[Archived] Boycott

[A cup of beans]

Got to be honest 7,500 is a good few thousand more than I expected but still a few thousand down on last year is it?

Just going of the number of people I know and I'm linked to, 7500 surprises me.

Is this figure 'official' (from the latest shape-shifter)?

If you go on the online ticket planner for the Norwich game there's a couple of things to notice:

- 7500 looks high compared to available seats

- there are big blocks at the edges of the riverside and JW stand 'blocked out'. Unless a coach party has booked these seats(why would you if they are the worst view?) then they could be adding to the 7500

Agreed.

Ah. Block the seats off to show less available. Another con trick.

[the original david brent]

Just a thought - I am sure I read in the EFL trophy section that the youth teams of the clubs partaking in this tournament do not get to keep gate receipts. We have a home game against Oldham in this tournament. Surely an opportunity to get a big crowd on Ewood, far bigger than for our first team league games, to make a big statement. Would the boycotters support this?

[JBiz]

Honestly lads, can we quash the "putting money in Venkys pockets" argument once and for all. I've been through two threads to catch up and it's a prevalent theme throughout.

Suggesting other fans are "strangling" the club by going or "supporting Venkys" but I think this is unfair and just and attempt to wind up.

I know it's grim, the absence of good news is something we are used too, so let's not take it out on others...

Say (like Glen) you believe they'll sell up when they can't sell anymore players or season tickets, fair enough - explain it like that, but please don't forget that they still could just play the oblivious card and run us at further huge losses, at arms length!

I think the solution to this is much more complicated than "boycott to get rid!", but I'm not sure what that solution is!

[den]

Honestly lads, can we quash the "putting money in Venkys pockets" argument once and for all. I've been through two threads to catch up and it's a prevalent theme throughout.

Suggesting other fans are "strangling" the club by going or "supporting Venkys" but I think this is unfair and just and attempt to wind up.

Err, no JB, we can't put it to bed.

It's up to you to deal with your conscience, but it's just a fact that if you're buying the product, you're literally supporting the owners. It's the owners that offer the STs at a price - and it's us supporters that have the option of buying it or not.

I'm not telling anyone to buy a ST or not, but you do come across as knowing what you're doing, but not being prepared to face the truth.

Are you not just wanting to whinge about the owners day in, day out, but in reality not prepared to do anything about it whatsoever?

[JBiz]

Err, no JB, we can't put it to bed.

It's up to you to deal with your conscience, but it's just a fact that if you're buying the product, you're literally supporting the owners. It's the owners that offer the STs at a price - and it's us supporters that have the option of buying it or not.

I'm not telling anyone to buy a ST or not, but you do come across as knowing what you're doing, but not being prepared to face the truth.

Are you not just wanting to whinge about the owners day in, day out, but in reality not prepared to do anything about it whatsoever?

What can I do? If I feel a boycott won't make a difference and I'm not a billionaire?

In my perception, those walking away can do so by their own principals but don't question others who still wish to go. My reasons are different so I see continued support as "facing the truth.."

This club was here before and will be after, it won't be if this idea that drying up all turnover goes tits up, and rather than selling - they just fold us.

It's not as simple as any other product so I'm not sure the need to compare.

I can't associate my views with people who criticise ST holders for supporting the owners. It's a slap in the face of those people who just want to support the team as they've always done.

Unless we had written guarantees; "less than 500 st's sold, and we are off!"... I don't see how people can swear by this method of boycotting, there is surely an argument that this is doing more long term damage, as it's been spelled out multiple times here that stopping going can become the habit!

[1arC]

If you go on the online ticket planner for the Norwich game there's a couple of things to notice:

- 7500 looks high compared to available seats

- there are big blocks at the edges of the riverside and JW stand 'blocked out'. Unless a coach party has booked these seats(why would you if they are the worst view?) then they could be adding to the 7500

I wonder if Mr Cheston has the same problem as Mr Coyle. He doesn't want to adit how many season tickets have been told, so says what he thinks the fans will want to hear. Coyle says he doesn't know who Kentaro are and JA as he too thinks that's what the fans will want to hear. Here is a tip for those two and anyone slese spouting rubbish from within. The fans just want to know the truth, however painful that may be!

[BlooBoy]

Just out of curiosity how are Blackpool doing with their boycott ..are they any closer ..?

[tomphil]

There's no right and wrong to it as a lot of those who've bought STs will be the first to blow a gasket in the ground on matchdays and chant Venkys out. They might then say we are here registering our disgust in protest when everyone else is hiding at home.

Just one big mess and like I called for at the time there should have been a one off protest boycott near the end of last season to send out a stark message. But people still turned up and now are snubbing, action at the end of last season may have made a difference. Probably not but now we are in no mans land.

[47er]

What can I do? If I feel a boycott won't make a difference and I'm not a billionaire?

In my perception, those walking away can do so by their own principals !

That would be "principles" and you a teacher!

[den]

What can I do? If I feel a boycott won't make a difference and I'm not a billionaire? In my perception, those walking away can do so by their own principals but don't question others who still wish to go!

It's a moral decision you have to make JB. It's the only way I know, of saying to them "I won't go along with what you're doing to my club".

[J*B]

Just out of curiosity how are Blackpool doing with their boycott ..are they any closer ..?

Definitely, their owner recently - for the first time in a long time - stood in front of fans and discussed their concerns. They'll have sub 2k gates this year as the whole community has rallied around the NAPM (Not A Penny More) campaign, to the point where the owners are now having to spend money every day to keep the club afloat (rather than taking money every day).

Give it another 12-18 months and their owners will be sick of having to fund it while being totally and utterly hated, with national media behind the Pool fans campaign.

