Is our support growing ?

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Tony said:
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.
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Older (tick)
Bigger (delusions)
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Our supporters are the most important asset to the club both in terms of quantity and quality.

This thread is about the quantity of support we have been achieving this season. I'd like to bring up the subject of the 'quality of support'.

After the match at Hillsborough I thought the welcome the team received for the Wolves match was muted and didn't reflect the result or performance on the previous Sunday.

Similarly on RS last Saturday we had the first grumbles from fans about Wilder's team selection.

There are numerous examples of supporters of clubs who are doing well becoming a shade complacent about their results and performances. It doesn't always end well.

Appreciate it may only be a minority but it's just something to watch out for.
 
raul said:
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?
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Exactly. I'm surprised the attendances haven't been a bit higher. There's no reason they shouldn't be.

If people had known we'd start the season as we have I think we would've sold another 2,000 STs at least. So if we maintain good form this season I'd expect attendances to be up to at least 27,000 in the Championship next season.


bornablade said:
Our supporters are the most important asset to the club both in terms of quantity and quality.

This thread is about the quantity of support we have been achieving this season. I'd like to bring up the subject of the 'quality of support'.

After the match at Hillsborough I thought the welcome the team received for the Wolves match was muted and didn't reflect the result or performance on the previous Sunday.

Similarly on RS last Saturday we had the first grumbles from fans about Wilder's team selection.

There are numerous examples of supporters of clubs who are doing well becoming a shade complacent about their results and performances. It doesn't always end well.

Appreciate it may only be a minority but it's just something to watch out for.
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Agree with all that. Fans often adjust very quickly and change expectations accordingly, forgetting where they've come from. I hope ours don't.

The Wolves game was very bizarre. For the first 15 minutes of the game you would've thought we lost the derby, not won it 4-2.
 
Ricky said:
Exactly. I'm surprised the attendances haven't been a bit higher. There's no reason they shouldn't be.

If people had known we'd start the season as we have I think we would've sold another 2,000 STs at least. So if we maintain good form this season I'd expect attendances to be up to at least 27,000 in the Championship next season.
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We'll probably do well with half-season ticket sales and our fixtures in the New Year will be pushing our attendances up to that level this season.
 
As for the BLUT, it's important that we establish it as a permanent home supporters' area. If we don't it's a ridiculous waste.

As long as attendances stay above 25,000 I don't think we'll give it to away clubs but they could do with offering STs up there as well.
 
Very unimaginative PR and ticket selling at the Lane. The ST campaign was very low key given the excitement around and the pricing was safe when we could have tried to really kick on and fill it with something different.
These days once you've missed the boat on the STs it's always an uphill struggle for any club to get fans to pay on the day regularly even when you are doing well.
Having said that there is no imagination in these sales either. Why not get the derby tickets on sale early and tie them into other matches or promotions to get fans to other games.
If I buy a ticket for the Norwich match the website otr ticket office staff should offer me the same ticket for the Wolves match at a discount if I get it at the same time, Buy for two matches get at third half price or whatever. I know we have to keep STs as better value overall than other offers and my ideas are hardly groundbreaking and there will no doubt be other better ideas from those paid to come up with them but we really should give it a try. And if we can't be arsed to put some proper effort and imagination into selling tickets then for god's sake open the away end back up for away fans and they will fill it.
 
I think our level of support is excellent after years in the 'football wilderness' and United have also got the seat allocation about right.However,a couple of tweaks might be beneficial,BLUT price fixed at £27 per match if you buy for 2 consecutive matches and take the ticket restrictions away from the 'family stand',make it the same as the south stand.
 
It only seems like yesterday the club was saying we couldn't compete in the transfer market because we weren't averaging the break even mark of 16,000.

I've been going to the Lane for knocking on 40 years and we've averaged 30000 once, and the next highest average has been 26000 plus.

If this season continues in the same vein then our average will be the second highest of my lifetime, and that with the lowest capacity away end we've probably ever had.

There's sweet FA wrong with our crowd numbers.
 
