Growing fan base

[George Rs]

4 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

If we're top 6 in January 2024 and look reasonably likely to make a play off push then I think you'd see at least 1,000 half STs sold (I'd probably buy one and I live 150 miles from AG). Were we to actually get promoted then (subject to pricing) yeh I expect we'd shift something like 17,500 - everyone would renew and I guess you'd see a decent number of new sign ups.

That first season up in the top flight I think we would see sell outs for all of the "Big 6" home games, and we'd get pretty close for the other 13 games.

I'd just add that personally I would rather we sold out AG as it is than add another 10,000 seats and only fill 80% of it. I went to the King Power the other day (32,000 cap) and it was full

Agreed. Would much rather a sold out 28k stadium then a 80% 32-35 or what ever it would be. Even if there were more people having a sold out ground does something to an atmosphere 

[Red-Robbo]

18 minutes ago, CyderInACan said:

Yeah but they do have Babestation on in the bar at half time, so, you know, swings and roundabouts eh. 

 

Fewer fans but more w*****s  

[Davefevs]

34 minutes ago, CyderInACan said:

Yeah but they do have Babestation on in the bar at half time, so, you know, swings and roundabouts eh. 

So something for the young and old?

[CyderInACan]

53 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

So something for the young and old?

Depends on your preferences I guess!

[handsofclay]

23 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

Do the kids really need to feed and drink at a match? It's usually played between lunch and dinner time ( in old money, dinner and tea) so if they are stuffing calories down. No wonder that many of the young of today are overweight. I've survived to a month away from 80th without a pot belly from eating or drinking even water at a City match when I was growing up!

A few years ago I was leaving Mangotsfield United's ground and put Radio Bristol on. Geoff Twentyman was talking to a young Rovers fan called iirc Ollie. He seemed to be on rather a lot at the time offering his observations on the Gas. They had beaten Swindon one-nil in an early kick off and Ollie was waxing lyrical about the match and how well Rovers had played.

'And what did you think of the goal?' Twentyman asked, realising there was no explanation of this event.

'Oh, I didn't see that, Geoff,' he replied. 'I was queuing to get a pie.'

I couldn't believe it. I was literally shouting at the radio as I was driving and shaking my head and saying that one can go to Gregg's any day of the week and get a bloody pie!

[Ska Junkie]

Talk of ground expansion but how the hell do we expand? Aren't we on height / space limits already?

[sglosbcfc]

7 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

I think plastics is just something you have to accept if you get sustained top-flight success.

I love how you get West Country Liverpool fans (who tend to be aged in their 50s and 40s), West Country Man U fans (40s and late 30s) and you are starting to see some West Country schoolkids identifying as Man City fans. Hell, there are even some 60-year-old West Country "Leeds fans" and I know one old-bloke in his 70s who has rarely travelled further north than Radstock, but who supports WBA, the big team when he first got into football in the mid-1950s. 

Spot on, just in my extended family I have an Uncle in his 60s who supports City and has Leeds as his second team, a brother in law in his 40s who supports Liverpool and has the Gas as his second team and 2 brothers (40s and 30s) who support City but have Man Utd as their second team.

[AshtonGreat]

On 04/05/2023 at 13:47, 2015 said:

I remember the days of 10k in League 1 being generally the average. Our support has grown exponentially since those days. I think Football clubs across the UK that are not traditionally 'big' clubs are seeing a recent surge in supporter growth in recent seasons. 

The chance to watch live football is far more worth the money than a sky tv package to most families. The matchday experience is massive for this demographic.

I also think regarding City, we've always had a fairly large following, not necessarily attendees though. 

I'm not sure about that. A month of Sky Sports only costs £33 and you can get loads of games for that

[MelksRed]

9 hours ago, Winterstoke toad said:

There’s a fair few of us here in north Wiltshire. Bristols closer to parts of north Wiltshire than Swindon so around here there’s lots of us city fans but also prem plastics who would end up supporting City if they ever got to the prem .

Melksham, Wilts here. Plenty of City Fans here  and growing.

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, handsofclay said:

A few years ago I was leaving Mangotsfield United's ground and put Radio Bristol on. Geoff Twentyman was talking to a young Rovers fan called iirc Ollie. He seemed to be on rather a lot at the time offering his observations on the Gas. They had beaten Swindon one-nil in an early kick off and Ollie was waxing lyrical about the match and how well Rovers had played.

'And what did you think of the goal?' Twentyman asked, realising there was no explanation of this event.

'Oh, I didn't see that, Geoff,' he replied. 'I was queuing to get a pie.'

I couldn't believe it. I was literally shouting at the radio as I was driving and shaking my head and saying that one can go to Gregg's any day of the week and get a bloody pie!

