New ground

[margateshot]

Just a couple of questions to change the topic.

1. A bit sad I know but does anybody know the configuration of the new floodlights? Will it be four, one in each corner or a number of pylons along the pitch again.

 

2. What about the AFC Wimbledon game next season? With our potential fanbase I don't think a 2000 capacity will be big enough. If we start well and with our recent past I think Wimbledon will bring 1500-2000 fans. You only have to look at some of their matches this season. If it is a Saturday in August/September many will travel for the weekend I could easily see a crowd of 3000. I don't know whether the club could get a one off safety certificate.

[jkmaskell]

Dont know it could be tricky...they may well do it for the once as long as safety can be guaranteed.

[margateshot]

I don't think they could guarantee safety, but what I can envisage is a large following making the trip anyway without any hope of getting in if it is all ticket. I don't want to be a pessimist but I can see us having to play it at another ground if we cannot get a spacial licence.

[Guest]

The only way Wimbledon will bring 1,500-2,000 is if it was an end of season game and they needed to win the title. Sad to say, I somehow think the 2,000 capacity will be perfectly sufficient next season!

[Guest]

On that point the highest attendance last season was a little over 1,100...at an away game. Not to bring another argument here.

[margateshot]

Sorry james but if you check their website the lowest attendance in the league was 1250 at Moseley and the highest was 2637. With our potential supporter base and both teams doing well it could exceed well over 2000.

[Guest]

I think "JK Maskell" was talking about our crowds last season. In any case, if one game has to be all-ticket, so be it.

[Guest]

I'm sorry, but are you saying a Margate game could be all-ticket? Although there will probably be a large number of AFC Wimbledon fans (and hopefully a big fanbase for the Gate), i can't see a Ryman Premier game being all-ticket.

[knighty101]

im not so sure mike, if our max cap is 2000 and they are known to bring up to 1k with em it could be a sell out..... i remember seeing 2k+ at hdp b4 so why not again.

[Paul H]

Chaps. Against Fulham we got the capacity increased when we got those temp stands.

It can obviously be done.

[Guest]

Just found the right table...I was looking at the MFC table...after looking at AFC Wimbledon...ave attendance at away game of 1,619, and only two away league games under 1000. Unsure but Ill take it.

[MargateFan]

If we near maximum capacity several times this next season I will be well pleased. But to make sure I do not miss out, I am going to save up for my season ticket!

[Guest]

The stadium is going be way too small if we get a run in the cup. Is this really the best the club could do?

[Gate4TehWin]

Tbh im just glad we are back at hartsdown if the capacity is only 2k then so be it if we have a good cup run then more temporay seating and space could be aranged just like the fulham game.

[P.W.]

[color:"red"] quote: The stadium is going be way too small if we get a run in the cup. Is this really the best the club could do?

 

[color:"blue"]Surely it's a matter of compromise, yes a 3000,4000 or 5000 capacity would be better - but for most matches 1000 would suffice. The Club is struggling with finances, it's getting a loan to get us home again, why overstretch yourselves for maybe's? Maybe there'll be 2000 Wimbledon fans (not if it's on a damp, foggy Tuesday evening in December), maybe we'll have a big Cup run (knowing our luck we'll reach the 3rd round and only play Ryman Teams ... away).

 

What seems to be forgotten is that this is just a temporary capacity - when the ground is finally built the full capacity will be 5000.

 

[color:"green"](tongue firmly in cheek) We could always go back to Ashford for the Don's game.

[Guest]

Well said Peter. Seems to me that there really is just no pleasing some people. Would the same folk bemoaning the limited capacity suggest we stay at Ashford for another season where experience tells us we shouldn't have a crowd of more than 300 therefore no need to worry on the capacity front. For heaven's sake just be pleased that football will be back at HDP - which is a remarkable achievement in light of what's gone on over the last 3 years!

[Guest]

yep it is <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

[margateshot]

In reply to the above comments I have never come on this forum and crtiscised the club. I think you will find that all my posts are constructive. The original post was to get away from posts slagging off the club, and these petty arguments which seem to be plaguing this forum at the moment. The original comment was to start some discussion about next season. It is a fair point that next season we may have a problem with the AFC Wimbledon match. I was certainly not criticising the club on the size of ground. It is only temporary and that is fine, most of us understand that. What I am saying is that if we and Wimbledon are doing well in the league the potential is there for a big crowd. It may be such that for safety reasons the local Police/Council may object to it being played at Hartsdown due to crowd safety and the fact that wimbledon fans may travel to Margate without tickets. If they even take 1000 away supporters to away matches I can't see them getting any more than 500 tickets from us. That equals a lot of frustrated fans wanting to get in. A lot would travel with the potential of them getting in with the home supporters. If we get anywhere near 1000 at matches next season I would be very happy. I do know however that if we get off to a good start the potential for big crowds is there.

[Guest]

yes it could be a big crowd but only at certain times of the year. If the game is in August it wont be abig crowd cos of holiday dates. If its a night game again probasbly not.. The Xmas games will be Folkestone possibly 1300 or so. That leaves some Saturdays in sept or April when a trip to the seaside might seem a ggod idea. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />