Reason for poor gates?

No, it was Sunday……However; I have been to Accrington on a number of occasions on a Saturday and not attended the ground. Having admitted that I support the team and what they are now achieving at a distance. Your comments mean what exactly? That I shouldn’t hold an opinion on the subject. Some time back a prominent member of the site criticised a number of people who were expressing opinions and an interest in the club, as a result of his comments all of them stopped expressing anything regarding Accrington Stanley. Support is not exclusive to those who turn up on the day. And it not the likes of me who are the problem, the problem is at home and less than a couple of miles in any direction.

A loss leader usually indicates an abstinence from profit not a loss of income. Free admission on a 1300 “gate paying” attendance would cost the club over £16,000 on the day that figure excludes the costs of operating the facilities, staff wages, policing and all the other associated costs. A loss leader must be within the realms of affordability and have a positive effect of the gate. If you fail to sustain the increased numbers beyond the period of free admission you’ve gained nothing but lost an incredible amount of money that would take the rest of the season to recoup. The Club needs to promote its image, its heritage and publicise the positive aspects of it rise from the depths. It’s got to become business like and operate within the realms of reality. The next few seasons will require as much effort in the boardroom as on the pitch. Funding will be needed to improve the facilities, including amenities for the increased numbers at the gate the club deserves. They will come as a result of promotion, when they get there you better have something to offer them to make them come back again and again……. The club is already providing good on the edge of the seat football but it’s not enough. A slow game with good facilities will hold them; a slow game with poor facilities will make them stay at home the following week. It’s just my opinion.
 
I have tried to indoctrinate a few friends by taking them on to see a match at the IES.

They inevitably ask "How much does it cost to get on?" Expecting me to say a tenner or something even less. When I tell them it's £12, I'm invariably met with "That's a bit steep for Conference football innit!"

I think the club created a pschological barrier when it put the matchday price up above the £10 mark. I think sticking at that amount might have helped keep the attendances buoyant. I know there are some "recommendations" on admission prices, but some clubs do charge less.

Other constructive criticisms I have include:

Going for a pee is like an expedition in its own right.

Getting served at the bar in a reasonable amount of time is an art-form -- pleasant though most of them are, the staff always seem to be to'ing and fro'ing with trays of drinks for the "elite" in the sponsors bit.

The catering is expensive and not too good.

The atmosphere suffers through lack of a roof to project the sound (although nor doubt the drum will sound even louder when we eventually get one).

The approach to the ground from the Crown end is a filthy mess -- nothing a few loads of quarry bottoms wouldn't sort out.

BUT, overall, I think the price has to be the single most important influence on crowd size -- nothwithstanding the presence of two League clubs in neighbouring towns. After all, its only a couple of seasons since a dad and lad could gain admission for a tenner -- for both of them. And I know my earnings have certainly not doubled in that time!

For what it's worth ....................
 
SimonStone said:
For what it's worth ....................
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I think if people read what you’ve actually written its worth a lot. But I want to get one message over before people actually start posting that my opinion is over bearing. This isn’t just a supporter issue. There’s a lot at stake now the club in on the verge of promotion. It’s now very much a local business issue and how local business responds to the clubs achievement. If hundreds more people leave there TV or Big Screen league games and attend a live league game on there door step they will need to be accommodated. Nearly every business as something to gain by having increased numbers on the streets on a Saturday afternoon. HBC, local Business Associations and the Club should be battling to see how they can make this work for the town and each other. But even if they bring the ticket price down, will it bring more people to the ground on a cold frosty afternoon or a dank miserable rainy day in the depths of winter. Maybe, maybe not. Easy access to the ground, good parking, good grub and a choice, perhaps some cover for those that want it and a warm friendly atmosphere will go some way to helping. Everything that’s needed is there in the local area, you need someone to get off there a*** and bring it together, if this is already being done then it should be publicised and promoted, information is a powerful aid to growth, if you keep people in the dark you get mushrooms…
 
moaners

:engsmil: .... personally i think the decrease in our attendance is due to the moaners in the main stand. they now have nothing to moan about so they dont bother turning up. were top of the league for points clear so the abuse and coments hurled at the management sounds even more ridiculous than before,

i must point out that it is only a small minority of the main stand but does this acount for some lost fans around the rest of the ground ?