Ollie Louch, son of Downend CC’s Jason Louch (Louchy) if any of you locals know him.  Gashead - like father like son.  Louchy is a lovely guy though.

[semblar]

3 hours ago, handsofclay said:

A few years ago I was leaving Mangotsfield United's ground and put Radio Bristol on. Geoff Twentyman was talking to a young Rovers fan called iirc Ollie. He seemed to be on rather a lot at the time offering his observations on the Gas. They had beaten Swindon one-nil in an early kick off and Ollie was waxing lyrical about the match and how well Rovers had played.

'And what did you think of the goal?' Twentyman asked, realising there was no explanation of this event.

'Oh, I didn't see that, Geoff,' he replied. 'I was queuing to get a pie.'

I couldn't believe it. I was literally shouting at the radio as I was driving and shaking my head and saying that one can go to Gregg's any day of the week and get a bloody pie!

 

Tell that to all the people who disappear at 40 minutes or so to get their half time pie/pint...

[mightyreds89]

It always baffles me that people think AG is difficult to get to and from and park at. I live in BS16 and have been going to Ashton Gate for over 30 years never once had any issues parking, had to pay for parking or walk more than 10-15 mins and that’s arriving in bs3 around 140/145pm.

i don’t get the bus but from what I am told bus services and bus routes to AG have never been more available or regular.

As a regular at away games I always think how much worse traffic & parking seems to be on an away day compared to a home game. Away parking at most grounds is a million times worse unless you pay. 
 

can’t be alone surely? Always baffles me this talking point. 

Edited May 5, 2023 by mightyreds89

[Rocking Red Cyril]

On 04/05/2023 at 13:47, 2015 said:

I remember the days of 10k in League 1 being generally the average. Our support has grown exponentially since those days. I think Football clubs across the UK that are not traditionally 'big' clubs are seeing a recent surge in supporter growth in recent seasons. 

The chance to watch live football is far more worth the money than a sky tv package to most families. The matchday experience is massive for this demographic.

I also think regarding City, we've always had a fairly large following, not necessarily attendees though. 

Can remember 4000 ish home gates and couple of coaches to away games back in Div. 4. But seems a long time gone now.

COYR

[W-S-M Seagull]

4 hours ago, Ska Junkie said:

Talk of ground expansion but how the hell do we expand? Aren't we on height / space limits already?

The SS has been designed so that another tier can easily be added. 

I think you add that, and then knock down the Atyeo (so then we don't suffer a drop in capacity) and then look at doing the Dolman. 

[Kodjias Wrist]

46 minutes ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

Can remember 4000 ish home gates and couple of coaches to away games back in Div. 4. But seems a long time gone now.

COYR

After three consecutive relegations in all fairness

[bcfc01]

23 minutes ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

After three consecutive relegations in all fairness

Wolves did the same just after us.

Averaged 4.020 in division 3 and 5,700 in division 4.

We never stooped that low.

Edited May 5, 2023 by bcfc01

[Ska Junkie]

46 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

The SS has been designed so that another tier can easily be added. 

I think you add that, and then knock down the Atyeo (so then we don't suffer a drop in capacity) and then look at doing the Dolman. 

Surely the SS, if higher, will be negated by the 'right to light' of the houses behind?

Same for a bigger Atyeo I should think?

[Red-Robbo]

20 minutes ago, Ska Junkie said:

Surely the SS, if higher, will be negated by the 'right to light' of the houses behind?

Same for a bigger Atyeo I should think?

 

That isn't as set-in-stone as many believe. The right to light act doesn't apply to gardens or outbuildings and regarding the windows of your home: "rights of light is not a right to direct sunlight. Rather, it entitles the beneficiary to a minimum level of natural illumination, not the sun’s direct rays."

Why do I know this? From bitter personal experience.  

I understand the club is involved in purchasing such properties as and when they become vacant in Ashton Road. Can anyone confirm this?

[Bris Red]

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I understand the club is involved in purchasing such properties as and when they become vacant in Ashton Road. Can anyone confirm this?

Allegedly, but no solid confirmation, only rumours... SL being the businessman that he is though, it wouldn’t surprise me if he has plans in place to purchase the houses on Ashton road or at least put the proposal to the potential investor that are looking at the club.

 Just looking at general house pieces around the BS3 area estimates to buy the row of houses would be circa £10 million ish.. Personally i feel that any potential investor would look at the Atyeo stand more from a vanity point of view more than anything else would want to purchase that row of houses to properly complete the stadium. Only time will tell…

Edited May 6, 2023 by Bris Red

[Eddie Hitler]

20 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

Let's face it, if you were a neutral and you fancy watching a game in Bristol whatcha gonna do? Ashton  Gate or go to a set of embarrassing tents and temporary stands, eat stale crisps and unidentified flat fizzy pop while watching a team of on-loan cloggers, managed by an egotistical psychopath.

