tickets !!

[waggy]

:rover:the result of the 1st leg makes the game more intresting,we sell out 3k for the away leg in a matter off hours,yet we struggle to sell 23k in 2 weeks.the loyal fans are just that loyal,yet floaters will think £26 on a thursday night,with a powder-keg situation,concerning 10k celtic supporters,a night in the front room is a better bet.

[tashor]

those of you who are from blackburn are being too hard on youselves.

for the size of the town we get great support.

celtic would have to get crowds of over 300,000 to better us.

the real question here is the big one.

how does a small town club with several other local teams get enough of a crowd to sustain premiership football?

answers on a postcard to ewood park.

only good thing is that even if celtic did get 300,000 crowds they would still not be in our league  :'>    

[Gav]

those of you who are from blackburn are being too hard on youselves.

for the size of the town we get great support.

celtic would have to get crowds of over 300,000 to better us.

the real question here is the big one.

how does a small town club with several other local teams get enough of a crowd to sustain premiership football?

answers on a postcard to ewood park.

only good thing is that even if celtic did get 300,000 crowds they would still not be in our league  :'>    

Thing is Tash, 8yrs ago we sold out 23k+ with days to spare!

Maybe football isn't as fashionable as it was back then.

Surely everyone didn't come out to see Mary Poppins.... :'>

[Alan75]

tasher

If we actually analised the statistics, you would find that a lot of people on this board do not actually live in Blackburn town itself.

Supporters of Blackburn have historically been drawn from surrounding towns and villages, Accrington, Darwen, Ribble Valley Clitheroe, Oswaldtwistle etc.

Now the club draws supporters from further afield either because of migration due to employment or because of Blackburns success in the nineties. Blackburns best option these days for improved gates is going to be similar to Man U, who have gained a world wide following because of their success on the playing field. Apart from the die hards, football supporters are a very fickle bunch, who give their allegiance to any club that is successfull and that is media friendly.

[tashor]

ONE successful team in lancashire.

ONE lancashire team with a good media image.

ONE lancashire team supported by mary poppins (my mother).

   LETS GO FOR IT!!!

       

[Ste B]

tasher

If we actually analised the statistics, you would find that a lot of people on this board do not actually live in Blackburn town itself.

Supporters of Blackburn have historically been drawn from surrounding towns and villages, Accrington, Darwen, Ribble Valley Clitheroe, Oswaldtwistle etc.

Now the club draws supporters from further afield either because of migration due to employment or because of Blackburns success in the nineties. Blackburns best option these days for improved gates is going to be similar to Man U, who have gained a world wide following because of their success on the playing field. Apart from the die hards, football supporters are a very fickle bunch, who give their allegiance to any club that is successfull and that is media friendly.

Which is where I do believe the Hearts and Minds campaign fails, in the lack of ambition outside the town - the Rovers support in Blackburn itself is solid for the size of the town, what Rovers need to do is leverage more of the floaters from Ossy, Accy, Harwood etc

[Alan75]

Jumping on the Ozexile soap box.

I believe that Rovers lost a big opportunity in gaining improved media coverage by making Radio Rovers an internet  pay service. Just think of the market that gave the club in advertising themselves world wide.

[Paul]

Jumping on the Ozexile soap box.

I believe that Rovers lost a big opportunity in gaining improved media coverage by making Radio Rovers an internet  pay service. Just think of the market that gave the club in advertising themselves world wide.

100% with you on that one Alan. While I don't want to open up that can in this debate they not only lost peole worldwide I'd hazard a guess they lost local fans like me who would log in for a decent away coverage/commentary as well. How often do we end up on the opposition's web site for this?

Back to the tickets. I, for one, was fiercely critical of the club's decision to give the Darwen End to Celtic. I wanted the club to use the opportunity to sell this game to floating fans. JW and the club got it right, there are only around 23 - 25,000 people who can be bothered to get off their backsides and go buy a ticket...I'm a convert to that view for any big game at EP. Get the money from the opposition because we won't get it from the home support.......and as for re-building the Riverside......Ha!

