FAO Cambridge fans

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Our annual £2 promotion is against you this year in a huge relegation 6 pointer. Given away tickets last year for Crewe were £2 the fixture, in total this attracted an over 17000 attendance . Can't see anywhere near that this year but would expect it to be over the 10000 mark given. How many would you likely bring at £2 a ticket for such a significant game?

 

[Habbinalan]

Our annual £2 promotion is against you this year in a huge relegation 6 pointer. Given away tickets last year for Crewe were £2 the fixture, in total this attracted an over 17000 attendance . Can't see anywhere near that this year but would expect it to be over the 10000 mark given. How many would you likely bring at £2 a ticket for such a significant game?

If we were to get on a roll (point at MK, win against Satanage and a couple of decent signings), then we might bring one of our biggest away followings for a league match in a long time. More likely it will be slow and steady progress with a little over a thousand making the trip. Ticket price is minor part of the cost of an away trip for most - although the saving is most welcome and offers the basis for some good pre-match PR.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It’s a stunning offer from the club, which I believe more clubs should adopt similar if their stadium is big enough aka too large. Has clear and obvious positive benefits for the club and not just for that one off game

Other than that Crewe game we often underperform when a big gate / special offer is in place I.e. Forest Green being prime example last term.

We certainly can’t allow this to be the case this time. Anything over 10,000 would be miraculous with the story of this season being such a horror show

 

[Laker]

I mean, I think it’ll stick a few on the gate but ticket prices are generally price inelastic so don’t think it’ll mean thousands flock along sadly. Football fans that go are mugs and will pay what it takes to watch their team while those who don’t go won’t all suddenly change their mind because it’s dirt cheap.

 

[LongEatonPie]

From what's been said its looking around the 13,000 mark which ain't bad.

 

[Wooderson]

From what's been said its looking around the 13,000 mark which ain't

13,000 would be fantastic considering we occupy 92nd place in the FL!

Guess we might as well make this the match thread - crazy to think we have what almost amounts to a ‘must win’ game in early Jan, but there you are. We simply have to try to win games against teams around us if we are to pick up the requisite points required. Although personally I think next week at Yeovil is more vital - I fancy them to be more involved in the mix come May than Cambridge, who I think will eventually pull clear under CC.

Anyway, we’ve been given a bit of a boost with the signing of Jim O’Brien, who comes with glowing reviews from Bradford fans and sounds like everything we have been missing in midfield - if he can stay fit. From the vid of him training posted last night, it looks like he should be ready for Saturday at least.

Lewis Allesandra is also back, and hopefully Hemmings might make the bench, so I’m a bit more optimistic for this than I was a week or so ago.

I’ll go for a tense 2-1 win to Notts...

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I mean, I think it’ll stick a few on the gate but ticket prices are generally price inelastic so don’t think it’ll mean thousands flock along sadly. Football fans that go are mugs and will pay what it takes to watch their team while those who don’t go won’t all suddenly change their mind because it’s dirt cheap.

Ticket sales to date clearly says otherwise.

If the offer is £10 then maybe you have a point but it’s £2! £2 even in the East Midlands gets you nothing plus it’s better than going to Ikea. Just

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Can you both lose please.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Sounds very much like you want the draw

 

[Laker]

Ticket sales to date clearly says otherwise.

If the offer is £10 then maybe you have a point but it’s £2! £2 even in the East Midlands gets you nothing plus it’s better than going to Ikea. Just

You’re right and I’m happy to admit I’m wrong (maybe you could try it sometime....!). There are other factors at play too - it’s a six pointer, we’ve got a new manager, we won our last game (and played well v Lincoln too) so there’s a bit of confidence in the fan base. But yes, the price has had an impact too.

 

[Wooderson]

You’re right and I’m happy to admit I’m wrong (maybe you could try it sometime....!). There are other factors at play too - it’s a six pointer, we’ve got a new manager, we won our last game (and played well v Lincoln too) so there’s a bit of confidence in the fan base. But yes, the price has had an impact too.

When we did it last year Laker over 17,000 turned up. Admittedly we were top 4 at the time, but for the next home there were only 3,600!

