Upping the attendance.

[Wycombe Royal]

Moving kick off forward 15 minutes will not increase the attendance, it is more likely to reduce it. I for one would struggle to get to the match in time for a 7.45pm kick off and so would many others, especially those that have a long commute (a lot of people in Reading and the surrounding areas work in London).

Used to be 7-30 at EP through the 70's. people managed, and night games where better there than the weekend games, IMHO. I would say many memorable games were in the evenings.

Things have changed since then,most notably the number of people trying to get to matches.

[who are ya?]

So the only time people turn up to football matches is the start of the month?

Jog on. Utterly ridiculous.

I'm sure we're talking about attracting fringe fans, adding to the haROFLdcoROFLe support that already exists.

[Jackson Corner]

Kid for a quid on a school night? That'll work

I saw lots of under tens there last night. Since when has any kid gone to bed when they have been told? Makes little difference these days.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Whilst I understand your proposition the club is very aware that they need to keep the st holders happy and so are reluctant to do offers that undermine the value of a st. Whether that is right or not is moot.

Renewal for this season was £395, 23 games at £23 a time is £529, there is plenty of leeway there to do a deal when a situation like this week occurs, especially when TV is also involved, it is the floating fan that watches in the pub, rather than pay £23 for the pleasure of a live game.

Lets face it some games would not need discounting or a package, I am not for discounting individual games, any deal should have an caveat of a full paid game attached to it, only time any deal like that has been done at the MadStad I seem to think was buy 3 get one free, but was a long time ago.

[Silver Fox]

Kid for a quid on a school night? That'll work

I saw lots of under tens there last night. Since when has any kid gone to bed when they have been told? Makes little difference these days.

Speaking from experience of going to matches and anecdotal evidence on here proving it both ways by more kids turning up for midweek games when it's not on a school night (ie half term)

I can absolutely guarantee you that if the club had offered KFAQ last night the boar would have been full of moaning pcunts complaining they wouldn't be able to take advantage as it was a school night and then somehow working out they were a quid down as a result and needed to be compensated somehow

[Svlad Cjelli]

So the only time people turn up to football matches is the start of the month?

Jog on. Utterly ridiculous.

It's not as clear cut as that, do using words like "only time" is fatuous and simplistic.

But certainly as the month goes by the amount of disposable income left for people declines, so they are less likely to spend it on things like football.

Note the use of the words "less likely" - it means fewer "casual spectators" will come along, not than none whatsoever will come along!

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Midweek games always get lower crowds.

Derby might have been 3rd, but I doubt any Reading fan had any excitement at the thought of seeing Derby, so it's not likely that casual supporter would have felt any different.

Derby also brought about about 1000 fewer, at least, than they would have done for a Saturday game.


I have to ask those who though 15700 was a low crowd, what sort of figure should we have been getting for a game like last night's?

[Ian Royal]

Also if crowds continue to fall the club will be less attractive to a potential buyer, so the future could look a lot bleaker

Average attendence after 6 games 2010/11: 16,695
Average attendence after 6 games 2011/12: 16,630

Ooo. A drop in the average attendence of 65. We're buggered.

By the way, we played Barnsley at home at roughly the same time last year.
Barnsley (H) 2010: 14,830
Barnsley (H) 2011: 15,878 - only directly comparable game up by 1,048.

We're hardly haemoraging fans.

In fact the only reason we aren't up on last season is a big game against Swansea with the first return of an ex-manager. Before that we were about 500 up, so given the next game is Saints compared to Donny, we'll be well ahead on the average attendence again come Sunday morning.

[melonhead]

personally happy with 15k on a cold tuesday night game, in the middle of the month, on a champions league night, with a big game on saturday

lol!!!!!!! You're trolling. In the middle of the month? I've heard some excuses in my time but please take that back, don't even try and justify it. Its made my day

Proven fact that the further into the month you go, the less people spend, as they're so much further way from payday.

just from personal experience- if i hadnt got a season ticket, i wouldnt have been able to get a ticket for this exact game, because i have completeky run out of money......so........


i gave a list of possible reasons why theer would be 200 less fans there than a usual saturday game, by no means was that the only valid one.
LOL yr self mr rain

[melonhead]

personally happy with 15k on a cold tuesday night game, in the middle of the month, on a champions league night, with a big game on saturday

and i want nothing to do with fans who would only turn up on the basis of a town centre bill board

crowds improve with success and good football. the end

You are correct - however you can never rest on your laurels. People who go when they're being succesful on the pitch are probably people who've attended before and still go the odd game here and there or ex sth's that have come back. You should always be trying to capture new customers. Reading has a massive passing trade coming through the town everyday and like I said, you would never know the club existed unless you were over by the ground, which is out on a limb from the town.

bno one turns up at a football game cos they saw an advert as the went through the station on a commuter train kes.
and if they do, like i said, i dont want em.
new fans come through success and good fooball, and word of mouth/being brought along by friends/rellies

[melonhead]

personally happy with 15k on a cold tuesday night game, in the middle of the month, on a champions league night, with a big game on saturday
crowds improve with success and good football. the end

on a five game run undefeated, against one of the teams near the top of the table, if you are happy with 15k then all I can say is I am glad you are not running the club.

