season ticket sales

[lenners]

Only one person has commented on 18,000 ST anyway you said we'd lose 7,000 so you are way out regardless.

I seem to remember you saying something similar about how many we'd have by the end of the renewal discount deadline?
Tell me Len how did that one turn out for you, can't of been good because you didn't bump it.

I said we'd lose about 5,000 son.
One thing's for sure, we cannot support a £9m wage bill on those kind of sales.

 

[alcoblade]

They live in a world of theier own Tuns and think by repeating the tripe they come out with that things will happen eg a sellout on the opening home game
Get real Clappers Until the Blades get rid of Blackwell the crowds will hover around 21,000 max

We've fallen from the premiership and have had to downsize our budget accordingly. We could have Alex Ferguson in charge - our crowds would still have fallen (from record highs) significantly at this point.

Average crowds of 21,000 would be more than acceptable, IMHO.

UTB

 

[DuncDisorderly]

I said we'd lose about 5,000 son.
One thing's for sure, we cannot support a £9m wage bill on those kind of sales.

You said we would lose 8,000, 7,000, 6,000, and 4,000 as well. Bases well covered as usual Len...

 

[axel smeets]

What is the amount United can expect to earn from television revenue?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I said we'd lose about 5,000 son.
One thing's for sure, we cannot support a £9m wage bill on those kind of sales.

Good job we've got the tevez money to cushion the impact then haven't we.

Or am i being naive?

 

[lenners]

You said we would lose 8,000, 7,000, 6,000, and 4,000 as well. Bases well covered as usual Len...

No, my best guest was 5,000.
I did say the club had royally screwed up its season ticket policy and its ticket prices.
We're going to pay the price - or rather lots of fans are not going to pay the price.

 

[lenners]

Good job we've got the tevez money to cushion the impact then haven't we.

Or am i being naive?

With parachute payments and Tevez, we've had at least £40m. And ended up £50m in debt. And selling all our best players.
They've cushioned the impact really well.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I daresay the reason people haven't renewed is nowt to do with the pricing....

 

[axel smeets]

Len, who is the debt owed to? Is it the bank, or is it to McCabe and various directors?

 

[Come from away]

Whether you like to moan or cheer for SUFC, or whatever, don't forget to hit the DONATE button on the first page. This site does not come for free, so chip in please.

 

[happyhippy]

As a fan of SUFC I don't understand the apparent pride some folk take in predicting we are losing fans, losing money and making it harder to go forward.

Misery loves company.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

No, my best guest was 5,000.
I did say the club had royally screwed up its season ticket policy and its ticket prices.
We're going to pay the price - or rather lots of fans are not going to pay the price.

Len, because all you ever post is doom and gloom about how we are going to fail at whatever you care to comment on, it isn't rocket science that when we do inevitably fail at some things, you can trot out some previous prediction of failure as if you are the secret lovechild of Nostradamus and Mystic Meg, foretelling all in minute detail and being a right smart lad in the process. I just wondered what you'd do if it turns out Shield has got his numbers wrong and it is 16,000, only 3,000 less, not the 5,000 you've put up as your best guess. But as you've predicted this as well, then you will be right again, I suppose.

If it tickles your doo-dah then more power to you.

Btw, as for the ST policy and pricing did you bring this up at the AGM, with your alternative proposition, or do you intend to do this at the next AGM perhaps.?

 

[happyhippy]

We've fallen from the premiership and have had to downsize our budget accordingly. We could have Alex Ferguson in charge - our crowds would still have fallen (from record highs) significantly at this point.

Average crowds of 21,000 would be more than acceptable, IMHO.

UTB

A figure which we have hit in six seasons since the early 70s, I think? I'm with you in saying that would be a great average attendance this coming season.

 

[raul]

A quick exit poll of the 8 NRS (three of them on their second season as such) who have not bothered reveals

3 x Change in personal circumstance (marriage, steady relationship and change of job) meaning can't commit the time. Also, quality of football is crap
2 x Simply not worth it in terms of value for money when travelling from London and finding the best games shifted to Monday or Friday nights. Also quailty of football is crap
1 x Quality of football is crap
2 x Can't justify extra cost for 14yo compared to 13yo, not renewing one without the other, so both gone. Also, quailty of football is crap.

