Is our support growing ?

[Keen Blade]

And if not , why not ?
Just an opinion but I'm quite disappointed with our gates this season. Why ?
Well , in the joy of winning the Championship last season our typical home gate was over 25k + in the last match we had over 30k for the first time in years. But whither that extra 5k ?
If we had done as expected in La Liga and had the form to finish mid-table , I could quite understand why our gates would stick at 25 or even slip back towards 20.
But Christ on a bicycle , we have exceeded all expectations + lie 3rd in the exciting new world.
So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted ?
Believe whatever Club bullshit you will about the reason no STs were sold in BLUT , but my take is that the BLUT was left free for purchase by the non-ST 'new' fans who need to be won over
- it has the best view in UK football (never mind just in the Lane) and if new converts are going to fork out over £20 , the Club is correct to give them the best seats available in the ground , so they will think it's great VFM and so return next week.
There's no point in trying to win loyalty by giving the floating supporter the remaining (worst) seats in SS or Kop or JSS ,which are almost filled by ST holders anyway.
So on the basis that a non-ST spectator can watch the best Blades football in years , from the best seats in the house , for a very reasonable price , WHY ISN'T BLUT FULL EVERY HOME GAME this season ?
Makes a bit of a mockery of the "Build it , They will come" brigade who bang on about the 38k & 45k versions of the Lane.
They definitely haven't come ...and I'm very curious to know why not. They're missing a great team put in some great performances ! Are they all at home watching whatever's on Sky from any division , home or abroad ? Or are they doing time at Meadowhall for some perceived previous failure to reflect full their 'modern man' epithet ?

 

[Blade1771]

Early on last season our gates where resolutely stuck at around the 18k mark, which was still excellent going for a club in their 6th season in League One. That means with the gates at the current level it is still a 7k increase.

We still attract crowds that are more than ample for club of our standing in the Championship, and we did very well to retain healthy crowds in League One, at the minute despite the healthy league position i feel that we are still establishing ourselves at this level again, and the first game after the September Massacre was a midweek game, which still saw a healthy attendance, i would have expected quite a few more on the gate had it been a saturday match.

If we keep this rate of success i can see a lot more attendance pushing 27/28k, or even up to 30k for an attractive fixture.

 

[Ranmoorblade]

Last year we averaged 21800 and this year we're averaging 26100 so I don't understand your argument. We are getting more through the turnstile, some of which will be away supporters. More Blades are attending though.

 

[itsinyerblood]

And if not , why not ?
Just an opinion but I'm quite disappointed with our gates this season. Why ?
Well , in the joy of winning the Championship last season our typical home gate was over 25k + in the last match we had over 30k for the first time in years. But whither that extra 5k ?
If we had done as expected in La Liga and had the form to finish mid-table , I could quite understand why our gates would stick at 25 or even slip back towards 20.
But Christ on a bicycle , we have exceeded all expectations + lie 3rd in the exciting new world.
So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted ?
Believe whatever Club bullshit you will about the reason no STs were sold in BLUT , but my take is that the BLUT was left free for purchase by the non-ST 'new' fans who need to be won over
- it has the best view in UK football (never mind just in the Lane) and if new converts are going to fork out over £20 , the Club is correct to give them the best seats available in the ground , so they will think it's great VFM and so return next week.
There's no point in trying to win loyalty by giving the floating supporter the remaining (worst) seats in SS or Kop or JSS ,which are almost filled by ST holders anyway.
So on the basis that a non-ST spectator can watch the best Blades football in years , from the best seats in the house , for a very reasonable price , WHY ISN'T BLUT FULL EVERY HOME GAME this season ?
Makes a bit of a mockery of the "Build it , They will come" brigade who bang on about the 38k & 45k versions of the Lane.
They definitely haven't come ...and I'm very curious to know why not. They're missing a great team put in some great performances ! Are they all at home watching whatever's on Sky from any division , home or abroad ? Or are they doing time at Meadowhall for some perceived previous failure to reflect full their 'modern man' epithet ?

