut em out of your will. holidays in barrow. meals of bread and water. and if that does not work bring in social services. Lol I wonder what my wife the social worker would make of the last action 🤔 |
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Post by mattyovrio on May 13, 2021 11:55:42 GMT
I’m pretty sure a season ticket for a kid at the time was £23. I certainly remember it being something ridiculous like a £1 a game & also our dad blagging we were kids for a couple more seasons than we probably should have done. My kids are too young to go to the match so I have zero idea of costing. Sounds like County have been doing an excellent job on this front long may it continue. Not too young to go buddy. Mine have been going since 3 months old. Others started even earlier! |
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Post by m20hatter on May 13, 2021 18:15:13 GMT
I’m pretty sure a season ticket for a kid at the time was £23. I certainly remember it being something ridiculous like a £1 a game & also our dad blagging we were kids for a couple more seasons than we probably should have done. My kids are too young to go to the match so I have zero idea of costing. Sounds like County have been doing an excellent job on this front long may it continue. It used to get you into a family lounge under the CE too where there’d be food available and drinks to buy. Was awesome, felt like we were in corporate and you felt very important walking out of the lounge directly to your seats. I assume they still do something similar. |
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Post by timberwolf on May 14, 2021 8:01:29 GMT
It used to get you into a family lounge under the CE too where there’d be food available and drinks to buy. Was awesome, felt like we were in corporate and you felt very important walking out of the lounge directly to your seats. I assume they still do something similar. yes, for ordinary fans as well. can anyone see that happening at our big neighbours. yes possibly but at what cost. |
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Post by stonerose on May 14, 2021 8:39:46 GMT
My kids are too young to go to the match so I have zero idea of costing. Sounds like County have been doing an excellent job on this front long may it continue. Not too young to go buddy. Mine have been going since 3 months old. Others started even earlier! As much as I'd like to take my lad at 2.5 years old it would just be a ball ache and he'd have no interest in the game at all, for that reason it'll be a while until he starts joining me at games. |
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Post by tgttiw on May 14, 2021 8:59:22 GMT
We missed a big chance in 97/98 with the pricing structure IMO. More sensible pricing at that point could possibly have seen us push towards the 10,000 mark on a regular basis, but from memory it was more a consistent 7,000 with the 10 for the bigger (City) games. spot on. you can also add the extra we had to pay for those cup games and the riverside fiasco. people have long memeries and the PR from the club in those days was shocking. If we had the extra space they could be flexible with the pricing structure. Eg Blackburn rovers in the Premier league charged £250 Season tickets in the Darwen end, but this didn't include the big North West clubs as they got the whole end. But I agree with your point about 97/98, although if we had invested in ep then I think we would have grown the fan base. |
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Post by suedehead on May 14, 2021 9:00:00 GMT
Not too young to go buddy. Mine have been going since 3 months old. Others started even earlier! As much as I'd like to take my lad at 2.5 years old it would just be a ball ache and he'd have no interest in the game at all, for that reason it'll be a while until he starts joining me at games. I took my daughter at six weeks and my lad at 15 days. Dead easy at that age as they're strapped to you and pretty much sleep all the way through it. Took my daughter again (as punishment for staying out too late the night before) a few times when she was about 9 months and that was just about manageable but wouldn't take either of them again now until they're at least 5/6, exactly the same reasons as you. |
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Post by Nik on May 14, 2021 9:21:12 GMT
I took my daughter at 5 and I think you're right about that being the right age. First game was the 5-1 against FC United, so at least it was a decent one to keep her attention.
Even now (well, 15 months ago), she gets a bit bored by the slower games but she loves the spectacle of being there.
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