[Albion] Unsold seats

[Hamilton]

Certainly part of the problem IMO.

Whenever you get a bad patch in the season there are a lot of people who revert on here saying anyone moaning is "entitled" and that little old Brighton should know their place, we're so well run, yada, yada, yada.

The fact is we're in a place right now where we're never going to win the league we're competing in and we'd have to have an absolute disaster to go down, so we're effectively competing to qualify for the lower tier European competitions. It is incredible for a team with our history to have played Europa League and it would be a huge achievement to do that again, but even then Europe isn't something you can parade around town on your head on top of a bus.

The club has targets to regularly qualify for Europe and to even try to make a Champions League one season, precisely because otherwise we'd just be another Palace or Wolves or Fulham. 25-30k ish fans watching a mid table team quietly play out a season while hoping for a cup run or a win over local rivals (two things we've not done this season and Palace have). It's madness to think wanting to hit those targets from the club senior management is entitlement.

And yet, even when we're close the 'product' isn't always that great. On the face of it you could spin Sunday as a draw against a well supported team chasing the Champions League or you could spin it as a mundane game of missed chances and terrible refereeing played out to a backdrop of thousands of empty seats. Both can be true.

Football to me (and I know you) has always been a day out. A few beers with friends and family, a good laugh and a chance to support the team that represents your local community. A routine, almost a religion. But to many people it isn't. If they see it as too expensive or too inconvenient that's one thing, but I suspect many are seeing it as expensive and inconvenient to watch something that's barely going to change. No real chance of a trophy, no real chance of relegation, just the chance to see some very overpaid human beings getting close but no cigar.

Is it bigger than just the Albion though?

It's hard to get an accurate figure for attendances because the club only publish the number of sold tickets.

But, UEFA reported a 4% drop in Premier League attendances for the 2023-24 season. What might their report say for this season?

As I mentioned in another post, BARB ratings were also showing a drop in year for year TV viewers last month. Maybe that's because the PL race is boring this year. Maybe that makes this whole season feel boring for everyone. And qualifying for Europe from 8th is a bit of a joke, especially when you look at what you might be qualifying for i.e. the Europe's equivalent of the Johnston's Paint Trophy.

 

[ROSM]

The area around us is hilarious. To our left and in front we've got some very old school Brighton fans, several I recognise from Withdean, one of whom contributes to a well known Brighton electronic media outlet and the bloke just in front is the one who set fire to a flag in Rome. Then right in front we've got an extended family, one of whom wears red trousers unironically. One of them moved about 10 seats to the right on Sunday after the tenth time Pawson was called a c***.

The funniest comment I heard at withdean was when a drunken friend dropped the c word a few times towards Prosser.

A middle aged well spoken lady turned round and said in a plummy voice. 'I object to your use of that word. I have one of those and it's much more useful than him'

 

[skr80aa]

Poor access, poor kick off times midweek etc, expensive tickets. I used to expect to sell my seat if on Holiday or unable to go.
I do wonder if it will sell via the little change next season.
If not, we may well stop being season ticket holders, and buy individual tickets for the games we can get too. A shame as we like our seats however it may not be financially realistic if they don't resell.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Someone near me one game was having a conversation about how many different stadiums they’ve had a shit in, as well as which stands had the cleanest toilets, which I have to say was quite interesting.

Were you sitting with the coach drivers?

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Yes, it's a problem, yes the club appear to have their head up their arses on it. Yes it's caused by the travel situation. But other points that have been mentioned less.....

The cost of supporting a football team has outstripped wage growth and any increases (more likely decreases) in disposable income

The increasing prevalence of cracked firesticks / dodgy streams means that Saturday afternoon matches ca be watched at home more

WFH culture means more and more people seem happy to be in their houses looking at a screen the whole day, than they would have been 10 years ago

 

[Guinness Boy]

Yes, it's a problem, yes the club appear to have their head up their arses on it. Yes it's caused by the travel situation. But other points that have been mentioned less.....

The cost of supporting a football team has outstripped wage growth and any increases (more likely decreases) in disposable income

The increasing prevalence of cracked firesticks / dodgy streams means that Saturday afternoon matches ca be watched at home more

WFH culture means more and more people seem happy to be in their houses looking at a screen the whole day, than they would have been 10 years ago

Think you're right with the first couple of additional points but I'm not sure about the last one. I work for a multi national company who use home workers as part of a 'distributed teams / follow the sun' strategy. If I'm not working from home then I'm usually travelling somewhere in Europe or Asia.

If I've had a week at home I'm climbing the walls to get out. Literally so bored that a home game or preferably a big away day becomes the best thing in my life as the weekend approaches. On the other hand I've missed games because I've been wiped by jetlag or had to get a flight soon after a game was due to finish.

Before Covid I worked in the office 90% of the time and quite often in the City. I'd had all the social interaction and booze I needed by the end of Friday to be quite frank.

 

[jackalbion]

Were you sitting with the coach drivers?

No but if anyone wondered

The Amex
Enclosed Ground
Boundary Park
Chalky Lane
Altrincham

 

[BNthree]

No but if anyone wondered

The Amex
Enclosed Ground
Boundary Park
Chalky Lane
Altrincham

That’s a brave person that’s done a crap at the Whitehawk Ground! I’m usually nervous about catching something while stood up having a piss there.

