[Archived] The Old Gate Debate

[only2garners]

Probably been said already but I completely disagree with that Hasta, there seems to be an increase of around 2500 home fans this season for the lower profile games, which is undoubtedly attributable to the new pricing initiatives.

There were also another 2500 - 3000 fans on top of that in home areas yesterday producing the first 30000 gate for nearly five years.

That must say something and again has to be attributable to the price reductions (tickets available from 25 quid as opposed to 36 quid in recent seasons) combined with our great recent form.

I think we actually now have two home matches which we can guarantee a 30K crowd, Liverpool and Man Utd. We have more or less done this in previous seasons with higher ticket prices and clearly the market for these two games could stand higher prices (not that I'm proposing it). This is not the case with the other two higher ticket price matches - Arsenal and Chelsea, mainly because of geography. With Liverpool and Man Utd there are large numbers of fans in the Lancashire area who can easily get on Rovers database - it only takes coming to another match (or even just buying a ticket). There were two behind me yesterday who were clearly local from their accents but were Liverpool fans and knew little or nothing about Rovers.

Overall crowds are significantly up on last season. ST numers are 20% up - overall it will be less because we have presumably converted a number of those who picked their matches last year into ST holders this year. It's also complicated though by the team's performance which must be encouraging a few more but will likely be negatively affected later on with kick-off changes for TV - notably the home match with Sunderland.

[Bob the Builder]

I do think that given time we can push the home gates up by another 2-3,000. I remember John Williams being quoted last year that he thought that people had got out of the habit of going to games because of price. I think it will take a few months or even seasons before they will all get back in the habit. It's is unfortunate that the games where we have had a particularly good home turnout, Bolton and Bayer last year and Liverpool, Larissa this, haven't been the best of games from a Rovers fan's perspective.

I personally think that given the catchment we have 22-23 average home isn't that bad. One of the more interesting things in the pricing structure this year was extra discounts given in the Riverside presumably to make the ground look fuller on TV and attract sponsors corporate tickets who want to be associated with a successful popular club. From my seat in the BBE the riverside has looked fuller than last year.

I compiled a table using this years attendance figures and population figures form the office of national statistics. Using these figures Rovers are the best supported club in the Premier league with nearly 17% of our catchment area coming to games. We are followed by Derby and Portsmouth, 'Big Club' for example would be getting 200,000 though the turnstiles every week if they did as well as we do. If I could work out who to paste a table into this post I would attatch it as it make quite interesting reading.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

TELL THEM ALL EWOOD IS THE PLACE TO BE!!

I hope the club gets the response it deserves!

[MCMC1875]

Don't despair.

In my 28 years experience, suuccessful Rovers sides generate increased crowds after Christmas.

Half-season tickets will play a part in this.

[adam]

There was more than 30,000 there. A friend who went in the Darwen End could not believe the lack of stewards. He said that for every ticket at least 2 were getting through the turnstyle and a lot were using children tickets. As the away supporters do not sit they can cram in more on the terraces.

Everton use the same computer ticket system but have someone on each turnstyle just to check. A lot had turned up even though they knew there were no tickets - but they did not need one!

[cletus]

looking at the italian league results this last weekend, Juventus (5th) vs Inter Milan (1st) had a gate of 23k & Lazio home game had a gate of 12k. is there a reason behind such low gates for supposed huge clubs with huge stadiums?

[sleepyjack]

Juve have had falling attendances ever since the late 90's. I think last year they had a cup game with an attendance of 250. This despite a few years ago having all women and children's season tickets priced at one Euro per game.

[Mattyblue]

Juve have had falling attendances ever since the late 90's. I think last year they had a cup game with an attendance of 250. This despite a few years ago having all women and children's season tickets priced at one Euro per game.

Yeah I think Juve arent massively supported in Turin but across Italy, yet it seems that the Sardinia Branch of their supporters club etc dont bother with the day trips like the Torquay Branch of the Manure fan club. Also their fans have never taken to the Stadio Deli Alpi (sp!) as its a crap ground on the edge of the city

[thenodrog]

Also their fans have never taken to the Stadio Deli Alpi (sp!) as its a crap ground on the edge of the city

Bloody good pies by the sound of it though.