i myself go to every midweek game i can and saturdays when im not working
REGARDLESS weather it hail rain or snow or
that i might not be able to get a snack or beverage at half time
or the drum

as long as i get to see the football i do not care !!!!

if you want somewere sheltered to go on a saturday wer you can have a coffee and sit down go the bloody TRAFFORD CENTRE!

if your passionate about the stanley then join our club!!!!!!!


on stanley on!!!!!!!! :engsmil:
 
Re: moaners

Lol, it does make me wonder why people spend good money to moan each week. There are a couple of blokes who stand behind us who just grumble for 90 minutes. All the team are rubbish, Coley's rubbish, the weathers rubbish, etc.

At least they come to every home game and spend their money, so perhaps I shouldn't moan.:)
 
If the good folk of Accrington are asked to come along and support the team then they might come. Well done the Ultras for doing rather than talking on saturday in town.

If the good folk of Accrington are moaned at and told off for not coming then they will feel insulted and stay away. Wrong approach Eric and Coley.

Look after the fans. the match day experience isn't just about the team winning. It is a day out and the day out isn't very nice when you are not treated well.
 
The psychological factor of exceeding £10 for non-league football is a very good point. There is no better indication of underlying support for a team than the first home game of the season. Here are the attendances from last three years:

'03 - 2003 vs Leigh RMI on a Wednesday night (adult ticket price: £10)
'04 - 1705 vs Burton on a Saturday afternoon (adult ticket price: £10)
'05 - 1012 vs Canvey Island on a Saturday afternoon (adult ticket price: £12)

There was no bigger example of a problem with attendances than on the opening day. Just over 1,000 people turned up to watch the start of a new season. We can't blame holidays as it would have been no different to the last couple of years. We lost 700 people or over 40% of last year's opening day attendance this year. That's where the problem started and answers needed to be found. The psychological factor of exceeding £10 for an adult ticket would certainly explain some of this shortfall of 700 spectators, but not all of it.

Just out of interest, in our last season in the Unibond Premier we opened with 602 against Runcorn on the first Saturday of the season. We won our first nine League games and that turned out to be the lowest home league gate of the season. If we had decided to move the Woking home to Friday night rather than 1pm before the England game, we would certainly have got more than 959 in the ground and our opening day gate would remain the lowest of the season ... as it had been in 2002, the last time we won promotion ;)


There has been a lot of points made about the ground ... open to the elements, standards and queues for toilets and catering facilities and the mud outside the ground ... and most people would agree with them. The point is that if they were an issue, attendances should start to fall once the colder, wetter weather sets in (and hopefully rise again by Easter if the Club has something to play for).

Taking attendances for the last four seasons, here are the median number of people attending the games up to this stage of the season (I use 'median' as a measure of the average to counter figures being distorted by teams with very a large travelling contingent, e.g. over 3,000 turned up to watch Carlisle at a midweek game at the IES last year):

'02 - Aug/Sept = 1114; Oct-Dec = 942
'03 - Aug/Sept = 2012; Oct-Dec = 1627
'04 - Aug/Sept = 1507; Oct-Dec = 1357
'05 - Aug/Sept = 1142; Oct-Dec = 1506

The point is that we traditionally lose 150-400 people (or 10-19% of early season attendances) once the colder weather sets in and that does include the 2002-03 season when we started the season by winning every game. By contrast we have GAINED 364 people (or 32% of early season attendances) on average, which is something that we have not done before now. And let's face it, the number of visiting fans has been laughable at most games this season.

