Saturday's crowd (split thread)

[Niyx]

rebus is having a mare.

Not on his watch.

lol

Lets make it the 68.3 miler season ticket. Then we both qualify!

 

[rebus]

Myopic admission prices has the support of two on here. Hardly a mare. I would like to see the club in the Championship and the current pricing structure provides the best way forward. Anyone advocating cuts must realise this will impact on the playing budget and the club's ambition.

 

[Niyx]

Anyone advocating cuts must realise this will impact on the playing budget and the club's ambition.

I don't think the 75 miler season ticket that other clubs offer is a cut. It only offers admission to 15 home games. So it appeals to those who can't make all of the games because of travelling/petrol ... and it appeals to those who wouldn't buy a full years season ticket because of cost and distance. I would have brought one at the start of the season if i was 3 miles further west! ... and would have probably gone to the game yesterday. Brentford FC would have made a fortune in Burger sales from me :yes: . Bums on seats aint a cut.

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Myopic admission prices has the support of two on here. Hardly a mare. I would like to see the club in the Championship and the current pricing structure provides the best way forward. Anyone advocating cuts must realise this will impact on the playing budget and the club's ambition.

TWO! Head up arse or what!
I give up, I educate you and bring others to the party and out of the woodwork and you simply ignore them.

 

[rebus]

I don't think the 75 miler season ticket that other clubs offer is a cut. It only offers admission to 15 home games. So it appeals to those who can't make all of the games because of travelling/petrol ... and it appeals to those who wouldn't buy a full years season ticket because of cost and distance. I would have brought one at the start of the season if i was 3 miles further west! ... and would have probably gone to the game yesterday. Brentford FC would have made a fortune in Burger sales from me :yes: . Bums on seats aint a cut.

But the club loses money as supporters get a season ticket style discount for 15 games they would paid full price for. What I trying to convey is the less money through the turnstiles, the less Charlie Macs we can afford.

 

[blunstone]

whilst i see where rebus is coming from, i do believe that occasional sales promotions are worthwhile, like 'quid a kid' as a way of attracting potential new supporters and also tempting back lapsed fans.

when there are two matches in a week, there may be value in discounting the second game, for example.

or inviting regulars to 'introduce' someone who hasn't been before or for (say) five years.

in return for their registering someone (fullo details on a card to be hanmded in and used for mailing lists etc) they can get two for the price of one at a certain game.

this may be subject to minimal abuse, however it might also be worthwhile, especially in deepest and darkest mid-winter.

sales promotion is a powerful tool if used creatively and sparingly.

 

[ianhl]

Because Fulham receive £40 million in TV money that enables them to subsidise less attractive fixtures.

Not really addressing my post with your reply,,, maybe I`m just being a bit thick but what I was trying to get across is that whilst we do not have the money that Fulham, Chelsea etc have; we do still need to recognise that they are our local business rivals ...of course we cannot compete at the same level as them with regards to marketing BUT if you look at some of the methods that they ( especially Fulham) use to increase ticket sales, we must try and emulate them to a certain degree.
There are many ways to increase match day profits not just by admission prices but through food + Beverage, Club shop etc`, there`s also ticket bundles , do bundles of 3 or 5 games e.g 3 decent gate games & 2 games of the Rochdale+ Hartlepool ilk, at a tempting price ( not saying we would sell thousands but if we sold just 1 to a floating /casual supporter who otherwise wouldn`t have come then surely that`s a profit? ).
Do specials for season ticket holders ( Bring 2 non season ticket holders get a free programme/onionless burger or something).
Blitz the schools with (500)comp tickets ( lots of noisy kids accompanied by enough adults!) whilst in the ground they buy refreshments, club shop merchandise before the game , do it for 10 games this next season and profits will have increased and we would also likely have trapped a few poor kiddys for life

 

[NorthamptonBee]

This thread could be "Why do you struggle to go to games?", people have given concise reasons for their difficulty and they have been answered with "Myopic" and "Privilege" so BU consider it an honour to be a Brentford fan and there is no need to try and get them back. "Myopic" being the in word today, why not listen to people's individual reasons, feck me what great marketing and available on tap without cost. To dismiss them as being selfish sort of shows you and your board in a bad light.