The one point that worries me is this; fans on this site, maybe only a few, state they or their mates can't get a ticket; I've had half a dozen people ask me to get them a ticket - all live locally. So there is a perception that it's difficult to obtain tickets or the match is sold out. This is a problem for Rover's and I'd suggest local radio advertising as used by Bolton and, I think, PNE is a possible key......not everyone reads the LET or the web. I can't remember the last time I heard, if ever, a Rovers radio advert but I frequently hear Bolton's efforts.

I wonder how many tickets we'd need if we got to Seville? 5,000?

[Alan75]

Good point about Radio advertising.

Radio is one of the best means of advertising, even if people dont listen to the radio at home or workplace, most people have the radio on in the car.

[waggy]

rovers have been down the avenue of radio advertising games,red rose did it for a few season's maybe the club thought it was not worthwhile,i for one could have got rid of 10 extra tickets for this game,not all rovers fans mind,so maybe the club will have to let season ticket holders buy extra tickets.as a football fan it will be a disgrace on thursday if celtic fans are sat in the pub,or stood on the hill when there are empty seats within ewood.

[Baz]

Baz, this is not to have a go at you but people in general.

I get sick to the back teeth of fans complaining they can't get tickets for this or any other game. Rovers have clearly stated that ANYONE with a history of buying tickets for the 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 season can apply for tickets. It is NOT difficult. All fans have to do is take a few minutes to check the published information in the LET, the club's web site - thanks for the link Lee - or listen to the message on the ticket hotline, 01254 671666.

Tickets have been available to ALL Rovers fans with a history of buying tickets for last season and this since 31st October. Anyone who wants a ticket and doesn't get one should wake up and smell the coffee.

What else are the club supposed to do? 30,000 tickets purchased for Cardiff, if you bought one through the club you will be on the database.

I understand tickets are still available today.

If you read my post properly it says that my mates bought tickets last season but not yet this season therefore the ticket office will not allow them to buy a ticket for the celtic game!

I have mine already as I go to every game I can get to home and away.

[Paul]

....If you read my post properly it says that my mates bought tickets last season but not yet this season therefore the ticket office will not allow them to buy a ticket for the celtic game!.........

Baz, I wasn't having a go at you........and the point is if a fan bought tickets LAST SEASON he/she still qualifies....don't think you read my reply

[Claytons Left Boot]

Blue Phil has hit the nail on the head about a fair proportion of our support now being women and children. Nowt wrong with this, it's just a fact. The make up of the Blackburn supporter is far removed from that of a big city club like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, even Nationwide clubs like Forest and Wolves. There it's wall to wall baseball caps and hooded tops, lads in the 20-35 age bracket, "up for it" both vocally and the "afters" after the game.

Even though there is no real problem with hooligans at Celtic, I feel a fair few season ticket holders will have put off getting a ticket and will have opted for watching it on television. It's just the way it is at a town club.

Mr Grey Slacks and Grey Slip Ons of Pleasington will always opt for the game on TV rather than face a potential hooligan element at the ground. In some ways who can blame him.

This is the same reason why the atmosphere is sometimes lacking at Ewood. The place is just not intimidating enough. Away fans will not infiltrate home areas if they fear a good kicking. Would Chelsea fans infiltrate home areas at say West Ham or Leeds? No, because we're back to the make up thing and the intimidating atmosphere at certain (mainly city) grounds.

I'm not suggesting away fans get a kicking at Ewood by the way. Or condoning violence, or implying we should do away with Mr Grey Slacks of Pleasington. After all, we need all the support we can get. I'm just telling it the way it is at a town club like Rovers. It's down to the make up of the town supporter.

With in excess of 30k on the data base and for a once in a blue moon European game there can be no other reason.

[ABBEY]

Blue Phil has hit the nail on the head about a fair proportion of our support now being women and children. Nowt wrong with this, it's just a fact. The make up of the Blackburn supporter is far removed from that of a big city club like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd, even Nationwide clubs like Forest and Wolves. There it's wall to wall baseball caps and hooded tops, lads in the 20-35 age bracket, "up for it" both vocally and the "afters" after the game.