The conditions in the ground could certainly be improved and an improvement on the underfoot conditions outside the ground would be most welcome, but unlike previous seasons it has not deterred as many 'fair-weather' fans as in previous seasons; the problem was that they decided not to return at the start of this season. The club must make sure that does not happen again next season.

Full credit to Coley and his attacking style of play as it does keep the crowds coming back and full credit to the Ultras for the atmosphere that they bring to the game as it is certainly bringing younger fans to the games. We now have a higher number of 'core' supporters than we did twelve months ago.

So it's not all doom and gloom about attendances. Yes, if stadium conditions were better and more effort was put in by the club in targetting the local schools with players and ticket offers, attendances would be higher, but we're attracting as many people to the IES as we could expect to do so at this stage of the season. Over the Christmas/New Year period and from March onwards, attendances will start to rise again very rapidly and next season we'll have a ground and attendances fit for the Football League!
 
i do agree with one thing regards to the cold weather. the oaps stanley do or did have lot of older followers because of the history of the club. and i suppose for them its just not possible in our cold english winter for them to attend the games

bless .
 
the Ramsbottom game was an excellent opportunity wasted to offer a night out at the football at a ridiculously low cost. Maybe the next round is an opportunity. I work saturday morning and saturday night so it is a big ask on the family for me to be out all afternoon as well. I have to try and cherry pick my games as Forest Green at home and trudging through the mudbath car park to stand in the exposed elements for 90 minutes before refreshing with crap lager in the now refurbished bar and paying £12 to get wet is not all that appealing. I have done my time home and away with the reds and cannot be called a fairweather or bandwagon supporter, there is though a serious lack of facilities which helps me make my mind up whether or not to go on a rainy day. Knock me for it if you will but its honest. When the weather is better I will be on more often

where's the roof
on the subject of the drum, it does not make people stay away. Nobody goes to the football for peace and quiet. Most folk expect jamboree and carnival when they go the match.

In my opinion 50% of stayaways are financial, 40% cos of the weather/lack of roof and 10% miscellaneous of which a minimal amount will be the drum. For every 1 who does not want it there are 100 who do.

Interestingly, after our Grays game, the Grays management bought a drum for their fans in order to whip up the atmosphere a la The Ultras. A lot of the fans at Grays did not want it and hated the idea but yet they still go to the games.
 
I am reading with intrest that once again the subject of low attendence is on these boards, last year it was the roof, this year its the drum, next year it will be Blackburn and Burnleys fault, (though why any one would want to go to Ewood with atmosphere of a morgue I will never understand.) Why did the last team go out of the league, apathy of the local population and a big push when it was to late to do anything about it, to late to surpport them when they have gone. Good on the Ultra Guys and Girls for getting out there and selling the club but we need surpport from the local rag, a couple of paragraphs about a game keeps no one intrested they need to get to the ground and interview players and management even the ground staff and backroom staff, keep it in front of people put it on the front page and ram it down there throats let them know they have a team in town, will it happen? can't see it not with the observer, but maybe a writing campaign if everyone wrote to them about Stanley they may get the hint.
 
We had some poor home performances last season when the crowds were building up. Coley and the lads must remember that the fans pay to be entertained, they want to see a good, spirited, never say die home match, whether we win or lose.
So far this season that is exactly what we are getting and that is starting to show in the attendence but it will take time to persuade the good folk of Accrington that if they part with there hard earned on a cold winters night they are not going to be dissappointed again.
 
It's simple....twelve quid for a ground with our facilities? However well the team are doing, people weigh up the all round package. A tenner was just about acceptable. £12 is just not!
 
Loads of good stuff in this thread, by people that know what it's about. A little FA Cup run would have done no harm.
We got to 2,468 against Farsley Celtic from a base of around 350. It's going to be bigger this time, we've only got 9 home games left, and people will want a part of it.
It won't help immediate attendances, but a nice commemorative badge for vouchers would be good, 9 - free, 8 @ a quid etc. minimum 5 vouchers.
e.g. "Stanley are back - before the bandwagon", "I was there before the roof", all suggestions welcome.
At the very least it would keep a few peoples' gobs shut after the event.
 
