ST In The Championship

[fatbasher]

Talking of season tickets.....

I was out with my mate on Friday and we were discussing next season in the championship (nothing like being positive is there?) and the subject of how much they might be came up.

There is always an element of hysteria over the terms and conditions, cost, payment methods and concessions etc, however, now that we have gotten off to a solid start, today's Preston game excluded and everyone it seems is hunky dorey over everything I wondered what your thoughts are WRT next season.

My concern is should we achieve promotion we'll be up against teams who have average attendances more than double ours and the money that comes with it on and off the field. Now even if we managed to demolish the town end and have this two tier stand in place for the start of next season that as i understand it would only give us circa 17k at full capacity.

We currently have a hard core of 6k ST holders! leaves us somewhat bereft of the numbers we'll be up against. We have a very, very supportive BOD and "investors" but I wonder how much we'll have to stump up or they'll have to invest to assemble a team more than capable of holding it's own?  

PDC has been given every tool at our disposal to enable him to get us to where we are, the next push will command an even greater cash injection all round.

DRS early bird of 350 quid is going to be, 400 - 450 - 475?

What do you guys and gals think?
 

[kerry red]

Sell them now

[joteddyred]

Unfortunately even when the ground has a higher capacity and we are potentially in the Championship, I think we'll struggle to get crowds of more than 12,000.  

For a town of it's size, Swindon doesn't have a particularly high following.  Sadly, people are more interesting in supporting premiership teams via the tv.

If we can't pull in bigger crowds than we are now with PDC as manager and the club doing well, we're never likely to.  The price of STs isn't necessarily relevant, the same people will get them no matter what.

[Nemo]

Unfortunately even when the ground has a higher capacity and we are potentially in the Championship, I think we'll struggle to get crowds of more than 12,000. 

For a town of it's size, Swindon doesn't have a particularly high following.  Sadly, people are more interesting in supporting premiership teams via the tv.

Agree with your reasoning but disagree with your conclusions: Think our support will swell significantly if we go up through the leagues- I think Reading is a reasonable comparison, although they did have the new stadium effect too- they certainly did not have a large following 15 years ago!

[cheltred69]

There are plenty of clubs surviving in the championship on crowds of 12-15K.
Realistically, we need to be able to step up from our current 8K or so to that sort of level to sustain a presence in the championship.

There are a few examples of clubs who I think of having historically had similar crowds to us that have now gone beyond that level - Swansea, Cardiff, Reading, Brighton, Hull - the common theme for all of these though is a new ground that brought them a step change in levels of support.

[herthab]

The same could've been of reading at one time. Success and media exposure will increase crowds. Add in the attractiveness of the opposition in the Championship and attendances will be buoyant.

Ground redevelopment is key (as is promotion! )

[fatbasher]

All interesting points so far, however no-one has intimated at a price they think season tickets would be pitched at next season if we do go up.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

All interesting points so far, however no-one has intimated at a price they think season tickets would be pitched at next season if we do go up.

Probably because no one has the faintest idea!

[Peter Venkman]

The same could've been of reading at one time. Success and media exposure will increase crowds. Add in the attractiveness of the opposition in the Championship and attendances will be buoyant.

Ground redevelopment is key (as is promotion! )

My thoughts too.

I think our crowds could blossom in a higher league, the town has massive potential when it comes to attendances, even if it has not been that good in the past. Times have changed and so have the way fans choose to watch games. Back in the 60's and 70's we regularly had crowds of over 20,000, I have been in crowds of 26-28,000 at Swindon in the early 80's as well.

[fatbasher]

Probably because no one has the faintest idea!

Ok then, what would YOU think is a fair price for your seat next season?

[Peter Venkman]

Agree with your reasoning but disagree with your conclusions: Think our support will swell significantly if we go up through the leagues- I think Reading is a reasonable comparison, although they did have the new stadium effect too- they certainly did not have a large following 15 years ago!

Swansea are another prime example and Wigan as well, although their figures are scewed due to the locality of many opposition teams in the top flight.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Ok then, what would YOU think is a fair price for your seat next season?

I'm not the best person to ask. I think no one should ever have to pay more than a tenner to get into any game of football. I do realise that's not exactly sustainable though.

[Ardiles]

All this talk is a bit premature to my mind, but I'll give in and comment.  Have to agree strongly with this...

Agree with your reasoning but disagree with your conclusions: Think our support will swell significantly if we go up through the leagues- I think Reading is a reasonable comparison, although they did have the new stadium effect too- they certainly did not have a large following 15 years ago!

...and with this...

My thoughts too.

I think our crowds could blossom in a higher league, the town has massive potential when it comes to attendances, even if it has not been that good in the past. Times have changed and so have the way fans choose to watch games. Back in the 60's and 70's we regularly had crowds of over 20,000, I have been in crowds of 26-28,000 at Swindon in the early 80's as well.

I think 12,000 would be a baseline for Championship level attendances.  Take a look at what Swansea have a achieved in recent years.  There is absolutely no reason why we would not be able to replicate something like this.

Swansea City/Town Average Attendances (Graph is back to front: most recent years to left)

[url width=499 height=291]http://scfcheritage.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/graph.jpg?w=500&h=291[/url]

[kerry red]

Ok then, what would YOU think is a fair price for your seat next season?

One main thing before people (other than the faithful) would pay substantially more for their STs next season

PdC saying he is staying to try for the PL - this statement would almost guarantee that the Board are still financially behind him - so we, as fans, could look forward to yet another influx of players.

More inclined to pay up if people know their money is being spent on another promotion push

[fatbasher]

FFS I'll stick my neck out. Next season, championship with Paolo in charge DRS 425 pounds.