 

[ianhl]

when there are two matches in a week, there may be value in discounting the second game, for example.



sales promotion is a powerful tool if used creatively and sparingly.

 

[Niyx]

But the club loses money as supporters get a season ticket style discount for 15 games they would paid full price for. What I trying to convey is the less money through the turnstiles, the less Charlie Macs we can afford.

Understand what you're saying

I've been to 8 home games this year (yes, i'm a lightweight!). So i've spent £180 ish. I'm probably not going again this season. And cost has stopped me from going more to be honest. I would never have paid full price for 15 home games in the first place. A 15 game season ticket would have cost me about £260 for the Braemar stand. Brentford wouldn't have lost out if I had purchased a 75 miler. Plus the family miss out too ... the bees would have been up on the deal.

And if we're worried about attracting and keeping young fans, a buzzing Griffin Park would help.

Don't know why i'm arguing to be honest ... as i wouldn't qualify! ... i'll shut up now!

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Understand what you're saying

I've been to 8 home games this year (yes, i'm a lightweight!). So i've spent £180 ish. I'm probably not going again this season. And cost has stopped me from going more to be honest. A 15 game season ticket would have cost me about £260 for the Braemar stand. Brentford wouldn't have lost out if I had purchased a 75 miler.

And if we're worried about attracting and keeping young fans, a buzzing Griffin Park would help.

Don't know why i'm arguing to be honest ... as i wouldn't qualify! ... i'll shut up now!

So you are trying to suggest and look at ways of increasing your support, yes I think you should shut up. Nobody cares, it's a honour to follow us so just be there in future and when you can, we'll continue to be disgusted with the lack of home support and you can follow this soap opera on every fecking match thread from here to eternity.

 

[rebus]

Not really addressing my post with your reply,,, maybe I`m just being a bit thick but what I was trying to get across is that whilst we do not have the money that Fulham, Chelsea etc have; we do still need to recognise that they are our local business rivals ...of course we cannot compete at the same level as them with regards to marketing BUT if you look at some of the methods that they ( especially Fulham) use to increase ticket sales, we must try and emulate them to a certain degree.
There are many ways to increase match day profits not just by admission prices but through food + Beverage, Club shop etc`, there`s also ticket bundles , do bundles of 3 or 5 games e.g 3 decent gate games & 2 games of the Rochdale+ Hartlepool ilk, at a tempting price ( not saying we would sell thousands but if we sold just 1 to a floating /casual supporter who otherwise wouldn`t have come then surely that`s a profit? ).
Do specials for season ticket holders ( Bring 2 non season ticket holders get a free programme/onionless burger or something).
Blitz the schools with (500)comp tickets ( lots of noisy kids accompanied by enough adults!) whilst in the ground they buy refreshments, club shop merchandise before the game , do it for 10 games this next season and profits will have increased and we would also likely have trapped a few poor kiddys for life

Agree, with such a financial disadvantage, the club needs to be inventive in the way it markets itself. Many of the promotions you describe are financed by the SKY TV cheque - who makes up our shortfall? The sole reason that increases attendances in a big way is a winning team and that cannot be achieved on the cheap.

 

[NorthamptonBee]

Agree, with such a financial disadvantage, the club needs to be inventive in the way it markets itself but the sole reason that increases attendances in a big way is a winning team and that cannot be achieved on the cheap.

Get Niyx's details and offer him a deal that suits him and gets him to GP a bit more often whilst also making the club some money.
I worked in sales for years, not all the customers paid the same rates or were treated in the same way.

 

[JOABee]

any 'ocassional' fans who were there on monday defintly didnt come yesterday and being honest, can't blame them after that awful game :sad:

 

[Niyx]

So you are trying to suggest and look at ways of increasing your support, yes I think you should shut up. Nobody cares, it's a honour to follow us so just be there in future and when you can, we'll continue to be disgusted with the lack of home support and you can follow this soap opera on every fecking match thread from here to eternity.

