I call it being punch drunk with 4.3 seasons of rarely winning at home, so often finding it hard to score a brace.
Numbs the experience for those who go just for the football.
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[Football] Why fewer bums on seats at PL games?
- Thread starter Guinness Boy
- Start date
I call it being punch drunk with 4.3 seasons of rarely winning at home, so often finding it hard to score a brace.
Numbs the experience for those who go just for the football.
faoileán
Well-known member
- Jan 29, 2021
- 893
I endorse much of what has been said, but personally speaking I say that the gaps are due to:
1. the pain in the backside of transferring tickets. I agree that a lot of season tickets will not be renewed next year because of this.
2. 95% of fans refusing to abide by Covid protocols and the club ignoring it
1. the pain in the backside of transferring tickets. I agree that a lot of season tickets will not be renewed next year because of this.
2. 95% of fans refusing to abide by Covid protocols and the club ignoring it
It's us as well re Christmas. It feels less special for us this year (even our 12 year old is feeling the vibe). For us, it's a combination of:
- covid e.g our son constantly has 2 or 3 kids in his tutor group off with covid, which means being very careful with our car sharing to and from school - who plays with who etc; and I'm really struggling to get him his jab ( he's recently turned 12) with school group jabs having stopped and little helpful info from the NHS in our area. It remains on the to-do list.
- and Climate change/environmental issues. We've never been wasteful, recycle as much as we can, I even reuse Xmas paper from last year (humbug),bring up our two kids to do the same (well, we try, and they're not bad), but the focus on climate has made us think even more deeply. What's the point of recycling carefully if we're still going to buy Xmas crackers (mainly crap), and those little fun presents often made of plastic, and extra clothes that we frankly don't need etc (unless we turn off the heating to help of course...)... ?? The one thing our son does need (and wants) is a decent computer for his school homework (my priority) and his gaming fun(his priority), so we'll buy him that in the Spring (not tied to a mad rush for Xmas) using the £ presents he's had in prior years plus our donation. Christmas presents for all of us will be very light on the ground, and we'll try to refocus the family on a lovely Christmas lunch, a walk, some movie time together, and away from 3 hours spent opening presents, debating them, and immediately recycling loads of cardboard and unusable paper..
We'll give it a go anyway - wish us luck!
- Jun 27, 2012
- 13,972
Regardless of whether its inconvenient (it is- i used to like bringing a flask), very very low risk (i think it is but i'm not privy to police briefings), then the idea of it being introduced to sell a few more cups of tea is quite the stretch ,
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
I agree. It is an added benefit though and incurs cost on the little guy. For no good reason.
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Danny Wilson Said
New member
I agree with people who say that everything has become too difficult. Difficult kick-off times, difficult travel - I counted three people wearing masks in my train back from the Leeds game), difficulty in lending season tickets to friends and family, difficulties with parking.
And, it has to be said, frustrating football - fantastic but too often impotent. All that effort to get there and then we don't get the results that we deserve.
I am fully aware that we have a brilliant team playing at a brilliant ground in the self-styled Best League In The World and that I would gladly have said I would put up with all the above if offered it while traipsing to Gillingham. But it does wear you down a bit.
And, it has to be said, frustrating football - fantastic but too often impotent. All that effort to get there and then we don't get the results that we deserve.
I am fully aware that we have a brilliant team playing at a brilliant ground in the self-styled Best League In The World and that I would gladly have said I would put up with all the above if offered it while traipsing to Gillingham. But it does wear you down a bit.
Speaking form personal experience....
Work keeps me off alot of games, and with a fair amount of foreign travel coming up i may skip a few more games to avoid risk of catching covid (not because i am scared of having it. but it would stop me working).
Times. I have a young family, hardly any 3pm kick offs. Night games used to be great but they go over bedtime now.
Generally i have found less of an interest in football etc post pandemic. I still go, i still love a good game - but i think i was saturated with it during the pandemic....