RFC need more paying fans to compete at the top of this level, otherwise players will always have to be sold, and if that supply dries up then the slide would be downward.

RFC marketing would know that two games in a week and one on telly will slow demand, hence it would have been a great time to do an offer as I suggested.

Also if crowds continue to fall the club will be less attractive to a potential buyer, so the future could look a lot bleaker, Saturday will be boosted by the away fans, 4000 tickets sold by saints

lol- i said im happy
as a fan, not as the owner/manager

you only have to see the posts on here after this now 6 game unbeaten run, that the majority of the negative eedjits who support the club dont see this as any real indicator of whether we are any good or not

[melonhead]

personally happy with 15k on a cold tuesday night game, in the middle of the month, on a champions league night, with a big game on saturday
crowds improve with success and good football. the end

on a five game run undefeated, against one of the teams near the top of the table, if you are happy with 15k then all I can say is I am glad you are not running the club.

RFC need more paying fans to compete at the top of this level, otherwise players will always have to be sold, and if that supply dries up then the slide would be downward.

RFC marketing would know that two games in a week and one on telly will slow demand, hence it would have been a great time to do an offer as I suggested.

Also if crowds continue to fall the club will be less attractive to a potential buyer, so the future could look a lot bleaker, Saturday will be boosted by the away fans, 4000 tickets sold by saints

but crowds arent falling........weve been at or around 17k for most saturday games, which is higher than at this stage last year iirc
(which admittedly i may not....kes will know)

[melonhead]

Despite having a season ticket, I literally can't be bothered to go most of the time, £20 journey, already paid about £20 for the ticket - too much money for a shit product. Genuinely can't remember the last time I enjoyed a game. It's just a habit, it's 'what I do' on Saturdays.

last two games ghave been really entertaining imo
whats wrong with you

head in the clouds, obsessing over a girl

tut

[melonhead]

Kid for a quid on a school night? That'll work

I saw lots of under tens there last night. Since when has any kid gone to bed when they have been told? Makes little difference these days.

Speaking from experience of going to matches and anecdotal evidence on here proving it both ways by more kids turning up for midweek games when it's not on a school night (ie half term)

I can absolutely guarantee you that if the club had offered KFAQ last night the boar would have been full of moaning pcunts complaining they wouldn't be able to take advantage as it was a school night and then somehow working out they were a quid down as a result and needed to be compensated somehow

and id have been livid as id be surrounded by screaming bellend kids scrunching their sweet pckets, and talking through teh whole game

[roadrunner]

Also if crowds continue to fall the club will be less attractive to a potential buyer, so the future could look a lot bleaker

Average attendence after 6 games 2010/11: 16,695
Average attendence after 6 games 2011/12: 16,630

Ooo. A drop in the average attendence of 65. We're buggered.

[Irvinchangeyaname]

I have to confess that I'm one of the 65. Yet to make a home game this year. Every game last year.

For me, it's down to one thing. Petrol prices.

[West Stand Man]

Well loks like the fans are turning away from RFC, see other thread for more evidence.

Reality says w cannot compete with 15k crowds, so how can the club up the game to bring people back to watch football at the Madstad?

15k for a mid-table side who keep selling their best players leaving the fans frustrated is actually pretty good.

How can we improve the crowds? Stop selling our best players and start building for the future again.

This summer the club sold Long and Mills, who were clearly not the 'best players' according to common knowledge on this board. Let's not delude ourselves, we got great prices for 2 players who just simply 'are not up to Championship standard'.

My point is, there is so much crap spouted on here about the club, the players et al. If half of it were true we'd be seeing RFC go broke, an empty stadium and a team in the Conference. The fact is that 99% of people who go to the matches don't read or post on here and couldn't give a monkys what is posted on here. They go because they are supporters - or just because they fancy watching some football.

As to building for the future. Is that not what is happening now? A club in our position has to sell high and buy low - it is a simple fact of life. The fact that we still keep bringing in good quality players and developing them is a positive not something to be knocked.

Temporary end of rant.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Could be a sell-out on Saturday.

Considering this is on TV as well.

[who are ya?]

I have to confess that I'm one of the 65. Yet to make a home game this year. Every game last year.

For me, it's down to one thing. Petrol prices.

1 home game so far this season. For me, it's down to boredom.

[Wycombe Royal]

Could be a sell-out on Saturday.

Considering this is on TV as well.

I'd be surprised if another 3k or 4k are sold by kick off.

Anyway my ST seat and the one next to me will be empty. I'll be at Legoland.