I've always been proud to follow the bees. Have been for the last 28 years. And if I can afford it, i'll go. If my wallet was big enough, I would follow them up and down the country. And I would buy a new bees shirt too as my KLM red and white is now looking a bit ... erm ... pink following too many washes !!. But I can't. I lost my job when I lost sight in one eye ... goodbye driving licence. I've got a new job, but it doesn't pay too well. I've got a great family who support me, and drive me whenever i need it. But I still have to pay petrol! The fact that you go to more games doesn't make you any more loyal than me. I have to pay bills first and keep a roof over my head. End of. But I suspect many others who don't live within a stones throw of Griffin Park struggle with costs. And I just thought what Notts County/ Watford and Reading were offering wasn't a bad idea.

 

[Hullbee]

The 'big idea' is to make the club more successful on the pitch. I cannot imagine what the attendances would be now if we were in the situation we were in two years and a bit ago.......bottom six of League Two and with Butcher and Dickens running the show. I believe we'd be at 2,000-2,500. Others may argue 'look at Luton' and that if we were top of the Conference we'd be getting 7,000. I don't think so and going down to the Conference as part of some 'Master Plan' didn't appeal to me in December 2007 and never will.

We also have to factor in the extra whammy's.......increased NI plus there is in my view a better than evens chance that whoever gets in on May 6 VAT may well increase. An increase in VAT to 20% from 17.5% would cost the club over £30k in a full year to absorb the increased costs both on season tickets, pay on the day and club shop sales.

So when VAT was 15% we made a little extra??

 

[MinkyBee]

My view is this, bump up seating price by £1.00 but bring standing on Ealing Road down to £15.00 , opposite theory to bums on seats, why not feet on concrete.

 

[Hullbee]

For the last two seasons the season tickets have had vouchers in the back described as Season ticket holder benefits. To my knowledge they have never been used by the club for promotions so was there a grand plan that was never hatched??

 

[NorthamptonBee]

I've always been proud to follow the bees. Have been for the last 28 years. And if I can afford it, i'll go. If my wallet was big enough, I would follow them up and down the country. And I would buy a new bees shirt too as my KLM red and white is now looking a bit ... erm ... pink following too many washes !!. But I can't. I lost my job when I lost sight in one eye ... goodbye driving licence. I've got a new job, but it doesn't pay too well. I've got a great family who support me, and drive me whenever i need it. But I still have to pay petrol! The fact that you go to more games doesn't make you any more loyal than me. I have to pay bills first and keep a roof over my head. End of. But I suspect many others who don't live within a stones throw of Griffin Park struggle with costs. And I just thought what Notts County/ Watford and Reading were offering wasn't a bad idea.

Sorry to hear that. I hope lady luck comes your way and I sincerely hope you get your wish of more visits to GP.
Is it worth advertising where you live to see if there are any chances of jumping in with a fellow traveller? It works well up here, surely this means something to someone at the club who wants to help a fan get to games.

 

[rebus]

My view is this, bump up seating price by £1.00 but bring standing on Ealing Road down to £15.00 , opposite theory to bums on seats, why not feet on concrete.

Which leads to loss of revenue as many would head for the terrace, a smaller playing budget and a higher probability of failing. A vicious circle.

Sorry to hear that. I hope lady luck comes your way and I sincerely hope you get your wish of more visits to GP.

Totally agree.

 

[abee]

So when VAT was 15% we made a little extra??

Yes and it went into the playing budget.

 

[Sweepy]

So for the 4400 that did turn up:

1700 ST holders.
400ish comps.
900 Town pay on day.
1400 pay on day Bees fans.

Not much spare change there. This club will continue to loss significant amounts of money per week if this continues next season.

Perhaps if the team hadn't slipped up at places like Exeter, Orient and Tranmere earlier this season, then Saturday's game would have meant much more and the attendance would have been nearer 8,000.

 

[Hullbee]

Yes and it went into the playing budget.

 

[Hullbee]

A question:

If Matthew Benham had said I will put 1 million a season into the club provided Brentford fans show there support and over 10k paying customers (Away fans not included in this 10k) turn up for three Saturday home games in a row. Do you think supporters would have answered Brentford's/Benham's call and turned up in numbers no matter who or indeed how we were playing?

Personnally I don't think that this would have been achieved as we simply don't have the hard core support or number of floating supporters to make up 10k for three games in a row.

P.s Paying customers means paying the normal prices no reductions.