I think you've been selective in offering the numbers that attended throughout last season. Overall they were less than you suggest - see Ranmoorblade #3 above.
We're busier now than at any time I can recall over the last 5 or 6 seasons, and although it may not be as dramatic as we'd all like, there's a definite upswing in numbers which I think we should be thankful for. Sometimes we fail to see or appreciate what's before our eyes. UTMB!

 

[BladeInBC]

I still remember when Adrian Heath was in charge and we were lucky to get double figures (in thousands) at the Lane. To get the numbers we got last year was ridiculous and the numbers we're getting right now will only continue to rise based on the level of football on display.

 

[Champagneblade]

To be fair, who have we played at home?

26,746 vs Brentford - not traditionally well followed, nor much of a draw.

25,482 vs Barnsley - televised, not a great time of day and local aside, they are not a ‘big’ team.

26,202 vs Derby - might have expected slightly more but they made a bad start.

26,218 vs Norwich - decemt supported club but little history between us and they have a long way to travel.

25,893 vs Wolves - might have been nearer 27,000 if on a Saturday but decent.

You still have Wednesday, Leeds, Villa, Forest to name but a handful which will push 30k.

Given nodoby knew what sort of season we will have, adding 5k to the gate having not played any of the above is excellent really.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

And if not , why not ?
Just an opinion but I'm quite disappointed with our gates this season. Why ?
Well , in the joy of winning the Championship last season our typical home gate was over 25k + in the last match we had over 30k for the first time in years. But whither that extra 5k ?
If we had done as expected in La Liga and had the form to finish mid-table , I could quite understand why our gates would stick at 25 or even slip back towards 20.
But Christ on a bicycle , we have exceeded all expectations + lie 3rd in the exciting new world.
So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted ?
Believe whatever Club bullshit you will about the reason no STs were sold in BLUT , but my take is that the BLUT was left free for purchase by the non-ST 'new' fans who need to be won over
- it has the best view in UK football (never mind just in the Lane) and if new converts are going to fork out over £20 , the Club is correct to give them the best seats available in the ground , so they will think it's great VFM and so return next week.
There's no point in trying to win loyalty by giving the floating supporter the remaining (worst) seats in SS or Kop or JSS ,which are almost filled by ST holders anyway.
So on the basis that a non-ST spectator can watch the best Blades football in years , from the best seats in the house , for a very reasonable price , WHY ISN'T BLUT FULL EVERY HOME GAME this season ?
Makes a bit of a mockery of the "Build it , They will come" brigade who bang on about the 38k & 45k versions of the Lane.
They definitely haven't come ...and I'm very curious to know why not. They're missing a great team put in some great performances ! Are they all at home watching whatever's on Sky from any division , home or abroad ? Or are they doing time at Meadowhall for some perceived previous failure to reflect full their 'modern man' epithet ?

Money pal, it's expensive

 

[metalblade]

Disappointed even with restricted numbers on away fans we are getting bigger away followings at the lane, it is home fans that are not turning up in significant numbers. The pricing needs a few tweaks too the Barnsley game was way overpriced for a team that are not that big a draw and on TV too. Yes our support up but considering the start we have had and the great football on show the club must be hugely disappointed. I expect a herty price rise next season if the team dont get the backing they deserve. We really should be pushing towards 30000 every game.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

I think it's about reyt for us doing well in the Championship.

Any big games we might get a couple of thousand more plus neutrals who like to see a decent atmosphere and big occasion. Think Charlton and Spurs cup games and last season's trophy presentation. There's a lot of nosey bastards about or 'I was there' enthusiasts.

 

[grafikhaus]

Gates of 30k+ will remain rare because of all the netting and coppers/safety group placing ridiculous limits on our crowds. The pig match showed this up in sharp focus. Not only were we only given the top tier of Lepers Lane (compared to well-known thugs from Leeds), the first six rows were 'netted off'. Oh, and SYPD made damn sure that a significant number of our fans missed a lot of the first half. If the delay was caused by pig fans around Hillsborough Corner, it is them who should have been cleared off as I don't think they were there to admire the view of fucking Hillsborough. Like so many things that SYPD do around football it wasn't crime prevention, more like crime creation.