Anyway, already feeling a bit ill about this one. What are your strengths/weaknesses? We know all about Jevani Brown after his brace at ML last season in that remarkable 3-3 draw. I rate Maris and Amoo too. Defence can be a bit fragile tho?

 

[Laker]

Brown blows hot and cold, which is pretty normal for young players. No doubting his ability though and for me he’s our biggest threat. Maris was unhappy at not being sold in the summer and he hasn’t been a patch on last season. There’s still a decent player in there but mindset is holding him back. Amoo is great when he comes on as sub but has historically not been so good when he starts - Calderwood hopefully getting him to perform for 90 minutes will go some way towards improving our results.

We’ve basically had those three underperforming along with Forde, Halliday, Carroll in particular playing poorer than last year. Then O’Neil has proven to be a mediocre player while Deegan splits our fan base (i and others think he talks the talk but is prett shite while others think without him we are powder puff). Central defence has been worth a mistake a game up until the last month or so and we’re still not massively convincing there. Up top, Ibehre and Azeez have both struggled to get goals.

To summarise, I’d say the players we have are capable of midtable or above when they all play at their best but they are horribly inconsistent and prone to mistakes, while we don’t have any cutting edge up front to get the goals out general play often deserves.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

You’re right and I’m happy to admit I’m wrong (maybe you could try it sometime....!). There are other factors at play too - it’s a six pointer, we’ve got a new manager, we won our last game (and played well v Lincoln too) so there’s a bit of confidence in the fan base. But yes, the price has had an impact too.

Always happy to, just point out where I have been and i’ll review with unbiased honesty.

Last season we had multiple prime example of the positive impact of ticket offers. Naturally not all clubs are in a position to do such offers for a multitude of reasons. What has surprised me is the response when we are 24th not 4th.

If we lose, it will be the one of the leagues largest funeral attendances!!!

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Sounds very much like you want the draw

While I'd agree that's probably what i'll have to settle for, I'd much prefer you both to somehow end with 0 points from the game.

 

[Conker]

I wonder what sort of financial hit the club is gunna take for this.

I’m all up for deals, kids go free with a Adult etc maybe, but these sort of deals just fob off ya proper supporters, you’ll generate a lot less money for the fixture and that’s not exactly handy considering the £3m minimum loss. Not to mention County are shite so I can’t see it exactly helping the fan base in the long run, it’s a lot to risk on one performance.

Plus side? Big attendances, will help ‘up’ the average at the end of the season for those who care!

 

[jacobncfc]

I wonder what sort of financial hit the club is gunna take for this.

I’m all up for deals, kids go free with a Adult etc maybe, but these sort of deals just fob off ya proper supporters, you’ll generate a lot less money for the fixture and that’s not exactly handy considering the £3m minimum loss. Not to mention County are shite so I can’t see it exactly helping the fan base in the long run, it’s a lot to risk on one performance.

Plus side? Big attendances, will help ‘up’ the average at the end of the season for those who care!

There'll be a hit, but probably not as much as you would guess when there's 10,000 people taking the offer up.

To be fair to Hardy, the one area where he is beyond criticism is the way that he's managed to grow our crowds on the back of dragging people in initially with a flurry of cheap ticket offers. For us to be averaging upwards of 6,000 when this dreadful is a bit of a miracle in itself, particularly when it's a true average at the minute (we've not had the big followings from Stags, Lincoln and Grimsby to boost it yet, and this is the first big ticket offer).

 

[Optipez]

I don't think the club will take any hit from the offer, the majority of the average crowd are season ticket holders, so any increase is money in the bank as stewards, catering staff etc are employed anyway.
If it's too often then as a season ticket holder you might feel a bit miffed but most of us are happy to see a big enthusiastic crowd with loads of young supporters. Also makes for a better atmosphere with away fans in the grou nd.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

A financial hit? Are you kidding me!
I honestly thought Conks was brighter than that! A lot brighter. Must be an attempted wind up, I see no other reason.

