Attendance

[Hempstead Gaz]

Which is why we need the terrace done for when we bring 'em back for the replay!!!

[FleetFanatic]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:
And I have a gut instict this year, given the experience of Football League and FA Cup in this team, that we could be a surprise package.
Who knows, 3rd Round : Man Utd v Fleet = £600,000. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I thought that we'd knock out West Ham first (yes my other team, but have a history of shock exits) before we piss off Fergie! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Hempstead Gaz]

Let's get Scallingham out of the way first, eh, Daz! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[jc]

Quote:

Wobbly Wayne rides again said:When the tough question came up about full time , the easy decision was taken to increase admission prices by 20% rather than the longer haul of increasing the number of punters. This is back firing as people are staying away, and there is now less income coming thru the turnstiles / being spent in the bar.

wake up smell the coffee, no increase in crowds , no further progession.

Impossible to disagree. Our average home attendance so far this season is, to the nearest person, 1075. The 2004/2005 average home Conference attendance was a little over 20% larger than this at 1336, meaning that, with admission prices up by 20% this season, income on the gate has only dipped a little this season so far (assuming a similar proportion of adults to children, of course). However, what the club is attempting to gain in short-term income on the gate (which, incidentally, doesn't seem to be working so far anyway) is, as Wayne rightly suggests, being lost in trying to attract more supporters in the long-term.

As I've said, having a team at the top of the division is the most secure way of adding to the gate, but also the most tricky. However, whether or not schemes like 'Kids For A Quid' (which, incidentally, Margate have just announced they are introducing on a permanent basis) actually gain long term benefits, I think we can safely say that so far the club hasn't helped itself by increasing admission prices.

[Hempstead Gaz]

If we are all honest, those not 100% committed to the Fleet ARE put off by the £12 admission, + £2.30 for a pint, £2.50 programme, £3.00 burger, £1 to Harry. It all adds up to not a cheap afternoon out, especially if you have kids.

The club wouldn't actually lose that much by following Margit's lead. The only losers would be season ticket holders, but without knowing the figures, I guess wouldn't be too many. (and a compensation package could be arranged for next term).

Although not yet at meltdown point, the falling attendances are becoming a serious worry, in relation to the product we are able to put out on the pitch.

We have made countless suggestions on here to remedy the problem, but what it boils down to is poor marketing of the product, combined with poor facilities when you walk through the turnstiles.

[David Holden]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:
The club wouldn't actually lose that much by following Margit's lead.

You mean cancel the family tickets? (which is why Margate have reduced their children's prices)

[Hempstead Gaz]

No, Dave. Kids for a quid for the remaining home games. I know that would cause problems for those with family/season tickets. I am not saying the club SHOULD do it, I am merely making suggestions to promulgate a solution to our falling attendance problem.

I offer my ideas on here only for debate.

[David Holden]

The financial benefits of Kids for a Quid is long term in the extreme, as you would not pick up any extra money until said nippers start paying full price.

 

I doubt if there will be many extra adults dragged in to coming by their kids just because the kids price is reduced after all it's still £12 for them to get in, and if the adults really wanted to come they would come alone. (Excluding the odd one or two who can't get child care)

 

In the meantime, we get about 150 kids a mtach at £6 which is £900, reduce the admission fee to £1 and we need an extra 750 kids to turn up just to break even.

 

Even if you double the number of kids that come in you are still looking a shortfall for this season of about £10K.

 

I'm all in favour of increasing the gate, but it has to be in a way that increases the income as well. (If we want extra numbers without the money, we can just annouce higher gates <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

[Hempstead Gaz]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:
We have made countless suggestions on here to remedy the problem, but what it boils down to is poor marketing of the product, combined with poor facilities when you walk through the turnstiles.

If reducing prices for kids, is not an option, and the £12 match day ticket is here to stay, unless you buy a book of tickets, the solution lies with the club promoting itself better.
Max Clifford available? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[FleetFanatic]

I've said it before, but the answer lies in local schools and in the Asian community.

 

Give out free tickets to various schools each week - the kids that currently turn up can't all go to the same school so therefore the club won't be risking much.

 

Also, for a town with an Asian community of the size that Gravesend has, the chronic lack of support from that sector of the community is truly shocking.

 

The club needs to appeal to them more than anything.

[Hempstead Gaz]

How about some sort of partnership with Guru Nanak? Big local club, large following. Tap into their following, why we may even pick up some decent local triallists!