Tuns25 said:
Very unimaginative PR and ticket selling at the Lane. The ST campaign was very low key given the excitement around and the pricing was safe when we could have tried to really kick on and fill it with something different.
These days once you've missed the boat on the STs it's always an uphill struggle for any club to get fans to pay on the day regularly even when you are doing well.
Having said that there is no imagination in these sales either. Why not get the derby tickets on sale early and tie them into other matches or promotions to get fans to other games.
If I buy a ticket for the Norwich match the website otr ticket office staff should offer me the same ticket for the Wolves match at a discount if I get it at the same time, Buy for two matches get at third half price or whatever. I know we have to keep STs as better value overall than other offers and my ideas are hardly groundbreaking and there will no doubt be other better ideas from those paid to come up with them but we really should give it a try. And if we can't be arsed to put some proper effort and imagination into selling tickets then for god's sake open the away end back up for away fans and they will fill it.
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The club have kept ticket pricing low and that has miraculously resulted in our crowds going in the opposite direction to our fortunes.

To describe it as unimaginative is harsh. Anyone can give entrance away ever cheaper. Filling the ground is a secondary objective, as we can't pay 'em in washers.

UTB
 
Time for my first post after lurking since I joined. My next door neighbour is from Shropshire and he's started going to the Lane with his son who was born in Sheffield. The young un was going nuts after we beat the pigs.
 



GRUMPY BLADE said:
I'd rather those with 40000+ points get cheap tickets than students.
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I’d be interested to know how many current Blades fans and their children started supporting United because they first went to The Lane as students.

I know there are quite a few on here for a start.

I pay less than £13 a match for my Adult Season ticket which I consider to be reasonably cheap already.

I don’t mind if they want to give me an even cheaper ticket but I’ll be going either way, so it’s not going to boost attendances, fill the ground and grow the long-term fan base.

Which is what this thread is about.
 
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raul said:
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.
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Are there any other Blades in Wakey and further afield in West Yorkshire, and how come you support the Blades ?
Good on yer though
 
Pricing this year is too expensive. Simple as that. I paid 32 quid advance for Barnsley. Last time I paid that at the lane was in the Premier League season.

They'll be plenty of people struggling with money that simply won't pay that much for championship football.

We should be an example to others and have a fixed top price of 25 no matter what.

Reward the floaters that come with a free ticket every 5 games they pay for or something. Charging them for membership before doesn't help matters.
 
I think our numbers are amazing given our recent history. Watch how Boro’s drop, for instance, if they continue to falter. Sunderland have dropped about 11,000 average since relegation. Ipswich, who have a far superior history of success over 50 years than us, barely get 15,000. Remember Leeds is a bigger city than Sheffield with one club and large metropolitan areas close by who don’t have a football club.
 
I would imagine that given our current progress, we might reach the heady heights of 30-35 thousand at a squeeze. The truth is, it's impossible to predict the extent of our potential. It could be that if we continue to do well, and promotion to the Premiership becomes a reality, then I guess that would make us an attractive choice for potential young supporters, which in turn increases our fan base....but these are variables, not definites, so I'm trying to be realistic about our chances of increasing our fan base. I also think we'll need to think in terms of the next 5-10 years of continued success for this growth to happen...meanwhile, the kop development remains a labour of love for those of us who consider it's existing structure to have reached it's sell-by date some time ago. I know it's all about priorities, and the kop may not fall into this category at the moment, but to these eyes it looks tired and lame......which takes us back to those plans of the newly developed stadium and it's more attractive design.....one can dream!
 
Kuwaiti_blade said:
Pricing this year is too expensive. Simple as that. I paid 32 quid advance for Barnsley. Last time I paid that at the lane was in the Premier League season.

They'll be plenty of people struggling with money that simply won't pay that much for championship football.

We should be an example to others and have a fixed top price of 25 no matter what.

Reward the floaters that come with a free ticket every 5 games they pay for or something. Charging them for membership before doesn't help matters.
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Category A tickets are from £25. Category C tickets are from £20. My season ticket costs me £13 a match.

We will, no doubt, be one of the cheapest destinations in the championship. That will be a fact, whereas "too expensive" is very subjective.
 
alcoblade said:
Category A tickets are from £25. Category C tickets are from £20. My season ticket costs me £13 a match.