 

[fencer/bee]

Its a fact, people come to watch a winning team, so the bigger the budget the stronger the squad,thats why i will be buying my season ticket on the pay monthly option again, IMO its a deal that suits me,

 

[Sweepy]

The 'big idea' is to make the club more successful on the pitch. I cannot imagine what the attendances would be now if we were in the situation we were in two years and a bit ago.......bottom six of League Two and with Butcher and Dickens running the show. I believe we'd be at 2,000-2,500. Others may argue 'look at Luton' and that if we were top of the Conference we'd be getting 7,000. I don't think so and going down to the Conference as part of some 'Master Plan' didn't appeal to me in December 2007 and never will.

I don't want to see us in the Conference either. But attendances are boosted by good league position, regardless of what division we're in.

I haven't checked the figures, but I am guessing that the attendances for the home matches against Wycombe and Exeter at the tail end of last season were bigger than for the visits of Norwich and Southampton this season.

That tells me that a big name is one thing that helps bump up the attendance, but good league position is stronger.

Also, cost is a big thing, and football is becoming an expensive pastime, not helped by the cost of petrol and the privatised railway network. For someone who lives outside the west London area (as many do), who may have a lot of bills to pay, but earns between £90-£100 working on a matchday, the £50 to £60 for travel and a match ticket effectively makes going to watch the Bees a £150 decision.

 

[rebus]

That tells me that a big name is one thing that helps bump up the attendance, but good league position is stronger.

Can't agree on this one. Would you prefer to be in the top six of the Conference or midtable in League One? There isn't a single Luton fan that wouldn't swop places with us.

It's not just the attendances, it's the FL money that rockets depending on what League you are in. Not much TV money for the Conference this season after Setanta went bust.

 

[Sweepy]

Can't agree on this one. Would you prefer to be in the top six of the Conference or midtable in League One? There isn't a single Luton fan that wouldn't swop places with us.

It's not just the attendances, it's the FL money that rockets depending on what League you are in. Not much TV money for the Conference this season after Setanta went bust.

I wouldn't swap places with Luton in a million years. But we were getting some surprisingly good attendances towards the end of last season as the title drew closer.

 

[abee]

A question:

If Matthew Benham had said I will put 1 million a season into the club provided Brentford fans show there support and over 10k paying customers (Away fans not included in this 10k) turn up for three Saturday home games in a row. Do you think supporters would have answered Brentford's/Benham's call and turned up in numbers no matter who or indeed how we were playing?

Personnally I don't think that this would have been achieved as we simply don't have the hard core support or number of floating supporters to make up 10k for three games in a row.

P.s Paying customers means paying the normal prices no reductions.

Of course they wouldn't and MB is not daft enough to even suggest such a thing and neither would Bees United have supported such a statement. Wasn't this one of Noades ploys......'I have put/invested loads of (your....he missed this word out of course) money into the Club and the supporters haven't kept their side of the bargain. We should have gates of 8k by now blah, blah'. That was the first sign that he wanted 'out'......he of course never ever made a mistake so let's blame it onto the supporters who were suddenly being berated for not sticking to an 'agreement' that most of us didn't know existed anyway..........even if only in Noades head. I remember analysing some numbers at the time and posting on here that if Noades/Hargraves actually had a business plan it was based upon an average gate at GP of over 14k which was quite an achievement as we would have done well then to shoehorn 11k in and for anyone to believe that we should be getting over 8k in League One showed how little Noades and his board understood Brentford Football Club and its supporters both current and lapsed.

Matthew Benham is injecting capital into the Club on an annual basis and the board manages the club on a 'cash neutral' basis.....that is the debt does not increase although the only way that could happen with the present structure is racking the bank overdraft to its limit.

Every penny of additional unforecast cash goes to the playing budget or improvements to the structure. Supporters are not paying for fancy salaries (Noades £167k as Team Manager) and nor are their monies disappearing into a 'black hole'.

 

[Hullbee]

Of course they wouldn't and MB is not daft enough to even suggest such a thing and neither would Bees United have supported such a statement. Wasn't this one of Noades ploys......'I have put/invested loads of (your....he missed this word out of course) money into the Club and the supporters haven't kept their side of the bargain. We should have gates of 8k by now blah, blah'. That was the first sign that he wanted 'out'......he of course never ever made a mistake so let's blame it onto the supporters who were suddenly being berated for not sticking to an 'agreement' that most of us didn't know existed anyway..........even if only in Noades head. I remember analysing some numbers at the time and posting on here that if Noades/Hargraves actually had a business plan it was based upon an average gate at GP of over 14k which was quite an achievement as we would have done well then to shoehorn 11k in and for anyone to believe that we should be getting over 8k in League One showed how little Noades and his board understood Brentford Football Club and its supporters both current and lapsed.