Amount of games - same as above really. Plenty of periods where there are three games in a row, which is just too many times to be away in a short space of time.
as for the villa reference in the OP - i have some villa mates and they were saying that tickets for shit seats were starting at 55 quid. They rekon they'd have sold em for 30.
Work keeps me off alot of games, and with a fair amount of foreign travel coming up i may skip a few more games to avoid risk of catching covid (not because i am scared of having it. but it would stop me working).
Times. I have a young family, hardly any 3pm kick offs. Night games used to be great but they go over bedtime now.
Generally i have found less of an interest in football etc post pandemic. I still go, i still love a good game - but i think i was saturated with it during the pandemic....
Amount of games - same as above really. Plenty of periods where there are three games in a row, which is just too many times to be away in a short space of time.
as for the villa reference in the OP - i have some villa mates and they were saying that tickets for shit seats were starting at 55 quid. They rekon they'd have sold em for 30.
Superphil
Dismember
I have missed the four homes games so far this season, and will be missing Spurs, and the Boxing Day game because of the fixture time/date changes not fitting in with other prior commitments.
Charlies Shinpad
New member
I agree wholeheartedly.
I do prefer away games to home games now sadly.
Mind you home or away it's still a long trek either way for a lot of us on here
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GT49er
Well-known member
For various reasons I'm an armchair fan these days, but even if I wanted to start attending matches my answer would be, it's too bloody complicated. Registering, membership, booking in advance, tickets on smart phones (I haven't got one) - it's just not the way I watched football (though these days I would be glad of the change to sitting rather than standing). Yes, I'm a dinosaur, OK - those of you who've got used to 21st. century football ticketing and admission to the ground, well done you.
But what I would ask, out of interest, is this: are other clubs as obsessed as PB is about ticket sharing, membership, loyalty points, not opening the ticket exchange unless they absolutely have to, the need to have the life history of the occupant of every seat (well, maybe not quite, but you know what I mean) - not to mention the hunt for illegal bottle tops - or are they just more relaxed, and dare I say, normal about letting people just buy or borrow a ticket and come in?
I appreciate Covid has added difficulties, but the things I mention above are not Covid related obstacles.
But what I would ask, out of interest, is this: are other clubs as obsessed as PB is about ticket sharing, membership, loyalty points, not opening the ticket exchange unless they absolutely have to, the need to have the life history of the occupant of every seat (well, maybe not quite, but you know what I mean) - not to mention the hunt for illegal bottle tops - or are they just more relaxed, and dare I say, normal about letting people just buy or borrow a ticket and come in?
I appreciate Covid has added difficulties, but the things I mention above are not Covid related obstacles.
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- Jun 27, 2012
- 13,972
I've missed one home game this season due to having Covid. First one I missed in several years.
My son has a season ticket but went to university in September. Since then my other son has had his ticket via the sharing scheme - apart from Leeds when he went on holiday.
My other son hasn't missed a game with his ticket.
Partly because i missed football and partly because my youngest son will soon also be going to university (next year). I've been to nearly all the away games this season with him bar Liverpool and Burnley.
My Dad though has a season ticket and sits with us but has missed all the home games this season except Everton due to not being 100% (he's 84). He hasn't shared his ticket with anyone because he often makes the decision not to go at very short notice and because its a bit of a faff (see other posts).
My son has a season ticket but went to university in September. Since then my other son has had his ticket via the sharing scheme - apart from Leeds when he went on holiday.
My other son hasn't missed a game with his ticket.
Partly because i missed football and partly because my youngest son will soon also be going to university (next year). I've been to nearly all the away games this season with him bar Liverpool and Burnley.
My Dad though has a season ticket and sits with us but has missed all the home games this season except Everton due to not being 100% (he's 84). He hasn't shared his ticket with anyone because he often makes the decision not to go at very short notice and because its a bit of a faff (see other posts).