 

Tbh as a neutral with a nostalgia for the old football experience I'd be down the Rovers for the old style ground and general air of being ramshackle. That's how I like my football.

I'm not however a neutral when it comes to Bristol football.

[Kodjias Wrist]

1 hour ago, Eddie Hitler said:

 

Tbh as a neutral with a nostalgia for the old football experience I'd be down the Rovers for the old style ground and general air of being ramshackle. That's how I like my football.

I'm not however a neutral when it comes to Bristol football.

I think i would weigh up the costs if im honest. And if i had to move to say london, i would look at going to Leyton Orient due to EFL matchday experience and to get away from the overhyped prem.

[redkev]

3 hours ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

I think i would weigh up the costs if im honest. And if i had to move to say london, i would look at going to Leyton Orient due to EFL matchday experience and to get away from the overhyped prem.

Fulham for me , nice part of London , decent ground and some rather decent ( but expensive boozers )

[Ska Junkie]

32 minutes ago, redkev said:

Fulham for me , nice part of London , decent ground and some rather decent ( but expensive boozers )

Seen their prices for the new stand next season? Obscenely expensive.

If I lived in London, I'd head for Bermondsey I think. Luckily, I don't live in London but did try it years ago and hated it.

[Red-Robbo]

28 minutes ago, redkev said:

Fulham for me , nice part of London , decent ground and some rather decent ( but expensive boozers )

 

Traffic-clogged and too many investment bankers for me.

I visited the new Plough Lane last year to see the Real Dons. Compact and bijou, as they say, but still modern with safe standing areas and as ever, a great family atmosphere.   Just 15 minutes trot from the mainline/District Line station, and there are plenty of boozers in Wimbledon proper.  The stadium itself is in the badlands on the verges of Tooting, so best not linger.

[redkev]

3 minutes ago, Ska Junkie said:

Seen their prices for the new stand next season? Obscenely expensive.

If I lived in London, I'd head for Bermondsey I think. Luckily, I don't live in London but did try it years ago and hated it.

I’m loaded

[Rocking Red Cyril]

16 hours ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

After three consecutive relegations in all fairness

Yes I know I watched from promotion to Div. 1 Then through those relegation seasons. It was a sad time 

[archie andrews]

16 minutes ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

Yes I know I watched from promotion to Div. 1 Then through those relegation seasons. It was a sad time 

I still cant work out how we got relegated from div 2 with the side/squad we had.... 

[Major Isewater]

13 hours ago, archie andrews said:

I still cant work out how we got relegated from div 2 with the side/squad we had.... 

Momentum.

[Eddie Hitler]

19 hours ago, redkev said:

Fulham for me , nice part of London , decent ground and some rather decent ( but expensive boozers )

 

Having been to most grounds in London I picked Fulham to go and watch though this was back when they were in Div 4, shortly before Al Fayed took over, and I watched them mostly in Div 3 with a season ticket bought for the princely sum of £160. I was still travelling to City games once a month or so but that season ticket was so cheap that I couldn't say no.

My primary reason for picking Fulham, cheap tickets being second in line, was that I could stand on a terrace again. The home terrace behind the goal was huge, rarely crowded, and, unlike the away terrace at the other end, had a roof on it.

Plus you had a great view of the tidal Thames, the sea birds flying up, the barges where people lived, and on winter afternoons the river turning orange from the sunset.

I haven't been back since they rebuilt the ground to an all seater for the Premiership, I'd rather have the memories.

[sugarwray]

Sunday Times report that there were 31,000 in Ashton Gate “the division’s best stadium” for the Bristol Gloucester rugby fixture yesterday. How many seats are there in the stadium? 25,713 were at the sold out Man City FA Cup tie. There was some segregation but I don’t recall 5,300 unused seats.

[Barrs Court Red]

6 minutes ago, sugarwray said:

Sunday Times report that there were 31,000 in Ashton Gate “the division’s best stadium” for the Bristol Gloucester rugby fixture yesterday. How many seats are there in the stadium? 25,713 were at the sold out Man City FA Cup tie. There was some segregation but I don’t recall 5,300 unused seats.

Ha. It wasn’t even sold out, let alone 4K over capacity . I think it’s a typo, 21k. 

[Topper 123]

On 05/05/2023 at 22:38, mightyreds89 said:

It always baffles me that people think AG is difficult to get to and from and park at. I live in BS16 and have been going to Ashton Gate for over 30 years never once had any issues parking, had to pay for parking or walk more than 10-15 mins and that’s arriving in bs3 around 140/145pm.

i don’t get the bus but from what I am told bus services and bus routes to AG have never been more available or regular.

As a regular at away games I always think how much worse traffic & parking seems to be on an away day compared to a home game. Away parking at most grounds is a million times worse unless you pay. 
 

can’t be alone surely? Always baffles me this talking point. 