[RevidgeBlue]

I think we actually now have two home matches which we can guarantee a 30K crowd, Liverpool and Man Utd. We have more or less done this in previous seasons with higher ticket prices and clearly the market for these two games could stand higher prices

Not true actually, the ManUre home game at the old category A+ prices only pulled in 26162 last season!

The Liverpool fixture pulled in 29342 but I suspect that that had more to do with it being boxing day and the cost of a ticket tends to pale into insignificance against the overall cost of the festive period.

[cletus]

Last Saturdays Liverpool game was the 19th biggest attendance at Ewood Park since the redevelopement of the Stadium & the biggest gate since march 2004 (again vs Liverpool). Here`s the top 50 Ewood attendances.....

.............(1-10)........................................

32,839 v Liverpool (99/00) FA Cup (4th rnd)

30,895 v Liverpool (95/96) prem lge

30,717 v Newcastle (95/96) prem lge

30,547 v Man Utd (97/98) prem lge

30,545 v Newcastle (94/95) prem lge (VE day)

30,487 v Fulham (01/02) prem lge

30,476 v Man Utd (96/97) prem lge

30,475 v Man Utd (02/03) prem lge

30,436 v Man Utd (98/99) prem lge

30,419 v Bolton W (95/96) prem lge

.............(11-20)..............................

30,398 v Newcastle (96/97) prem lge

30,388 v Tottenham (97/98) prem lge

30,263 v Liverpool (94/95) prem lge

30,260 v Man Utd (94/95) prem lge

30,187 v Liverpool (97/98) prem lge

30,125 v Sunderland (98/99) FA Cup (4th rnd)

30,115 v Liverpool (94/95) coca-cola cup (4th rnd)

30,074 v Liverpool (03/04) prem lge

30,033 v Liverpool (03/11/07) prem lge

30,004 v Tottenham (95/96) prem lge

..............(21-30)..........................................

29,946 v Newcastle (99/00) FA Cup (5th rnd)

29,944 v Liverpool (98/99) prem lge

29,913 v Man City (99-00) Div 1

29,869 v Sunderland (01/02) prem lge

29,843 v Man Utd (95/96) prem lge

29,840 v Arsenal (02/03) prem lge

29,836 v Man Utd (01/02) prem lge

29,834 v Arsenal (95/96) prem lge

29,698 v Celtic (02/03) UEFA cup (14/11/02)

29,643 v Tottenham (98/99) prem lge

..............(31-40)..........................

29,616 v Man Utd (03/04) prem lge

29,598 v Liverpool (96/97) prem lge

29,468 v Everton (95/96) prem lge

29,406 v Huddersfield T (00/01) Div 1

29,342 v Liverpool (06/07) prem lge

29,300 v Newcastle (97/98) prem lge

29,271 v newcastle (04/05) prem lge

29,207 v Liverpool (02/03) prem lge

29,142 v Liverpool (05/06) prem lge

28,915 v Man City (95/96) prem lge

..............(41-50)...........................

28,862 v Bolton W (02/03) prem lge

28,859 v Liverpool (01/02) prem lge

28,851 v Southampton (01/02) prem lge

28,647 v Man City (02/03) prem lge

28,627 v Arsenal (03/04) prem lge

28,561 v Leeds Utd (94/95) prem lge

28,309 v Leeds Utd (01/02) prem lge

28,212 v Arsenal (97/98) prem lge

28,005 v Crystal Palace (94/95) prem lge

27,996 v Boro (95/96) prem lge

...............................................................

I `think` all details are correct .....but please feel free to shoot me down in flames

Edited November 6, 2007 by cletus

[Ozz]

32,839 v Liverpool (99/00) FA Cup (4th rnd)-I think is a little optimistic Cletus, as it exceeds the ground capacity by about a thousand people!

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Last Saturdays Liverpool game was the 19th biggest attendance at Ewood Park since the redevelopement of the Stadium & the biggest gate since march 2004 (again vs Liverpool). Here`s the top 50 Ewood attendances.....

.............(1-10)........................................

