Has the recession affected your attendance?

[Linz]

I'm just reading through the thread on Owlstalk about Strafford and its got me thinking about how the recession is affecting football fans and United fans in particular.

It sounds like a truism, but going to football isn't cheap. Take today for instance. £22.50 for a ticket, £7 to park, a full tank of petrol used going there and back, £3 a pint in the pub, £6 on dinner, £3 programme... it all adds up.

For many football fans, a lot of things will be sacrificed before football. A £3 bottle of wine from Co-op and a night in instead of £50 on a night down town for example. But for some, there has to come a point where the spend just cannot be justified, no matter how much you love your club.

Have any of you taken the conscious decision to pick and choose your games when you otherwise would've gone without a second thought?

And more interestingly, is there anything that could be done to entice you to spend some money?

 

[bricktop]

I don't think the recession is the key factor here, i think it is more people having the time and inclination to attend matches.

Our season tickets are cheaper than Wednesdays, therefore more affordable, same with the matchday tickets.

I'm in a position where if attending matches was just a question of money then i would be fine and be able to attend every match home and away, but other factors come in to it with me such as having a young family and working in a job where i can't realistically get the time off to attend every United match home and away, so i usually swap things around so i can see every home game, and then cherry pick my away days.

 

[Samantha]

I can't attend many matches anyway - but let me just discuss away ones (as I share a season ticket for home games, so they're not an issue). I don't think I'll be attending away games that I can attend, because it's getting too expensive. Not really because I can't afford it, but because I want to buy a house, and any money spent on football takes it away from the house! Once we have the house, we'll be able to attend games when we know we can, but until then, I have to save!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Away games are pretty much out of reach these days.

And another point worth raising are the loyaty points.

Why should my lad with no out goings but goes to most away games get more chance of an away ticket when his parents have put more years in as a supportor - how many points for standing in the pissing rain on a mud bank at Halifax in the 4th and how many for being locked in at Forrest havin to watch us get stuffed 6-0?

 

[blades1889]

i no, i'm only one in family going to matches now cos of price. And as 4 away matches i think i'll watch it on bbc tonight. Lol

 

[SwissBlade]

I have a season ticket, but most games it gets used by someone else as I can't get back to the UK.

Fortunately the recession isn't an issue for me. I've read that people are sacrificing more day to day things (like better quality food and clothes) but still maintaining their lifestyle (nights out and hobbies)

Same with away games, although i'm looking to spend more on individual away games to combine it with a weekend away. Eg instead of just travelling the day to 5 away away games nearby, i'll do 3 further afield and make a weekend out of it.. at least thats the theory

 

[grafikhaus]

Not particularly about United, who have great crowds, super ground and a cracking atmosphere at nearly every home game (easy to forget).

I was watching MoTD last night and was struck by some of the poor attendances. Wigan v Man. U 18,000! WTF is that about? Loads of empty seats. I know the average Man U fan has an awful long journey to Wigan, but that must send shivers down spines when the current Champions draw such a shocking crowd.
Also, Sunderland at home - masses of empty seats yet they got a worthy 37,000. Shows the folly of building a huge stadium that will rarely, if ever get filled (take note, United and Wendy).
I must also say that United at Reading. Behind the right-hand goal was pretty deserted. Where, a couple of years ago the Reading muppets would have packed the area tight up to the away fans, it was totally empty. And, despite some imaginative camera-work by the Beeb, United's support looked pretty thin.
Derby are down to 25k (a drop of 8k on last season) and if the Blades maintain their push we'll be back to getting bigger crowds than them again.
The Geordies? A one-off but it shows that, if you know the ground is going to be packed or you are taking 5k to an away match, it makes it more attractive to attend yourself.
So, the Blades are doing OK at the moment. 27k + coming up next Saturday. I know we'll never compete with Wendy's crowds, but then we don't give over 5,000 freebies out at every home game.

 

[beechblade]

It affected me more Last Season I couldn't get to the lane much at all due to leaving the forces and buying my first home.

However money has cleared up a bit better this season and I have finally got myself a Season ticket, I'm lucky that work iis falling well and I can get to most games in the first half of the season. I will miss West Brom and due to the move in date of the steel city derby I will miss that too and possibily the last game of september but then I have a clear run till christmas and some of the games beyhond X mas so its looking good.
Away games are an issue at the minute as I can't afford them I'd love to start going to a few more away games but the cost of it all is something that I can't budjet for at all at the minute.