On the pitch the club has moved on in leaps and bounds over the last decade. Few can argue this is the strongest squad ever assembled at the Fleet. The playing surface is now perfect, ideal for top flight football.

The board are now the most forward thinking and ambitious we have ever had....................until it comes to matters off the pitch.

The ground is still a shambles, crumbling terraces, rusting roofs, stenching toilets, poor catering, and difficulty selling the fine product on the pitch. A move to a shiny new stadium is no use unless the personnel infrastructure is in place ie, Commercial Manager, Marketing and Publicity Manager, schools liason Officer, etc, etc.

Forward thinking, yes. Impossible to achieve, no.

[Ronnie]

Quote:

Chatham Gary said:
How about some sort of partnership with Guru Nanak? Big local club, large following. Tap into their following, why we may even pick up some decent local triallists!

As far as I know Gary, Charlton already have (or had) a relationship with Guru Nanak which does not appear to have been very fruitfull. They have some very talented players but none seem to step up a grade from local league football.

[Hempstead Gaz]

It only takes one player to make the grade to make the scheme worthwhile, of course.

[JimGNFC]

Quote:

David Holden said:
The financial benefits of Kids for a Quid is long term in the extreme, as you would not pick up any extra money until said nippers start paying full price.

True - but thats exactly what it is - a long term goal over a period of a couple of years to increase attendances. Charlton have made the effort in all sorts of ways and are reaping the benefits now.

If we don't act NOW, we will continue to have a non-league following in a shiny new Stadium or the Gills will have pinched any potential new supporters if they move to Gravesham.

Quote:

David Holden said:
In the meantime, we get about 150 kids a mtach at £6 which is £900, reduce the admission fee to £1 and we need an extra 750 kids to turn up just to break even.

Even if you double the number of kids that come in you are still looking a shortfall for this season of about £10K.

[/i][/b]

Again - this is a short term view ALL about money. How about the Club reduces the playing staff by 1 player to cover the expenses the Club may incur by running such a scheme. As an example, was the signing of Sigiere last season really necessary - he probably cost £500 per week when the money could have been better spent on other avenues to improve the infrastructure of the Club.

Let the Kids in for Free now, swallow the costs and see the benefits in 5 years from now.

[Harry J Allstars]

Probably attracting some stick here for this but what about the possibility that I took advantage of a few years back at Brentford?

 

Premiership and Championship clubs weren't playing because of internationals. So instead Brentford were offering any fan of those clubs that didn't have a game due to the internationals the chance to come and watch their match with Plymouth Argyle (They lost 3-1) for only a fiver if they showed their season ticket. We could offer this to as many clubs as we like, we could then tell fans of these clubs and ask the clubs themselves to tell them.

 

Then when they're in offer them a questionair which they fill in in their own time telling us what would make them come and watch more games at the Fleet. We could offer all sorts of prizes, we'd be finding out what they want and getting money through the gates.

[Slartibartfast]

Harry, don't you think that might upset our own fans who have to pay £12:00 to get in while fans of Charlton, Gillingham and Dartford are allowed in for less than half price?

[Harry J Allstars]

Dartford?

 

I agree but we have to do something and you could say that Ladies day was sexist and we did that.

 

Brentford did it so maybe it's worth thinking about?

[Slartibartfast]

I am not having a go at you for trying to come up with ideas Harry, I am just saying that we shouldn't p*ss off our current fans on the off chance that some other teams fans might drop in when their team isn't playing.

As a matter of interest how many times did you go back to Brentford after getting in for a fiver?

Ladies day is fine as a thank you to those ladies that go to Stonebridge road regularly but I would be surprised if it attracts many/any new fans.

[FleetFanatic]

The problem is nowadays people won't go to somewhere they wouldn't normally go unless they think they are getting a good deal.

 

£12 appears to be enough to put off the casual supporter.

 

Not saying that Harry has the answer, but we're not going to entice many more at £12.

[Harry J Allstars]

It's okay Slarti I know you wasn't having a dig.

 

Thats a good point about me never going back to Brentford but this was largely due to unemployment. I had planned to go back as I thought I had cleaverly worked out that whenever Chelsea were away Brentford were at home, this didn't work out.

 

I'd wanted to go to Brentford anyway (this could be another way it wouldn't work as I already wanted to go) as I wanted more of an atmosphere passion blah blah blah. So I'll let you into a little secret, had this Chelsea being away thing worked out then perhaps I would never have found solidarity at the Fleet.