Crowd Potential

[Guest]

On other threads there are doubts about the grounds capacity when we play AFC Wimbledon.Why just when we play them.Based on yesterdays attendance, and also Ramsgate winning I can see possibly a major rekindling of support for our two local clubs this season.I dont think it is to far fetched to suggest that we could attract nearly 2000 people to some home matches if we do really well and are near the top.There are going to be umpteen other clubs well within travelling distance to bring a large support.What happens when we play Folkestone over the festive period?? If we do do well then I can see major problems with our small capacity.It would be easy to suggest some how a larger capacity could have been organised but I really believe yesterdays attendance suprised the club, and I think they really ought to have a good look now at how the ground capacity can be enlarged.It would be crazy if particularly later in the season we were doing as well as we all hope we do and matches have to be made all ticket and the Club lose revenue.My thoughts here are just based on yesrerdays attendance and also as noted elsewhere the large number of ladies and children who attended.I was talking to three families at Jackey Bakers today,two of whom had never been to HP,but they enjoyed it especially the four youngsters involved ,all of whom will be returning.Potntial is an understatement.The Club must be ready for it!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Rob_Butler]

Their ground is not permanent, soon they will have a much larger capacity

[JeremyJacobs]

Anonymous is stating the obvious. Nearly 4000 on Boxing day 2001 for the Dover clash still speaks volumes. No question that a winning Margate side will attract 2000 for home games. It would be more but apart from AFCW, Folkestone and possibly Slough & Chelmsford, who else has got a large away following?

[margateshot]

If things go as planned, I believe that the coffin end stand is to be constructed first. I don't know, but it may mean we have a stand up half way through the season. As stated above however we could reach capacity on a number of occasions this season.

[Rob_Butler]

What is the final Capacity

[Gate4TehWin]

5000 i belive

[Cookie]

Lets keep this into perspective chaps. As much as I would like to see over a thousand or even 2 thousand people attend,in reality we cant and shouldnt expect those figures just yet on a regular basis. Saturday was a one-off though a repeat in the next home game or even against fisher,would have me doing a rethink on this. I'm not being pessimistic intentionally,I am just trying to be realistic.I expect and hope for half of saturdays figure for our next home game and I for one would be happy with that for a starter.If we as a club really convinced those out there that its worthwhile coming along regularly then it will have been a job well done.

Keep winning and that will help no-end.

So in summing up I cant really see a problem until AFC and we will have to address that situation prior to the game. Am in full agreement with that. Besides I am not sure we are allowed to up the capacity anyway even if we could,could we or is this capacity one that the club has set.I think we should not be pinning our hopes on more crowds of that nature just yet, with the odd of exception of course, though its refreshing in any case to know that we are actually talking about this subject for a change.

[knighty101]

our next game at home being a bank holliday i would expect as many people if not more tbh.

[Cookie]

It would be extremly welcome Legend I must admit. We will just have to wait and see on that one. Of course the publicity campagne will continue to try and get that game advertised and to get those amounts to the game but as with the first game the second game wont have the coverage that the home-coming game got.Again I would dearly love to have those attendances at every game and I believe we will be worth following but its not going to be a breeze next game even though it be a bank holiday game. Not just yet anyway. I set myself a target of 1000 for saturdays game and that was well exceeded and I was ecstatic about that and my target figure for bank holiday will be 700 and any advance on that would be most welcome too. Lets hope your figure turns out to be correct Legend. Wouldnt it be great!!

[Guest]

Think the old Coffin end needs an extra step or two in the meantime if the club can possibly manage it - bit like the terrace down the side of the pitch that they built in a week or whatever a few years back.

[Porka]

Quote:

JJ - MargateFC said:
Anonymous is stating the obvious. Nearly 4000 on Boxing day 2001 for the Dover clash still speaks volumes. No question that a winning Margate side will attract 2000 for home games. It would be more but apart from AFCW, Folkestone and possibly Slough & Chelmsford, who else has got a large away following?

Probably Billericay. Possibly Hendon and Bromley. I think it would be well worth trying to tag something onto the Coffin End even if it's just until Jan/Feb when it will have to be taken down to get it out of the way for the proper work. Just anything to get cap. up to around or past 2500.