[A cup of beans]

Just a thought - I am sure I read in the EFL trophy section that the youth teams of the clubs partaking in this tournament do not get to keep gate receipts. We have a home game against Oldham in this tournament. Surely an opportunity to get a big crowd on Ewood, far bigger than for our first team league games, to make a big statement. Would the boycotters support this?

Wonderful idea. I'd be behind it.

[A cup of beans]

There's no right and wrong to it as a lot of those who've bought STs will be the first to blow a gasket in the ground on matchdays and chant Venkys out. They might then say we are here registering our disgust in protest when everyone else is hiding at home.

quote]

If only that was the case. Very few sustained 'Venkys out' chants happen these days. Case in point, final home game of last season - the perfect time to vocalise (given the timing and reasons for Lambert leaving). Only small pockets of us tried, in the DE and BE. I was one of a handful to voice in the Riverside, while the vast majority looked on in silence.

Baffles me why many are reluctant to chant.

[tomphil]

Definitely, their owner recently - for the first time in a long time - stood in front of fans and discussed their concerns. They'll have sub 2k gates this year as the whole community has rallied around the NAPM (Not A Penny More) campaign, to the point where the owners are now having to spend money every day to keep the club afloat (rather than taking money every day).

Give it another 12-18 months and their owners will be sick of having to fund it while being totally and utterly hated, with national media behind the Pool fans campaign.

I really think the Blackpool fans will win that fight in the end as surely it's also having an effect on the Oystons core businesses in that area as well. Slightly different scenario to us as Blackpools infrastructure is strictly league one and always has been, no disrespect to them but they've never had Prem expenses like us.

Funny how their fans never get beaten by a stick nationally when they wouldn't even have had the club they had nor one season in the Prem if it wasn't for their owners. Good luck to them though.

[Lancaster Rover]

I've not got my ST yet for the first time in getting on for 25 years, I probably will get one though. I have however bought a ticket for the Norwich game, my nephew said he was really looking forward to this season and would I take him, he's 10, I couldn't say no. He has no real idea about what going on with the owners and nor should he, at his age absolutely loves football and desperately wants to support the team all his family do, he doesnt need boggin down with the various ill's of modern football, he's got a lot of years for that! I can't, nor would I want to deny him chance to support his family team, he will be here long after Venky's. If I said no to him, we'd lose him forever and for that reason I just cant stop going.

I really think the Blackpool fans will win that fight in the end as surely it's also having an effect on the Oystons core businesses in that area as well. Slightly different scenario to us as Blackpools infrastructure is strictly league one and always has been, no disrespect to them but they've never had Prem expenses like us.

Funny how their fans never get beaten by a stick nationally when they wouldn't even have had the club they had nor one season in the Prem if it wasn't for their owners. Good luck to them though.

I think the difference with Blackpool is the Oyston's are generally viewed as deplorable individuals by the media and local businessman, after all Owen is a convicted criminal. Venky's are often given the benefit of the doubt in the media as so little is known about them.

[JBiz]

It's a moral decision you have to make JB. It's the only way I know, of saying to them "I won't go along with what you're doing to my club".

I agree but we have differing scenarios where moral/cultural aspects differ. As many say on here, "why should I stop seeing family and friends in a way I've always enjoyed?"

[den]

I agree but we have differing scenarios where moral/cultural aspects differ. As many say on here, "why should I stop seeing family and friends in a way I've always enjoyed?"

If you're happy with that, then fine. No problems there for me.

A question for you JB.....

Would it be fair to say that you and a lot of fans would never take "decisive" action, - no matter how much damage was being done to the club? Isn't the answer to that "yes".

[PeteJD13]

Define decisive action ? protests have had little effect, perhaps the boycott this season might but I am not holding my breath

[den]

Define decisive action ? protests have had little effect, perhaps the boycott this season might but I am not holding my breath

Substitute "decisive", with "any" then.

[PeteJD13]

Don't get my wrong I do agree something should be done and sustained pressure applied, but how that can be done and in what form needs to be sorted out and it needs substantial numbers to persist with it

[DE.]

Baffles me why many are reluctant to chant.

Because most of them think we've returned to our "natural" level and just want to watch the (terrible) product on the pitch without hassle, I'd assume.

[Ben-2000]

The figure at the start of last season was 10,059.

Can't see us shifting 2,500 tickets in a week!

Many unsold seats blocked out in various parts of the JW stand (W06, W07, W11 & W12) - I'd like to think the club are not intending to mis-lead on the numbers sold.

[Al]

Got to be honest 7,500 is a good few thousand more than I expected but still a few thousand down on last year is it?

As yet but you are comparing apples and pears. Last season's tickets included half season tickets after Christmas. There is still a week to go before the start of this season and a lot of tickets are traditionally sold in that week. I was in the club shop yesterday and there were 5 people buying season tickets whilst I was there for about ten minutes. I don't think that by Christmas there will be much difference in sales than last season.

[JHRover]

The seats blocked out in W07 have always been blocked out. Not sure why, I presume it is something to do with being near the away supporters.

The block of seats in W06 were vacant up until last week and then suddenly about 6 rows of about 15 seats were taken off sale at once. Possibly to fudge the numbers but this could also be the area where they are planning on putting the school allocation area.

I think the block in W12 is where they are relocating the staff/complimentary season tickets to. They used to be downstairs in W05 but now that is the family stand I think they have moved them upstairs. So those seats will be 'sold' in the sense that players friends and family and club staff all get 2 tickets each if they want them, and they will be added to the figures, but the club won't be getting any money for them.

[Mike Graham]

The figure at the start of last season was 10,059.

Can't see us shifting 2,500 tickets in a week!

Many unsold seats blocked out in various parts of the JW stand (W06, W07, W11 & W12) - I'd like to think the club are not intending to mis-lead on the numbers sold.

When does the season start? Does anyone know?