 

[Charles 'Charley' Charles]

The area around us is hilarious. To our left and in front we've got some very old school Brighton fans, several I recognise from Withdean, one of whom contributes to a well known Brighton electronic media outlet and the bloke just in front and to the left is the one who set fire to a flag in Rome. Then right in front we've got an extended family, one of whom wears red trousers unironically. One of them moved about 10 seats to the right on Sunday after the tenth time Pawson was called a c***.

If they had been sat near me, I think they would of moved before GOSBTS was sung. Pawson you c*!^

 

[Albion 4ever]

To be honest, I had forgotten how expensive match tickets are as season tickets are still generally good value with the interest-free direct debit still a fantastic option for most people to take advantage of to spread the cost out over 12 months.

The Liverpool match ranges from £55-£78 for an adult as it is A+ grade
A grade is £48-£70
B grade is £38-£60
C grade is £34 to £52

I would object to paying those prices, so I am glad I have a season ticket!

Away game cap at £30 is also great and helps protect you from being fleeced!

 

[Bob!]

Last person who bought an exchange ticket next to me did not return at half time.

May well have been that he moved to an empty seat next to a mate?

 

[El Presidente]

Last person who bought an exchange ticket next to me did not return at half time.

Was that due to your flatulence?

 

[jackalbion]

May well have been that he moved to an empty seat next to a mate?

I like to think it was because I kept on shouting at Pep Guardiola for being bald without a hint of irony.

 

[Cotton Socks]

Well, on Saturday evening I suddenly realised I’d forgotten to put mine and my daughter’s tickets on the exchange (we’re on hols). I quickly did it, and they were both sold within an hour. Maybe I was lucky - but perhaps tickets in the North sell better (as they’re cheaper).

I may have purchased your tickets! I bought my 2 around 5pm. I've switched to NS rather than WSL not because of the price so much but I like the atmosphere more & as long as no one is sitting behind you, you can stand up.
Strangely there were 2 empty seats next to me that weren't listed when I bought mine.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

The problem will be solved once the concessions are chipped away and the oldies can't afford to go any more. Oh hang on...

 

[Dibdab]

The Liverpool match ranges from £55-£78 for an adult as it is A+ grade
A grade is £48-£70

These prices are obscene and once your into the Exchange you cant take a chid for any concession. The annual price increase from the club was horribly misguided and a missed opportunity to really make a statement that it is on the side of the fans.

 

[Reagulls]

This. It’s absolute stupidity. The club just look like total mugs on the tele with thousands of empty seats and missed opportunity to sell food, drink and merch which a one off fan is more likely to buy. Also misses the opportunity for new people to get the bug for it and potentially look to become a STH

I'm sure I've said this on another thread but this is exactly how it worked for me .. first season at the Amex, mate had a spare ticket asked if I wanted to come along, I loved it... bought a season ticket for the following season, met Mrs Reagulls... bought her a seasons ticket. had junior Reagulls a few years later and he has one too. from a single mate with a spare ticket to 3 lifelong, season ticket buying, food and drink consuming, merchandise wearing fans.

 

[BevBHA]

Certainly part of the problem IMO.

Whenever you get a bad patch in the season there are a lot of people who revert on here saying anyone moaning is "entitled" and that little old Brighton should know their place, we're so well run, yada, yada, yada.

The fact is we're in a place right now where we're never going to win the league we're competing in and we'd have to have an absolute disaster to go down, so we're effectively competing to qualify for the lower tier European competitions. It is incredible for a team with our history to have played Europa League and it would be a huge achievement to do that again, but even then Europe isn't something you can parade around town on your head on top of a bus.

The club has targets to regularly qualify for Europe and to even try to make a Champions League one season, precisely because otherwise we'd just be another Palace or Wolves or Fulham. 25-30k ish fans watching a mid table team quietly play out a season while hoping for a cup run or a win over local rivals (two things we've not done this season and Palace have). It's madness to think wanting to hit those targets from the club senior management is entitlement.

And yet, even when we're close the 'product' isn't always that great. On the face of it you could spin Sunday as a draw against a well supported team chasing the Champions League or you could spin it as a mundane game of missed chances and terrible refereeing played out to a backdrop of thousands of empty seats. Both can be true.

Football to me (and I know you) has always been a day out. A few beers with friends and family, a good laugh and a chance to support the team that represents your local community. A routine, almost a religion. But to many people it isn't. If they see it as too expensive or too inconvenient that's one thing, but I suspect many are seeing it as expensive and inconvenient to watch something that's barely going to change. No real chance of a trophy, no real chance of relegation, just the chance to see some very overpaid human beings getting close but no cigar.

Do have to say this really is an excellent post. One in which I hope the upper management of the club read.

 

[Motogull]

The club makes £1 per resale? I reckon if we STHs could share out tickets among our chums, the club would make much more than £1 per game on food and drink sales.

 

[LamieRobertson]

The club makes £1 per resale? I reckon if we STHs could share out tickets among our chums, the club would make much more than £1 per game on food and drink sales.

I thought they sold the ticket at a ‘matchday’ price as against what a STH would have paid therefore making more than a quid….or am I mistaken