I'll be furious if we give the pigs the whole of BLLT and don't sell 'double-header' tickets for the Bolton game (Sat. December 30th) and the pig game (Sat. Jan. 13) for around £48.00.

 

[I should coco]

Day ticket prices are up with a bump. For a 'top' match, It's £32 to turn up on the day on the Kop which is a big jump on last year and in my view is at least £7 too much.

I know a couple of people not prepared to pay this.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Before "bouncing day" we were averaging more than our neighbours who have delusions of being "Massive". I think our average will be boosted by the games in the New Year.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

And if not , why not ?
Just an opinion but I'm quite disappointed with our gates this season. Why ?
Well , in the joy of winning the Championship last season our typical home gate was over 25k + in the last match we had over 30k for the first time in years. But whither that extra 5k ?
If we had done as expected in La Liga and had the form to finish mid-table , I could quite understand why our gates would stick at 25 or even slip back towards 20.
But Christ on a bicycle , we have exceeded all expectations + lie 3rd in the exciting new world.
So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted ?
Believe whatever Club bullshit you will about the reason no STs were sold in BLUT , but my take is that the BLUT was left free for purchase by the non-ST 'new' fans who need to be won over
- it has the best view in UK football (never mind just in the Lane) and if new converts are going to fork out over £20 , the Club is correct to give them the best seats available in the ground , so they will think it's great VFM and so return next week.
There's no point in trying to win loyalty by giving the floating supporter the remaining (worst) seats in SS or Kop or JSS ,which are almost filled by ST holders anyway.
So on the basis that a non-ST spectator can watch the best Blades football in years , from the best seats in the house , for a very reasonable price , WHY ISN'T BLUT FULL EVERY HOME GAME this season ?
Makes a bit of a mockery of the "Build it , They will come" brigade who bang on about the 38k & 45k versions of the Lane.
They definitely haven't come ...and I'm very curious to know why not. They're missing a great team put in some great performances ! Are they all at home watching whatever's on Sky from any division , home or abroad ? Or are they doing time at Meadowhall for some perceived previous failure to reflect full their 'modern man' epithet ?

Where they know there are going to be 1000-2000 empty seats available, I think they should be offering them up cheap to Students and School kids.

With the great attacking football we’re playing, we should be showing it off to as wide an audience as possible.

Get them hooked now and a fair proportion might keep coming back.

Under certain previous managers, we were more likely to deter them from ever wanting to see us play again.

 

[S64 Blade]

A bit of an overreaction by the original poster.

As others have pointed out, our average has increased and will continue to do so as the season progresses. We were getting around 19k at this stage last season and by the end, added 2k on the average. I expect given the games we have left to play at home, we will average over 27k - more than we ever have in this league?

It’s ok pointing to the chesterfield game, but of course that’s going to have been disproportionately high. We had won the league and it was the final game of a momentous season. Everyone makes the effort for these games, whereas the normal home games people who aren’t ST holders inevitably choose what works best financially etc.

 

[Blade for Sale]

I don't get to many games but will be there for the Ipswich match. It's £27. I'm prepared to fork out that kind of money from time to time but can't justify it regularly. Our crowds have been astonishingly good for years, partly due to sensible prices in L1. For me they've got the prices wrong this season by around 10%. Certainly for Cat 1.

 

[metalblade]

The netting off of perfectly good seats is another draw back for the big games I can see there being only poor or restricted view seats available to the pay on the day customer which might put people off if they are being asked to pay over £30. The price of season tickets are great value but I do think the pay per game crowd are being hammered price wise especially if buying on the day.

 

[tyke1889]

So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted

Answered your own question there mate.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Where they know there are going to be 1000-2000 empty seats available, I think they should be offering them up cheap to Students and School kids.

With the great attacking football we’re playing, we should be showing it off to as wide an audience as possible.

Get them hooked now and a fair proportion might keep coming back.

Under certain previous managers, we were more likely to deter them from ever wanting to see us play again.