Matthew Benham is injecting capital into the Club on an annual basis and the board manages the club on a 'cash neutral' basis.....that is the debt does not increase although the only way that could happen with the present structure is racking the bank overdraft to its limit.

Every penny of additional unforecast cash goes to the playing budget or improvements to the structure. Supporters are not paying for fancy salaries (Noades £167k as Team Manager) and nor are their monies diappearing into a 'black hole'.

I have no problems with the way is being run now and appreciate all the hard work that is being done to make every penny count.

My point I suppose was to show that we are a small club with a small hard core fan base the has stayed the same for years. Therefore people should be realistic about the money that can go on wages etc when we couldn't even get a crowd of 10k plus if somebody agreed to pump in 1millon if we did.

I wonder if our rivals were offered a simlar scenio would they make it?

I suggest that the following would Brighton, Exeter, Southend, Tranmere might perhaps.

 

[Chopper]

abee or rebus so you seem to know most answers do you know what the average attendence was forcasted this year and what is roughly going to be forecasted next year?

 

[abee]

abee or rebus so you seem to know most answers do you know what the average attendence was forcasted this year and what is roughly going to be forecasted next year?

The average forecast attendance was 6,414 (it was done on a match by match basis) and I've got the bruises to prove it.

However that number included 'comps' and is meaningless..........it's the same with posters (and I used to be one) who write 'I've been coming to GP for years and there looked more than 6k in there to me'. Unless you know the number of season ticket no shows you can't guess the actual attendance (i.e. not the declared one but people inside the ground which is always less)to within 10% by gazing around the ground. I personally don't give a tinkers about the average attendances and I wish people wouldn't get focused on it......it's an indication of a trend maybe but we could dish out 6k comps for Hartlepool maybe 3k get used and we have an official attendance of 8k.....so what.

We operate on a forecast of the 'pay on the day ' attendees both home and away. Before the season starts we know how many season tickets have been sold and in what category and how much has been banked. We therefore move on to the 'pay on the day' as a major source of revenue and whilst this season away fans have turned up in greater numbers than forecast the casual home support has been disappointing to say the least. I think this is the point on the circle where we get into 'pricing' again.

 

[Banana]

Can't the club simply report the attendance as the attendance rather than the number of tickets that were issued for match? Then at least we wouldn't get the 'I've been coming to GP for years and there looked more than 6k in there to me'. posts

 

[abee]

Can't the club simply report the attendance as the attendance rather than the number of tickets that were issued for match? Then at least we wouldn't get the 'I've been coming to GP for years and there looked more than 6k in there to me'. posts

I'd rather have the 'I've been coming to GP for years and there looked more than 6k in there to me'. posts.

 

[ianhl]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ianhl View Post
there`s also ticket bundles , if we sold just 1 to a floating /casual supporter who otherwise wouldn`t have come then surely that`s a profit? ).
Do specials for season ticket holders ( Bring 2 non season ticket holders get a free programme/onionless burger or something).
Blitz the schools with (500)comp tickets ( lots of noisy kids accompanied by enough adults!) whilst in the ground they buy refreshments, club shop merchandise before the game , do it for 10 games this next season and profits will have increased and we would also likely have trapped a few poor kiddys for life

Agree, with such a financial disadvantage, the club needs to be inventive in the way it markets itself. Many of the promotions you describe are financed by the SKY TV cheque - who makes up our shortfall? The sole reason that increases attendances in a big way is a winning team and that cannot be achieved on the cheap.

Fair comment but,
1) Ticket bundles, what shortfall is there? surely it would cost no extra finances, tickets printed as usual , collected from ground or customer pays for postage as usual , person answering phone and dealing with customer does the same anyway ..advertised using the official site/GPG/Matchday programmes/Ealing podcasts/ friendly word to local journalists?