Of the 8, 5 will be attending the first home game, 4 of which are thinking about doing half the games. 3 will be doing 2 or 3 games and 1 won't be back, possibly ever (and he's the biggest Blade in terms of number of years he's been going)

 

[Sensiblade]

Yes, because football clubs all over the country have been so well run by the 'professionals', haven't they.
Drowning in debt, unable to pay taxes, tens of them have been in administration.
Cue the response at least we've avoided that.
Yes we have. But we're £50m in debt and that doesn't represent good management by the 'professionals'.

Ah, but that's not what I said.
What I said was Obviously anyone who comments on here no matter what job they do could obviously do better.
I never said how things have been have been good/perfect.

 

[happyhippy]

I daresay the reason people haven't renewed is nowt to do with the pricing....

You're (partly) right as far as I'm concerned.

 

[beightonblade]

i wonder what the main reason is for the drop in season ticket sales ?

Economy ?
Bullshit ?
Crap hoofball ?

 

[dingledog]

All three would be my guess bb

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I said we'd lose about 5,000 son.
One thing's for sure, we cannot support a £9m wage bill on those kind of sales.

Once we'd announced that we'd already sold 13K you might of done but not before, Pops. You were talking about 12K at one point.
You also said we wouldn't sell 9000 renewals, we sold 13,000 after which you went quiet for a bit.

Therefore for this figure to be correct we've shifted 1,000 since that time. Something doesn't add up Lenners and I'd put large bets on it being Shields and your maths.

 

[alcoblade]

i wonder what the main reason is for the drop in season ticket sales ?

Economy ?
Bullshit ?
Crap hoofball ?

The main reason - the euphoria of the premiership and the expected return has worn off. Other than getting promoted, there's nothing that we could have done.

The biggest mistake we made was appointing Robson and giving him a big budget. The second biggest has investing heavily in property at the peak of the bubble. For all the moaning (and I moaned plenty about him last season), I doubt if Blackwell's presence has made more than a few hundred difference to ST sales - though many who have given up would cite this, despite the fact that they'd have given up anyway.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Once we'd announced that we'd already sold 13K you might of done but not before, Pops. You were talking about 12K at one point.
You also said we wouldn't sell 9000 renewals, we sold 13,000 after which you went quiet for a bit.
.

And you're guilty as charged with Bob's statement, Lenny.

UTB

 

[Big Mart]

Of the 8, 5 will be attending the first home game, 4 of which are thinking about doing half the games. 3 will be doing 2 or 3 games and 1 won't be back, possibly ever (and he's the biggest Blade in terms of number of years he's been going)

Well count this one as not being prepared to pay another penny to watch that clumsy twat Nick Montgomery. Seen enough, had enough, don't like the destroying type of football that we play and will never pay to watch the Blades again whlie that wanker's on the pitch. I prefer to come away thinking that the players I'm paying to watch have done something that I couldn't do, a bit of masterly ball control, some superior vision, something special but it just isn't there anymore. It's as dull as mud.

Wouldn't pay to watch the current shower of shit if I'd just won the lottery, and that includes the opposition. There isn't one player or one team in this division that excites me, and truth be told the same can be said for the Premier League (First Division).

Over rated these days football, just doesn't set the heart racing any more

:gallop:

 

[lenners]

And you're guilty as charged with Bob's statement, Lenny.

UTB

No, I said 5,000 down was my best guess.
De club is guilty as charged for ferking up their ticketing policy - as was pointed out.
The sad thing is the number of people who've been going for years among those who've just had enough.
Even sadder is the board couldn't give a flying. The best they can do is get npower to phone them up and offer cheap electricity after they've offered them the amazing six for five deal.

 

[lenners]

Len, who is the debt owed to? Is it the bank, or is it to McCabe and various directors?

The toothfairy.
FFS are people still buying the notion that we should be happy that a large chunk of the money is owed to McCabe?

 

[AlienWoodward]

Well count this one as not being prepared to pay another penny to watch that clumsy twat Nick Montgomery. Seen enough, had enough, don't like the destroying type of football that we play and will never pay to watch the Blades again whlie that wanker's on the pitch. I prefer to come away thinking that the players I'm paying to watch have done something that I couldn't do, a bit of masterly ball control, some superior vision, something special but it just isn't there anymore. It's as dull as mud.