32,839 v Liverpool (99/00) FA Cup (4th rnd)

30,895 v Liverpool (95/96) prem lge

30,717 v Newcastle (95/96) prem lge

30,547 v Man Utd (97/98) prem lge

30,545 v Newcastle (94/95) prem lge (VE day)

30,487 v Fulham (01/02) prem lge

30,476 v Man Utd (96/97) prem lge

30,475 v Man Utd (02/03) prem lge

30,436 v Man Utd (98/99) prem lge

30,419 v Bolton W (95/96) prem lge

.............(11-20)..............................

30,398 v Newcastle (96/97) prem lge

30,388 v Tottenham (97/98) prem lge

30,263 v Liverpool (94/95) prem lge

30,260 v Man Utd (94/95) prem lge

30,187 v Liverpool (97/98) prem lge

30,125 v Sunderland (98/99) FA Cup (4th rnd)

30,115 v Liverpool (94/95) coca-cola cup (4th rnd)

30,074 v Liverpool (03/04) prem lge

30,033 v Liverpool (03/11/07) prem lge

30,004 v Tottenham (95/96) prem lge

..............(21-30)..........................................

29,946 v Newcastle (99/00) FA Cup (5th rnd)

29,944 v Liverpool (98/99) prem lge

29,913 v Man City (99-00) Div 1

29,869 v Sunderland (01/02) prem lge

29,843 v Man Utd (95/96) prem lge

29,840 v Arsenal (02/03) prem lge

29,836 v Man Utd (01/02) prem lge

29,834 v Arsenal (95/96) prem lge

29,698 v Celtic (02/03) UEFA cup (14/11/02)

29,643 v Tottenham (98/99) prem lge

..............(31-40)..........................

29,616 v Man Utd (03/04) prem lge

29,598 v Liverpool (96/97) prem lge

29,468 v Everton (95/96) prem lge

29,406 v Huddersfield T (00/01) Div 1

29,342 v Liverpool (06/07) prem lge

29,300 v Newcastle (97/98) prem lge

29,271 v newcastle (04/05) prem lge

29,207 v Liverpool (02/03) prem lge

29,142 v Liverpool (05/06) prem lge

28,915 v Man City (95/96) prem lge

..............(41-50)...........................

28,862 v Bolton W (02/03) prem lge

28,859 v Liverpool (01/02) prem lge

28,851 v Southampton (01/02) prem lge

28,647 v Man City (02/03) prem lge

28,627 v Arsenal (03/04) prem lge

28,561 v Leeds Utd (94/95) prem lge

28,309 v Leeds Utd (01/02) prem lge

28,212 v Arsenal (97/98) prem lge

28,005 v Crystal Palace (94/95) prem lge

27,996 v Boro (95/96) prem lge

...............................................................

I `think` all details are correct .....but please feel free to shoot me down in flames

I was pretty sure we had two 30k + gates in 2000 in the old 1st division v Sheff Utd and Huddersfield. Or did I dream that?

[MarkBRFC]

32,839 v Liverpool (99/00) FA Cup (4th rnd)-I think is a little optimistic Cletus, as it exceeds the ground capacity by about a thousand people!

That game was at Anfield.

[Fife Rover]

looking at the italian league results this last weekend, Juventus (5th) vs Inter Milan (1st) had a gate of 23k & Lazio home game had a gate of 12k. is there a reason behind such low gates for supposed huge clubs with huge stadiums?

Huge admission prices?

[Paul]

I was pretty sure we had two 30k + gates in 2000 in the old 1st division v Sheff Utd and Huddersfield. Or did I dream that?

My memory is they were around 28-29000

[thenodrog]

Did neither fixture against the clampett hordes at Ewood manage to make that list?

[BRFC4EVA]

The fa cup replay game of a coupla years back shoulda made it. Attendance was something like 28,700 with a massively reduced capisty due to stewarding/riot police/sas/whatever else they had to seperate the 2 fans

[FourLaneBlue]

Just checked and we had 28, 691 in when we beat Burnley 2-1 at Ewood.

[cn174]

Huge admission prices?

I wouldn't have thought so. A couple years back Bellamy11 and I went to watch Inter Milan vs AC Milan and the ticket price was €30, so less than £20.

We looked at season ticket prices and it would've been £105 for me, and £135 for Mark.

Other italian teams may charge much much more, but judging by these prices I wouldn't have thought so.