Haven’t even been patted down or ‘screened’ with metal detectors the last couple of games, so claiming it’s security is patently bollocks………
Uter
Well-known member
For Southampton this is a continuation of a trend over the past few seasons. Every season since 2016/17 they've lost a few hundred fans. 9 nil defeats probably don't help.
2016/17 30,936
2017/18 30,794
2018/19 30,139
2019/20 29,675
2021/22 28,996
Don't forget our capacity has increased a bit this season, so even if we we have the same number of supporters physically in attendance as last season, there will be more empty seats on show.
In general, I am not sure that PL attendances are noticeably worse than recent seasons. In fact, this season the average attendance is on course to be the highest ever for a top flight in the history of English football. Given that attendances normally rise towards the end of a season, we could see the average top 40,000 for the first time ever, COVID permitting.
I haven't noticed too many empty seats in most PL stadiums. Certainly not enough to say with any confidence that there are more than previous seasons.
Championship attendances seem to be well down on the last season not impacted by Covid, even after taking into account better supported teams being promoted/relegated. This is a little concerning given the precarious finances of many teams at that level. League One and Two crowds have held up well.
___18/19 21/22
PL 38168 39964
Ch 20181 16257
L1 8,741 9,704
L2 4,467 4,609
- Jun 27, 2012
- 13,972
My Dad this season is also a "dinosaur" i guess but i managed to arrange a physical season ticket, and a paper Covid pass for him so he could attend matches without a phone etc And the club were very helpful sorting it. Several calls checking in with how it was going etc. And there are physical options (print off tickets) available for single tickets too (if thats what you want or need). I think nearly all games this season have gone to general sale. (Wolves and Brentford currently are - requiring no points or membership).
- Jun 27, 2012
- 13,972
The club do spot checks for Covid docs and screening i guess.
But do you really think its all a ruse to sell more tea ?
Why don't they just ban you from bringing in sweets or crisps or sandwiches etc if they wanted to make more ££ from the catering . Cinemas do.
goldstonegull
Active member
Used to go to all home games, and most away games from Plymouth, football was a massive part of my life, but when the pandemic hit and football was played behind closed doors I found I hardly missed it at all, and found other things to do. Although Brighton F.C. are still a huge part of my life, I do not miss the football or the journey. I can watch it on the telly most weekends anyway,
I don’t think, and haven’t said, it’s a ruse to sell more tea - I just don’t think it’s ‘security’ (or if it is, it’s not an effective measure).
GT49er
Well-known member
Yes, I know there are paper options and all that - but one phrase in your post sums up the sea-change that has occerred in recent years, which regulars like yourself have grown used to and accept: "Several calls checking in with how it was going etc." - as if it was quite normal. In 50 years of watching football - not regularly, but when I got the chance - I don't think I ever once phoned a football club. Why would I?
I haven't been to a match since we were promoted (apart from the EFL Trophy at Forest Green), but up until then I regularly watched the Albion away when they were in reasonable driving or train-ride reach - Swindon, Bristol, Cheltenham, Birmingham, etc. - and never did anything except turn up and ask them nicely if I could buy a ticket and come in. Never ever turned away. The only time I'd ever had a booked ticket was Bristol City in our promotion year - my son-in-law in Bristol purchased the tickets in advance (and there's a story about that which would make PB's hair curl (which in itself is a pretty tall order!))
- Jun 27, 2012
- 13,972
The club have insisted its for security reasons multiple times.
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16596721.albion-chief-executive-paul-barber-defends-flasks-ban-amex/
And Barber explained it in more length at the start of this season...
"Unsurprisingly, and in the interests of keeping players, officials and other supporters, particularly children, as safe and as secure as possible, hard metal (or hard plastic) glass-lined flasks (which can easily conceal any kind of substance, not just tea and coffee) are banned at many top flight football stadia up and down the country, as are glass or hard plastic bottles with lids (this is because bottles secured with lids travel farther, faster and have greater force on impact than those without)."
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19197928.paul-barber-responds-fan-season-ticket/