How do you change an atmosphere in a ground thats 45% full?

The crowds aren't going to change at all during the rest of the season so what can they do to improve the atmosphere of 10,500 fans rattling around in a 23,000 capacity stadium? Even when the teams winning its seems a lonely place of a sea of red seats.

 

Someone suggested closing the North Stand not long ago, and putting the away fans in the north end of the West Stand unless a big turnout was expected. Could work having the fans less spread out, though that wouldn't actually affect Barnsley fans in the ground. Another solution could be to close one of the home areas (ie the Ponty) and replace the fans with a mural complete with recorded singing a la Arsenal. Anyway, it could be worse, we could be Darlington with a 25k stadium and 2000 fans turning up most weeks.

 

I reckon fOREST game could see a fair crowd possibly 11,500 with Forest bringing 2000 + supporters should be nosiest game in last third of season. =

 

The East and West stands could try joining in with the Ponty end every now and then.

 

I think the best way for a club like us is to get a higher attendance and to do this, as been said many many times before, cheaper tickets and offers on tickets. I remember a few years back against Forest all tickets were £5, meaning that there was around 17,000/18,000 as opposed to 10,000/11,000 fans. IMO tickets for all games should be £20 adults, £12 students/16-18s, and under 16s for £5. People these days have no money and can't afford to be spending £30 for one match.

I actually said something about this to my brother the other day, it would be better if we were closer to the away fans to create more banter and friendly 'hostility', if you know what i mean.

Only other thing i can see is to bring back standing with reduced ticket prices for that. I know it'll never happen, but it works well for a lot of top clubs in Europe and they can charge the equivalent of £10 cheaper for standing areas. Have seating £20 and standing £10.

 

I whileheartedly agree with the last bit about standing, though I reckon a tenner a whack is a little unrealistic. However, if we had safe standing even at 15 quid a pop I reckon it would add 2000-3000 to the average gate.

 

Re-introduce standing on a terrace

remove the seats from the West Lower (north) and introduce a standing section of terrace, price the tickets competitively (£10) and apply for a license to sell ale. Should help create a bit of atmos, banter between the home and away fans and the players might respond to being able to hear more than grumbling when stood in the tunnel.

 

but the atmosphere at that game will have absolutely nothing to do with football and all about an event from nearly 30 yrs ago

 

I'd be happy to pay £15 to stand

Long overdue in my opinion, Thatcher's legacy lives on.....

 

Re: I'd be happy to pay £15 to stand

The attendance is not going to change this season.

I suggested close the North Stand, its a complete waste of money to have it open. Put the away supporters in the North Terrace.
- Save on costs of stewarding the North Stand, especially the gang that stand between in the corner near the East. Slight increase on the number of stewards already "stewarding" the empty north terrace.
- 3 stands operating instead of 4 is cheaper on costs.
- Away supporters closer to the Ponty will generate a better atmosphere between the sets of supporters, you struggle to hear under 1000 away fans stuck in the top corner of the North from the Ponty normally.
- Advertisement banners on the empty seats in the North to generate income, Huddersfield & MIllwall both did this when they closed their bottom tiers behind the goals.

 

Start winning games regularly

A flippant response but we can tinker round the edges to improve the 'customer experience' all we want, the simple fact is that we need to win games. A lot. And the category pricing system needs binning and whoever implemented it should be shot with a blunderbus of his own ****.

Like we used to do - 1 price for all home games, give a discount if someone goes and buys a ticket before the game. Scrap that ******* 08 number for the ticket office and booking fees and all that *****.

Nothing wrong with how the club charge for ST's/concessions etc. Anyone that bairns that ST holders have the value of the ST diminished by occasional matchday ticket offers is a lovely person.

 

Re: Start winning games regularly

Too right. I am now unable to phone to box office as I live abroad. Absolute joke, and no other number. I called the club shop and asked them to transfer me, and was told they couldn't.

 

Re: Start winning games regularly

I agree it does seem mean spirited by the club to add the extra costs when you buy tickets, when you are already spending £300 for a season ticket. I would ditch the stupid category system, look at the average wage in the barnsley area and price as appropriate. Lower the price more fans might come and also spend money on programmes, food, in the club shop etc. The risk is that the reduction in price might not be balanced by an increase in attendence, well business is about risk.

Where the club is doing the right thing is the 'free' season ticket for the under 12 to get the youngsters in. I have been taking my son since 2006 and will notice the difference in price now that I will have to pay for his ticket ha ha!

 

Easy

Free Ale

 

Re: Easy

Shut the club down and use the stadium as a gambling, drinking and whorehouse establishment .... Be much more fun!!!

 

Re: I'd be happy to pay £15 to stand

Surprised we haven't tried to sell the opportunity of a huge banner covering the whole west lower north stand side before. There is only the West Ham match coming up where the away seats might be needed and it could raise the club some cash.

 

Vuvuzelas

Bring back the rattle. Encourage noisy things. Sell megaphones in the club shop so that what chanting there is becomes amplified.

 

That Forest game was only so well attended because something was riding on it. Cutting prices does not increase the attendance. Winning does.

 

Spot on.

I'm sure cutting prices would see a small increase i.e. a few hundred, and, depending on the opposition, may even be a big increase - West Ham, Leeds etc, but the only thing that will increase the overall attendances considerably, is the team going on a remarkable run and heading for the playoffs. It won't matter if we're playing good football but not winning games. The town is full of people that are only minutely affiliated with football - they consider themselves Manchester United and Liverpool supporters, because they watch them on TV every week and will only venture down to Oakwell, if something BIG is about to happen.

Cutting prices may see us draw some of the 'near die-hards' back', but it will only be a drop of salt in the ocean.

 

Thinking about it I agree with this. IMO we need a bigger board with a bit more money (I know every club does, however) so we can keep our good players for us.

Apart from a good run of games/doing better in the league, I can only see safe standing areas getting back some atmosphere. I know it won't be, but It can be done safely like it is in many, many grounds in europe.