We will, no doubt, be one of the cheapest destinations in the championship. That will be a fact, whereas "too expensive" is very subjective.
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On the kop
 
itsinyerblood said:
I would imagine that given our current progress, we might reach the heady heights of 30-35 thousand at a squeeze. The truth is, it's impossible to predict the extent of our potential. It could be that if we continue to do well, and promotion to the Premiership becomes a reality, then I guess that would make us an attractive choice for potential young supporters, which in turn increases our fan base....but these are variables, not definites, so I'm trying to be realistic about our chances of increasing our fan base. I also think we'll need to think in terms of the next 5-10 years of continued success for this growth to happen...meanwhile, the kop development remains a labour of love for those of us who consider it's existing structure to have reached it's sell-by date some time ago. I know it's all about priorities, and the kop may not fall into this category at the moment, but to these eyes it looks tired and lame......which takes us back to those plans of the newly developed stadium and it's more attractive design.....one can dream!
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While i’m sure you’re right about the state of the kop, I feel emotionally attached to it, as that’s where i’ve always’s watched my football, first as a child right through to old age ( relatively speaking). Obviously there have been alterations over the decades but the atmosphere, spirit, soul, esprit de corp, if you like, remains the same.
At the back of the kop where the fag addicts continue to cough splutter and generally ruin their health at half time,and small gaggles of mates discuss the match and whatever else it’s just like it was back in the mid sixties when I first went to matches. If it got all mod conned and updated I’d miss it just like I miss the Green Un.
 
alcoblade said:
So, if people can't afford it they can go on the kop, just like I do.......
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I wouldn't pay 25 quid to 'sit' on the kop. Considering leg room, view, amenities etc, we shouldn't be charging any more than 20 on there.

Cardiff charged us 22 quid an adult. Very reasonable and in a brand new stadium.
 
alcoblade said:
Category A tickets are from £25. Category C tickets are from £20. My season ticket costs me £13 a match.

We will, no doubt, be one of the cheapest destinations in the championship. That will be a fact, whereas "too expensive" is very subjective.
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My seniors ST in the South Stand works out at about £10 per match. If there's better value to be had for not much more than 200 quid a year then suggestions on a postcard please. Some people, especially us old uns, need to shurrup fucking moaning about prices at the Lane, they're great value this day and age.
 
Kuwaiti_blade said:
I wouldn't pay 25 quid to 'sit' on the kop. Considering leg room, view, amenities etc, we shouldn't be charging any more than 20 on there.

Cardiff charged us 22 quid an adult. Very reasonable and in a brand new stadium.
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So even the best seats need to be cheap then, because my view isn't good enough for them? (I could afford more but personally love it on the kop)

It sounds like we're accommodating the day trippers here, at the expense of raising revenue to keep us competitive.

Anyone who would choose to miss a game that they could afford to attend but didn't because the kop isn't for them isn't really a "fan", just a spectator. I don't think pricing policy should be based around them.
 



cahill said:
While i’m sure you’re right about the state of the kop, I feel emotionally attached to it, as that’s where i’ve always’s watched my football, first as a child right through to old age ( relatively speaking). Obviously there have been alterations over the decades but the atmosphere, spirit, soul, esprit de corp, if you like, remains the same.
At the back of the kop where the fag addicts continue to cough splutter and generally ruin their health at half time,and small gaggles of mates discuss the match and whatever else it’s just like it was back in the mid sixties when I first went to matches. If it got all mod conned and updated I’d miss it just like I miss the Green Un.
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Fair points, and I do appreciate the need to hold onto what's familiar, even comforting......but.....we're not talking about getting rid of the kop, just replacing it with a design that's more fitting for the 21st century. Personally I see no benefits in cramped leg room, especially if you have mobility issues such as I do, and a sympathetically, tiered new stand would improve what we've all become accustomed to......perhaps a corner can be incorporated where traditionalists gather and breath in the scent of woodbine, capstan, or whatever the weed of choice happens to be, at least that should act as reminder of what once acted as a temple for a bygone generation.
 
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