2) Specials for season ticket holders...by bringing 2 extra customers then those 2 customers pay for any shortfall that giving a ``free programme or burger etc`` to the SS holder would incur, also advertising would be the same as previous idea

3) 500 extra comp tickets for schools for 10 games...cost of printing tickets is offset by money that is spent on the day, ... okay probably not much to begin with but we will gain new supporters in the long run,, the important thing would be to target the same kids for the 10 games

We start doing things like this =word will slowly start to spread, the more noise in GP = The better the atmosphere, better atmosphere= Fortress GP
Fortress GP = More points won , more points won= Promotion, promotion= More money


I`m not writing this as anything other than a way in which I think we can compete if we want to, against our neighbours in marketing for the club

 

[DavidgRushden]

Can I make a suggestion? I am in the age bracket of 60 - 65 year olds. Most of my age are probably still working, so why not cut the concession for my age group and only have that concession from age 65. Thus the 16 - 18 year olds who have left school, but possibly on low pay, could perhaps have some sort of concession instead? I know I may have riled a few ofmy own age here, but wouldn't it be beneficial to give the younger ones an opportunity to continue to support Brentford whilst they find their feet at work? Surely this is not an unreasonable request,is it?

 

[westwing]

You've got to start by asking why 800 season ticket holders would rather spend their time elsewhere.

 

[shouldbee]

I'm not convinced that lowering admission prices would increase attendances, however 22 quid does seem expensive for the "floating fan", maybe if the admission price was £19 is sounds a lot less but isn't, if you know what I mean.
I suspect most of us who post regularly on here would find a way to go whatever the cost within reason, but it's the lightweights who only come to occassional game and unless it's a 3-0 win don't come back again for ages, Exeter for example.
There is likely to be fewer " big clubs" in league One so attracting home fans is more important that ever.
The one question I have for ABEE is why do we restrict the away tickets for big clubs, is there a way we can divide up the ground to allow for more away fans ?...next season there is still a chance of a few big hitters in league....Leeds / Charlton / Southampton / + Palace and Watford maybe...so come on let's maximise every opportunity to make money

 

[West Wilts Bee]

Probably a bit off Tangent here. I would target new young blood here. The lapsed fans have proved exactly what they are, lapsed. You will see them turn up 3 times a year. and then they think the club owe them something. The young are the future, these are who we need to get interested, they are the ones that will turn up at most games.

 

[TW3Bee]

I've always liked the idea of the 75 miler season ticket. I know the idea will get some peoples backs up tho! . But a very good idea imho. Gets you into 15 home games. Petrol prices are killing me also


Notts County have them. Watford and Reading have them too.


http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/SeasonTickets/

Middlesex CCC do a Country Membership, for fans that live outside of Middlesex, where the price is so much cheaper than a full members price.

The above sounds something similar to this.

Is this something that BFC have considered?

Can't the club simply report the attendance as the attendance rather than the number of tickets that were issued for match? Then at least we wouldn't get the 'I've been coming to GP for years and there looked more than 6k in there to me'. posts

In American sport that declare two attendances.

The paid attendance, including season tickets and the in the house attendance, which is those actually at the game.

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

imo we should be giving out at least 5000 comps to schools or locals or whoever for each of our three remaining home games.

 

[westwing]

imo we should be giving out at least 5000 comps to schools or locals or whoever for each of our three remaining home games.

Or at least do something like this for the Hartlepool game.
What about a sponsered free game for a less atrractive fixture.
11,000 against Peterborough a few years back, remember that one, good day Make the punters give a donation as they enter
Bums on seats is better than a stadium 2/3 empty.
This shouldn't upset the season ticket holders cos 800 of them don't
turn up anyway

 

[Brentford St George]

imo we should be giving out at least 5000 comps to schools or locals or whoever for each of our three remaining home games.

This is how i got in to supporting the club back in 1988 and i have posted on here numerous times before it is the way to go.

Tranmere a week Tuesday should be

* kid a quid or all under 16's are free or
* Season ticket holders bring a mate for free

This will bring much needed revenue with programmes,catering and club shop merchandise for a start.

People with families that follow top flight football simply cannot afford to go any more.Only last week i bumped in to an old school mate who was Tottenham mad.He is now bringing his son to Griffin Park and loves it.