I'd rather those with 40000+ points get cheap tickets than students.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

And if not , why not ?
Just an opinion but I'm quite disappointed with our gates this season. Why ?
Well , in the joy of winning the Championship last season our typical home gate was over 25k + in the last match we had over 30k for the first time in years. But whither that extra 5k ?
If we had done as expected in La Liga and had the form to finish mid-table , I could quite understand why our gates would stick at 25 or even slip back towards 20.
But Christ on a bicycle , we have exceeded all expectations + lie 3rd in the exciting new world.
So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted ?
Believe whatever Club bullshit you will about the reason no STs were sold in BLUT , but my take is that the BLUT was left free for purchase by the non-ST 'new' fans who need to be won over
- it has the best view in UK football (never mind just in the Lane) and if new converts are going to fork out over £20 , the Club is correct to give them the best seats available in the ground , so they will think it's great VFM and so return next week.
There's no point in trying to win loyalty by giving the floating supporter the remaining (worst) seats in SS or Kop or JSS ,which are almost filled by ST holders anyway.
So on the basis that a non-ST spectator can watch the best Blades football in years , from the best seats in the house , for a very reasonable price , WHY ISN'T BLUT FULL EVERY HOME GAME this season ?
Makes a bit of a mockery of the "Build it , They will come" brigade who bang on about the 38k & 45k versions of the Lane.
They definitely haven't come ...and I'm very curious to know why not. They're missing a great team put in some great performances ! Are they all at home watching whatever's on Sky from any division , home or abroad ? Or are they doing time at Meadowhall for some perceived previous failure to reflect full their 'modern man' epithet ?

Eh

 

[Kenilworth]

Think it's quid a kid for the Ipshize match isn't it.
That should add a couple.

What peeves me more is the tiny allocation we are getting to away fixtures.

I don't have a ST and don't get to as many games as I'd like to do and that rules me out of a lot of away games too.

 

[Jonboy60]

Catch 22, if we're only giving the better supported teams the bottom tier, and then hoping to fill the top tier with blades, it's a chance we take.
Otherwise give the likes of wolves, villa, Leeds and pigs top & bottom tiers. Most definitely bigger crowds then.

 

[ScottBlade]

I expect given the games we have left to play at home, we will average over 27k - more than we ever have in this league?

Highest in recent memory was 26,023 in 2009 but we had a few 30,000+ seasons back in the 50's. I think we're doing alright when you look at the current averages. Barely anything between us, Wednesday, Derby, Forest, Norwich, Wolves and Boro. Plenty of big games yet to come so a 27,000+ av is highly likely especially if we keep up our current form.

 

[Tyler Durden]

When I had my first season ticket in 1999/2000 the average that year was 13k.
In the very same division now, 25/26k is the norm and we are frequently at the top or thereabouts in terms of attendance for the division. We even had 30k turn out for a 3rd division match.
We've achieved this despite playing in a split city and not having a great deal of success in that time.
I'm happy with the level of our support.

 

[blade too long]

gates overall are affected by the big games
wednesday are currently averaging a1000 more than us but a 33k is the one thats done it for them and a large following from sunderland
our gates will pump up when weve played t pigs and t leeds and your villas and sunderland

the attendance steadily rises through the season if we are still top 6 I expect 26 to 27 k average minimum do really well be up to 28k

away followings have a big influence in this division

 

[snootyfenooty]

What's not being considered in this thread is potential. Both clubs in Sheffield have been wallowing around in shit leagues playing shit football for a generation now, with the exception of the odd season here and there. What the Sheffield clubs get in terms of support these days is remarkable all things considered. If both clubs had a modicum of success then combined average gates would be over 70k, no question at all. That would put this city straight into the big boys league for football.

