[Archived] The Old Gate Debate

[Gav]

Today I was offered a bet that made me stop and think. Usually I’m more than willing to back my judgement when it comes to backing Blackburn Rovers but this bet got me thinking.........

Wigan's average gate over the season will be bigger than ours? i obviously disagreed.

To be even thinking about it shows just how far our home support has declined in recent times.

Should I take the bet or not......... £50.

[stuwilky]

Today I was offered a bet that made me stop and think. Usually I’m more than willing to back my judgement when it comes to backing Blackburn Rovers but this bet got me thinking.........

Wigan's average gate over the season will be bigger than ours? i obviously disagreed.

To be even thinking about it shows just how far our home support has declined in recent times.

Should I take the bet or not.........   £50.

335254[/snapback]

Yes.

I think ours is likely to remain fairly static at 23 - 24k

Wigans is likely to be a touch over 20k (or it better had be cos then 1864 will owe me a pint!!)

And as a little reminder 1864 - I am led to believe they have sold nearly 12k Season Tickets - better get saving the prices have gone up in the leyland gates again!!!

Edited July 27, 2005 by stuwilky

[den]

Dave Whelan said a few weeks ago, that he expected Wigan to average around 18000. I wonder how the away fans segregation works? If they have to give the away fans all of the stand behind the goals, then 18000 would be a good estimate.

[Manchester Blue]

Whilst ours may drop below the level of last year the fact that we will more or less sell out about 4 or 5 games should mean we keep our average above Wigan. I'd take the bet certainly. I do think with a good start our crowd will beat last year.

[Blackpool_Rover]

They used to give away fans a whole side. If they still do that were screwed. If not theres no chance of them beating our gate..especially with the good season were gonna have

[MCMC1875]

Mr Whelan is the entrepreneur that Jack was - he should be actively recruited immediately. Anyone listening?

[Claytons Left Boot]

As I understand it, away fans at the JJB will be given the North Stand, which holds 5,399 and not the East Stand (side) as previously.

The stadium capacity is 25,004 - take the bet GAV - I would expect Rovers to better them by a couple of thousand or more.

A harder decision would be which of the two teams will have the most home support. Again, I would take Rovers, but only just.

[colin]

Bit of a tough one to call.

The Wigan public will be all up for their first taste of premiership football whereas the Blackburn public are probably a bit jaded after a few seasons of survival.

Wigan is dead handy for both Liverpool & both Manchester clubs & as close as we are to Notlob.

They've got Warrington, St Helens, Ormskirk & Skelmersdale close by, none of which have a football presence. We've got Notlob, Preston & The Dingles all of which have.

Wigan is on the West Coast main line, so it's straight up there for the Midlanders.

Then there will be the away fans looking to add another ground to the collection.

He he he, bet that's got you thinking.

[Cocker]

Stay well away from that bet and find someone who supports bamber bridge and make the bet with them

[AlanK]

Go on Gav. You know you want to.

[AggyBlue]

Do a double or quits for who finishes higher in the league, that should see you safe

[roversWASmylife]

We'll have more fans than Wigan.

[AggyBlue]

Yes, we have many more fans than the pie eaters but how many are prepared to pay and watch games on a regular basis?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Whilst ours may drop below the level of last year the fact that we will more or less sell out about 4 or 5 games should mean we keep our average above Wigan.

335261[/snapback]

Mmmmmmm we didn't have a single sell-out last season....v Utd 26,000!!!!

[bob fleming]

Not so sure Gav, Wigan fans will be on a new bandwagon rather than Rugby League (which is going pear shaped at the moment for them), it's a new stadium for away fans to visit, free pie tasting at half time, one season in the premiership. It's a novelty thing for all concerned.

It'll be close I reckon. £50? Make it a fiver. Then again, it's not my money - do it man! Do it for Blackburn Rovers!

[stuwilky]

Mmmmmmm we didn't have a single sell-out last season....v Utd 26,000!!!!

335347[/snapback]

Over 29 v Newcastle though.

Gav - make sure its League games only - we dont want the sub 10k cup crowds affecting the average!!!

[cn174]

Not so sure Gav, Wigan fans will be on a new bandwagon rather than Rugby League (which is going pear shaped at the moment for them)

335348[/snapback]

The rugby at the moment is pretty dire, if Wigan win one of their first few games then I can definately see loads of people who sometimes watch the rugby instead go and watch the football.

Although one limiting factor for the latics may be the colour of the seats. We went watching the first latics game at the JJB v Morecambe a few years back. The game was a rubbish 0-0. But the reason Wigan didn't win according to a few fans that we was talking to was because 'I'm sat on a bloody red seat, no wonder we're not winning'!! When many people bought their season ticket that year they weren't that bothered about what stand they were in, as long as it was a blue seat!

[Manchester Blue]

Mmmmmmm we didn't have a single sell-out last season....v Utd 26,000!!!!

335347[/snapback]

Wasn't Newcastle & Liverpool both above 30,000 and both as good as sold out?

Or 29+ as Stu says. However the Man U game last year was on tv either way our average itself will be a couple of thousand more just because of the games we can get above their capacity i'd have thought.

Edited July 28, 2005 by Manchester Blue

[cn_barlow]

Wasn't Newcastle & Liverpool both above 30,000 and both as good as sold out?

335366[/snapback]

i seem to rememeber chelsea being a pretty big crowd also.

[stuwilky]

Chelsea was only about 23k

Everton and Liverpool both around 26k

Newcastle 29k+

[grizfoot]

Must of the people around Wigan like rugby (egg chasing) and they don't get that big crowds for footy matches.

[cn174]

Well towards the end of last season their home crowds probably averaged about 15,000, with the game v sunderland having over 20,000. Albeit the attendences were swelled by the away support but they get bigger crowds than you think.

[S15]

Has anyone seen the ticket prices for the Espanyol game???!!!

£15 FOR ADULTS??!!

Disgrase! I was going to go but that is just rediculous...

[cletus]

I think Rovers` attendances will be on average 4000 above Wigans!

I`m confident about it.

I say take the £50 bet.......it`s easy money!

Fair enough, they`ll have some great derby games that`ll fill their away end up (Man Ure, Citeh, Notlob, Neverton, Liverpoo & ).....but we also have all those teams at our place & we can offer them 8k tickets)

TAKE THAT BET!!!

[Glenn]

Has anyone seen the ticket prices for the Espanyol game???!!!

£15 FOR ADULTS??!!

Disgrase! I was going to go but that is just rediculous...

335406[/snapback]

I've just posted about this in the pre-seasons thread.

WHY is £15 too much ? It is hardly likely to cost Rovers any less to host than a Prem game so why should fans expect to get cheap tickets for it ?

(Replies to the other thread, it's more suitable than this thread).