Even though there is no real problem with hooligans at Celtic, I feel a fair few season ticket holders will have put off getting a ticket and will have opted for watching it on television. It's just the way it is at a town club.

Mr Grey Slacks and Grey Slip Ons of Pleasington will always opt for the game on TV rather than face a potential hooligan element at the ground. In some ways who can blame him.

This is the same reason why the atmosphere is sometimes lacking at Ewood. The place is just not intimidating enough. Away fans will not infiltrate home areas if they fear a good kicking. Would Chelsea fans infiltrate home areas at say West Ham or Leeds? No, because we're back to the make up thing and the intimidating atmosphere at certain (mainly city) grounds.

I'm not suggesting away fans get a kicking at Ewood by the way. Or condoning violence, or implying we should do away with Mr Grey Slacks of Pleasington. After all, we need all the support we can get. I'm just telling it the way it is at a town club like Rovers. It's down to the make up of the town supporter.

With in excess of 30k on the data base and for a once in a blue moon European game there can be no other reason.

CLASSIC ,I GOT TEARS LAUGHING ,MR GREY SLACKS OF PLEASINGTON.

[Don]

Why was Mr Grey Slacks of Pleasington afraid to go vs Walsall the other night??

Too cold?

[souey'sflag]

Fives and threes night at the fielden arms innit.

[Alan75]

Mr Grey Slacks and Grey Slip Ons

I resent that comment, they go well with my blue and white cardigan that auntie made me.

[RevidgeBlue]

I really don't understand why so many people on here spend all their time slagging off the support of the Club they profess to support!.  

We should be intensely PROUD of our current level of support not ashamed of it. We do not live in a City of 1m or even 250k inhabitants.

FACT: Celtic will sell out or near as dammit despite tickets not going on open sale.

FACT: A massive Club like Celtic couldn't sell out their tickets without putting them on open sale.

FACT: Any big City Club would have to have gates of c£250,000 to match the %age take up of the population achieved by Rovers

FACT: Attendances have held steady despite a 20% hike in prices.

Of course enthusiasm may have seemed greater in 1993. (although attendances are actually far better now) Top flight football was a novelty then now it is the norm. And so it should be with the infrastructure provided by Uncle Jack.

God knows what people on here would say if we were getting the 6,000 attendances of the 70's, early 80's. Now THAT'S poor. Would all those moaning now have been too ashamed to support our little Club in those days?

The attendances will increase gradually season upon season in the Premiership. They need tweaking rather than drastic surgery.

There's no point moaning on here about it. Everyone on here either goes already or is precluded by geographical limitations.

Anyone still unhappy, instead of moaning, get a friend down to Ewood as the slogan goes!.  

[ABBEY]

hey rev i took a friend but he got thrown out for standing up............he was only going to toilet!!

[RevidgeBlue]

LOL.

What was he doing in the toilet with Keith Lard?  

[78]

There's no point moaning on here about it. Everyone on here either goes already or is precluded by geographical limitations.

Well lets just shut down the messageboard then.

[ABBEY]

talking tactics

[RevidgeBlue]

talking tactics

I hope the identity of the dog was witheld to save it further embarrasment.

[RevidgeBlue]

There's no point moaning on here about it. Everyone on here either goes already or is precluded by geographical limitations.

Well lets just shut down the messageboard then.

Calm down.

The point is that hardly any-one who the complaint is made against will be likely to read this board.

[Alan75]

RB

God knows what people on here would say if we were getting the 6,000 attendances of the 70's, early 80's.

Them were great days, Saturday 3pm kick off, parking next to the ground, cheep beer, walk straight in to the ground, being able to get back to Ossy without traffic jambs at Guide, standing behind Jim Smith in the Enclosure giving him a load of abuse, swimming throught the urine in the 1 stall loe, getting soaked from the overflowing gutters, getting verbal and physical abuse from travelling supporters, no tv coverage except if we played in the cup.

When you've experienced the "good old days" you are greatfull for every moment of glory, sometimes we forget that thanks to Uncle Jack we have come a long way, in a short period of time.