As mentioned previously not every club as the fanbase, potential fanbase or catchment area to do offers. Therefore they don’t, and the attendances stagnate and remain modest at best. You don’t have to look to hard to identify quite a few who fall into this category.

Hardy has been superb when it comes to community involvement, promotions, generating interest, and attendances. Last season was a prime example. Only issue is our results in these big games are mixed at the very best

Often you hear fans of lower league clubs bemoan, the ticket pricing both ST and matchday as well complaining about lack of offers and promotions.

But as long as they take plenty away from home, who cares right?

 

[Conker]

I guarantee that if you didn’t have the offer and had the usual 6,000? Odd crowd the gate would pull in more money, these things are never a success financially on the day nor are they supposed to be.

If you know the amount of season tickets you have, and a average ticket price, a little bit of maths and you’ll realise the big crowd not make half as much at £2 even if you sold the stadium completely out.

It’s actually pittance in comparison, so like I said it’s all about County putting in a performance and getting some to come back and that didn’t work last season did it?

I’m still struggling to see a real benefit to this?

 

[Conker]

I can’t find ST numbers online, do Notts announce them?

 

[jacobncfc]

I guarantee that if you didn’t have the offer and had the usual 6,000? Odd crowd the gate would pull in more money, these things are never a success financially on the day nor are they supposed to be.

If you know the amount of season tickets you have, and a average ticket price, a little bit of maths and you’ll realise the big crowd not make half as much at £2 even if you sold the stadium completely out.

It’s actually pittance in comparison, so like I said it’s all about County putting in a performance and getting some to come back and that didn’t work last season did it?

I’m still struggling to see a real benefit to this?

We have about 4,000 season ticket holders I think, and I suspect our average pay on the day price is something like £15 with it being so cheap for kids usually anyway.

So £30k sales vs £20k sales. A difference, but I suspect a lot of that will be wiped out by increased sales of food, drink, in the shop etc.

Generally you’re right, with 90% of clubs it would be a big financial hit, but Notts’ fairly unique circumstances of a (for this level anyway) massive potential floating support and huge amount of empty space in the ground means we can do it and make it work financially.

And it’s definitely working, for what it’s worth. Hardy has been doing something like this every few months since he took over and our regular crowds have grown significantly.

 

[Conker]

We have about 4,000 season ticket holders I think, and I suspect our average pay on the day price is something like £15 with it being so cheap for kids usually anyway

So £30k sales vs £20k sales. A difference, but I suspect a lot of that will be wiped out by increased sales of food, drink, in the shop etc.

Generally you’re right, with 90% of clubs it would be a big financial hit, but Notts’ fairly unique circumstances of a (for this level anyway) massive potential floating support and huge amount of empty space in the ground means we can do it and make it work financially.

Hmmm, how much are adult tickets for a game?

I’d love Hardy to be like the Accy chairman and post figures for each game, saying that I wished Mansfield and the majority of clubs were more open when it came to income.

Either way I’m not convinced it’s not taking decent a hit, you can do up to 4? Offers like this a season too, how many times does this happen just the once (the £2 offer) Makes sense to do it to the maximum if it’s not occurring any losses due to pies and a couple of pints

 

[jacobncfc]

Hmmm, how much are adult tickets for a game?

I’d love Hardy to be like the Accy chairman and post figures for each game, saying that I wished Mansfield and the majority of clubs were more open when it came to income.

Either way I’m not convinced it’s not taking decent a hit, you can do up to 4? Offers like this a season too, how many times does this happen just the once (the £2 offer) Makes sense to do it to the maximum if it’s not occurring any losses due to pies and a couple of pints

Adult tickets are £20-24 depending on which stand, when you buy them etc. Our support is, I think, disproportionately very old and very young at the minute, though.

It’s the second time he’s done the £2 one, but he’s done loads of other different ones as well. I suspect that he’d like to do it more but is mindful of pissing off people with season tickets.

I genuinely think it’s clever for a club in Notts’ position. We’ve got a really big support in terms of people who would say they support Notts, but have never been able to translate that into consistent attendances (partly due to being perpetually terrible, partly due to being in a big city with a million other things to do).