 

[La_Blade]

I'm afraid its time that prevents me from going to BDTBL mostly. I work continental shifts (3 on 3 off days and nights ). And restrictions on how many people are allowed off at the same time means I miss a lot of games cos it's always a scramble to get a Saturday off. Also Mrs La_Blade works for 2 of my 3 days off so I have to look after La_Blade jnr. Its like having to wait for planets to align trying to sort out going to a game. Having said that so far this season I made Sheffield FC, Chesterfield, Watford, and got tickets for WBA, I'm also hoping to make either Cov or Derby away.
I have said this season that I'd like to go to a few more away games but again I'll have to pick and choose which. One final factor is the mate who I used to go with has moved away from the area, so I'm probably going to be on my todd for a few games, looks like an appearance at the Lion may be in order

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

For me it's not about the money, but if I went to all the away games as well as the home games I'd be getting a divorce. Thumb and under I know! But sacrifices have to be made.:thumbdown:

 

[Slugger]

Ryanair's decision to axe its Dublin to Doncaster route hasn't gone down too well chez Slugger. Feckin' recession etc.:cry:

 

[shorehamview]

For me it's not about the money, but if I went to all the away games as well as the home games I'd be getting a divorce. Thumb and under I know! But sacrifices have to be made.:thumbdown:

Same here! Mrs SV would cut off my wedding veg with rusty scissors if I went to many away matches. I also wouldn't go to any midweek matches simply because I start work at 7:00 and I need my beauty sleep.

 

[Slugger]

So, the Blades are doing OK at the moment. 27k + coming up next Saturday. I know we'll never compete with Wendy's crowds, but then we don't give over 5,000 freebies out at every home game.

Last season's stats give us an average 26,000 home attendance compared to 21,500 at the sty

 

[raul]

In Rugby League they have ( or used to) an option whereby if you bought a ST, you could "upgrade" it to include entrance to all away games for £20 or so and it was free for kids. Unsurprisingly away followings shot up.

The ££ numbers would be different in football obviously, but there's nothing wrong with the principle. At the very least televised away games should be £10/£5 for away fans.

The recession hasn't afftected my attendance personally, but our row of 6STH's of 3 years ago is down to 3 and numbers pre and post match in pubs has dropped similarly. I'd put most of that down to a mixture between relegation/Robson and a change in peoples circumstances (getting married/divorced). Though I would say football has re-positioned itself as a luxury leisure activity with its price rises over the last decade for those not dedicated enough to stump up for a ST. Price of my seat has more than doubled in that time but I dont see that reflected in a similar level of increased quailty.

 

[grafikhaus]

Last season's stats give us an average 26,000 home attendance compared to 21,500 at the sty

Tongue in cheek, Slugger!

Take Wendys opening day game v. Barnsley - over 30,000. Now 13k season tickets + 7k from Barnsley = 20k, so we're being asked to believe that over 10k 'turned up on the day'. Don't think so.

And yesterday Fatman was bemoaning 18k-odd at yesterdays game, which has now risen miraculously to over 20k.

Lies, damn lies and all that.

 

[Linz]

I've mentioned it before but I think there should be a cap on the amount away fans are charged and this should be set depending on which league you're in.

£20 in the Championship.

£15 in League One

£10 in League Two

2000 people at £10 is brings in more money than 800 people at £20... fair enough, you have to pay more stewards, but there's also the revenue from food, programmes and if you run your own car park, parking. Obviously it would take some serious organisation through the league but as a travelling fan, I'd be quite impressed if it happened.

For home fans, more packages and season ticket options should be available.

When we've got the upper tier which offers one of the best views in the ground with no season ticket holders in it, it wouldn't be too difficult to administrate a Saturday-only season ticket up there. And offer discounts where someone buys tickets for three/four matches at a time. Kids get a good deal most of the time anyway, but quid-a-kid promotions ought to be offered to schools as these things can really establish future support (the first matches I was taken to were the quid-a-kid ones... think they're more than had the money back from me!)

Obviously all these things should be balanced against the discount a season ticket offers so we don't end up with a situation like at Wednesday where ST holders were left out of pocket by all the promotions. But as a ST holder, I think as much should be done as possible to support fans during difficult times.

 

[oldblade]

Away games are pretty much out of reach these days.

And another point worth raising are the loyaty points.

Why should my lad with no out goings but goes to most away games get more chance of an away ticket when his parents have put more years in as a supportor - how many points for standing in the pissing rain on a mud bank at Halifax in the 4th and how many for being locked in at Forrest havin to watch us get stuffed 6-0?

Wimbledon away on 2nd January 1984 was one of those games that made you question your own sanity as well. Open away end, and it absolutely bucketed it down. Lost 3-1 after being a goal up. Got back to my old (even at that time) Morris Marina completely sodden, the winscreen misted up immediately and the journey home was a constant battle to keep it clear. Happy days.

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

If I lived closer I'd go to quite a few home games but with over a 3 hour drive and the money it costs for the petrol there is no way I could have got to any games. My other half has been out of work since November and even though I've been working full time it's just not enough for general bills and the rent nevermind going to football. Thankfully he has a job to start when we move to Worcester next week and we'll be slightly closer to BDTBL than we have been here in Ipswich.