I too live in mangotsfield and find it easy to get to 

[mthums]

On 05/05/2023 at 22:38, mightyreds89 said:

It always baffles me that people think AG is difficult to get to and from and park at. I live in BS16 and have been going to Ashton Gate for over 30 years never once had any issues parking, had to pay for parking or walk more than 10-15 mins and that’s arriving in bs3 around 140/145pm.

i don’t get the bus but from what I am told bus services and bus routes to AG have never been more available or regular.

As a regular at away games I always think how much worse traffic & parking seems to be on an away day compared to a home game. Away parking at most grounds is a million times worse unless you pay. 
 

can’t be alone surely? Always baffles me this talking point. 

I bike over from bs1, takes about 10 mins and there’s always cycle parking available inside the gate

[redkev]

2 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said:

 

Having been to most grounds in London I picked Fulham to go and watch though this was back when they were in Div 4, shortly before Al Fayed took over, and I watched them mostly in Div 3 with a season ticket bought for the princely sum of £160. I was still travelling to City games once a month or so but that season ticket was so cheap that I couldn't say no.

My primary reason for picking Fulham, cheap tickets being second in line, was that I could stand on a terrace again. The home terrace behind the goal was huge, rarely crowded, and, unlike the away terrace at the other end, had a roof on it.

Plus you had a great view of the tidal Thames, the sea birds flying up, the barges where people lived, and on winter afternoons the river turning orange from the sunset.

I haven't been back since they rebuilt the ground to an all seater for the Premiership, I'd rather have the memories.

Totally understand what your saying , I just like the fact very little trouble decent ( but expensive boozers ) nice walk along the Thames and not the pressure or anxiety watching city

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

Using EFLfansbanter for the baseline figures (as accurate as I can find albeit with the occasional rounded attendance) then home attendance at the Gate this season without away fans saw a total of 433218 pass through the turnstiles for an average of 18836. This represents a rise of about 1,000 on last season (410765/17859).

City's away attendance was also slightly up with 27705 travelling for an average of 1205 as compared to 27299/1187 last season. 

[WessexPest]

You could always count on a bumper support for big games but without checking I’d imagine you’d have to go back a long, long way for when we were averaging 20k plus regularly like have done the past few seasons.

Wind the clock back 25 years and our promotion season under Ward only saw us average around 12,000 - and that was the best in the division that year.

We’ve definitely expanded our fan base - and you can hardly call those Johnny-come-latelys glory hunters

[bcfc01]

Record number of season tickets sold in the renewal/membership phase, over 13,500.

Now into the general sales phase.

 

[Betty Swallocks]

1 minute ago, bcfc01 said:

Record number of season tickets sold in the renewal/membership phase, over 13,500.

Now into the general sales phase.

 

Excellent numbers. 13.5k+ before a signings been made. Not a massive price increase either now.

[Banjo Island]

24 minutes ago, Betty Swallocks said:

Excellent numbers. 13.5k+ before a signings been made. Not a massive price increase either now.

Could we get to 15k now that would be impressive

[Jerseybean]

[ExiledAjax]

2 hours ago, bcfc01 said:

Record number of season tickets sold in the renewal/membership phase, over 13,500.

Now into the general sales phase.

Impressive, and better than I expected.

15,000 is possible I guess. That would be huge.

[Robbored]

6 minutes ago, Jerseybean said:

That’s a really decent thing to say and do. I can’t remember any other City manager thanking us for our support. Nige really is a proper manager.

[Bristol Oil Services]

3 hours ago, Robbored said:

That’s a really decent thing to say and do. I can’t remember any other City manager thanking us for our support. Nige really is a proper manager.

You don't remember any other City manager thanking us for our support?

[Robbored]

1 hour ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

You don't remember any other City manager thanking us for our support?

Nope - can you name one?

[Henry]

16 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Nope - can you name one?

Pretty much every manager in the game.

[Mr Popodopolous]

On 07/05/2023 at 09:36, sugarwray said:

Sunday Times report that there were 31,000 in Ashton Gate “the division’s best stadium” for the Bristol Gloucester rugby fixture yesterday. How many seats are there in the stadium? 25,713 were at the sold out Man City FA Cup tie. There was some segregation but I don’t recall 5,300 unused seats.

About 27,000.

Bristol v South Africa was I believe a total sell out last November.

Obviously concerts can hold more.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Robbored]

25 minutes ago, Henry said:

Pretty much every manager in the game.

Name one City manager in the last 25years………..

Spoiler

 

 

[Henry]

10 hours ago, Robbored said:

Name one City manager in the last 25years………..

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Dean Holden, Lee Johnson, Steve Cotteril, Gary Johnson, Brian Tinnion, Danny Wilson, John Ward.