Has Our Local Fanbase Grown?

[blade67]

Sharing there city with Villa who are 3x bigger doesn’t help , then you have wba just up the road too.

But birmingham is twice as big as Sheffield. I suspect Sheffield's attendence per population is a bit higher than Brum

 

[Sean Thornton]

Credit where credit is due. My multiple personalities all count in the attendance.

Even the Lassie one?

 

[Solihull Blade]

But birmingham is twice as big as Sheffield. I suspect Sheffield's attendence per population is a bit higher than Brum

Birmingham’s attendances this season have been drastically hit by parts of their ground being condemned. Rusting girders on certain parts of the lower terracing has meant that on two sides only the upper tiers are used. Earlier this season, prior to remedial work, so few seats were available that season ticket holders had to take it in turns to go to games. The club is ran very similarly to our porcine friends. Fans are not the owners priority.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Kevin McCabes season ticket pricing policies, especially for youngsters, helps as well.

Like it or not……

 

[blade67]

Birmingham’s attendances this season have been drastically hit by parts of their ground being condemned. Rusting girders on certain parts of the lower terracing has meant that on two sides only the upper tiers are used. Earlier this season, prior to remedial work, so few seats were available that season ticket holders had to take it in turns to go to games. The club is ran very similarly to our porcine friends. Fans are not the owners priority.

It looks a right mess doesn't it. I meant to compare Birmingham overall versus sheffield overall and it is difficult to compare for multiple reaons

In 2018/2019 when all 5 teams were in the Championship the three Birmingham teams averaged 88,500, compared to the two Sheffield teams at 50,500. All 5 clubs didn't sell to capacity, so that wasn't a constraint. Villa drag up the Birmingham numbers and compared to the populations of the cities Sheffield could probably claim to have a higher percentage of people attending but not by much and to be honest I've just wasted 5 minutes of my life looking that because ....who cares really

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Even the Lassie one?

You've noticed me chasing my tail on here haven't you?!

 

[cahill]

when comparing and analysing attendances people seem to just look at the size of individual towns and cities without considering wider catchment areas, eg Sheffield is bigger than the city of Manchester, which is true but the population of Greater Manchester dwarfs South Yorkshire. Barnsley has a population of 76,000 but the Borough has 230,000. Some clubs have enormous catchment areas, eg Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Brighton, Leicester (shire), etc

 

[Bell4]

Good thread

Excellent reading
Thanks

 

[Stegosaurus]

Hi Stegosaurus

Will grow even more when we merge with Wednesday.

 

[Crafty Blade]

The issue of fair ticket pricing has contributed to our growing attendances. It should be a key objective of any football club board, and McCabe did get this bit right.

However, I want to take my 5 year old son to the Swansea game on Saturday and it will cost £17 as a one off price. Surely we can be doing better than this.

 

[Houston_Blade]

The issue of fair ticket pricing has contributed to our growing attendances. It should be a key objective of any football club board, and McCabe did get this bit right.

However, I want to take my 5 year old son to the Swansea game on Saturday and it will cost £17 as a one off price. Surely we can be doing better than this.

When you can buy him a season ticket for around £60 it seems a bit of a strange pricing policy.

 

[mancunianblade]

Got a question for parents with kids who are 16 and under.

How many of your kids decided to support a CL club? I’m curious about this as there is a definite shift away from local clubs to more CL level clubs and in some cases kids supporting players and as a result the club they play for.

Should be a thread on its self but thought I’d save the effort and stick it here.. I think it’s defiantly a threat to “lesser” clubs so to speak

 

[Houston_Blade]

Got a question for parents with kids who are 16 and under.

How many of your kids decided to support a CL club? I’m curious about this as there is a definite shift away from local clubs to more CL level clubs and in some cases kids supporting players and as a result the club they play for.

Should be a thread on its self but thought I’d save the effort and stick it here.. I think it’s defiantly a threat to “lesser” clubs so to speak

When my son was around 5 he liked Real Madrid, but that's because we lived overseas and there was a RM shop in a mall where we did our food shop. Apart from that he's never even been bothered.

I think I've subliminally conditioned him to dislike all other football teams in the same way that I do. I genuinely never sit down and watch a match if we're not playing. My fix of football is Blades matches and junior football each week with my kids. All other matches are superfluous.

