Thursday, 22 July 2010
The first sub 10,000 gate this century?
Disappointing news of sorts from the Official Site this afternoon. Season Ticket sales have crept up by a very modest 250 or so from the figure announced at the start of last week. At that rate, we could be short of 9,000 for the opening day and our lowest starting number since the 1990's. It would also open the prospect of an unattractive night fixture with a poor visiting following seeing our official league attendance drop to four figures for the first time this century. Sobering thought? Maybe the shock centre-forward signing will pull in another thousand swithering Addicks?
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It's unfortunate to see our season-ticket holder numbers falling, but hardly surprising.
ReplyDeleteOur fall down the leagues over the last three years is of course a major factor. But we must also bear in mind the recession and impending tax rises that will hit all of us. At the end of the day laying out £300, £400 or £500 quid for a season of third division football, may be a difficult thing for many folk to do.
Personally i gave up my ST when we failed to bounce back from the Championship. I still went to more home games than i missed, but didn't feel under pressure to go because i had laid out on a ST.
Last season our crowds held up pretty well. I expect them to do so again this season although many will be like me just buying on a match by match basis. Or indeed 'walk-up' sales on the day.
Daggs - I hope you are right re the walk-up gate but the longer we remain in this division the worse it will get, particularly if we aren't competing at the top of the table or, God forbid, we struggle. Most clubs in this league would swap fan bases with us and we should be hopeful if Millwall can get promoted on their historically poorer home support. Gates between us, Millwall and Palace could be very close next season.
ReplyDeleteOpening day is probably safe, Bournemouth should bring quite a crowd for their first game, and of course all those 8000+ ST holders will be counted as in the ground.
ReplyDeleteOldham and Notts County are more dicey.