Wouldn't pay to watch the current shower of shit if I'd just won the lottery, and that includes the opposition. There isn't one player or one team in this division that excites me, and truth be told the same can be said for the Premier League (First Division).

Over rated these days football, just doesn't set the heart racing any more

:gallop:

I'm sure you're a massive loss to the club and they're probably holding a board meeting right now about how they can get you back on board.
Hopefully next years Sheffield Gay Pride will be hosted at Bramall Lane and you can throw a proper teenage girl name calling tantrum.
Apologies to all teenage girls who don't name call as much as Big Mart

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Len you didn't you said 7K down and said we wouldn't get 9K renewals by the deadline.

One other interesting point about Shields info and sources of the figures (none quoted from Birch btw) would be when did this interview take place?

 

[lenners]

Len, because all you ever post is doom and gloom about how we are going to fail at whatever you care to comment on, it isn't rocket science that when we do inevitably fail at some things, you can trot out some previous prediction of failure as if you are the secret lovechild of Nostradamus and Mystic Meg, foretelling all in minute detail and being a right smart lad in the process. I just wondered what you'd do if it turns out Shield has got his numbers wrong and it is 16,000, only 3,000 less, not the 5,000 you've put up as your best guess. But as you've predicted this as well, then you will be right again, I suppose.

If it tickles your doo-dah then more power to you.

Btw, as for the ST policy and pricing did you bring this up at the AGM, with your alternative proposition, or do you intend to do this at the next AGM perhaps.?

Oh yes, because the club'll tell it like it is.
Why don't we have another fans forum to see what the future holds for Billy Sharp?

 

[lenners]

Len you didn't you said 7K down and said we wouldn't get 9K renewals by the deadline.

One other interesting point about Shields info and sources of the figures (none quoted from Birch btw) would be when did this interview take place?

You could be right Bob, maybe it took place in May.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Well it certainly wasn't last weekend which opens the question why has Shields sat on this amazing "scoop" for at least a week.
I've copied all the quotes attributed to Birch in the "interview" below.

"The size of our fan base has already been an important lever in negotiations,"
"It's enabled us to bring players here despite strong competition from elsewhere.
"They regard us as a big club with massive potential to go up.
"They've all spoken about how excited they are about the prospect of playing in front of the number of fans we attracted.
"It's not all been about pounds, shillings and pence.
"Other factors have also come into play very clearly during our discussions with prospective targets.
"That's why we want them to keep coming through the turnstiles in the same numbers they did last term.
"It's doubly important because the more people who buy (season tickets) the more money we can put into the kitty for signings.
"The more improvements we can make.
"I appreciate it's difficult economically for people at the moment but they really can make a difference.
"What I want to tell them is 'Your club needs you.'"
"I'm not going to try and mislead people," "I want to be entirely honest with them.
"I understand things are tough out there for a lot of folk and that, also, there might be a some who are simply unhappy with how things went last season.
"I'm not going to go down the route of telling fans they have to buy them or try to hold them to ransom.
"But there's massive potential here and we are determined to show that we've learned those lessons.
"There's a real feeling in the dressing room that we're on the verge of something.
"The manager has made it plain he wants to play attractive football and that having a settled squad will help him do that.
"Equally, though, I'm not going to deny that we want to get those (season ticket) numbers up.
"This club belongs to the supporters"

Not a sausage about 14,000 and given that Birch has been announced he wouldn't be at the open day because he was in Asia last weekend do we think he just happened to pick up the phone and ring olde Shields to give him this information? Plus with Football Heaven back on why not give the same interview over the phone to RS to put on this week?
Or is it an old quote with Shields new guestimate figures which would put us less than a thousand up since the deadline closed (which I think we'd all agree is a little unlikely) and spun as an all new story.
As Lenners said I guess we just have to wait to see what we get for the QPR game with 14K ST holders we won't get anywhere near 19,000.

Not wanting to sway anyones opinion but didn't Shields print a made up transfer target rumour started deliberately on BM?

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Oh yes, because the club'll tell it like it is.

The club hasn't actually said anything about ST sales, yet...not that that seems to matter to you, but then letting the facts get in the way was never a strong point, was it?

Why don't we have another fans forum to see what the future holds for Billy Sharp?

You're supposed to be a smart bloke Len. Another question for the AGM, I think...