 

[Alan Birchenall's hair]

It looks a right mess doesn't it. I meant to compare Birmingham overall versus sheffield overall and it is difficult to compare for multiple reaons

In 2018/2019 when all 5 teams were in the Championship the three Birmingham teams averaged 88,500, compared to the two Sheffield teams at 50,500. All 5 clubs didn't sell to capacity, so that wasn't a constraint. Villa drag up the Birmingham numbers and compared to the populations of the cities Sheffield could probably claim to have a higher percentage of people attending but not by much and to be honest I've just wasted 5 minutes of my life looking that because ....who cares really

West Bromwich is not a part of Birmingham in the same way that Rovrum is not part of Sheffield. Brum has 2 teams, City and Villa, and considering the population is twice that of Sheffield, their aggregated attendance is indeed quite poor. Same as Leeds being the same size as Sheffield, but only having 1 club. Leeds sell out at the moment, but so would Utd and Wednesday in their position. So it is true that both Birmingham and Leeds don't have the same interest in footy as Sheffield does. Which makes it all the worse in the fact that those 2 cities have teams who do actually win something now and again. Whereas Sheffield? Not so much. Since I started watching in 1966, there is a total of 1 League Cup between both Sheffield sides. (And even that wasn't won by us.) In that time, Leeds and Villa have won the league 4 times between 'em, Leeds have won a couple of European trophies, and Villa have actually won the European Cup (now the Champions League). I think they also have a two or three FA cups between them in that time, and have countless top 4 finishes. Even Birmingham City have won the League Cup. Whereas Sheffield? Not so much......
Mind you, in terms of attendances, we are miles behind Liverpool/Everton (similar size city), Newcastle/Sunderland (joint population = Sheffield), and Man Utd/City.
So in terms of interest in footy, we do OK against some cities, but shite against others. And we never, ever, ever, ever win anything..........

 

[Blad]

West Bromwich is not a part of Birmingham in the same way that Rovrum is not part of Sheffield. Brum has 2 teams, City and Villa, and considering the population is twice that of Sheffield, their aggregated attendance is indeed quite poor. Same as Leeds being the same size as Sheffield, but only having 1 club. Leeds sell out at the moment, but so would Utd and Wednesday in their position. So it is true that both Birmingham and Leeds don't have the same interest in footy as Sheffield does. Which makes it all the worse in the fact that those 2 cities have teams who do actually win something now and again. Whereas Sheffield? Not so much. Since I started watching in 1966, there is a total of 1 League Cup between both Sheffield sides. (And even that wasn't won by us.) In that time, Leeds and Villa have won the league 4 times between 'em, Leeds have won a couple of European trophies, and Villa have actually won the European Cup (now the Champions League). I think they also have a two or three FA cups between them in that time, and have countless top 4 finishes. Even Birmingham City have won the League Cup. Whereas Sheffield? Not so much......
Mind you, in terms of attendances, we are miles behind Liverpool/Everton (similar size city), Newcastle/Sunderland (joint population = Sheffield), and Man Utd/City.
So in terms of interest in footy, we do OK against some cities, but shite against others. And we never, ever, ever, ever win anything..........

Agree with you on all of it but where you say we are miles behind other cities, well there is a reason for that, Liverpool/Everton, Everton are a very well supported team in their city, not saying Liverpool are not but they are world wide famous club and have coaches running to their games from all over the UK and Ireland, especially Ireland. So this is not a team supported in their city we should judge against, their fans come from literally all over every game. Newcastle/Sunderland, they have a big advantage being isolated and having so many towns and villages surrounding them all high makes up their numbers, big catchment area for them. Pretty much same as Leeds with all the towns surrounding them and giving them a big catchment area although I think Leeds attendances are shit with the size of the city and the dozens and towns they have to themselves. Man Utd/city, both have very good core supporters but like Liverpool they come from all over the uk and Ireland especially for Utd, I read somewhere that more coaches of Irish go over to Man Utd home games than go to Celtic. So yes we are struggling against cities like that but have good reason to, but I honestly think if Sheffield had two top teams and billionaire owners like that lot and we were champions league standard I don’t want to sound like a pig but we would be massive.

 

[cahill]

Got a question for parents with kids who are 16 and under.

How many of your kids decided to support a CL club? I’m curious about this as there is a definite shift away from local clubs to more CL level clubs and in some cases kids supporting players and as a result the club they play for.