If I hadn't had a mad few years of going to nearly every league amd cup home and away agmes, I'd miss going more nowadays and want to go more this season. But, I've done my travelling and spending stupid amounts of money with the Blades. Time to concentrate on other things now like a relationship, career and other things I enjoy outside football. Sadly, I'm still hooked and find myself sat infront of skysports news or the internet every saturday afternoon worrying about how we're getting on!

As for the pricing and money in football, don't get me started on that one. My grandparents and their parents etc, on my mums side of the family (dads side always followed Rugby League) will be turning in their graves with how football is turning out.
Something has to be done with regards to a price cap on lower league matches.

 

[raul]

Your Dad's side support a carp team - FACT

 

[s10blade]

Personally, I haven't been affected by the recession jobwise but on my own principles I don't go to many away games not because I can't afford it or don't want to but because I think it's a rip off.

 

[S64 Blade]

Personally i couldn't afford a season ticket this year, after having one for a long time (and yeah it's horrible not been able to be at all the home games ). Although i think my situation is more to do with me being a student rather than the economic climate.

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

Your Dad's side support a carp team - FACT

Indeed they did/do at football but not at Rugby League because I support the Rhinos.

 

[raul]

:gallop:I refer you to my earlier post

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

:gallop:I refer you to my earlier post

:thumbdown:

 

[Casper]

I'm just reading through the thread on Owlstalk about Strafford and its got me thinking about how the recession is affecting football fans and United fans in particular.

It sounds like a truism, but going to football isn't cheap. Take today for instance. £22.50 for a ticket, £7 to park, a full tank of petrol used going there and back, £3 a pint in the pub, £6 on dinner, £3 programme... it all adds up.

For many football fans, a lot of things will be sacrificed before football. A £3 bottle of wine from Co-op and a night in instead of £50 on a night down town for example. But for some, there has to come a point where the spend just cannot be justified, no matter how much you love your club.

Have any of you taken the conscious decision to pick and choose your games when you otherwise would've gone without a second thought?

And more interestingly, is there anything that could be done to entice you to spend some money?

Without trying to sound like billybigbollox its not really a money thing with me. Financially life is a lot easier these days but, unfortunatley, a cost of that pleasure is my free time is far more scarce and precious to me these days. I have had a season ticket at bdtbl for around 30 years and the thought of missing a home game never enters my mind. Trekking across the country though week in week out is not as appealing any more. When i was in my 20's \ early 30s I attended a good 90% of the away games. These days though i prefer to pick out a few away games and stay overnight. I probably only get to about 7 or 8 aways games a season now.

 

[judge]

For me it's not about the money, but if I went to all the away games as well as the home games I'd be getting a divorce. Thumb and under I know! But sacrifices have to be made.:thumbdown:

defineltly affected me ,2 years ago i had my wage cut by about 40% and only got a season ticket last year as i picked one up cheap (£200)
no chance of that this year so i pick and choose

missed watford through illness went to leicester at home and reading yesterday and will probably do next saturday but after that will be a struggle
so yes id definetly say the recession has affected me

p.s. that strafford thread is pure internet gold

knew it wouldnt be long before they sussed him out

 

[Autumn]

no, i bought a season ticket this year, I got more clients this year. Odd, but they tell me lots of funding is avaliable for start up businesses

 

[cooperblade]

Can't think of a match I've ever missed purely because of money reasons. However with the Mini Coopers now numbering 3 and a bonus from work unlikely in 2010 you never know.

Having kids means that, although I still go to all the home games, I only go to about a quarter of the away games when it used to be more like 3 quarters.

 

[Kentblade]

Away games are pretty much out of reach these days.

And another point worth raising are the loyaty points.

Why should my lad with no out goings but goes to most away games get more chance of an away ticket when his parents have put more years in as a supportor - how many points for standing in the pissing rain on a mud bank at Halifax in the 4th and how many for being locked in at Forrest havin to watch us get stuffed 6-0?

There can be no system that rewards years of support as the club are only interested in those spending the money now.I am not sure if the loyalty points will be needed unless of course we get some important games, ie cup semi final etc.
I tend to agree with you however that as the points seem to be continuing each year then one can never keep up unless you have a season ticket or attend the majority of the games.
I have to say that having thought about this system many times I cannot come up with a fairer system,even though it is frustrating if you have been a supporter since 1946 and a round trip of over 400 miles for a home game.
Yes I know its my decision to live so far away so I accept the loyalty system as being the only one that could be in place.
The days of a quick visit up the M1 to the lane and back and then a night out went a long time ago.
UTB

 

[Linz]

There can be no system that rewards years of support as the club are only interested in those spending the money now.I am not sure if the loyalty points will be needed unless of course we get some important games, ie cup semi final etc.

The only time it'll really be used this season is Wednesday away... and only then to stagger the sale. Wednesday will give us the whole end again because they can't afford not to.

Even Barnsley and Doncaster went to general sale last season I think and even in the Premier League, very few matches sold out.

I don't think loyalty points are really a factor in non-attendance away from home... plenty of spare seats at Reading and Middlesbrough.