 

[GrayBlade]

And if not , why not ?
Just an opinion but I'm quite disappointed with our gates this season. Why ?
Well , in the joy of winning the Championship last season our typical home gate was over 25k + in the last match we had over 30k for the first time in years. But whither that extra 5k ?
If we had done as expected in La Liga and had the form to finish mid-table , I could quite understand why our gates would stick at 25 or even slip back towards 20.
But Christ on a bicycle , we have exceeded all expectations + lie 3rd in the exciting new world.
So what's up with the 5k who came to see the trophy lifted ?
Believe whatever Club bullshit you will about the reason no STs were sold in BLUT , but my take is that the BLUT was left free for purchase by the non-ST 'new' fans who need to be won over
- it has the best view in UK football (never mind just in the Lane) and if new converts are going to fork out over £20 , the Club is correct to give them the best seats available in the ground , so they will think it's great VFM and so return next week.
There's no point in trying to win loyalty by giving the floating supporter the remaining (worst) seats in SS or Kop or JSS ,which are almost filled by ST holders anyway.
So on the basis that a non-ST spectator can watch the best Blades football in years , from the best seats in the house , for a very reasonable price , WHY ISN'T BLUT FULL EVERY HOME GAME this season ?
Makes a bit of a mockery of the "Build it , They will come" brigade who bang on about the 38k & 45k versions of the Lane.
They definitely haven't come ...and I'm very curious to know why not. They're missing a great team put in some great performances ! Are they all at home watching whatever's on Sky from any division , home or abroad ? Or are they doing time at Meadowhall for some perceived previous failure to reflect full their 'modern man' epithet ?

Why aren’t the grounds at other top-end clubs full every week? Why wasn’t the Sty full in Carlos’s first season when they’d had a massive boost of financial optimism, were not paying over the odds, played decent football and sang ‘We’re on our way back’ (ha), but only averaged 22.5k? Support takes time to grow unless a club’s does a Chelsea or Man City. Currently our support is growing just fine, and we don’t want the prawn sandwich brigade descended on us do we?

Having only just come up from league one, we’re the 7th best supported team in the Championship with a current average of 26,108, on a par with 6th and 5th Derby and Wolves, and the reason that we’re 1k behind the Pork in 4th is purely down to the last two local derbys at the Sty. Our home average was higher than theirs before they played us.

Sorry mate but after all the crap we’ve been through, I think that our support is coming along nicely and compares favourably to any club in the country right now.

 

[boo radley]

Might have something to do with someone in Iraq holding 5000 season tickets?

 

[Pierre's PC]

What's not being considered in this thread is potential. Both clubs in Sheffield have been wallowing around in shit leagues playing shit football for a generation now, with the exception of the odd season here and there. What the Sheffield clubs get in terms of support these days is remarkable all things considered. If both clubs had a modicum of success then combined average gates would be over 70k, no question at all. That would put this city straight into the big boys league for football.

This ^^

 

[raul]

Bit torn on this one.

One one hand, when you consider the last eight seasons ( yes it was dire in L1, but the last two years in the Champ were just as bad) the crowds are brilliant and it's fantastic to see a nearly full ground again.

But then again - and this excludes long distance fans or ones who have to work/childmind etc on Saturdays - if you're not motivated to turn up and watch this side, when are you ever going to come?

Not being from Sheffield, I don't know if the parallel exists, but my local is packed full of Dirties,dozens of them giving it MOT , WACCOE etc etc nearly 2 of whom go regularly so if it is, maybe our glass ceiling is around 25k actually prepared to click turnstiles with another 10k friends and family Wembley types.

Yes, I know it's expensive, but so is 10 pints in the pub on Friday night, or some new creps and I genuinely don't know what the club can do about the general economic climate, but I do think they do their best on pricing when you look around at other clubs. Praise for KM doesn't always flow naturally from my lips, but I think he's always done right by us on this one - though a few more deals might bring in that extra couple of thousand to really fill the place up again.

Finally it's a no from me about giving away fans the BLUT again, the opportunity to at least try and grow the fan base a bit should not be sacrificed on the altar of a few extra grand a few times a year, particularly when you consider the reduction in hostility factor BDTBL has again and the fact that at least all of the extra revenue would go straight in the pockets of SYP and their chums in Durham.

 

[Tony]

Don't understand the problem people have concerning our attendances. We've been in 3rd tier football for 6 years and it'll take time to get everybody back. Anyway one of the MASSIVEST teams in football only averaged 24000 on their return to the Championship and that soon went down to 21000. Plus in the last 50 years the Pigs highest average is 29000 and ours 32000 so we're not too far behind those figures.