Bazf is right, more should be done to feature Stanley in the local press, and not just on the sports pages, as a lot of people don't even read them. How about how our Benin international, who previously played in the south of France, and how he is finding playing in wet Accy? Even if it was just the likes and dislikes column. Is he learning to speak English with a scouse accent? We need to know.

The story of the roof, and the generosity of our benefactor would also make a good main story.

We have an Observer journalist on here called Vitty, who is always on the look out for stories in the general chat threads. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to do a follow up if contacted by the club.

Sadly we made the front pages earlier this year, lets do it again but on a more positive note, and help maintain a high profile for the club.
 
it's all well and good having all the headlines (on back pages that is) but when people hear the prices of admission im sure a lot would grumble!
Stanley need financial offers if they want to bring in new support.
Over the winter period i think 'money-off' vouchers or kids-go-free with an adult days would benefit the weekly attendance.
also, new burger van! new, cheaper, better burger van please!! :D (well we can hope, cant we!?)
oh and while im at it......



WHERE'S THE ROOF?!
 
So you don't want to pay 12 quid to watch stanley but you will waste your money on a burger and chips.
How much would you spend on food 2-3 quid, talk about dropping the price to 10 and giving yourself more money for the burgers?
Why not pay 12 and don't clog your artiries with grease in the end you will be able to watch stanley for longer.
 
I stand in the shed as Jase calls it,yes you can hear the drums,but to me it actually adds to the atmosphere,I love the noise all be it from afar, and the swirling flags. My mate who I come with dos'nt like the drums but it does not stop him coming,he will travel to all home and away games if he can possibly get there.
I think also that the drum noise is an excuse. The real reasons are many,the cost for many families coming up to Xmas, is too much for many ordinary working families. Another reason I have had said to me are the facilities namely toilets, if you stand in the shed you have about 220 yards to walk round the ground to the nearest toilet,unless you go into the Club House, which really should not be allowed during a match,but anyway when you reach the toilets they are an absolute disgrace,escpecially for ladies, men do not mind so much walking through wet floors, maybe the club should employ a young man to mop and generally tidy up the toilet facilities during a match day, any way thats my opinion on the subject.
 
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Bazf said:
but we need surpport from the local rag, a couple of paragraphs about a game keeps no one intrested they need to get to the ground and interview players and management even the ground staff and backroom staff, keep it in front of people put it on the front page and ram it down there throats let them know they have a team in town, will it happen? can't see it not with the observer
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to be fair to both newspapers and the local radio stations, we do get good coverage. the observer sports pages are dominated by stanley news and the telegraph try to get something in each night, with a main preview on the friday before the game... we have had good interest from the media since eric's comments on monday morning and hopefully more to come...
 
Most of the population of Accrington brag about Accrington Stanley when they are asked where they come from, but they cannot be bothered supporting the team unless there is something at stake. A big draw in the FA Cup would have attracted more 'supporters' just in case Stanley won then they could say 'I was there'. If we are top towards the end of the season these 'supporters' will come just to say 'I was there'. When we got promotion from Unibond first division - 2468 for the last match, the first home game the season after attracted just over 500 as far as I can remember. It's not the toilets, it's not the lack of roof, it's not the £12, it's just the 'can't be bothered' attitude of the population of Accrington. If we win the Conference there will be a full house at IES, the first home game next season will have a full house, but after that ??????????????
 
To be fair if your going to have a paddy about the drum get to burnley and have a moan with them rejects it is the worst exuse for poor gates ever. I don't really care as long as our away days are always as good as they are i don't give one what the moaners think.
If you want silence at a football game go to Barrow.
 
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