I understand as a club our resources may be a little stretched with reaching all schools/youth clubs etc but even if we shift 1500 comps to children and parents and we get 1000 come then it will hopefully introduce new fans.

 

[Beestill my beating heart]

Agree, with such a financial disadvantage, the club needs to be inventive in the way it markets itself. Many of the promotions you describe are financed by the SKY TV cheque - who makes up our shortfall? The sole reason that increases attendances in a big way is a winning team and that cannot be achieved on the cheap.

Are we, possibly under the auspices of the Football League, lobbying politicians for a more equitable sharing of football's televison income? An election should be an ideal time for the football league clubs to make our collective case?

 

[ianhl]

This is how i got in to supporting the club back in 1988 and i have posted on here numerous times before it is the way to go.

Tranmere a week Tuesday should be

* kid a quid or all under 16's are free or
* Season ticket holders bring a mate for free

This will bring much needed revenue with programmes,catering and club shop merchandise for a start.

People with families that follow top flight football simply cannot afford to go any more.Only last week i bumped in to an old school mate who was Tottenham mad.He is now bringing his son to Griffin Park and loves it.

I understand as a club our resources may be a little stretched with reaching all schools/youth clubs etc but even if we shift 1500 comps to children and parents and we get 1000 come then it will hopefully introduce new fans.

 

[bees52 bomber]

crowd

OK hornets nest, whilst its ok to up admission prices and charge youngsters in the paddock more dough whilst other seats are cheaper else where in the ground. So a seat in the paddock for a non s/t is 22 quid why do you discount season tickets for approx 17 quid a match????? yes i know the old spill about paying there money up front is helping the club, but surely with a recession still biting surely this practise should bee stopped and everybody pays 22 quid a seat hard helmet being worn ready for flack

 

[fencer/bee]

OK hornets nest, whilst its ok to up admission prices and charge youngsters in the paddock more dough whilst other seats are cheaper else where in the ground. So a seat in the paddock for a non s/t is 22 quid why do you discount season tickets for approx 17 quid a match????? yes i know the old spill about paying there money up front is helping the club, but surely with a recession still biting surely this practise should bee stopped and everybody pays 22 quid a seat hard helmet being worn ready for flack

In that case no bugga would buy a season ticket, OR do you mean new rd should pay the same as the paddock ? . and by the way did you come back for the second half ? or did you go watch thE GN

 

[KD]

imo we should be giving out at least 5000 comps to schools or locals or whoever for each of our three remaining home games.

even though he's taking the piss. I'm sure I'm missing something but I just cant see the downside in this as long as we are only giving out under 16 comps. It would be great to see the ground full of noisy kids and some of their paying parents. How much do we make from kids walk up tickets abee? Would it be too much of a sacrifice?

 

[Inappropriate Smilies Bee]

even though he's taking the piss. I'm sure I'm missing something but I just cant see the downside in this as long as we are only giving out under 16 comps. It would be great to see the ground full of noisy kids and some of their paying parents. How much do we make from kids walk up tickets abee? Would it be too much of a sacrifice?

not sure what gives you the impression i am taking the piss?!!

if we have 5000 empty seats we should give out 5000 free tickets imo. if 2000of these turn up maybe 200 will come again and pay to get in in the future.

:love2:

 

[Will Bee]

Can I make a suggestion? I am in the age bracket of 60 - 65 year olds. Most of my age are probably still working, so why not cut the concession for my age group and only have that concession from age 65. Thus the 16 - 18 year olds who have left school, but possibly on low pay, could perhaps have some sort of concession instead? I know I may have riled a few ofmy own age here, but wouldn't it be beneficial to give the younger ones an opportunity to continue to support Brentford whilst they find their feet at work? Surely this is not an unreasonable request,is it?

This is an interesting idea. My parents fit into this bracket and there does seem to be something crazy about their saving money on admission when in a more comfortable financial position while those younger in low-paid jobs who are also paying staggering London rent/mortgage/student loan etc pay full whack. My guess is that the numbers aren't going to make a hugely significant difference either way but might be one to consider. If we can hook fans in late teens/early twenties there is potential for the club to make a lot of money from them in future years when perhaps their earnings have grown.

(PS I really hope my parents don't read this!)