By doing this every so often, we’re getting these people to games and keeping them engaged with the club. It does show that there’s potential there if we can get our act together and not just have one good season every decade.

 

[Conker]

Adult tickets are £20-24 depending on which stand, when you buy them etc. Our support is, I think, disproportionately very old and very young at the minute, though.

It’s the second time he’s done the £2 one, but he’s done loads of other different ones as well. I suspect that he’d like to do it more but is mindful of pissing off people with season tickets.

I genuinely think it’s clever for a club in Notts’ position. We’ve got a really big support in terms of people who would say they support Notts, but have never been able to translate that into consistent attendances (partly due to being perpetually terrible, partly due to being in a big city with a million other things to do).

By doing this every so often, we’re getting these people to games and keeping them engaged with the club. It does show that there’s potential there if we can get our act together and not just have one good season every decade.

We did a ‘pay what you want’ against Gateshead back in the conference, packed the mill out at 9,000 odd (bar the away block) we got battered all game and lost comfortably. Complete disaster and there was a exodus when the result was inevitable and I’m sure the same would happen at Meadow Lane.

I think £2 is way too cheap, even for a offer.

I do genuinely sympathise with the consistent crowd problem, especially considering those knobheads across the river who try really hard even in Mansfield to entice kids and supporters generally and during the few seasons when they were in the play-offs Mansfield was full of ‘em!

 

[Laker]

We did a ‘pay what you want’ against Gateshead back in the conference, packed the mill out at 9,000 odd (bar the away block) we got battered all game and lost comfortably. Complete disaster and there was a exodus when the result was inevitable and I’m sure the same would happen at Meadow Lane.

I think £2 is way too cheap, even for a offer.

I do genuinely sympathise with the consistent crowd problem, especially considering those knobheads across the river who try really hard even in Mansfield to entice kids and supporters generally and during the few seasons when they were in the play-offs - Mansfield was full of ‘em!

I think it’s very unlikely we’ll batter County, for what it’s worth....!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It must be enticing some Cambridge fans- have seen over 1,200 tickets sold so far which would be far more than you'd normally take to Meadow lane?

As regards the price- £2 takes me back over 30 years since I last paid that to watch a City game (regular season).

 

[Enzo Scifo's Right Foot]

Would be very interesting to know what the food and beverage sales are at the game when an extra 7000 odd are in attendance ! The food and drink isn’t subsidised and people are far more likely to spend when they haven’t paid £20+ to get in ! It’s not just about ticket sales .

Jacob is spot on we have a very young and very old fanbase at present and the vast majority of the olds will have Season Tickets anyway . It’s a superb idea and a big success .

If you don’t do things like this , especially with our much bigger brother just across the Trent you are basically giving up !
I understand Conkers viewpoint the stadium and supporter base just doesn’t make this a valid option .

On a pay as much as you want day ( never heard of that before ) how many paid less than £2 haha ! Must of been hundreds and hundreds

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

If you know the amount of season tickets you have, and a average ticket price, a little bit of maths and you’ll realise the big crowd not make half as much at £2 even if you sold the stadium completely out.

I’m sorry but you can’t guarantee that. How many season ticket holders have we got? How many non ST supporters over the age of 18 would normally go?

Once again it’s ‘Classic Conks Guesswork’ when it comes to finances. Complete rabble backed up by nothing lol. I love it

God forbid a club putting the fans first, I’m sure there are no complaints from any of the supporters from Forest Green, Crewe, Cambridge etc let alone the Nottingham public when it comes to reduced matchday prices

 

[Conker]

My guesswork is just as worthy than anybody else’s in the thread. I appreciate those who actually contributed to the discussion anyway.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

It's a fantastic concept but going off discussions with my own club when we e suggested similar things clubs can make a loss, particularly if they've foresold the catering rights in the past which is normal by all accounts, we did it with Lindley Catering.


I don't know enough about the intricacies at County to tell if they will make a profit or loss on this but would love to see the workings.

Accys chairman is good for stuff like this, he posts some cracking things on twitter.