[Porka]

Quote:

cookie said:
Lets keep this into perspective chaps. As much as I would like to see over a thousand or even 2 thousand people attend,in reality we cant and shouldnt expect those figures just yet on a regular basis. Saturday was a one-off though a repeat in the next home game or even against fisher,would have me doing a rethink on this. I'm not being pessimistic intentionally,I am just trying to be realistic.I expect and hope for half of saturdays figure for our next home game and I for one would be happy with that for a starter.If we as a club really convinced those out there that its worthwhile coming along regularly then it will have been a job well done.
Keep winning and that will help no-end.
So in summing up I cant really see a problem until AFC and we will have to address that situation prior to the game. Am in full agreement with that. Besides I am not sure we are allowed to up the capacity anyway even if we could,could we or is this capacity one that the club has set.I think we should not be pinning our hopes on more crowds of that nature just yet, with the odd of exception of course, though its refreshing in any case to know that we are actually talking about this subject for a change.

Cookie can we get those posters up again for the Redbridge game - Bank Holiday (great chance to get the families back again). Another enjoyable day and they might be asking for shirts on the Xmas list. I think it's vital to push the Redbridge and Fisher games as 'The Ryman League title bid at Fortress Hartsdown'. This is obviously too early to tell but we must keep the hype and feel-good factor up.

[michael]

As Cookie says, i think we need to put this into perspective and it won't always be like that.

 

However, saturday was great .

You only get 'one chance to make a first impression' and the chance was taken well.

 

It may just be though, that circumstances dictate we can make 3 'first impressions'.

 

 

Next game is a Bank holiday afrenoon.Is there an opportunity that everyone has a bit of energy left to rouse the crowds to turn out for this one-

 

-its ' The Second Coming'.

 

As many commented, loads of women and children therelast saturday-there wont be toom any in mid February but make the most of it while we can as they bring the Dads along aswell.

 

Is there anything cheap that can be organised in time for monday to make it a fun family day.

Maybe face painting for the kids in mfc colours.

 

Anything else that is quick and easy to organise,and may just get 1000 plus there while we can?

 

The fixtures conspire to give a third chance to get a bumper crowd.

Next home is a floodlit game-first floodlit for over 3 years.

'son et luminaire' at Margate.

@Braithwaites revenge'against his old club

 

Can there be a ' floodlight turning on ceremony', pre-match at say 7.15pm -crowds in early and spend in the bar.

Hypes up the occasion-gets more in .

Everyone bring a cigarette lighting and flick it on like a pop concert.

 

As i say, there may just be 3 chances to make a first impression and get 3 1000 plus crowds on the trot

[Guest]

I think most people have seen floodlights before. A 'turning-on' ceremony would make us sound like the kind of people who point at airplanes.

As for waving cigarette lighters in the air, I'm sure the health and safety Nazis would have something to say about that.

As regards Bank Holiday Monday, have we got any posters on the seafront? A few day trippers might be tempted away from the beach. Though no doubt Redbridge's superb away support will boost the crowd anyway.

[jkmaskell]

You dont point at airplanes...wow, you are missing out on some fun! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[JeremyJacobs]

A lot will depend on the local Press. The 2 page spread last week may have inspired quite a few to turn up

[Guest]

Quote:

Gate4TehWin said:
5000 i belive

A lot more people from Thanet would watch the club if they had a bigger stadium with a team to match.

As ive said before Thanet is 40 miles from the nearest other league club. It has a population of about the same size as Ipswich or Blackburn.
And is much biger than Wrexham,Torquay etc etc.

Saturdays crowd was great and shows that the potential is there.

I really hope the club are able to realise that.

[MargateFan]

I think that is what they have been trying to do for the past three years.

Perhaps now that they are gaining local support again they will have more sucess in achieving their aims.

But I think the last couple of years have shown us that you cannot run before you can walk, so I am happy that we are getting the basics right before we let ambition have full rein. Let's have a look at the support over a period of time before we run away with ourselves. One swallow does not a summer make.

[zhukov]

The club has survived the last two seasons by the skin of its teeth and without finance.

With very little support the club managed to stay in existence and has now constructed a temporary stadium which will be adequate for a team in the Ryman League until the full stadium is constructed.

It is unlikely that this seasons average attendance will even approach 2000.

Let us not forget the tremendous amount of hard work and voluntary labour that has gone into this temporary ground.

The promises made by the club that the temporary facility would be ready for the first game have been met. I have no doubt that the full stadium will follow. In the meantime we will have to be patient. I prefer the temporary facility to having to travel to Ashford.

[michael]

Totally agree.

 

I have to say, i think we will over the season do well to get Gates in excess of 500, but maybe 700 is something to aim for.

 

If the team is successful then maybe 700 could happen.

 

I'd love to know what the Board has budgeted for as a home crowd.

 

Remember though its about all the extra's-buying a programme, buying a coffee, entering golden goal competition etc