Should be a thread on its self but thought I’d save the effort and stick it here.. I think it’s defiantly a threat to “lesser” clubs so to speak

I’m not sure that’s any more true today than it was in the 1970s. In fact I’d say it’s the other way. I remember thousands of south Yorkshire fans going to Old Trafford on a regular basis. I recollect going from Sheffield Midland to Old Trafford to watch the Blades and the train was full of Man Utd fans from Donny, Barnsley, Dearne Valley and probably beyond. People would unselfconsciously flaunt their Man Utd or LIverpool support quite openly and proudly. I remember being in the Scoreboard corner at OT and recognising locals from where I used to live. I think a lot of people these days feel they have to “ qualify/justify” supporting Man Utd etc by inventing some tenuous link, they are embarrassed at being called out, “ plastic…glory hunter” etc, My grandchildren are awe struck by the big names but they and their mates still support their local club ( Barnsley).

 

[JohnGannonsPerm]

Got a question for parents with kids who are 16 and under.

How many of your kids decided to support a CL club? I’m curious about this as there is a definite shift away from local clubs to more CL level clubs and in some cases kids supporting players and as a result the club they play for.

Should be a thread on its self but thought I’d save the effort and stick it here.. I think it’s defiantly a threat to “lesser” clubs so to speak

In the U16's side that I run, surprisingly, there are no supporters of non-local clubs. The only one that was a Man U fan now has a ST at Bramall Lane. There are a couple that don't follow any particular team. What I do like is that half a dozen of them get themselves off to watch Parkgate too.

 

[blade67]

Got a question for parents with kids who are 16 and under.

How many of your kids decided to support a CL club? I’m curious about this as there is a definite shift away from local clubs to more CL level clubs and in some cases kids supporting players and as a result the club they play for.

Should be a thread on its self but thought I’d save the effort and stick it here.. I think it’s defiantly a threat to “lesser” clubs so to speak

My kids are a little older than 16 but none of them fancied living in the shed, so we didn't have any of that nonesense. All blades

 

[SUFC Guy]

Our average attendance this season is set to be the highest we've had in the 2nd tier for at least 35 years. We're averaging nearly 2000 more than the first season in the championship after we got relegated under Warnock, we're also currently beating the attendances we had in the championship promotion season with Wilder. Our average will probably dip slightly as we've had to get games re-scheduled for midweek which always tend to get lower attendances but it's still slightly strange the large crowds we've been getting.

Possible theories:

• The hunger to return to football matches after a long absence due to covid
• High prices for matchday tickets meaning the season ticket prices were more attractive - meaning more people at more games than they'd normally attend
• The prospect of a very expensive squad playing at a division lower with a 'proven' promotion winning manager looked like we were set for a good season
• Or the fanbase has gradually grown after an extended period of time playing good football during the Wilder years.
• Any other theories?

I don't want to turn into a Wednesday fan and care much about this sort of thing. But I just know if we're the top supported club in this division that will only help us financially and try and set us apart from the rest of the pack (I appreciate it doesn't work out like that).

Anyone have any other theories why this might be and has our fanbase grown or is it all purely down to a set of circumstances from covid etc?

 

[5tannington Blade]

Being born in 1990 and going to a school near town, there were quite a few kids in my year that supported premier league teams. Newcastle was one of the big ones, Leeds, Man Utd. Wednesday also had the slight edge over united fans either due to family allegiance or for ones that had no family that supported either team, a lot of them saw the appeal of a premier league team with flair players like Carbone, Di Canio etc.

These were the days though before internet and widespread EFL coverage on sky. It was appealing to support a team that was in the Champions League on ITV on a wednesday night or sky sports on the weekend. I think with the way teams handle social media, have their own streaming channel now, sky sports etc, the appeal to support a local team is probably greater than i was a kid.

Just a theory but I do think more kids locally will be more attracted to support blades than when i was a kid

 

[mancunianblade]

When my son was around 5 he liked Real Madrid, but that's because we lived overseas and there was a RM shop in a mall where we did our food shop. Apart from that he's never even been bothered.

I think I've subliminally conditioned him to dislike all other football teams in the same way that I do. I genuinely never sit down and watch a match if we're not playing. My fix of football is Blades matches and junior football each week with my kids. All other matches are superfluous.

I was watching whatever was on tv pre pandemic. When the stadiums emptied my interest died completely and has never recovered. My current football intake is 99.9% this forum and 00.1% BBC updates I really hope it comes back.

I was in Porto for work a while back and blagged director tickets for Porto v Milan. I left at half time because all I was thinking about was match traffic

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

It's always been one of the best in the championship.

In my early days as a Blade I recall us being a 16-18k a week side around the turn of the millennium. I'd guess the incredible, but ultimately disappointing 2002/2003 season banged us upto about 19/20k and Wilderball got us to where we are now.